The auto market has fallen out of affection with sedans, selecting to go for taller and greater crossovers. Due to that, many automakers have left the sedan market altogether, however there are nonetheless just a few that soldier on. Genesis is a type of firms, and its refreshed 2025 G80 reveals there’s nonetheless a spot for an enormous luxurious sedan in at this time’s market.
Earlier than you get your hopes up, the G80 is just not a real sports activities sedan, however then it doesn’t actually fake to be. This BMW 5 Collection competitor is all about consolation, quiet luxurious and modern expertise wrapped in probably the prettiest sedan physique you should purchase at this time. In a whole lot of methods, it’s a breath of recent air in comparison with the “sporty” sedans it competes with. You’re meant to cruise and calm down in a G80, and it does that in addition to nearly any automobile on the market.
Full Disclosure: Genesis flew me all the way down to Lexington, Kentucky, put me up in a really good lodge and fed me a hell of a whole lot of meals, all so I might drive the refreshed G80.
Regardless of the Sport within the title of the trim I used to be driving, the G80 nonetheless is not a lot of a driver’s automobile. Positive, it’s received a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 pushing out 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque, however it doesn’t precisely really feel quick in a straight line. In any case, it is a heavy luxury-oriented automobile, and you’re feeling that heft within the nook. Even in Sport+ mode, physique roll is current, and there isn’t a ton of feeling from the electrical steering rack. It has a few of that synthetic heaviness that could be a hallmark of Hyundai, Kia and Genesis vehicles, and the 2 levels of rear steering angle (solely obtainable on the highest Sport Status trim) means turn-in is fast going round a nook, however that’s actually it.
The in-house eight-speed computerized additionally doesn’t wish to be rushed. There’s, in fact, a guide mannequin with steering wheel–mounted paddle shifters, however it’s higher suited to slushing round in computerized mode. The engine itself doesn’t make a really inspiring noise, both. That’s OK, although. In the event you flip off the pretend engine noise it fades quietly to the background. The G80 even comes with launch management, should you’re the kind of sicko who needs that on a 4,619-pound luxurious sedan.
Far more importantly, the 2025 G80 feels like a luxurious automobile as a result of it is one. If you would like a sportier midsize government sedan, it’s best to go for the 5 Collection, however the G80 blows the BMW out of the water relating to luxurious cruising.
Genesis didn’t make too many modifications to the G80 for 2025, and most of them are beauty, except for four-piston brakes. There’s revised entrance and rear fascia, a barely altered badge, reworked Micro Lens Array headlights, and a handful of latest 18-, 19- and 20-inch wheel designs. There’s additionally a brand new paint shade referred to as Vatna Grey and a handful of inside colours to select from. I’m glad Genesis determined to maintain the beauty modifications to a minimal. Wanting the Lucid Air, the G80 is the best-looking sedan in the marketplace, for my part. Why mess with perfection, ya know?
On the within, the large information right here is the reworked dashboard and its new 27-inch OLED display. It appears actually good general, and the steering wheel doesn’t block it as a lot as different vehicles with seamless shows like this. Like older Genesis automobiles, the middle a part of the display might be managed with both an iDrive-style knob or the touchscreen itself. The gauge cluster portion can also be tremendous customizable — you possibly can have something from two gauges, to your driver help techniques or a full-size map. As with different present Genesis fashions, the system is pretty easy to make use of and works tremendous properly. The G80 now gives wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (so you possibly can cease complaining about wires), there’s a brand new Bang & Olufsen audio system, and you will get a fingerprint authentication system and a few new driver security techniques.
The G80’s inside is the place the automobile actually shines. Between the slick expertise integration, splendidly comfortable seats and premium-feeling supplies, the G80 is just about on the prime of its class relating to good interiors. There’s additionally a really severe feeling of openness on the within. It feels very gentle and ethereal, and that’s accentuated by the panoramic sunroom. Other than the standard feeling of all the pieces inside, the cabin can also be splendidly quiet. Cruising down the freeway you’ll not hear very a lot from the motor, wind or the Pirelli P Zero tires. That’s what you need in a automobile like this.
I’ve spent a whole lot of time in luxurious automobiles from nearly each producer you possibly can consider, and few really feel as premium, as properly put collectively or as fairly because the G80. Positive, this automobile is now not low cost. It begins at $58,350 (together with vacation spot), and the loaded-up Cavendish Crimson over Sevilla Crimson G80 Sport Status I drove stickered at $78,900. You’re nonetheless getting a hell of quite a bit to your cash although, and the G80 offers off the impression that the individuals who constructed it actually gave a shit whereas they have been placing it collectively.
There’s loads of room for 4 pretty giant adults and their baggage within the automobile. Rear occupants are handled to a few USB-C ports, heated seats, sunshades, their very own local weather zone and loads of legroom. Up entrance, properly, these people are touring in actual consolation. Each seats are heated and cooled, and the driving force will get a therapeutic massage perform that works actually properly and even massages your ass, very welcome on an extended journey. Sport fashions additionally get a D-shaped steering wheel to make you’re feeling like a racecar driver, clearly. All the controls, from the rotary dial shifter and HVAC features (that are on their very own devoted display) to the quantity and tuning knob that Genesis introduced again for 2025 based mostly on buyer demand fall simply handy.
If I’ve only one subject with the inside, it’s the trim selection. Within the top-level Sport Status, you get carbon-fiber trim. Why? God dammit, this automobile deserves wooden in all places. I want to speak with somebody about people’ obsession with carbon fiber in vehicles that actually shouldn’t have it.
The G80’s driver-assistance techniques aren’t on the extent of one thing like GM’s Tremendous Cruise, however they’re quite nice. Adaptive cruise management and lane-keeping help will waft you down the freeway with few points. It creates a really relaxed setting that’s additional enhanced by the comparatively quiet cabin at freeway speeds. The opposite little bit of security tech I like is the blind spot cameras that pop up within the gauge cluster, a trademark of all Hyundai/Kia/Genesis automobiles. They make altering lanes a breeze, and I actually want extra automakers had stolen this concept.
After all, the G80 I drove was totally loaded, however you will get a less expensive one should you don’t really feel you want the full-fat twin-turbo V6 and its EPA-estimated 16 mpg metropolis and 24 mpg freeway. Genesis additionally gives a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four that also places out 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, mated to the identical eight-speed computerized transmission. All 2025 G80s now come commonplace with all-wheel-drive, in order that explains a little bit of the worth hike, however I really feel Genesis realized it wasn’t charging sufficient for a automobile of this caliber, and its value is now extra consistent with what it needs to be. Nevertheless, it isn’t actually the identical luxurious discount it was – the bottom value is up $2,700 from the 2024 mannequin yr.
By way of future plans for the G80, Genesis wouldn’t lay out specifics, however spokespeople for the model assured me a refreshed Electrified G80 is within the pipeline, and finally we’ll be getting a hybrid as properly. There’s no phrase on if it’ll be an ordinary hybrid or a plug-in.
In the event you look again on the historical past of Genesis, it’s exhausting to argue that the G80 isn’t a very powerful car the model has ever constructed. In any case, Hyundai kicked off this complete Genesis factor with the introduction of the Hyundai Genesis for the 2009 mannequin yr. That automobile was then spun off into the Genesis G80 for the 2017 mannequin yr, and it has been the usual bearer of the model ever since.
One in 4 Genesis automobiles offered these days is a sedan, and its gross sales have been up over 17 % yr over yr, so the G80 is just not an insignificant a part of the Korean automaker’s portfolio. In a world the place SUVs and crossovers have gotten the default luxurious automobile, it’s good to see an old-school luxurious sedan nonetheless making a splash just like the G80 has. In the event you actually don’t want the added cargo house or greater floor clearance, the G80 is the mid-level luxurious automobile to purchase. Simply be prepared for everybody to inform you how fairly it’s, and take a look at to not get too bothered it’s not a nook carver.
