Genesis G80 Review 2024

Genesis is still a relative newcomer to the UK, and represents the upmarket arm of Hyundai in the same way that Lexus offers a step up from Toyota. The Genesis G80 is designed to compete with premium saloons such as the Mercedes E-Class and the BMW 5 Series, offering high levels of comfort as well as style and an engaging driving experience. Read our Genesis G80 review to see if it delivers.

From the outside, the Genesis G80 is clearly no wallflower. Although a saloon, it has a more coupe-like shape with a long, flowing roofline and a short tail, while at the front an imposing front grille and lengthy bonnet give it real presence.

A generous description would be to say it has a touch of Bentley about it, but for a brand that is effectively starting from scratch in the UK, it is understandable that it has been designed to make a strong visual impact.

Inside, the Genesis G80 continues to make a strong first impression. The cabin definitely has a premium feel to it, with large, sumptuous seats, a sizeable infotainment screen and plenty of quality materials, especially if you choose one of the higher specification versions which add lots of leather and wood.

There is a real quality feel to the switchgear, too, with a reassuring click and snap to the buttons and switches.

From launch, the Genesis G80 was offered with a choice of a 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine offering 304PS, with optional four-wheel-drive, or a 2.2-litre diesel with 210PS, both equipped with an eight-speed automatic as standard.

However the diesel engine was dropped in 2022, although some versions may be available on the used market.

In addition, the Genesis G80 is also available as an electric car, with 370PS, four-wheel-drive as standard and an 87.2kWh battery with a claimed 323-mile range.

The diesel option offers decent refinement and is likely quick enough for most buyers, as well as offering the best fuel consumption.

The petrol, meanwhile, delivers strong performance – 0-62mph is possible in six seconds, with a 155mph top speed – although considerably worse fuel consumption.

The driving experience is close to key rivals in the class, if not at quite the same level. Noise levels are low and the engines are refined, which adds to the feeling of luxury, particularly on longer journeys.

The Genesis G80 is an easy car to drive, and although it does not offer the same amount of driving pleasure as the BMW 5 Series, it is composed through corners, with plenty of grip.

In most situations, the ride quality is also good, but the suspension is slightly on the firm side, which can mean larger road imperfections are transmitted to the cabin.

On balance, the Genesis G80 is not quite as complete a package as the established class leaders, but in many areas it is highly competent.

Throw in a price tag that is significantly below those same rivals, and it makes an appealing option for anyone willing to consider an alternative to the usual suspects.

A key part of a luxury car experience is space, and on this front the Genesis G80 does particularly well. Thanks to its generous exterior dimensions, the cabin is exceptionally roomy and welcoming.

Those in the front have all the head and legroom they could wish for, and although the substantial centre console takes up a lot of space, it is comfortably wide enough for even larger adults.

It’s a similar story in the back, with plenty of legroom and elbow room. An optional rear-seat package is available, which provides two individual rear seats and a large centre console in place of a bench seat.

Headroom is not quite as generous as in the front, but it should be more than sufficient for the majority of adults.

However, boot capacity is less impressive at 424 litres. This is more than 100 litres fewer than rivals from BMW and Mercedes.

Despite the Genesis G80 being a relatively new entrant to the premium saloon sector, it succeeds in delivering a high-quality interior.

The design itself is appealing, with a sleek dashboard layout that avoids being crowded with display screens or excessive buttons.

Backing this up is the quality of the materials used. The entry-level Premium model doesn’t offer leather seats as standard, but move up to the Luxury model and you get fine quilted leather on the seats and real wood on the dashboard, which helps to elevate the ambience. 

All the switches and buttons operate with reassuring solidity, too, while the doors close with a solid and weighty clunk, and noise levels are generally very low. 

The Genesis G80 is well constructed and feels built to last.

All versions of the Genesis G80 receive the same impressive infotainment system, with a 14.5-inch centre screen with navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice activation and DAB radio.

As well as functioning as a touchscreen, it can also be operated by a central circular controller, although it is a similar size and shape to the rotary gearlever, which is potentially confusing for the driver.

The screen itself responds quickly to inputs, and changes slickly between menus. The substantial width of the screen means that menu tiles are large so they can easily be viewed on the move, and integration with smartphones is simple and quick.

Sound quality on the standard system is impressive, but an optional Lexicon Premium Audio system is available for £790 and provides 18 speakers plus surround sound, which is good value.

There is also the option to add rear seat entertainment as part of the Comfort Seat and Executive Pack. This is not cheap at over £6,000, but does add a host of other features.

At the time of writing, the most basic Genesis G80 in Premium trim with the 300PS petrol engine is just over £43,000, which compares well with the £52,000 BMW 520i and the £55,000 Mercedes E200 AMG Line, both of which offer 100PS less.

Even the highest specification Genesis G80 with four-wheel-drive is just over £50,000, while equivalent versions from Mercedes and BMW are close to £65,000.

Used examples of the Genesis G80 are still relatively rare, but those that are available represent impressive value for money.

We found several diesel models for sale, all with fewer than 20,000 miles, for under £30,000. This represents a substantial saving over list price.

Running costs for the petrol Genesis G80 will be relatively high. 

Fuel consumption for the two-wheel-drive version ranges from 32.9mpg to 33.9mpg combined on the WLTP test program, while for the four-wheel-drive version this drops to 30.5mpg to 31.2mpg.

In real-word conditions, you can expect consumption to drop into the 20s unless in the most sympathetic of driving environments.

Insurance costs are also likely to be high, with the lowest rated model in the line-up falling into group 40, ranging up to group 44 for the four-wheel-drive Genesis G80 in Sport Line trim.

All versions will also attract premium rate VED for the first six years of ownership.

Buyers in this sector want a comfortable driving experience alongside a high degree of dynamic polish, which is a key part of the appeal of rivals such as the BMW 5 Series.

In most circumstances, the Genesis G80 performs well. Whether you choose the rear-drive or four-wheel-drive arrangement, the suspension offers a high degree of sophistication, delivering relaxed cruising on the motorway thanks to the low noise levels and smooth ride.

Where the Genesis G80 performs less well is on broken urban streets, with the firm suspension picking out lumps and bumps that rivals will do a better job of disguising.

Even in the softest drive mode, it sometimes struggles to insulate the passengers from the road surface, which is a shame given it is otherwise very refined.

There is an upside to the firm suspension, though, in that on twisty roads, the Genesis G80 resists roll well and is keen to turn into corners. However, the steering, while accurate, lacks a little feel and has less than ideal weight to it.

This is less of an issue when parking or in urban traffic, but on the open road it leaves the driver feeling slightly detached from the front wheels.

While the majority of owners will rarely go blasting down a B-road, most will have to travel along poor roads on a regular basis, and although the Genesis G80 offers generally decent overall performance, it is missing a small degree of finesse that would put it on a par with the best in the class.

The Genesis G80’s now discontinued 2.2-litre diesel engine is a good option for used buyers, with 210PS and 441Nm giving it useful performance.

0-62mph takes only 7.7 seconds, and there’s a top speed of 147mph.

In addition, with official fuel consumption of up to 44.8mpg, it delivers respectable economy and reasonable running costs.

Matched to the standard eight-speed automatic gearbox, it offers a relaxed driving experience, with easy acceleration available thanks to the generous torque output, and little noise.

For new buyers, the 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol is the only option, but it is competitive with similar offerings from rivals.

A 300PS output provides impressive performance, with 0-62mph taking just 5.8 seconds and the top speed limited to 155mph. 

It also works well with the eight-speed automatic gearbox, and is happy to cruise as well as shifting smoothly when hard acceleration is demanded.

Refinement is impressive, and despite only being a four-cylinder unit, it does not complain even when revved hard.

The downside is fuel consumption, with an official figure of up to 33.9mpg meaning that sub-30mpg figures are likely in the real world, making it a relatively expensive option.

The lack of a hybrid is an issue, too. Although there is a pure electric Genesis G80, a hybrid powertrain would provide further choice. Its omission from the range is all the more glaring given that most of its main rivals offer one.

The Genesis G80 was tested by Euro NCAP in 2021 and achieved the maximum five stars, with an exceptionally high 91% score for adult occupant protection and 87% for child occupant protection.

Pedestrian mitigation was rated at 77%, while the safety assist rating of 91% is also highly impressive.

The standard safety specification is very high, including smart cruise control, blind spot collision assist, lane keeping assist, forward collision avoidance, intelligent speed limit assist, lane following assist and highway driving assist.

There are no official towing capacities provided for the Genesis G80 saloon.

Genesis G80 Premium models are fitted with smart cruise control, lane following assist, blind spot collision avoidance, rear cross traffic collision avoidance and lane keeping assist.

There are also full LED headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels, heated electric front seats, a rear view camera, 14.5-inch infotainment display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Genesis G80 Luxury adds sporty exterior styling, leather seats, carbon/metal interior trim, a heated steering wheel, rear air-conditioning and a power boot.