CARGAZING Value Over History Genesis G80 Priced Lower, Equipped As Well As Luxury Competitors By Derek Price one of the best perks of buying CARGAZING.COM this car, in my view, as a driver will pick it up and drop it off for you few weeks ago I reviewed for three years or 36,000 miles. the Genesis G90, the flag- As for pricing, the G80 under- ship car for Hyundai’s cuts most of its competitors. It brand-new luxury starts about $10 grand less than Amarque. the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes- This week I’m driving its little Benz E-Class, and a few thousand sister, the G80, a car that will intro- less than the Cadillac CTS, Audi duce the Genesis brand to a bigger A6 and Lexus GS. audience thanks to its more attain- For people who want to pay for able starting price of $41,400. the product itself, not cachet or The differences between the history, it’s a real bargain. two models are striking, but I’m more impressed with the similari- ties. While the smaller G80 has a What was tested? sportier, livelier and more engag- 2017 Genesis G80 RWD 3.8 ing feel over the road, it does ($41,400). Options: Premium nearly as good a job as the G90 at package ($4,750), ultimate pack- pampering you. age ($4,200). Price as tested It’s a car without any weak PHOTOS COURTESY OF GENESIS G80 points to be found, a compli- The G80 is the smaller of two cars Genesis is selling in its inaugural year as a standalone brand. It’s (including $950 destination ment I’ve often applied to Lexus designed to compete with mid-size luxury cars including the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5-Series, charge): $51,300 but rarely to cars from Korean Lexus GS and Cadillac CTS. Wheelbase: 118.5 in. brands — although that’s been Length: 196.5 in. changing in recent years. that have been building and mar- Mercedes-Benz.” It’s says you pre- “human-centered innovation.” Width: 74.4 in. In fact, if this car has a weak- keting luxury cars for decades. fer logic over emotion instead, And its 900-watt Lexicon audio Height: 58.3 in. ness, it’s not in the product itself. For now, “I drive a Genesis” which is the more appealing mes- system with 64 GB of multimedia Engine: 3.8-liter V6 (311 hp, It’s in your head. It just doesn’t doesn’t carry the same weight or sage for people who don’t want to storage should satisfy both audio- 293 ft.-lbs. torque) carry the same panache as brands have the same ring as “I drive a appear snobbish anyway. philes and technophiles. If Genesis keeps building prod- Performance from the Transmission: Eight-speed ucts like this, though, that could 311-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6 in my automatic change. It’s a car that, purely from test car was impressive, and I’m Fuel economy: 18 city, the driving perspective, anyone sure the 5.0-liter V8 would be even 28 highway should take pride in owning. more so. With a suspension tuned The G80 is refined, powerful, about halfway between supple RATINGS rewarding and tastefully beautiful. and engaging, it’s a good mix of Style: 8 That makes it is as competent a feeling connected to the road Performance: 9 luxury car as any from the long without being overly harsh. Price: 10 tenured brands. Still, I wouldn’t go so far as to Handling: 9 It also checks all the right boxes call it a great sports sedan in the Ride: 8 every contemporary, sporty luxury vein of BMW. The 2018 G80 Sport Comfort: 7 car should. may come closer to filling that role It comes standard with active when it hits the market soon with Quality: 8 safety features such as lane keep a suite of performance-oriented Overall: 9 assist, blind spot detection and tweaks. Why buy it? automatic emergency braking. The G80 also comes with the It looks, drives and feels as A sensor to automatically open “Genesis Experience” concierge your trunk, a heads-up display service like the pricier G90, letting refined as well-established luxury First-rate materials and a focus on “human-centered innovation” for the driver and a beautifully you get valet service appointments sedans but comes from a fresh make the Genesis G80 feel as sumptuous as cars from the established executed touchscreen interface at no extra charge. Not having to brand. It’s got a very appealing luxury brands. exemplify what Genesis calls see the inside of a service center is price for this class of car. CARGAZING PHOTOS COURTESY OF GENESIS G80 The G80 is the smaller of two cars Genesis is selling in its inaugural year as a standalone brand. It’s designed to compete with mid-size luxury cars including the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5-Series, Lexus GS and Cadillac CTS. Value Over History Genesis G80 Priced Lower, Equipped As Well As Luxury Competitors By Derek Price CARGAZING.COM few weeks ago I reviewed the Genesis G90, the flagship car for Hyundai’s brand-new A luxury marque. This week I’m driving its little storage should satisfy both audio- sister, the G80, a car that will intro- philes and technophiles. duce the Genesis brand to a bigger Performance from the audience thanks to its more attain- 311-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6 in my able starting price of $41,400. test car was impressive, and I’m The differences between the two sure the 5.0-liter V8 would be even models are striking, but I’m more more so. With a suspension tuned impressed with the similarities. about halfway between supple While the smaller G80 has a sport- and engaging, it’s a good mix of ier, livelier and more engaging feel feeling connected to the road over the road, it does nearly as good without being overly harsh. a job as the G90 at pampering you. Still, I wouldn’t go so far as to It’s a car without any weak call it a great sports sedan in the points to be found, a compliment vein of BMW. The 2018 G80 Sport I’ve often applied to Lexus may come closer to filling that but rarely to cars from Korean role when it hits the market soon brands — although that’s been with a suite of performance-ori- changing in recent years. ented tweaks. In fact, if this car has a weak- The G80 also comes with the ness, it’s not in the product itself. “Genesis Experience” concierge It’s in your head. It just doesn’t service like the pricier G90, letting carry the same panache as brands you get valet service appoint- that have been building and mar- ments at no extra charge. Not hav- keting luxury cars for decades. ing to see the inside of a service For now, “I drive a Genesis” center is one of the best perks of doesn’t carry the same weight or buying this car, in my view, as a have the same ring as “I drive a driver will pick it up and drop it Mercedes-Benz.” It’s says you pre- off for you for three years or fer logic over emotion instead, 36,000 miles. which is the more appealing mes- As for pricing, the G80 under- sage for people who don’t want to First-rate materials and a focus on “human-centered innovation” make the Genesis G80 feel as sumptuous cuts most of its competitors. It appear snobbish anyway. as cars from the established luxury brands. starts about $10 grand less than If Genesis keeps building prod- the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes- ucts like this, though, that could That makes it is as competent a It comes standard with active for the driver and a beautifully Benz E-Class, and a few thousand change. It’s a car that, purely from luxury car as any from the long safety features such as lane keep executed touchscreen interface less than the Cadillac CTS, Audi the driving perspective, anyone tenured brands. assist, blind spot detection and exemplify what Genesis calls A6 and Lexus GS. should take pride in owning. It also checks all the right boxes automatic emergency braking. “human-centered innovation.” For people who want to pay for The G80 is refined, powerful, every contemporary, sporty luxury A sensor to automatically open And its 900-watt Lexicon audio the product itself, not cachet or rewarding and tastefully beautiful. car should. your trunk, a heads-up display system with 64 GB of multimedia history, it’s a real bargain. A CLOSER LOOK AT A GLANCE: FACTS, FIGURES AND RATINGS What was tested? RATINGS Why buy it? 2017 Genesis G80 RWD 3.8 ($41,400). Options: Premium Style: 8 It looks, drives and feels as package ($4,750), ultimate package ($4,200). Price as tested Performance: 9 refined as well-established (including $950 destination charge): $51,300 Price: 10 luxury sedans but comes Wheelbase: 118.5 in. Handling: 9 from a fresh brand. It’s got a Length: 196.5 in. Ride: 8 very appealing price for this Width: 74.4 in. Comfort: 7 class of car. Height: 58.3 in. Quality: 8 Engine: 3.8-liter V6 (311 hp, 293 ft.-lbs. torque) Overall: 9 Transmission: Eight-speed automatic Fuel economy: 18 city, 28 highway.