After a 1,300-kilometre road test with plenty of time on the open highways connecting central Ontario to areas further north, I’d tell you that the Genesis Electrified G80 is one of the smoothest driving luxury sedans I’ve ever visited, though drivers may need a little seat time to find the rhythm of its main controls before seeing its very best work. More on that in a bit.
My tester was the 2023 Genesis Electrified G80, a recently updated version of the brand’s mid-range sedan, and a model that’s now available with both gasoline and electric propulsion. Most EVs are dedicated platforms with no gas engine option, but this is the opposite. With the G80, shoppers can specify either gasoline or electric powerplants in the same luxury sedan.
The Genesis G80 range is priced from the mid sixties with a 300-horsepower, turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder and AWD. Higher-end models are priced from the low seventies and run a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6, good for 375 horsepower.
The Electrified G80 boots the gas tank, engine, and exhaust system, instead employing an all-electric setup with dual motors for 365 horsepower and AWD. That’s backed by 516 lb-ft of instant-on, electric torque. Drivers choosing the electric option can expect hair-trigger accelerator response that combustion-powered versions can’t match.
In perfect conditions, expect about 450 kilometres of driving on a full charge. On my watch during a mid-summer heatwave and heavy use of the air conditioner, I saw about 430 kilometres to a full charge. In the dead of a northern Ontario winter, I’d be expecting about 340 kilometres per charge on the coldest days, with the heat blasting.
Remember, the average Canadian drives fewer than 50 kilometres per day, and most EV owners recharge exclusively at home in their garages or driveways. There’s no need to stop and charge on anything but the longest trips you’ll make, and a fast-charger can add 100 kilometres of range during the average washroom and coffee break, or fully recharge a near-empty battery while shopping or eating with the family.
It’s good that the Electrified G80 charges fast, since it’s a hard car to put away.
First, the energy cost per kilometre of driving in an EV like this one is a fraction of its gas-powered counterpart, despite being more responsive, eager and smooth. Even the most lead-footed drivers could leave the Electrified G80 in its neck-straining SPORT mode, enjoy torrential torque output out of every traffic light, and after a few days, refill its empty battery with a few bucks worth of off-peak hydro, instead of $100 or more worth of gasoline.
Drivers with a lighter boot will love the smooth and silent glide up to speed, which supports the unique driving character that’s richly dialled into this machine.
The highway cruising experience is exceptional. The Electrified G80 feels very dense, heavy, and secure on its feet. Steering is heavy and precise, which makes it easy for the driver to stay glued to their line with minimal workload or need to readjust. There’s little meaningful feel or feedback from the steering, which will leave some enthusiast drivers wishing for a stronger connection with their machine.
Though it doesn’t beg for fast cornering, the Electrified G80 has a way of handling highway on-ramps with the charming feel of a big sticky sedan, and gobs of silent torque in reserve for slingshot corner exits.
Genesis Electrified G80
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
The ride itself is beautiful: quiet, muted, and relaxed. The adaptive suspension can read the road, react to it in real time, and even uses a camera to pre-scan for incoming potholes, adjusting the suspension before an impact to help further smooth out the ride.
At low speeds, the G80’s weight seems no match for its electric power. Off the line, a full-pedal stab in SPORT mode jumps the G80 out of the gate, with torsos shoved into seatbacks from the first few inches of movement. Passing and merging require virtually no second-guessing, thanks to pleasing punch and ‘right now’ accelerator response. That response trails off somewhat at higher velocities, meaning the G80 feels snappiest at lower speeds.
On smooth highways, it’s like floating along quietly in a torque-rich hover-vault.
On rougher in-town roads and secondary highways common to my northern Ontario locale, potholes, cracks, and failed pavement repairs can often send ride comfort tumbling and cabin noise levels upwards. But in the Electrified G80, even the roughest roads I test luxury sedans on failed to coax out much of an increase to harshness or feedback. The adaptive shocks keep body motions nicely in check, meaning driver and occupants get a more consistently comfortable ride even as road surface conditions degrade.
Even on my worst-case-scenario ride-comfort testing surface (basically, a busted-to-heck stretch of Sudbury backroad), the Electrified G80 performed better than even some of the best luxury SUV’s I’ve recently tested here when it comes to comfort and noise levels. Put this machine on your list if a top-notch luxury car ride across a wide range of conditions is a priority for you.
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
But here’s where we need to talk a little about the Electrified G80’s rhythm.
First, the accelerator in an EV may feel fairly different than what you’re used to in a gas-fired luxury sedan; ditto the brakes. Specifically, you might find both hard to work smoothly without a little practice. This is normal, and your right foot will quickly self-adjust to its new accelerator and brake pedal.
Still, during sportier driving, I found rapid transitions from accelerator to brakes and back to be a little dramatic. This is because the suspension is soft (even in its sportiest settings), and because it can be difficult to engage the brakes and accelerator smoothly when switching rapidly from one to the next. The result is some lurching and excessive body movements, which you’ll also experience while engaging and disengaging the cruise control. This is all short-term stuff that fades into memory once you’ve got the cruise controls and pedal feel down to memory. Once you dial in the correct level of regenerative braking force with the steering-wheel mounted paddles and find the drive mode that best suits your style, your right foot will learn how to work the controls with a little more grace.
Test-driving shoppers are advised to try the various regenerative braking modes (adjusted via the steering wheel paddles), and drive modes to find the combinations they like best. With that sorted, you’re at the helm of a machine that’s smooth and comfy, with plenty of acceleration and braking power at your disposal.
On board, my tester’s dark and focused cabin used generous metal accenting to highlight key design touches like knurled controls, the centre console shifter, and infotainment dials. There’s enough contrast to draw attention to the signature design elements, but as a whole, I like how this cabin looks mostly elegant, quiet, and tastefully restrained — with just enough glitz, glamour, and tech shining through.
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
Feature favourites include the selectable 3D instrument cluster with clean graphics and liquid-smooth animations presented in several themes, with various elements visually floating over others in space. The effect doesn’t show up in photos or videos, but to the naked eye it’s a captivating display that adds a very modern flair to the driving environment. Extra points for the ultra-modern climate control console, with display knobs embedded within a responsive touch-screen with haptic feedback to confirm your clicks.
Secondary, inboard-mounted controls for the front passenger seat allow the driver to move it easily, perhaps reclining a snoozing passenger, or backing the seat up as a larger occupant gets ready to board.
I did find the central infotainment system disappointing compared to recent competitors. however. The Electrified G80’s screen is wide and clear, but graphics and display output are outgunned by other systems at this price point, many of which look and respond more like a high-end tablet device. The Genesis system has a touch-screen, but it’s a little too far to reach comfortably, meaning you’ll likely use the haptic controller on the centre console instead.
Or, is it the drive selector you’ve grabbed? Both are round, and one is right ahead of the other. It’s a little confusing at times, and using a dial to control selections on screen adds a step that’s unnecessary with the best touch-screen systems today. Everything works well, but infotainment and graphics aficionados in this pricing ballpark have more impressive options.
Genesis Electrified G80 Photo by Justin Pritchard
For the money, I could have done with a sunroof too. Some EV-curious shoppers may be disappointed to learn that the Electrified G80 doesn’t have a frunk, since it keeps its EV system hardware under the hood where the gas engine lives in its combustion-powered siblings.
Still, with generous use of wood, leather, stitching, and metalwork to decorate, it’s not hard to find beautiful materials just about anywhere you go looking. Assembly quality is top notch, and even the roughest roads coax virtually no clicking, rattling or ticking from interior panels and plastics.
Like the drive, the interior looks and feels carefully crafted to contribute to the Electrified G80’s driving character: calm, confident, secure, very steady, and very very relaxing — once you’ve got the feel of its major controls sorted out. It’s a beautiful electric driving experience, with a beautiful interior to enjoy it from.
Keyword: EV Review: 2023 Genesis Electrified G80