Overview

GENESIS has released its flagship Electrified G80 sedan in Australia this month, one of several EV options now available from the South Korean luxury brand, and an important milestone on its journey toward full electrification.

Priced at $145,000 plus on-road costs, the model is offered exclusively in Luxury Grade trim level and is priced at $43,809 more than the G80 3.5T AWD Luxury Pack on which it is based.

Yes, the Electrified G80 is based on existing ICE architecture, but from behind the wheel you really can’t tell. Excusing the obvious price difference, this quiet, full-size sedan offers the space, performance, and the range to see it compete on an even footing with its highly specified petrol-powered sibling.

The Electrified G80 features a twin motor all-wheel-drive layout, providing a combined 272kW/700Nm, resulting in a 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds. Power is drawn from an 87.2kWh battery with a fast-charging DC option allowing owners to go from 10 to 80 per cent charge in 22 minutes. The driving range is quoted at 520km (WLTP).

Partly, that impressive range is achieved using a Disconnector Actuator System (DAS), which separates one of the two motors from the drive shaft depending on driving behaviour. The system allows the Electrified G80 to switch between rear- and all-wheel-drive configurations, depending on speed and driving mode, resulting in increased efficiency.

A 400V/800V multi rapid-charging system offers a range of charging options, and the driving motor and inverter can boost voltage from 400V up to 800V for improved charging performance.

Adding to the Electrified G80’s touring prowess, is a nifty Vehicle-To-Load (V2L) feature that allows owners to plug electrical appliances into a household-grade socket.

The Electrified G80 is differentiated visually by EV-specific styling elements which include an aerodynamic crest grille with an inverted G-Matrix pattern, and a solar roof which adds charge to the vehicle’s electrical system.

All electrified Genesis models are backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, eight-year high voltage battery, five-year complimentary servicing program including Genesis To You and valet service, 10-year 24/7 roadside assistance and complimentary map updates.

The choice of a five-year Chargefox subscription or home AC charger and installation is included as part of the list price.

Driving Impressions

The Electrified G80 is expectedly quiet, especially when cruising at freeway speeds. Excusing a little tyre hum, the ride is virtually silent, and appreciably comfortable, despite the additional weight cast by the model’s liquid-cooled battery pack.

That battery pack – installed in the floor of the vehicle in a sandwich-style construction – also eats into some of the Electrified G80’s interior space, though only when comparing the EV with its ICE-powered sibling would most buyers notice.

That point aside, the interior is a lovely place in which to spend time – whether driving or being driven. The décor is pleasant and unfussed, yet still presents an air of luxury one would expect at the price point.

We found the ergonomics of the Electrified G80 to be very much to our liking, the spacious driver’s compartment still able to offer an ideal driving position with excellent adjustment of the primary controls and switchgear that readily falls to hand.

The HMI interface, in typical Genesis form, is logical and easy to understand at a glance, which only adds to the relaxed feeling you get from being behind the ‘wheel.

But just because the Electrified G80 can provide a composed and serene ride – aided in no small part by a forward monitor that scans the road ahead and adjusts the damping accordingly – doesn’t mean it’s a lumbering mess in the corners.

Despite its hefty kerb mass (2325kg), the large sedan can hold its own on a twisty stretch of road, remaining lithe and composed in even sharper bends – and transmitting surprisingly natural feedback to the driver.

The complicated electrified steering (with rear axle assistance) and braking system feel as ‘normal’ as any petrol-powered car, the brake feel especially well modulated ensuring the Electrified G80 can be brought to a chauffeur-perfect soft stop. The regenerative braking system is likewise seamless.

Get back on the power, and acceleration is brisk, pushing you deep into the soft leather upholstery as you dash to the speed limit (or beyond). The Electrified G80 has plenty in reserve for overtaking, too, and can whisk you around slower traffic without so much as a second thought – no gearing down, no engine revving, and no fuss.

And it’s that fuss-free feeling that is arguably the Electrified G80’s biggest drawcard. Of course, the styling of the model cannot be mistaken for anything from Germany, the UK or Japan (which in our eyes is a good thing), but the feeling inside the cabin is certainly in keeping with the Genesis’ competitor set, which says a lot about a company that has been in the market for a comparatively short amount of time.

There is also a sense that the Electrified G80 is a vehicle worthy of its plaudits. Look hard and you’ll discover faultless paintwork, tight and uniform panel gaps, and seamless transitions between materials.

It’s an impressive level of finish that is as prominent outside as it is inside the cabin, where not only does every component interlace accurately with the next but does so in a way that differentiates this model from past examples, as if Genesis has notched up the precision of its assembly as it pushes toward an electrified future.

That attention to detail is likewise evident in the operation of the cabin’s many features. There’s a tactility to the touchpoints that is appreciably “Genesis”. It’s as if the company has made a concerted effort to offer comfort and feedback in parts of the car you simply wouldn’t consider important, but add a sense that there is more to this car than meets the eye.

Little things, like the action of the power windows, the smoothness of the seat adjustment and even the dampened response of the wiper and indicator wands convey a comprehensive attitude of attention to detail – further distancing the brand from its parent, you might say.

In a way, that’s one of the things we most like about this car. It’s different, sure. But it isn’t shouty or ostentatious. It’s capable, too; but doesn’t feel the need to announce its presence with oversized wheels and spoilers. And most importantly, and despite its obvious internal combustion genetics, it’s a very competent electric vehicle.

If this is Genesis in 2022, we think the all-electric future of this South Korean brand will be very bright indeed.