Auto review by Veeno Dewan
A mild styling refresh for 2025 hones the G80 premium luxury sedan for a sharper look. First off, there is a larger revised grille, updated headlamps, revised front and rear bumpers, and new wheel designs. Sport trims feature a uniquely finished grille and front bumper, along with larger air intakes. The G80 is a premium sedan with the requisite style, high-quality fit and finish, and a gorgeous cabin.
Inside, the G80 has undergone substantial revisions. It has a redesigned dashboard to accommodate a new, much larger 27.0-inch OLED display screen that spans most of the dashboard. Also added is a reconfigurable gauge display and an infotainment interface. It incorporates new, touch-sensitive climate controls along with a new rotary shift knob.
Three powertrains are available for the G80. The 2.5-litre L4 turbocharged engine boasts 300 horsepower, and an alternative 375-hp 3.5-litre Turbo V6 version is also available. The G80 Electrified version features a battery and twin electric motors that produce a total of 365 hp for electric-only driving.
We highly recommend the as-tested version with the bigger 3.5T V6. There is plentiful torque — 391 pound-feet in total and superior performance. All gasoline versions of the G80, including the base 2.5L four-cylinder, feature power transmitted to all four wheels via an HTRAC system and an eight-speed automatic transmission that includes SHIFTRONIC manual mode and paddle shifters.
As standard equipment on the G80, features include a Panoramic Sunroof, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 27-inch OLED Instrument Cluster& Navigation System screen, Genesis Connected Services, a Head-Up Display, Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control, Leather Seating Surfaces, a Heated Steering Wheel, a Front Heated Ergo Motion Driver seat, and more.
Interior-wise, the cabin is just as classy as its premium German luxury competitors and boasts a distinguished look. Apart from the recent changes, there’s more luxurious leather trim covering the surfaces, superb open-pore wood accents, and more refined controls. The central talking point is the massive 27-inch OLED screen with exceptional resolution. It is the central control point for all the G80’s digital systems. Touch-sensitive operations complement a reconfigurable gauge display for the infotainment interface. The display’s control is also accessible via a circular controller on the center console, as well as buttons on the steering wheel, or through voice commands. The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems operate wirelessly. Sound is courtesy of an audiophile-grade high-power Lexicon audio system.
The focus for the G80 is luxury, so an elegant design is at play in the cabin, featuring soft-touch surfaces and rich-looking materials. The vehicle features ambient interior lighting, a head-up display, and heated and ventilated front and rear seats. Headroom and legroom are generous in the front; the rear, while less spacious, is still roomy enough for two adults to travel in luxurious comfort.
Safety features include: Blind-Spot Collision, Avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot View Monitor, Driver Attention Warning, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Highway Driving Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, and more.
On the road, the G80 feels nimble and light thanks in part to the use of aluminum in the doors, hood, and trunk lid. The willing 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 offers a full 375 horsepower at 5,800 rpm. But it is happy to supply most of its usable torque in the mid-range. The V6 is exceptionally smooth, with a turbine-like power delivery. It is not a particularly raucous power unit and is very refined, even when called upon to deliver rapid acceleration. The G80’s AWD is biased towards the rear wheels and sends torque to the front axle as needed via the AWD system, which continually monitors traction and driving style. The eight-speed transmission is also a thing of beauty, with its glitch-free, effortless up and downshifts.
To sum up, the G80 competes as an equal player in the luxury sedan segment of this premium sector. Downsides are few – there is no hybrid version as yet, for one thing. Where the G80 has the advantage is in its higher standard equipment levels, which are thousands of dollars more than those of its rivals. This G80 is an excellent car to drive and own.
2025 Genesis G80 3.5 T Prestige: Price $80,000, excluding taxes. Total Price $104,500.
