Review of Genesis G80 finds an electric limo where back seats are the best place to be

Electric-powered Genesis G80 limousine offers serious shunt within a feature-laden cabin.

The Genesis G80 Electrified.

The revolution has begun.

Sales of electric cars hovered below one per cent for years in Australia, but the tide has officially turned.

Electric cars outsold hybrid vehicles for the first time in February, across the nation nearly 6000 found homes. About 200 more than hybrids.

That can partly be attributed to supply chain peaks and troughs with Tesla achieving the third most popular seller overall via its Model 3.

Given acceptance of battery-powered electric vehicles are growing, it’s no surprise manufacturers such as Genesis are showcasing uber-luxurious offerings such as the G80. The sedan is available with petrol power as well as electric, but there is a hefty price premium for the latter.

Inside the luxurious cabin of the Genesis G80 Electrified Lux model.

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

KEL: Sedans may have become an acquired taste, but this one certainly looks upper class.

GRANT: Genesis has forged a strong reputation with luxury chauffeurs. It’s the luxury offshoot from Hyundai, and most people still have little idea about the brand even though it’s had a presence in Australia for about a decade.

KEL: Throughout our test drive people often asked what kind of car it was. Long and with lovely cabin finishes, I can see the appeal for transfer companies, but I got an immediate feeling of older gent styling.

GRANT: That was probably due to the black and walnut trim selection. The white and green would probably have been more to your liking – similar to the GV60 SUV we drove a couple of months back which you loved.

KEL: True, I’m probably not the G80 target market. Spacious with a lot of technology, its styling was chic and conservative.

GRANT: The sticker price will turn heads, at about $155k drive-away. That’s about $63,000 more than the base model G80 with a four-cylinder turbo petrol engine.

KEL: That puts the Genesis in competitive territory, especially among prestige rivals for not much more money.

GRANT: You can differentiate the electrified version from its petrol cousins courtesy of a flashy enclosed grille, 19-inch alloys and improved aerodynamics courtesy of different bumpers.

Solar panels in the Genesis G80 Electrified Lux roof add range and help power various features within the cabin.

WHAT DID YOU LIKE?

KEL: Carrying five, it was a spacious cabin and super quiet when travelling.

GRANT: Given the underpinnings are shared with the petrol model, it still has the transmission tunnel which robs foot space in the rear. Although for a medium-size sedan it punches above its weight for comfort.

KEL: Driver massage seats are always nice. I also saw it had roof solar panels.

GRANT: The latter provides extra charge into the 87.2kWh battery which Genesis claims can add more than 1000km a year of extra driving depending on how much it sits in the sun. It can also provide additional power into the 12-volt battery that powers things such as the aircon and infotainment system. Another cool function is its “vehicle to load” – you can charge other vehicles, computers or camping gear.

KEL: Soft leather finishes across the seats were nice, while also good inclusions were the three-zone aircon, power blind for the back window, four heated seats, great stereo and the dual screens in the back.

GRANT: Servicing is free for the first five years, while buyers also get a choice of having a charger installed at home or five years of free refuels using the ChargeFox network.

Kel and Grant Edwards.

WHAT DID YOU LOATHE?

KEL: Internal colour scheme aside, I felt like this was a step backward compared to the GV60.

GRANT: That SUV uses original EV architecture, whereas the G80 replaces the petrol engine with two electric motors and the batteries are under the floor in a skateboard style construction. Which also explains the limited boot space.

KEL: Fitting 10 full grocery bags was a squeeze.

GRANT: That also limited the ability to carry sports equipment or other gear, although that kind of flexibility really isn’t within the sedan’s remit. Giving those in the back seat access to the primary satnav and infotainment highlights its transport intentions, but it could be frustrating when there are kids involved.

Individual screens are available for those in the back seat of the Genesis G80 Electrified Lux.

HOW WAS THE DRIVE?

KEL: It felt like a limousine. Road noise was virtually non-existent.

GRANT: Stay in a straight line and the G80 is also quick. Old-school 0-100km/h measurement sits at less than five seconds, which is swift.

KEL: Smooth and serene, it was nice to drive and I liked how all the safety equipment wasn’t too intrusive.

GRANT: It uses artificial intelligence to learn your style and adapts accordingly. There is also a camera at the front which adjusts the suspension for bumps and lumps within milliseconds to improve the ride. Attack the bends too hard in comfort mode and there is a reasonable amount of roll, but sport delivers a more balanced approach.

The grille is a distinctive feature of the Genesis G80 Electrified Lux.

WOULD YOU BUY ONE?

KEL: Luxurious and comfortable, it’s a nice sedan but I’m still smitten with the GV60 for its style and design that is $40k less expensive.

GRANT: The G80 is a car in which to be chauffeured rather than drive. It’s a showcase of cool features and refinement, yet the sedan body style derived for a petrol engine limits its appeal.

Originally published as Review of Genesis G80 finds an electric limo where back seats are the best place to be