Except for the lack of tailpipes and a gas filler door, the 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 is a conventionally designed midsize luxury car. The G80, which has an internal combustion engine (ICE), resembles it almost exactly. But it occupies a strange market space. Until the Mercedes-Benz EQE arrives in late 2022, other premium electric sedans on the U.S. market are compacts with less space or full-size vehicles, which typically cost tens of thousands of dollars more, have bigger cabins and trunks and provide more extended range.
The electric Genesis G80 is a new EV based on the gas-powered Genesis G80. It does away with the gas variant’s spare tire and panoramic glass roof and employs more lightweight aluminum than steel. But the 1,204-pound battery pack under the cabin floor makes the Electrified G80 over 600 pounds heavier than its internal combustion cousin. With all-wheel drive and two motors, it has a range of up to 282 miles. Although neither the term “Electrified” nor the abbreviation “EV” is visible anywhere on the automobile, that is what it is officially called.
The G80 EV slots precisely between tiny luxury EVs like the high-end Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2 cars and full-size luxury EVs like the Mercedes-Benz EQS, Lucid Air, or Tesla Model S. Its 197-inch length makes it longer than comparable midsize electric vehicles but somewhat shorter than full-size premium EVs in terms of shadow size. The EQS, which is 10 inches longer than the Genesis, has half an inch less front legroom but almost 6 inches more back legroom and double the load space. The Lucid Air offers more prominent front and rear legroom.
For $80,920, Genesis offers the Electrified G80 in only one trim level, the Prestige. The G80 3.5T Sport costs roughly $8,000 less than the Electrified, even when fully outfitted. Not the EV alternatives, though. The Pure variant with AWD should cost approximately $10,000 more than the Genesis, which comes standard with AWD, while the Lucid Air begins at $28,000, more expensive than the Electrified G80. The Mercedes-Benz EQS costs around $21,000 more and starts at about $20,000 more than the Tesla Model S, which has a range of roughly 90 miles.
The EV boasts a 365 horsepower, two-motor, electronic all-wheel drive, and single-speed electric drivetrain. The Electrified is five times more efficient than the gas G80, which is only EPA-rated at 19 mpg overall. The Electrified G80 loses headroom and load space when converting the gas-burning vehicle to an EV but gains none in beauty, design, or performance.
Although a central rotary knob seems awkward, the G80 EV is a stylish, fast luxury sedan with lots of back legroom and bright touchscreens combined with knobs and buttons in the front seat. The G80 EV will initially be difficult to locate outside EV-friendly areas like California due to a restricted deployment.
Performance:
Only an electronic all-wheel drive and dual-motor powertrain with 365 horsepower and 516 pounds of torque, coupled with a single-speed automatic gearbox, is offered with the Electrified G80.
Even though the G80 EV weighs 5,308 pounds, about half a ton more than the Tesla Model 3 and 600 pounds more than the Polestar 2, it doesn’t seem bulky. It is solidly rooted because of its low center of gravity. It doesn’t have the rear-steering that makes the G80 Sport so elegant, but it is still pretty agile with a soft body roll on 19-inch alloy wheels and all-season tires.
Various driving settings are available, including Eco for optimal economy, Comfort for regular driving, and Sport for improved steering feel, go-pedal responsiveness, and a minor stiffening of the electrically adjustable suspension.
An i-Pedal mode for one-pedal driving is one of the four degrees of regenerative braking. When cornering and making fast turns on winding roads, it may stop the vehicle entirely without using the brakes and works like a manual downshift.
The G80 EV’s powerful twin electric motors are built on rear-wheel drive and achieve a zero-to-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds. That is much slower than the Model 3’s 3.1 seconds and the Polestar 2’s 4.1 seconds.
Range, power use, and charging
The Electrified G80’s EPA rating for city, highway, and combined driving cycles is 97 MPGe, and its power usage is 35 kilowatt-hours per 100 miles. That is the least effective competitor in its small set. Tesla leads at 113 MPGe and 30 kWh per 100 miles, while the Polestar 2 is rated at 100 MPGe combined and 34 kWh per 100 miles.
An 87.2 kWh battery pack mounted under the floor (with a little portion protruding above the floor under the back seat) powers the electric G80 motors. Only the Model 3’s 315 miles of expected range surpasses its 282 miles.
The vehicle has a 10.9 kW onboard charger for Level 2 charging, which takes around 7.5 hours to complete with a drained battery. It takes about 7 hours for the Model 3, which has a smaller 75 kWh battery. One of the few automakers, Genesis, has a 350-to-800-volt electrical system that is switchable and compatible with public fast chargers.
A G80 may arrive at a 350 kW fast-charger with 10% of its battery and leave with 80% of it in 25 minutes. A Polestar 2 would need roughly 35 minutes for the exact charging session, while a Model 3 may require up to 30 minutes.
Tech for safety and driver assistance:
The Electrified G80 was recognized as a Top Safety Pick+ in December by the non-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). After being crash-tested, it received the highest certification and the best scores.
However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet tested the vehicle in an accident. The 2022 gasoline-powered G80 received a five-star rating from NHTSA. Still, those ratings cannot be applied to EVs because even removing a large engine and transmission up front and placing a rigid, reinforced battery pack beneath the floor could affect how the Electrified operates.
The G80 EV comes equipped with a variety of cutting-edge safety features as standard, including navigation-based adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, highway driving assistance with lane following and turn signal-activated lane changing service, blind spot collision avoidance assistance with blind spot view monitor, forward collision avoidance with pedestrian and cyclist identification, reverse parking collision avoidance, a driver attention monitor, automated high beam control, safe electric parking, and lane departure warning.
Comfort and Space: Genesis Electrified G80
The inside of the Electrified G80 looks precisely like that of its internal combustion sister. Additionally, it is equally cozy. The front seats may be adjusted in 16 ways for the driver’s seat and 12 other ways for the passenger seat. They can also be heated and cooled. The Genesis Ergo Motion massaging feature is also available for the driver’s seat. Although the pull-down armrest, which has two cup holders and a tiny cubby, works best in the middle of the sitting position in the back chairs, they are nonetheless comfy.
The Electrified G80 has segment-leading back legroom of 35.9 inches. However, the front and rear headroom are somewhat limited by the floor’s modest elevation, which was necessary to accommodate the battery. The Model 3’s 42.7 inches of additional front legroom isn’t much more, with 42.1 inches the segment’s finest front legroom.
The G80 EV’s front headroom, at 40.23 inches, is on par with the Tesla Model 3 but is surpassed by the Polestar 2, which has an inch more. With 36.6 inches of rear headroom, the Polestar has 3.2 inches less than the class average. Although a 6-footer may fit in the second row, taller passengers might find the front seat more comfortable on a lengthy trip.
Infotainment:
Most of the Electrified G80’s features are managed via its 14.5-inch touchscreen, which may also be operated by touch, requiring the driver to divert their attention from the road to the screen or by a recessed rotary knob on the center console. The system responds nicely to voice instructions and has some controls on the steering wheel.
Wireless phone charging and Apple CarPlay are also features that come as standard. There is a Wi-Fi hotspot with a subscription service. A clever power take-off mechanism also enables the G80 EV’s battery to power tools, appliances, and audio-video equipment. Each seating row has two USB connections, including a data/charge port up front.
The surround-sound, 21-speaker Lexicon audio system produces a sound that rivals that of a concert hall.
The Remote Smart Parking Assist technology from corporate parent Hyundai Motor Group is also available on the G80 EV. With this option, you can go outside, press a button on the key fob, and watch as the vehicle parallel, perpendicular, or angled parking spots on its own.
Storage and Cargo Space: Genesis Electrified G80
2023 Electrified G80 has the smallest cargo capacity in its competitive set at just 10.8 cubic feet, with a tiny tire inflation kit in place of the spare tire. This is due to the loss of approximately 17% of the trunk’s capacity during the conversion from internal combustion—the rear-mounted electric motor protrudes into the space. The average trunk space for the group is 13.2 cubic feet, compared to 15 cubic feet for all midsize cars.
The Genesis features a ton of cubbies, door pockets, and cup and bottle holders, but unlike its competitors, it lacks a frunk—under-the-hood storage—and its rear seats do not fold down to increase total baggage capacity. The Model 3 has 2.4 cubic feet of frontal, whereas the Polestar 2 has a 1.2 cubic foot trunk.
Design: Genesis Electrified G80
The G80 EV is a traditionally designed sports sedan with a sweeping, muscular profile and a slightly elevated rear that gives the vehicle a rapid appearance even when stationary. There is a sizable—but not Lexus sizable—diamond-patterned grille, but the EV substitutes a more muted, silvery grey with black scoring for the ICE version’s brilliant chrome. The grille conceals the charging port.
The bottom fascia of the G80 Electric is punctured by diamond-shaped holes that let cooling air circulate in and around the under-hood electronics. This feature separates the Electric from the other G80s and is one of the few external characteristics.
The G80 stands out because of its distinctive two-bar lighting design, particularly at night, and its fastback roofline, created to give the back seats enough room for grown people.
The Electric G80’s interior is as luxurious as its ICE counterparts, with carefully chosen materials installed without any unsightly gaps or misalignments. The top and bottom portions of the neat, crisp dash are divided by a horizontal wood strip, and brilliant metal encircles the temperature control unit and driver instrument display. The EV competes well against European premium brands.
The Genesis Electrified G80: Is It Worth It?
The only Electrified G80 trim is the Prestige, which starts at $80,920 (destination included) and comes fully equipped.
It is priced nearly precisely in the middle between midsize luxury EVs like the high-end Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2 cars and full-size luxury EVs like the Mercedes-Benz EQS, Lucid Air, or Tesla Model S. The impending Mercedes-Benz EQE, the only other real luxury midsize electric vehicle, won’t be on sale until late in 2022. Although the price hasn’t been announced, it’s anticipated to start in the low- to mid-$70,000 range.
If the basic gloss white doesn’t appeal, the only other choices are a variety of exterior colors. Seven of the possible colors have a price of $575, while matte white has a cost of $1,500.
There is no qualifying for the federal EV tax credit. The G80 EV fails to fulfill the standards for North American assembly. Hyundai’s Alabama facility will build the Genesis GV70 SUV, but even if manufacturing shifts there, the eligible price for sedans is restricted to $55,000.
The G80 EV is launching slowly, with only 22 states currently offering it (up from 12 in November). These 22 states include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
What is the cost of Genesis insurance?
The G80 EV should have comparable insurance costs to most of its competitors. Our statistics show that an average 30-year-old female driver with a clean driving record may anticipate an annual premium of around $2,800, but this budget covers all 50 states. But because the G80 EV is brand-new, according to our study, it should be comparable to other new EVs and Genesis models. The starting annual cost of the G80 with fuel is around $2,840. The yearly cost of a Tesla Model 3 owner might be $3,000, compared to $2,500 for a Polestar 2 and over $3,000 for a Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan.
Our Verdict
The 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 is a 365-horsepower, all-wheel drive electric version of the well-liked twin-turbo G80 3.5T Sport. The only thing people don’t like about it is its name. Genesis is the luxury brand of the Hyundai Motor Group. The Electrified G80 is an authentic grand tourer that can fight with the best cars from Germany and Japan.
