HOW’S THE RIDE?
You’ll get no shortage of enjoyment out of driving the G80, a must for this level of vehicle. It can’t all be about the looks.
You can choose between Eco, Sport and Normal driving modes; and Sport is of course the best option to enjoy the ride.
The G80 is a fun and sporty vehicle that will get moving quickly when you want it to go. Yet at the same time, it’s a quiet vehicle that offers a smooth driving experience with almost no road noise entering.
Basically, it’s got racecar tendencies, but they only show up when you want them to do so.
This power comes from a few different power plans.
For starters, you can get a base engine with 311 horsepower from a 3.8-liter V6. I drove the middle option, a 3.3.-liter V6 twin-turbo offering 365 hp. Finally, a 5.0-liter V8 is offered that boasts 420 hp. Torque ranges from 293 to 383 on the models.
You can choose between RWD or AWD on all three options, and all three are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission (though paddle shifters are included)
TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
The Genesis G80 features excellent tech offerings, and nearly perfect government safety ratings (5 stars in every category except one)
The superb infotainment setup was well-designed and responded well to both voice and touch commands. It features a 9.2-inch touchscreen; powerful 17-speaker audio System; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility for phone mirroring; and a wireless phone charging pad.
Audio options include: AM, FM, HD Radio, CD, and SiriusXM satellite Radio (90-day Trial), in addition to Bluetooth streaming from your phone.
For safety, Genesis goes all out, with the G80 offering: Vehicle Stability Management; Nine Airbags; Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection; Blind-Spot Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning; Lane Keeping Assist; a very helpful Driver Attention Warning; Surround View Camera; Rain-Sensing Wipers and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
Smart Cruise Control works very well and adjusts for traffic, and the Heads-up Display helps keep your eyes on the road.
MPG
Official fuel mileage numbers on the G80 I tested were 17 city/24 highway/20 combined. In real-world testing, I averaged 16 mpg. This was a weak point for the Genesis, as it trailed most of its competition in fuel efficiency.
PRICE
The 2019 Genesis G80 AWD 3.3T Sport that I tested was priced at $58,745, but the G80’s base price starts about $43K. Compared to rival luxury sedans, especially the German ones, that is a major discount.
You also get strong Genesis warranties, including a 5-year/60,000-mile New Vehicle Warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Warranty.
BOTTOM LINE
Among luxury sedans, the status quo has been in place for a while. So it’s good to see an upstart luxury brand like Genesis shake things up.
Between the G80’s affordable pricing, strong technology, smooth ride and sharp looks, it has the goods to upset the natural order of things in this exclusive vehicle bracket.
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