Let’s take a look at how the traditional petrol powered (ICE) G80 compares to the all-electric model.
Genesis offers a lineup of electric sedans and SUVs, with a few petrol and diesel models thrown in for good measure. Here’s the low down on everything you need to know about the G80 range. Do you stick with ICE or try the EV, read on to find out…
Spoiler alert: if the title brought you here expecting incest and dragons, then I’m sorry to disappoint, but this won’t be that kind of comparison review.
Instead, we’re looking at the Genesis G80, a refreshing injection of inspiration to a fairly predictable luxury car market, dominated by German marques. The South Korean manufacturer is a fairly new player in the premium market, as Hyundai’s luxury offshoot.
The G80 sits just below the flagship G90 sedan and rivals the likes of the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. In a lineup with these brands, you’d be forgiven for overlooking the Genesis badge and gravitating towards something more familiar. But take a look inside and you’ll be hard pressed to find a better looking interior.
Open the door and you’re greeted by heated and cooling, quilted leather seats. The minimalist dash is dominated by a panoramic touchscreen, though mercifully there’s still some manual buttons, along with a smaller touchscreen for climate control. For those of us with t-rex arms there’s a touch rotary dial in the centre console to control the main infotainment.
If you’re unfamiliar with Genesis’ infotainment system it’s not immediately intuitive, like BMW’s iDrive but the rotary dial does make it a lot easier to operate. Alternatively, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard, so you can link your phone up to the main screen.
On the outside, the grille gives away whether it’s dead-dinosaur-fueled or an eco-friendly cruiser. The North American market also gets a far more exciting array of engine choices than its European counterpart, with a range topping 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6. The entry-level turbocharged 2.5-litre is no slouch though, it’s hushed until you really put your foot down, but even then, the sound isn’t invasive.
In the Electrified G80 there’s a dual electric motor with a 87.2kWh battery offering a range of 282 miles (454 km). Powered by petrol or electric, both offer a smooth ride, floating over bumps and imperfections in the road.
The EV has the advantage of a near silent ride, benefitting from active sound cancelling, so the only noticeable noise penetrating the calm of the cabin are those pesky intrusive thoughts, like when you were little and called your English teacher mom…
If money’s no object, the EV outshines the standard ICE G80, but they’re quite evenly matched. Electric cars with a higher centre of gravity can feel unstable under acceleration, like they’re fighting to stay settled. But the G80 sits low and is able to confidently tame the instant torque only electric power can offer, sticking effortlessly to the road.
Ultimately the decision comes down to cost, the entry level 2.5-litre petrol model kicks off at CAD$69,000 with the top spec G80 3.5T Sport Plus AWD coming in at CAD$82,500. If the EV takes your fancy the new Electrified G80 starts from $105,000.
ELECTRIFIED G80 PRESTIGE AWD
From CAD$105,000
Electric Motor: Dual 136kW Electric Motor (front and rear), All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Battery: 87.2 kWh Lithium-ion battery
Range: 454 km (282 miles)
Torque: 516 lb-ft
Power: 272 kW (365 hp)
ELECTRIFIED G80 DIMENSIONS
Length: 5,005 mm
Width: 1,925 mm
Height: 1,470 mm
G80 2.5T ADVANCED AWD
From CAD$69,000
Engine: 2.5L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine, All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted shift paddles
Torque: 311 lb-ft
Power: 300 hp
G80 DIMENSIONS
Length: 4,995 mm
Width: 1,925 mm
Height: 1,465 mm
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