IN THE BEGINNING – NEW GENESIS G80

Genesis_G80_frontGenesis is the luxury arm of the Hyundai company formed using the same formula used by the very successful that saw Lexus evolve from Toyota.

The first models from this new premium brand are the G80 luxury sedan, previously sold here between 2014 and 2017 as the Hyundai Genesis, and the all-new, slightly smaller G70 sports sedan. We’ll examine the smaller sportier G70 as well as the company’s innovative marketing and sales strategy and various support facilities in a separate story.

Genesis tells us that four additional models will be added to the range by 2021 two of which will be SUVs and the other two with yet to be advised body styles.

The Genesis G80 comes in four variants: standard G80, Sport Design, Ultimate and Ultimate Sport Design. All come with a 3.8-litre naturally-aspirated direct-injection V6 petrol engine with power and torque outputs of 232kW and 397Nm mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels.

All-wheel drive is available in overseas markets but there are no plans at this stage for AWD to come to Australia.

The standard G80 and G80 Ultimate Sport Design variants can easily be distinguished by their different front grille fills. The G80 and G80 Ultimate have six horizontal bars while the two Sport Design models get a dark mesh fill with copper highlights.

Prices range from $68,900 for the entry-level G80 through to $92,900 for the G80 Ultimate Sport Design.

Genesis_G80_rear

The entry-level G80 comes with 18-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels. The G80 Ultimate steps up to 19-inch as do the Sport Design models but with the same dark grey satin finish and copper highlight on the grille.

Other features on the Sport Design include the same dark highlights on the front bumper; bi-xenon headlights; piano sport diffuser with mesh inserts; side skirts; dual oval exhaust tips; dark chrome window frame and door handle inserts; and brushed stainless steel pedal covers.

The comprehensive list of standard safety features includes nine airbags; Blind-Spot Collision Warning; Driver Attention Warning; Lane Departure Warning; Forward Collision Avoidance Assist for both cars and pedestrians; Rear Cross Traffic Collision Warning; Smart Cruise Control; Active Air Bonnet Lift; full LED adaptive headlights and LED daytime running lights; and Surround View Monitor.

Inside G80 the multimedia system is displayed on an embedded 9.2-inch high-definition colour touchscreen with crisp graphics that requires the minimum amount of time that the driver needs to take off the road.

Genesis_G80_interior

Satellite navigation is standard with assistance from 3D maps, SUNA live traffic updates, and a comprehensive Point of Interest (POI) database. The first five years of map updates are free and can be extended for a further five 10 years when servicing with Genesis.

There’s an analog clock below the screen and at the bottom of the dashboard are USB and Aux sockets alongside a wireless smartphone charging pad. Bluetooth pairing was intuitive and took less than a minute.

Sound comes from a 17-speaker Lexicon by Harman premium audio system.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both available.

G80 also comes with Genesis Connected Services, a smartphone app that allows the customer to stay connected to their vehicle using a pre-installed module that connects the computer systems to the customer’s smartphone to provide a variety of information.

All seats are leather and rear seat passengers get access to a number of features from controls in the large centre armrest including powered recline and slide seat adjustments as well as the ability to increase legroom by sliding the front passenger forward by pushing a button. Ideal for chauffeur-driven rear seat passengers but best not to let the kids know about it.

Rear headroom is fine for passengers under 1.8 metres although where the sunroof is fitted they’re liable to have their head touching the roof. They can of course utilise the rear seat recline feature and settle back in comfort.

The G80 gets a two-panel panoramic glass sunroof as standard although only the front section opens. It’s also available as a $3000 option in the G80 and G80 Sport Design.

The G80 Ultimate and Ultimate Sport Design add Nappa leather appointed interior; heated and ventilated front and outboard rear seats; heated steering wheel; powered soft-close doors; head-up display; suede headlining/pillars; 7.0-inch colour TFT-LCD instrument cluster display; and memory settings for the 16-way power driver’s seat and steering wheel position.

Genesis launched the G80 and G70 locally over two days on a route covering a variety of conditions north and east of Melbourne and eventually ending at Albury.
As we expected in a car at this premium luxury end of the passenger car market the G80 is a delight to sit inside with wide, well ventilated and comfortable seating and a variety of power setting available.

The engine is quiet and the ride is as smooth and comfortable as is to be expected from a car at this premium luxury level and it certainly loses nothing in comparison with its German and Japanese rivals. There’s plenty of power on tap from the V6 engine. Steering is precise with good feedback and through the undulating winding road segment of the drive route it cornered like a much smaller vehicle.

MODEL RANGE
G80 3.8: $68,900
G80 3.8 Sport Design: $72,900
G80 3.8 Ultimate: $88,900
G80 3.8 Ultimate Sport Design: $92,900
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact Genesis directly for drive-away prices.

About Alistair Kennedy

Alistair Kennedy is Automotive News Service and Marque Publishing's business manager and the company's jack-of-all-trades. An accountant by profession, he designs the Marque range of motoring book titles, operates the company's motoring bookshop on the NSW Central Coast and the associated web site, as well as its huge digital and hard copy database. Whenever we can escape from the office he does so to cover new vehicle releases and contributes news stories. Alistair's other interests include cricket and family history on which he has written three books.
Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *