√2022 Genesis G80 2.5T Sport Line review

Sized like an E-Class, but priced like a C, does the refreshed Genesis G80, with a 2.5-litre turbo petrol and new Sport Line package, have what it takes to tackle European competitors head-on?

What we love

Styling will grab attention
New and improved interior layout
Drives like a German sedan

What we don’t

The four-cylinder may leave you pining for the V6
Options packs turn it into a six-figure proposition
Some safety gear doesn’t come as standard

Introduction

Even before we knew what it was, the 2022 Genesis G80 line-up has changed in Australia.

As we’ve seen with other upstart luxury sub-brands before, Hyundai has been continually tweaking and adjusting premium stand-alone brand Genesis on the fly, to get the best proposition for our market.

It’s usually what happens when things are new, just look at Lexus – it’s still figuring things out after 30 years in the luxury car game. Luckily there are motoring publications to cut through the mess and tell you what’s what.

The all-new Genesis G80 is the brand’s flagship large sedan, and originally was the product that actually introduced Australians to the brand back in 2015. More recently, and in the second half of 2020, Australia received the second generation and all-new Genesis G80, and this time in more than just one configuration.

Initially, there were both petrol and diesel engines on offer alongside rear- and all-wheel-drive options too. In the 12 months since, Genesis has removed the luxury of choice by now offering the G80 in two simple forms: a rear-wheel-drive Genesis G80 2.5T RWD with a 2.5-litre turbo four-cylinder, and an all-wheel-drive, 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 Genesis G80 3.5T AWD.

The rear-wheel-drive 2.5-litre turbo Genesis G80 is priced from $86,000, and the all-wheel-drive V6 twin-turbo from $102,000, both before on-roads. Option costs vary depending on the model, but we’ll focus on our cheaper 2.5-litre-powered

Genesis G80 in this review.

Optional extras include a Sport Line package ($6000) that adds carbon interior inlays, sports seats, adaptive dampers, 20-inch wheels and more. There’s also a Luxury package for $13,000 that offers a totally different second row with electrically adjustable, heated and cooled rear seats, plus two 9.2-inch screens in the back for your guests as just the beginning.

Our test car had both option packages added to the tune of $19,000 extra, meaning it’s worth $105,000 before registration costs. Although large and grouped option packs tend to lead to sticker shock, they can actually help make model ranges elegantly simple, and personally I’m a big believer in an uncomplicated product offering.

It’s irrelevant whether the brand plans to sell 50 or 50,000 vehicles, providing customers some, albeit not crippling, amount of choice no doubt makes it easier for us all to transact.

Not only that, but a simplified vehicle line-up can result in more cars arriving sooner into the country. Given the current microchip shortage and production constraints hampering the new-car world, having a simple range means brands can better plan without managing options and thousands of potential configurations.

In this day and age, it’s a good move to be making.

Key details	2022 Genesis G80 2.5T RWD
Price (MSRP)	$86,000 plus on-road costs
Colour of test car	Mallorca Blue
Options	Sport Line package – $6000 – Road Preview electronically controlled suspension – Black four-piston front brake calipers – Three-spoke steering wheel – Carbon-fibre interior trims – Alloy pedals – 20-inch alloy wheels – Sport-styled front and rear bumpers Luxury package – $13,000 – 18-way Ergo Motion front seats – Three-zone climate control – Heated and ventilated rear outboard seats – Dual 9.2-inch rear entertainment screens – Rear armrest console controls – Remote smart park assist – Nappa leather upholstery
Price as tested	$105,000 plus on-road costs
Rivals	BMW 5 Series\| Mercedes-Benz E-Class \| Audi A6

Inside

To Genesis’s credit, the G80 is truly all-new inside and out compared to its predecessor.

The interior has undergone a marked improvement versus its previous-generation product. Looking at the G80’s smaller G70 sibling, it has received critical scorn for being “too Hyundai” and using too many parts from the Hyundai parent company’s mainstream range.

That complaint is no longer valid. Jumping inside, you’re now greeted with acres of fine materials, be it supple leather on the seats or high-end Alcantara above your head. Yes, the whole roof line – A-pillars and all – is covered in Ultrasuede as part of the Luxury package.

Once you stop using your finger to draw patterns and shapes in the suede material above your head, you can begin to notice the interesting, detailed, and carbon-fibre trim on the dashboard, which comes as part of the Sport Line equipment.

Instead of being laid in a usual criss-cross weave – like most carbon fibre – it’s instead been laid in diamond-shaped patterns akin to parquetry. It’s these numerous small touches that show Genesis has really attempted to push its cabin design and ambiance to a new level, and I reckon it’s succeeded.

The overall first impressions are miles ahead compared to the outgoing car. The seats themselves are marvellous, and come with Ergo Motion massage technology (with the Luxury Package). What this clever tech does is employ seven individually inflatable air pockets inside the seat that can inflate and ‘press’ up against your lower back, middle back and shoulders in an attempt to reduce fatigue.

If you want it to simply give you a massage for fun instead, it can do that too. Overall, they’re seriously comfortable seats, with myriad forms of adjustment including lumbar, heating and ventilation, and thankfully come in colours other than white too.

Other seat trim colours on offer include black, brown, blue, dune beige, and then vanilla beige (white) like our car. Even after a week of living with it, dirt transfer was obvious, so only opt for white if you’re diligent with your cleaning regime.

I like the blue leather personally, but then again blue duco over tan leather is another drop-dead gorgeous combination. Other parts of the cabin that are new include a digitised air-conditioning panel that combines both tactile switches with a digital haptic feedback, a new rotary controller for the infotainment system, and a strange 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with three-dimensional mode.

It’s a really strange system that can be offputting to some. It uses cameras to track your eyes, then uses its embedded, angled screens within the gauge cluster to then show each of your eyes images that quite literally jump off the page.

It’s technology that’s made by German automotive conglomerate Continental, and is ground-breaking stuff. Depending on how you’re looking at it, it can morph from 2D to 3D like a Magic Eye book, which can be distracting. If you want to lower the 3D-ness you can, or turn it off completely if you prefer.

Over in the second row, occupant space is fantastic. I’m 183cm tall and sitting behind my own driving position still left plenty of room for my knees, feet and head. Our particular test car was fitted with the optional Luxury package, which meant the second row was A-grade luxury.

Folding down the centre armrest reveals mission control, where you can electrically adjust the second-row seating, recline the seat too, introduce heating or cooling, or simply control the rear-seat infotainment using an identical controller to the one found up front.

There’s even a cheeky wireless charger and USB ports buried alongside mission control, meaning guests in the back truly have no reason to complain or moan. Remember, all of these features come part of the $13,000 Luxury package, so if you want to spoil your kids with the best, cough up.

The boot of the 2022 Genesis G80 can take 424L of stuff, which means a decent grocery shop, a few bags and a kid’s stroller are all she wrote. It’s quite a deep and wide space but features a narrow aperture, so don’t compare it to a hatchback or SUV in that regard.

Trips to Ikea are probably a no-go, but it does have a ski flap for the loading of long and skinny items.

	2022 Genesis G80 2.5T RWD
Seats	Five
Boot volume	424L
Length	4995mm
Width	1925mm
Height	1465mm
Wheelbase	3010mm

Infotainment and Connectivity

Handling infotainment in the 2022 Genesis G80 is an epic 14.5-inch widescreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and DAB+ radio broadcasting. Instead of simply installing the biggest screen possible like some others, Genesis has gone one further and calibrated the software package to best use the display’s massive real estate.

The software divvies up the screen into customisable modules viewable at the same time. For example, you can have location data, music data, and a dedicated track list open all at the same time.

It’s clever, and given the screen is so big, it displays the information with the relevant detail required. It’s also great to see a manufacturer pushing its software development to get the most from the hardware.

The whole kit is controlled via a shallow, surface-mounted and interesting-looking rotary dial controller in the lower centre console. I mention the surface-mount point as it’s not the sort of dial you grab and use – like BMW’s iDrive system – but rather one you place your hand over and spin with your fingers.

If you’re used to working the ones-and-twos like a DJ, you’ll be stoked, but if not, you’ll need to train your dexterity. On top of the outer ring being rotatable, the inner part of the dial can be poked and swiped to administer commands, and you can draw letters on it, too, if you prefer writing.

The rotary dial does take some familiarisation, as I just mentioned, but once you’ve spent a week with it, you learn its foibles. The standard-fit 21-speaker Lexicon stereo system, on the other hand, is incredibly good.

The speakers are set up in 17 different places around the cabin, and the amplifier itself is a bit of a monster too. Staples like Dr Dre’s 2001 and Radiohead’s Kid A both juxtapose each other, but prove how versatile the sound system can be.

The spoken word cuts through the mix clear and centre stage, whereas the huge sounds from Radiohead’s groundbreaking album are incredibly lofty and hugely ambient. Regardless of what you spin, you’ll be stoked with how it’s reproduced.

Safety and Technology

Out of the two 2022 Genesis G80 versions on offer, only the 2.5-litre rear-wheel-drive model wears a five-star ANCAP badge.

If you’re wondering why, it’s because the V6 twin-turbo model hasn’t been officially scrutinised by ANCAP. The cheaper and more affordable car was tested under 2021’s testing regime where it scored five stars.

Key areas where it performed well include adult occupant safety, but its vulnerable road user score of 77 per cent – if a pedestrian is struck by the vehicle – could be improved.

The 2022 Genesis G80 comes with the latest safety technology as standard, with its autonomous emergency braking system working at junctions, intersections and oncoming traffic, its lane-keeping assist able to help with evasive steering action, and safe-exit system ensuring your children do not open their door into oncoming traffic.

However, not all safety tech comes as standard. If you like the sound of reverse autonomous emergency braking that can detect objects when moving backward then brake to avoid them, or Forward Attention Warning that monitors and warms when the driver looks away – you’ll have to pay extra. Both are bundled in as part of the $13,000 Luxury package, sadly.

	2022 Genesis G80 2.5T RWD
ANCAP rating	Five stars (tested 2021)
Safety report	Link to ANCAP report

Value for Money

Assessing the value equation is an interesting one.

The 2022 Genesis G80 is larger than a BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, but priced more in line with a high-end 3 Series or C-Class.

That means it can feel dear next to entry-level European metal, but remember, it’s also far more car. Conversely, it’s a little cheap when assessed against the mid-sized Germans, but you can argue the flip side of the quality coin here is harder to justify.

By that I mean the gap above a Genesis G80 to a mid-sized German competitor is smaller than the advantage a Genesis has over a small-sized European sedan like a 3 Series.

At a glance	2022 Genesis G80 2.5T RWD
Warranty	Five years / unlimited km
Service intervals	12 months or 10,000km
Servicing costs	Free for five years or 50,000km, whichever comes first

As mentioned, our 2022 Genesis G80 2.5-litre turbo starts from $86,000 before on-roads. An all-new for 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class starts from $90,400, and BMW’s ever-good 330i M Sport from $79,900, also before on-roads. If you want a 5 Series or an E-Class, expect to pay six figures.

Servicing a Genesis is far cheaper, however, especially since the first five years and 50,000km of servicing are on the house.

Genesis claims mixed-cycled fuel consumption of 8.6 litres per 100 kilometres. On test we returned a close 9.1L/100km – impressive for a cars of its size and weight.

Fuel Usage	Fuel Stats
Fuel cons. (claimed)	8.6L/100km
Fuel cons. (on test)	9.1L/100km
Fuel type	95 octane premium unleaded
Fuel tank size	65L

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Driving

More of us need to jump back behind the wheel of a large, rear-wheel-drive sedan just as a refresher.

I already know my elders will state its hip point is too low and it’s hard to get in and out of – which I agree with and health does come first – but the trick is to focus on what it’s like once you’re seated and driving. Which to me feels akin to a golden-era BMW, which is a huge compliment.

I felt slightly this way after spending six months with a Genesis G70 long-term loan last year. Now the European-ness is even more pronounced with this new-generation Genesis G80.

While I can pinpoint a few exact reasons why, like its steering and poised suspension tune, that would be pigeonholing and unfair. The whole experience feels truly ‘European premium’ if you were to adjectivise the saying, including everything from the materials inside the cabin to the way the rear-drive chassis is built.

When you first set off, you instantly notice how quiet the thing is. Putting about town is a wafty and serene affair, as the cabin doesn’t seem to let in outside fanfare to interfere with your commute. The optional adaptive suspension system works well on the daily grind, too, with the most comfortable mode being just about calm enough to do the whole luxury car thing on our roads.

The 2022 Genesis G80 has its multiple suspension tunes calibrated and validated in Australia, so it’s not a surprise or pot-luck as to why it rides well locally. Still, it’s not perfect, as the Comfort suspension mode still errs on the side of firm versus comfort, somewhat against the name of the program itself.

However, with that inherent firmness comes composure; something that European cars often deliver in spades. The steering weight is chunky and big like the tiller itself, and the other controls feel direct and connected too.

Moving things up into Sport does make the car more capable and fun to throw about, but the powertrain never once eggs you on to do that. The 2.5-litre turbo four-cylinder isn’t slow by any means, but it’s not brisk either.

It produces a healthy 224kW/422Nm routed through the eight-speed automatic – with the torque on tap for nearly 2500rpm – but it also moves nearly 1900kg of car. That means any briskness you were hoping for is drowned out by its weight.

It’s what I mean about it never encouraging bad behaviour. If anything, the driveline rather encourages you to mosey about and instead enjoy the quiet and luxurious ambiance offered by the cabin.

The only time it ever felt underpowered was with four adults on board and trying to overtake in a triple-digit speed zone, but even then the decision to lay on the power just requires some foresight. It’s easy enough to drive and be content with the performance on offer and not have to step up to the twin-turbo model.

Another reason is the handling, as an entry-level four-cylinder car is still a hoot in terms of performance driving. It has far less weight over the front axle, which translates to a more nimble-feeling and responsive front end on a good road.

It’ll also communicate what’s going on well, as slippery conditions and the odd bumpy corner will result in some correctional steering efforts.

When you set it to Sport and begin to tango, the Genesis G80 will oblige, but most importantly it feels fun, involving, and on par with the sedans we know, love, and will compare it to from Europe.

Key details	2022 Genesis G80 2.5T RWD
Engine	2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power	224kW @ 5800rpm
Torque	422Nm @ 1650-4000rpm
Drive type	Rear-wheel drive
Transmission	Eight-speed torque convertor automatic
Power to weight ratio	119.9kW/t
Weight (tare)	1869kg
Turning circle	11.6m

Conclusion

Even though the 2022 Genesis G80 is not the SUV version that everyone’s after, it’s still as relevant as ever for Australian new car buyers.

Aside from its grand proportions for the money, it’s also a well-designed and well-equipped package. For around the price of a small-sized European sedan, you’re instead buying South Korea’s finest, and one that’s taken a few more leaves from Germany’s books than they’d ever care to admit.

It feels quality, rides well, and is quick enough to keep you amused. The suspension tune and overall quality of the cabin are big improvements for Genesis, too, and put to bed our reservations we had with the previous-generation product.

When you helicopter over the nitty-gritty, however, we’re actually talking about a turbocharged, premium, and large rear-wheel-drive sedan that’s amazingly not from Europe.

I honestly thought the golden era of internal combustion was over, but Genesis seems to think otherwise by rehashing one of the greatest driving philosophies out there.

Good stuff. I think they’re onto a winner, if the brand can convince the greater car buying public that the sedan ain’t quite dead yet.