Photo: Lawrence Hodge
Genesis seems to have finally taken root with its cast luxury limousines and crossovers. But the brand is still trying to appeal to new customers. After spending a week with Genesis’ mid-size sedan offering, the G80 Sport, I can say with confidence that more buyers should be looking to the South Korean automaker. The thing is really very good.
2022 Genesis G80 Sport: what is it?
Photo: Lawrence Hodge
The Genesis G80 plays in the same arena as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Seriesand Mercedes Benz E Class. The previous generation G80 was available with a base 3.8 liter V6an upgrade 3.3 liter twin-turbo V6 or optional 5.0 liter V8. However, the car Redesign 2021 dropped the base V6 and V8 options. The G80 is now available with a 300 hp 2.5-liter turbocharged I4 engine or the G80 Sport’s 3.3-liter V6 carry-over with 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque.
While there’s technically a sport package for the four-cylinder G80, it’s mostly cosmetic. Stepping up to the V6 automatically makes the G80 a sport model, adding things like aluminum interior trim, 19-inch wheels, electronically adjustable dampers and rear-wheel steering.
While the G80 Sport’s price undercuts its German competition, it still doesn’t come cheap. The G80 Sport starts at $63,700, including $1,095 for the Target. My car has the optional and beautiful Cavendish Red paintwork that’s exclusive to the Sport ($575), as well as a $6,300 Prestige Package that includes things like Pirelli P Zero all-season tires (245/40R-20 front, 275/ 35R-20 rear) Nappa leather seats, 3D graphics in the instrument cluster, larger 20-inch wheels, carbon fiber trim and a slightly stiffer suspension tune. All things considered, including a $1,095 target fee, my Genesis G80 Sport is priced at $71,670.
2022 Genesis G80 Sport: how does it drive?
The G80 Sport is a fine luxury car. It’s as quiet and smooth as any Lexus, with adaptive suspension helping to smooth out road bumps as if they weren’t there. The G80’s cabin has a vault-like composure and does a good job of isolating road and tire noise.
Photo: Lawrence Hodge
Put the G80 Sport in Sport+ mode, however, and it becomes a different beast. Here, increased throttle response helps the G80 Sport achieve a 0-60mph time of under 5 seconds. It’ll also nail you to your seat, as all 391 lb-ft of torque is available from as little as 1,300 rpm. The sports suspension also tightens and gives you more cornering stability.
In addition, the rear-wheel steering system helps improve both overall handling and low-speed maneuverability. At speeds above 60 km/h, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels; below 60 km/h, the wheels rotate two degrees in the opposite direction. It’s a godsend for maneuverability when parking and turning, making the G80 feel a lot smaller than it actually is.
The G80 Sport has 14.2-inch front disc brakes and 13.6-inch rear disc brakes, which do a good job of dragging it off speed. You’ll notice a slight fade as they heat up after a short canyon sprint, but that’s not enough to be a cause for concern.
2022 Genesis G80 Sport: what’s great and what’s not
Image: Genesis
There isn’t much that’s bad about the G80 Sport. Most of the bad things are things that an owner would encounter on a daily basis. But just look at the G80 Sport: it’s beautiful. From the thin LED daytime running lights to the LED turn signals on the fenders to the tail that ends in a sweep, the Genesis designers know what they are doing. The G80 Sport is cohesive and beautiful.
Photo: Lawrence Hodge
The interior is just as beautiful. It’s simple but elegant and modern. It doesn’t try to do anything over the top with angles or unnecessary curves. The carbon fiber trim on the dashboard has an interesting pattern that goes well with the aluminum accents found throughout the rest of the interior.
Image: Lawrence Hodge
There is a 14.5-inch touchscreen display on the dashboard. It’s wide and has fantastic resolution. It also bucks the trend of looking like someone has placed a tablet on the dash because the screen is recessed into the dash. Actual operation of the touchscreen requires a long reach, though, which I think is intentional, as you’re forced to use the rotary dial, which sits behind the gear selector on the center console. Fortunately, if you don’t want to use the touchscreen or console wheel, Genesis includes physical buttons for functions people use the most, like audio and climate controls.
The 12.3-inch digital instrument display in front of the driver cuts a fine figure. But its 3D graphics can be a bit strange. I don’t quite get the point of them either. Fortunately, the 3D effect can be turned off in the G80’s settings.
Photo: Lawrence Hodge
On the other hand, I really like Genesis Smart Posture Care. After spending an hour in the car, you hear a *ding* from the infotainment system along with an on-screen message that says, “Starting Smart Posture Care.” The driver’s seat lower lumbar then slowly inflates and deflates for about 5 minutes for about a minute, which helps you sit straighter and more comfortably while driving.
One downside to the G80 Sport setup is that it’s thirsty. This could have something to do with its curb weight of 5,567 pounds and all-wheel drive system. The G80 Sport is EPA certified to return 16mpg city, 25mpg highway and 19mpg combined. In mixed driving, I’m seeing about 15mpg. Now compare that to a six-cylinder BMW 540i xDrive, which gets 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined. Comparable Audi A6 and Mercedes E-Class models are also more efficient.
Like all Genesis models, the G80 Sport has a long list of active and passive safety features. Everything from 10 airbags to evasive steering and full-speed adaptive cruise control is standard. However, the sensors for these things can be a little over-sensitive. As I rounded a corner in my neighborhood, the forward collision avoidance system slammed on the brakes for no reason. Lane Departure Warning may also chime too often, warning you in the middle of a turn when there is no vehicle around.
Verdict
What Genesis has done with the G80 Sport is excellent. The level of luxury, features, performance and standard safety equipment is unbeatable. Combine that with a price that’s thousands less than its main competitors, along with Genesis’ comprehensive warranty, and the G80 Sport really does seem like a no-hassle purchase.
The real problem with Genesis is still the general brand awareness, not to mention the lack of independent retailers, something the brand is trying to work on. Some buyers might be put off by walking into a Genesis store and seeing a Hyundai Kona and Santa Cruz sitting in front of a nearly six-figure Genesis G90 across the showroom. But once you’re familiar with the brand, the G80 Sport proves this automaker knows what it’s doing. The G80 Sport is a sedan that more people should be considering.
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