2022 Genesis G80 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Genesis is one of the newest luxury automotive brands. Born on November 4, 2015, it is the offspring of South Korean Hyundai Motor Group. The first Genesis model was the 2017 G90 full-size sedan, followed quickly by the G80 mid-size sedan. The brand has followed up with the G70 sports sedan, the GV80 mid-size SUV, and the GV70 compact SUV, and has recently launched a compact electric SUV—the new Genesis GV60. From nowhere to somewhere in a hurry, the Genesis brand has quickly built a reputation for quality and reliability, mirroring the assets parent company Hyundai has nurtured over the past decade. Now, the original Genesis models are evolving into mature iterations.

The 2022 Genesis G80 represents the second year of the second generation of G80 production; the latest design debuted for the 2021 model year. While the 2017 model was a little generic, with a traditional sedan profile, the new G80 is bolder, more assertive, and more distinctive.

The sedan’s extended roof traces a continuous arc from windshield base to trunk spoiler, flattening in the rear to almost a fastback line. The fixed rear glass flows with a short trunk lid behind. Two prominent horizontal vents in the front fender behind the wheel well lend style, if not function. Around the back, the bulbous rear is perhaps the G80’s most recognizable aspect. Big LED taillight arrays wrap around from the rear quarter-panels onto the trunk. The name “Genesis” splays across the trunk in inch-tall chrome block letters. Chrome trapezoidal exhaust tips peek out beneath the body-coloured bumper. The “coupe” design of vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class may have inspired the G80, but the result is a fresh, unique, attractive sedan.

Our test vehicle wore a Makalu Gray matte paint job, which looked great. We were a little disappointed with some peeling coating on the dark chrome trim, a condition we would have explored with our dealer under warranty and highly unusual for a Genesis vehicle, in our experience. Our test vehicle wore 20-inch sport wheels with a pattern of squares we’ve only ever seen on other current Genesis vehicles. The dark chrome wheels emphasize the G80’s bold design, though they make us worry about maintenance and cleaning issues.

The G80’s interior continues the bold theme and impresses with a cohesive design throughout the cabin. Lines and shapes carry from the first row to the second, along the door panels and seat coverings. It’s a complete work of art. The dash is a beautifully symmetrical affair, with a big landscape infotainment screen mounted at the top of the centre stack. Our test vehicle came with Nappa leather seating, microfibre suede headliner and pillars, carbon-fibre trim, and more. Though this is part of the top trim’s packaging and is therefore pricey, it delivers a functional and visual punch worthy of the investment.

The base 2.5-litre inline-four produces power specs of 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The optional 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 makes 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission and use direct gasoline injection, and Genesis recommends premium fuel.

The 300-hp threshold is a point of honour with the luxury midsize sedan class, so these outputs keep the G80 in the conversation. Our test vehicle had the optional V6, which really amps up performance. The engine’s power and ample torque provide a nice punch of acceleration and a real sense of thrust. The standard paddle shifters add some control and fun to the experience as well, as do the easily selectable drive modes (Comfort, Smart, Eco, Sport, Custom, and, in Sport Plus trim, Sport+).

The G80 uses independent multi-link suspension setups both front and rear, with electronically controlled suspension in the V6 model. The result is a smooth, quiet, controlled ride blending sportiness and luxury. The power rack-and-pinion steering system uses a variable gear ratio and, combined with the supple suspension, provides a very direct driving experience.

The Genesis G80 Sport Plus comes with rear-wheel steering, which can improve low-speed maneuverability by reducing the turning radius, and provide added stability at higher speeds. It’s transparent in operation, but lends a precise quality to the overall handling. The G80 handles and drives nicely, never betraying any body roll or lack of control. For a car with a curb weight of just under 2,000 kilograms (4,332 pounds), it is light on its feet and a pleasure to drive.

In these days of SUV dominance, it’s easy to forget how practical a midsize sedan can be. The G80 can seat four or five adults comfortably, with the fifth person in the centre of the second row a little less comfortable than the rest, admittedly. It offers ample headroom and legroom in both rows, despite the swooping look of the roofline. The G80’s seating allows for a reasonable leg bend, and the driver’s seat can make room for genuinely tall 99th percentile operators.

Good-sized cup holders in the centre console accommodate larger beverages, and bottle holders in all four doors cater to our need for continual hydration. The centre console has storage space beneath the split armrest and more at the base of the centre stack, along with a decent-sized two-tier locking glove compartment.

Genesis has chosen to use a rotary drive selector knob in the centre console instead of a steering-wheel-column-mounted stalk or gear selector lever. While not traditional, it is found in other luxury cars—notably Jaguars. Though a little awkward to use at first, operation will be automatic for most drivers within a few days of driving. We don’t see any functional advantage or disadvantage to this setup.

The G80’s trunk can hold up to 424 litres of luggage. A temporary spare tire hides beneath the trunk’s load floor. The rear seats split to fold 40/20/40, allowing longer items to protrude into the cabin for greater utility.

Our one consistent annoyance with the G80 was the automatic tilt-down side-view mirrors. When the G80 shifts into reverse, the mirrors tilt down to a curb view—something you might want in an urban parking situation. But there are situations, like backing down a long winding driveway, where the tilt-down feature renders the mirrors worthless. There must be a way to defeat this function but try as we might—including reading the manual—we couldn’t figure it out.

Hyundai moved from the bottom of the economy heap to the top of many shoppers’ lists by including tons of features and technology content. Genesis clearly saw this template for success. The G80 comes with a long list of technology features, both standard and available.

All lighting on the exterior and interior of the G80 is full LED, and the headlights are automatic with high beam assist. Rain-sensing windshield wipers are standard. Four parking sensors on the front and rear help keep the G80 safe from bumps and scrapes. A proximity key and pushbutton start keep the fob in your pocket or purse, as does a power hands-free smart trunk with auto-open.

Slide into the driver’s seat, and a power tilt/telescopic steering wheel with haptic feedback, audio, phone, VR, cruise control, and lane-following controls with memory glides to your preferred position. A heated steering wheel is standard in Canada. An 8-inch colour LCD cluster display is standard, while a 12.3-inch 3D digital cluster display is equipped on 3.5T Sport Plus models. A head-up display is also available, though only on the 3.5T models.

A 14.5-inch high-definition LCD touchscreen display on top of the dash is standard, fixed in landscape orientation (2,560 pixels wide by 720 pixels high). The standard audio system includes AM/FM/HD/SiriusXM, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A Lexicon premium audio with Quantum Logic surround sound, 21 speakers, and a 14-channel amplifier with 1,050 watts is standard in Canada. Four USB ports are standard (two front/two rear), as is a wireless device charging pad. Genesis Connected Services Telematics system is standard, including native navigation through the infotainment system.

The subject of infotainment brings us to an important disclosure—we don’t love the interface Genesis uses for the system. In the centre console, a glowing circular dish surrounded by a textured metal ring lives ahead of the round drive selector. The metal ring rotates with finger pressure, and the dish is like an inverted button, clicking when pressed. We found the operation to be finicky, unintuitive, and distracting. We’ve used this same interface in other Genesis vehicles and have been similarly dissatisfied. If you’re considering a G80 purchase, insist on a hands-on training session with the infotainment system. Don’t expect to jump in the car and manage it with ease.

The 2022 Genesis G80 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating—the highest—from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and earned the top rating of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for both the Genesis G80 2.5T and 3.5T models.

The G80 comes with 10 airbags (driver, front passenger, driver knee, centre side, driver and front-passenger seat-mounted side-impact, two second-row side, and a front and rear roof-mounted side-curtain), LATCH anchors, and energy-absorbing front seats with anti-whiplash head restraints.

Active safety systems include adaptive cruise control, vehicle stability management, electronic stability control, traction control, anti-lock braking, brake assist, hill-start assist, parking assist and parking distance warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist with road edge detection, lane-following assist, and driver attention warning.

Passive safety includes an energy-absorbing steering column, front and rear crumple zones with five-mph bumpers, hood buckling creases and safety stops, body-side reinforcements, tire pressure monitoring with individual tire pressure indicator, and a shift interlock system. An anti-theft system and engine immobilizer are standard.

All of these safety features and systems are standard on every G80. Working in tandem, the driver assists and other safety features are capable of keeping the car centred within a lane, at a set speed and safe distance from the car in front on highways. The adaptive cruise control can also slow the car to a complete stop and start back up with traffic without driver intervention. The driver must still remain engaged with hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, but the G80 takes a lot of stress from driving, especially on highways and interstates.

As stated above, pricing for the 2022 Genesis G80 sedan is set at $67,500 for the base 2.5T Advanced trim level with standard AWD. Boasting standard AWD and the V6 engine, the Genesis G80 3.5T Sport is priced at $74,500 in Sport trim. Genesis also offers a Sport Plus version for $81,000. Our test vehicle was the U.S. equivalent of a 2022 Genesis G80 AWD 3.5T Sport Plus. In Canada, Genesis is sold with no-haggle, all-in pricing and includes destination charges, at-home test drive and delivery service, five years of scheduled maintenance with valet service, and five years of Genesis Connected Services and complimentary map updates.

Genesis offers a generous five years/100,000-kilometre new car warranty and powertrain warranty, as well as five years of roadside assistance and anti-perforation coverage with unlimited kilometres. Most of these warranties are transferrable and can add value to the G80 on the used market later in its life.

The G80 plays in a field of excellent midsize luxury sedans, including the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Lexus GS, Cadillac CT5, and Volvo S90. Even committed sedan shoppers owe it to themselves to consider the crossover SUV alternatives, though, and maybe even think about electrification before buying a G80 or any traditional gasoline-powered sedan. An all-electric Genesis Electrified G80 was revealed in 2021.

The 2022 G80 represents the coming of age of Genesis as a luxury brand. It’s a comfortable, exciting, well-built vehicle with a lot of class. It’s not perfect—and neither are its rivals—but it is well worth considering for your next car.

Note: Images show a US model.