2023 Genesis G80 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 (we’re still not in love with the naming) largely looks like the conventional G80, because that’s the point. Since there’s no need to feed air into an engine that isn’t there, the grille is a solid piece, but it follows the same general design as the conventional G80. This is one of the most notable differences between the gasoline G80 and the Electrified.

The charging port is actually located in the grille behind an integrated fold-out panel. The panel feels like cheap plastic compared to that of other EVs, but its location at the front of the car is ideal. There’s no need to position the car for the charging cable to reach the port—simply nose the car towards the charging station and plug in.

Moving inside reveals a cabin that’s far more mature than the brand’s age. It’s not a metered response to say that the Genesis interior is as good as that of any other luxury sedan out there. The cabin is replete with soft-touch materials, precise stitching, and a general sense of craftsmanship. This is a fantastic interior.

Unlike other automakers that are trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to controls and infotainment systems, the G80 has a refreshingly conventional setup for climate control, infotainment, and connectivity functions. The climate controls have a small touchscreen in the middle, but the buttons and icons are laid out on the screen as if they were actual hard-point buttons.

There is one hangup in the cabin design—the pair of dials beneath the climate controls. One dial is the supplemental infotainment controller and the other is the rotary shifter. Both are in the same neighborhood and are roughly the same size and shape. Each one serves a very different purpose, though. More than once, we reached for one dial when our intent was to reach for the other.

Trims for the G80 are 2.5T RWD, 2.5T AWD, 3.5T AWD Sport, and Electrified. Standard features on the G80 include dual-zone automatic climate control, 12-way power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a 12-speaker premium stereo, and four USB ports. It also comes standard with a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In addition to its namesake all-wheel drive (AWD), the 2.5T AWD gains heated rear seats, as well as a heated steering wheel. These come standard on the Electrified G80, as does double-glazed soundproof glass, heated rear seats, front and rear USB ports, active road noise control, a Lexicon 17-speaker premium stereo system, and a fully digital instrument panel.

The list of standard features is expansive for the Electrified G80 and includes wireless device charging, push-button start, proximity keyless entry, a heated steering wheel, automatic climate control, and a hands-free smart power trunk.

Our test car also features a memory seat and memory steering wheel. Both of which retract upon opening the door. The Electrified G80 also has soft-close doors, much like you’d find in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The package is capped off with a solar-panel roof and a fetching shade of dark green.

The G80 comes standard with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. Moving up to the optional twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 unlocks 375 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque. Both engines route power through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder comes standard with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or AWD. The V6 is AWD-only.

The Electrified G80 we drove features a lithium-ion 87.2-kilowatt-hour battery pack. It powers two electric motors, one at the front and one at the rear. The dual-motor setup makes a combined 365 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque.

The Electrified G80’s acceleration is terrific. As expected with an EV, it has great pickup at low speeds, but it also impresses at highway speeds. Mercifully, the acceleration is not whiplash-inducing quick. Whereas Genesis has positioned the smaller G70 as the sports sedan of its lineup, the G80 has a more comfort-oriented driving experience.

That comfort is felt (or rather not felt) in all aspects of driving the Electrified G80. The steering is effortless, the acceleration and braking are done with white gloves, and the big EV glides effortlessly over bumps in the road. And yet, it is firmly planted through corners, thanks to its Preview Electronically Controlled Suspension. We would not recommend an autocross event, but Genesis has not sacrificed some level of cornering prowess in pursuit of an elegant and comfortable ride.

The downside of this approach to luxury is that the Electrified G80’s steering can feel a bit numb and disconnected when compared to gasoline cars like the BMW 5 Series. To capture some of that excitement, look to the G80 3.5T AWD and its sport-tuned suspension and heavier steering feedback.

Like other EVs, the Electrified G80 features regenerative braking to capture energy while decelerating. You can adjust the power and feedback of the regen via paddles on the steering wheel. In addition to all this, the Electrified G80 features V2L, or vehicle-to-load, charging. This lets you plug 220-volt appliances into the Electrified G80.

The G80 provides 13.1 cubic feet of trunk space. That’s among the smallest in the midsize luxury sedan segment. The Electrified loses some cargo space, falling to just 11 cubic feet. On the bright side, all models come with a hands-free power trunk lid.

Forget the EV powertrain for a moment. The Electrified G80 is still a G80, and that means riding in comfort. The Electrified G80’s cabin is spacious and plush. The seats are supportive without cramming the cabin. The doors have plenty of space for water bottles and other items, and the center console has multiple pockets that are hidden behind retractable covers.

The rear seats are just as comfortable for most occupants. It has impressive legroom for the class, though the low roofline may cut into headroom for taller rear-seat occupants.

As mentioned, the G80 comes with a 14.5-inch widescreen infotainment system. It can be operated via the touchscreen or a rotary dial in the center console. We’re pleased that Genesis stuck with a touchscreen, though it has an odd home screen shared with other Genesis models (and those of parent Hyundai) that you have to swipe through to access vehicle functions.

Ahead of the rotary dial is a control pad with Back, Home, and Menu buttons, as well as volume and tuning thumb rollers. These rollers are replicated in the multifunction steering wheel. There’s no volume dial per se, but it’s good to have some form of quick up-down toggle for the volume.

The infotainment system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, presented wonderfully across two-thirds of the touchscreen. The other third of the screen is swappable between weather information, radio status, and other vehicle information.

The Electrified G80 has a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that can be toggled to present information that is important to the driver. The screen has an almost 3D effect to it, and the graphical response of the needles on the screen almost looks analog. Altogether, Genesis is teaching a masterclass in offering modern technology in a way that we want to interact with it.

The G80 comes equipped with a full complement of driver-assistance features, such as forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention warning, and intelligent speed-limit assist. It also comes with a rear-seat occupant alert, a vibrating steering wheel for warnings, and a safe exit assist, which monitors the space to the sides of a car and will alert the driver if there is an approaching vehicle before trying to get out of the car on a busy street.

Our Electrified G80 test model also came with the blind-spot camera system, which is incredibly helpful. A camera under each side mirror provides a view of your blind-spot area. When underway, simply activate the turn signal, and the corresponding side’s camera will present a live view in the fully digital instrument panel.

If time is money, then DC fast-charging makes any car more valuable. The Electrified G80 comes with an 800-volt rapid-charging system. It allows the battery to go from 10% to 80% in just 22 minutes, Genesis says. The 11-kilowatt AC charger can also load up the G80 from a 10% state of charge to its full driving range in a claimed seven hours and 22 minutes. While it hasn’t been officially confirmed by the EPA, Genesis is expecting a 282-mile range rating.

If you are not ready to make the jump to an EV, the base 2.5T RWD is the most efficient version of the gasoline G80. It returns EPA-rated fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. With AWD, fuel economy falls slightly, to 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. The 3.5T AWD returns fuel economy of 16 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. Premium fuel is recommended for all versions.

Pricing for gasoline versions of the 2023 Genesis G80 has not been released, but expect the 2.5T RWD to start at around $50,000 and the 3.5T AWD to start at around $64,000.

Scheduled to go on sale in fall 2022, the Electrified G80 starts at $80,290 with destination. For context, the Tesla Model 3 currently starts at around $50,000 while the Model S is now priced in the six-figure range. So the Electrified G80 slots between them in price.

The Genesis Electrified G80 is a standout because it’s not some futuristic game-changer—it’s a regular car that happens to be electric. Sure, it has futuristic styling and it’s a very comfortable and upscale car, but it’s a car nonetheless. The “revolutionary game-changer” is perfect for early adopters, but what the Electrified G80 brings to the table is what will lead the charge of mass appeal among EVs. Aside from the experience of getting to know how to charge and manage the range, you interact with this car the same way you would a conventionally powered G80. As a result, the 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 is a vision of our EV future, because it puts that EV future into a car with which we are far more familiar.