Hyundai Genesis G80 is a luxury leader in tech, safety

Up against tough odds, Genesis continues putting up a tough battle to gain market share in the luxury realm. A boost has come this year for Hy und a i ’ s luxury brand f rom t he award- winning G70 model, but the reality is that quality is constant throughout the Genesis lineup.

The Genesis brand is ranked among the most reliable luxury cars, and it compares well in most spec areas to many of the longstandingbig boys in the luxury world.

Here’s a look at their midsize sedan offering: The Genesis G80.

Looks

The G80 features extremely sharp designs on both the exterior and interior of the vehicle, though to be fair it doesn’t exude quite as luxurious a feel as you’ll get from some of its rivals.

The interior is quite roomy for the class, and features a sharp-looking dashboardwith both analog and digital clocks. Another nice addition was the panoramic sunroof, and you also get sunshades in the rear and sides.

The Nappa leather seating surfaces were plush and comfortable, even on longer drives. There was also some attractive carbon fiber and aluminum interior trim. The steering wheel is leather-wrapped, and heated, and feels good on the driver’s hands.

How’s the ride?

You’ll get no shortage of enjoyment out of driving the G80, a must for this level of vehicle. It can’t all be about the looks.

You can choose between Eco, Sport andNormal driving modes; and Sport is of course the best option to enjoy the ride.

The G80 is a fun and sporty vehicle that will get moving quickly when you want it to go. Yet at the same time, it’s a quiet vehicle that offers a smooth driving experience with almost no road noise entering.

Basically, it’s got racecar tendencies, but they only show up when you want them to do so.

This power comes froma few different power plans.

For starters, you can get a base engine with 311 horsepower from a 3.8-liter V6. I drove the middle option, a 3.3.-liter V6 twinturbo offering 365 hp. Finally, a 5.0-liter V8 is offered that boasts 420 hp. Torque ranges from 293 to 383 on the models.

You can choose between RWD or AWD on all three options, and all three are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission (though paddle shifters are included)

Technology, safety

The Genesis G80 features excellent tech offerings, and nearly perfect government safety ratings (5 stars in every category except one)

The superb infotainment setup was well- designed and responded well to both voice and touch commands. It features a 9.2-inch touchscreen; powerful 17-speaker audio System; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility for phone mirroring; and a wireless phone charging pad.

Audio options include: AM, FM, HD Radio, CD, and SiriusXM satellite Radio (90-day Trial), in addition to Bluetooth streaming from your phone.

For safety, Genesis goes all out, with the G80 offering: Vehicle Stability Management; Nine Airbags; Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection; Blind-Spot Collision Warning with Rear CrossTraffic Collision Warning; Lane Keeping Assist; a very helpful Driver Attention Warning; Surround ViewCamera; Rain-Sensing Wipers and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System.

Smart Cruise Control works very well and adjusts for traffic, andtheHeads-up Display helps keep your eyes on the road.

MPG

Official fuel mileage numbers on the G80 I tested were 17 city/24 highway/20 combined. In real-world testing, I averaged 16 mpg. This was a weak point for the Genesis, as it trailed most of its competition in fuel efficiency.

Price

The 2019 Genesis G80 AWD3.3TSport that I tested was priced at $58,745, but the G80’s base price starts about $43K. Compared to rival luxury sedans, especially theGermanones, that is a major discount.

You also get strong Genesis warranties, including a 5-year/60,000-mile New Vehicle Warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Warranty.

Bottom line

Among luxury sedans, the status quo has been in place for a while. So it’s good to see an upstart luxury brand like Genesis shake things up.

Between theG80’s affordable pricing, strong technology, smooth ride and sharp looks, it has the goods to upset the natural order of things in this exclusive vehicle bracket.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HYUNDAI The Genesis G80is a fun and sporty vehicle that will get moving quickly when you want it to go.