This South Korean Saloon Rivals The Best German Marques

What is the Genesis Electrified G80? A lesser-spotted luxury Korean saloon that should rival the best German marques.

Car Review: Genesis Electrified G80 Luxury

JT-P – Wow! Apart from our long-term BMW 7 Series, this Korean car has more technology than anything I’ve driven in ages. There isn’t very much from Audi or Mercedes to compare at this level.

JT Well, the G80 Luxury isn’t cheap. The saloon is £69,000 but our test car was loaded with lots of extra stuff too, like a comfort seat pack (£4,960), Nappa leather (£2,310) and something called innovation pack.

How innovative. What’s that?

Head-up display, surround view monitor, intelligent front lighting and other advanced tech. The point is, even the standard Electrified 80 is packed with kit and, quite frankly, adding the word ‘luxury’ sounds a little desperate.

Sat in the back seat, your family will be delighted to know every Electrified G80 has three-zone climate control, a head-spinning Lexicon audio system and other ingenious features I can’t explain, like ‘active road noise cancelling’, battery conditioning and smart cruise control.

Well, it’s certainly quiet in the cabin. I note you have dual entertainment screens in the rear and electrically-adjustable seats, too. Apart from some questionable dashboard trim design, the materials throughout are pure quality.

Yes, a cut above German cars at the same price point. Even the rotary controller for the infotainment system is made from glass. Quite a few functions are controlled by buttons, which is far safer than on-screen scrolling.

And Green Laners will be pleased to know a big 87.2kWh battery is good for around 280 miles in real-world driving conditions. That includes dual-motor, all-wheel drive for extra grip but falls a little short of German rivals like the excellent BMW i5 for range.

Perhaps more importantly for some, the G80 is a pretty rare sight on British roads and therefore has added novelty value. Also, the Genesis is not an SUV, which I for one wholeheartedly approve of.

Yes, does the world need yet another SUV? Sitting so low to the ground won’t appeal to some. The G80 is a long car, too, so parking might prove problematic in town. On the motorway, that active noise cancellation system works like a pair of posh headphones to reduce background noise.

Clever. Comfort is first class and on a fast A-road, body roll is minimal.

But the bottom line is the battery-powered G80 just can’t compare to rival German saloons for driveability. Refined and roomy, just not a car to set the pulses racing. Read our BMW i5 review – a far more engaging car.

So, if you want all the toys and technology, go for the Genesis. But if you like a sporty driving experience, there are better cars?

Correct. Just don’t write off the G80. It has plenty going for it and represents fantastic value, even at this price.

DISCOVER

Find out more about the Genesis Electrified G80 at genesis.com