Words by: Adam Allen
We all want nice things.
That’s hardly surprising- do you know anyone who has ever wished to sleep in a dingy hotel room, dine at a restaurant that serves crappy food or adorn themselves in clothes fashioned from heavy, abrasive cold war-era textiles? Yeah, us neither. We humans are predisposed to seek out the finer things in life because on a level of basic instinct we’d rather be contentedly comfortable than the less palatable alternative. Pampering oneself comes at a price- if luxury goods were cheap, we would all be parking our Rolls Royce’s next to the Gulfstream G650 in the hangar out back. Shrewd entrepreneurs have eternally struggled with the question: how can I create a product for those that demand the best but aren’t necessarily keen on paying for the privilege? Cars like the Chevy Corvette owe their existence to such ideals- it was born at a time when folks pined for a capable sports car like you’d get in Europe but with a price they could afford.
Years later, many automotive brands struggle to achieve sales nirvana with the idea of offering something people will want at a price they can afford; that goal happens to be one of the cornerstones of the Genesis brand. It’s not like this is a secret sauce that’s only now emerging from shrouds of secrecy; we lost count of how many reviews of their products start off by touting how great the value is that these cars bring to the table. When the Genesis brand first appeared on people’s radar in 2015, it was known as a luxury car brand with a (kinda) mainstream price tag.
Fast forward 10 years and while its true that Genesis still represents a good deal over all its competitors, the quality of the cars keeps trending upward. This became immediately apparent to us when we climbed aboard and settled into an interior that is a huge leap forward over the already nice 1st generation G80 we drove six years prior. OK, so the prices have gone up, but name one thing that hasn’t gotten more expensive over time? Even so, its still a case of you get what you pay for even if what you’re paying for is intrinsically worth more that what you actually paid. We like to think really deep here in the Carpages Garage.
Let us start with the exterior styling of the G80, a shape we have always thought was a handsome one. Judging by the amount of people who did a double take when they walked by- often followed by a glance directed at the rear to see what badge it was wearing- we’d say with confidence that the G80 is a nice thing. It has been styled by those who show careful restraint with their pens, and the result is a clean, crisp profile with just enough jewelry to keep things interesting. The front and rear lighting pods still get us right in the feels and we’re big fan of the dimpled pattern on the wheels. Dipped in a fetching coat of Makalu Grey Matte paint, it certainly looks ready for battle with the likes of the Audi A6, Mercedes Benz E-Class and BMW 540i, among others. Fun Fact: Genesis charges a reasonable (well, at least in today’s crazy world where many paint colours demand a premium) $1,700 for its snazzy matte job. A few years ago we drove an Audi S7, also painted in a factory supplied matte paint scheme. For that privilege, Audi shamelessly extracted $7,000 from your bank account. If that eye wateringly exorbitant number doesn’t knock you off your chair, maybe this will- if a bird poops on the car or you get a buildup of dead bugs on the front bumper- stuff that happens every day- and you have to got to the dealership to have it address lest you void your warranty. We had a good chuckle over Audi’s penchant for chutzpah towards its customers; just…wow.
While that is not a nice thing, there are plenty of nice things inside the G80’s cockpit. Actually, it has all the nice things because the G80 Sport comes only one way- fully loaded. Oh sure, you can upgrade the floor mats if you so desire, but this car has everything you could ever want as standard kit. To list the all the goodies would take far too long- it might be easier to discuss the stuff it doesn’t have- but suffice it to say, the G80’s cockpit is a nice place to be. We found that it’s the little details that add up to such a rewarding experience. All the seats are upholstered in supple and quilted leather and are extremely comfortable but supportive at the same time. Once seated at the helm, drivers will appreciate the near perfect relationship with the controls and the switchgear is a triumph of ergonomics and user friendliness. At that point they’ll be sure to notice the new for 2025 27” OLED screen spanning the instrument panel to the infotainment module. Your author’s television set from his dorm room spanned less inches, and the Genesis unit is vastly more beautiful to behold with its crisp graphics than the ol’ boob tube. Just in front of that, drivers are greeted by a perfectly sized and shaped steering wheel that feels great in the hands. Audiophiles will swoon over the power and clarity of the also new Bang and Olufsen sound system. If you have a look at the images of the interior we’ve provided, it becomes abundantly clear that much thought was devoted to making all the touchpoints look and feel quality, and we have yet to encounter a car that offers a suede headliner at this price point. What the pics don’t tell you is how hushed the environment is at speed, with wind and road noise so muted that it would rival a Lexus product, the gold standard of rolling sensory deprivation chambers within the automotive world. Should you option one of the G80 Sport’s competitors to similar spec, it would cost substantially more.
It’s nice to drive too. Remember that dude named Albert Biermann? He’s the guy that used to oversee BMW’s M division, so to say that he knows his way around setting up a proper chassis is quite the understatement. Driving the G80 Sport shows that hiring him has paid dividends. Don’t think that means the G80 is a willing partner for sashaying down your favorite ribbon of tarmac. The ‘Sport’ in its name is a slight misnomer because that’s the only area dynamically where the G80 falls short. Oh sure, you can hustle it around a bit and it’ll play along reasonably convincingly. The engine is stout enough to tug it out of corners with enthusiasm and help you shoot those gaps in traffic. Genesis engineers tried to give it a little edge, making it feel just a little more taut than most relaxed feeling of Genesis products and they mostly succeeded. Stick to comfort stuff and the G80 shines; but a full fat sports sedan is not. Call it an almost-sports-sedan.
Circling back to our original musings of people who want nice things but aren’t enthused about dropping a big pile of hard-earned money to enjoy the privilege, we’d say that the answer to that question becomes clear, especially when you consider that the G80 Sport undercuts a similarly quipped and also new for 2025 Mercedes Benz E-Class by a massive $17,700 dollars. If badge snobbery wasn’t such a bothersome obstacle Genesis Motors would surely be scrambling to build more G80 Sports to satiate the demand of hungry customers. Here’s another reason to consider putting a Genesis in your driveway- their white glove delivery and service plan. You never have to set foot from your home from the time the car is painstakingly delivered to when they leave you with a similar courtesy car while they whisk yours away for oil changes.
Isn’t that a nice thing?
2025 Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Plus AWD - Specifications
- Price as tested: $91,484
- Powertrain Layout: Front engine/all-wheel drive
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- Engine: 3.5 litre twin-turbocharged V6 DOHC, 24 valves
- Horsepower: 375 @ 6,000 rpm
- Torque (lbs-ft.): 391 @ 1,300 rpm
- Curb weight: 2,039 kg (4,495 lbs)
- Observed Fuel Consumption: 13.4L/100km (17.5 mpg)