2022 Genesis G80 Sport Luxury 3.5T AWD Review

Genesis is a relatively new brand in Australia which not too many are familiar with, but with a strong backing from parent company Hyundai, it has a different take on luxury to the usual suspects. The first Genesis product was the G80 sedan, and now in its second generation, it’s added a new Sport model for a sportier take on the large luxury sedan. Should you take the 2022 Genesis G80 Sport into your consideration? Let’s find out.

We’ve previously tested the G80 sedan a few times and came out very impressed with Genesis’ middle-sized luxury sedan (it sits in the middle of the G70 and G90, which isn’t sold in Australia). Rivals for the it include the Audi A6 55TFSI, the BMW 530i and the Mercedes-Benz E350, which is no mean feat. Does it have what it take to better its German rivals?

Price & Equipment: 8/10

The 2022 Genesis G80 range starts off with the standard G80 2.5T, which will set you back $85,191 plus on-road costs but the model we have here is at the other end of the range: the 2022 Genesis G80 Sport Luxury fitted with the 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 which costs $121,000 plus on road costs (around $130,500 drive away).

As we’ve come to expect from Genesis, the G80 Sport comes with a long list of standard equipment. This includes 20-inch alloy wheels, all-LED exterior lighting, keyless entry with push button start, remote start with the ability to move the car forwards and backwards, heated and auto-folding mirrors, Nappa leather upholstery, 18-way adjustable front seats with massage functionality, heated and cooled seating, a heated steering wheel, a 14.5-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, digital radio, ambient lighting, tri-zone automatic climate control, a power bootlid, dual-9.2-inch rear entertainment screens, a 21-speaker Lexicon sound system and soft close doors.

Safety features include 10 airbags, Matrix adaptive high beam functionality for the headlights, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, front and rear parking sensors with a 360-degree surround view camera, forward collision alert, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear AEB, rear-cross traffic alert, an alarm, rear seat occupant alert, blind-spot monitoring with cameras, an active bonnet, driver fatigue detection and a charcoal filter.

On top of that, the 2022 Genesis G80 Sport adds four-wheel steering, adaptive suspension that previews the road, 20-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, four-piston monoblock front brake callipers, 360mm front brake discs, 345mm rear brake discs, sportier exterior styling, a three-spoke steering wheel, carbon fibre interior trim and alloy pedals.

The colour selection on the Genesis G80 is quite extensive: ‘Vik Black’, ‘Capri Blue’, ‘Mallorca Blue’, ‘Tasman Blue’, ‘Valencia Gold’, ‘Hallasan Green’, ‘Makalu Grey’, ‘Cavendish Red’, ‘Havana Red’, ‘Bond Silver’, ‘Gold Coast Silver’, ‘Savile Silver’ and ‘Uyuni White’ are all available at no extra cost. There are also two matte colours that attract a $2,000 price tag: ‘Verbier White’ and our test car’s ‘Makalu Grey’. Interior leather colour options for the Sport are black, beige and red.

Direct rivals to the G80 Sport Luxury include the $123,400 plus on-road costs Audi A6 55TFSI S Line, the $122,400 +ORC BMW 530i and the $129,591 +ORC Mercedes-Benz E350. Not only is the G80 less expensive than iTs rivals but it has more equipment – to spec these competitors to the level of the G80, you need to option $28,000 worth of equipment on the Audi, $26,000 worth of kit on the BMW and $17,000 of options the Mercedes-Benz.

Performance & Economy: 9/10

The entry-level engine in the 2022 Genesis G80 is a 224kW/422Nm 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that powers the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. But our test car has the optional 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6, that makes a much stronger 279kW of power (at 5,800rpm) and 530Nm of torque (between 1,300rpm and 4,500rpm). It too is mated to an eight-speed automatic, but it’s only available with all-wheel drive in Australia.

The V6 engine in the G80 is a great unit, and we really like it – especially against four-cylinder rivals from competitors. It’s buttery smooth, quite quiet and adds to the relaxed feel of the car. There is plenty of power low down but once you put your boot into it, the Genesis’ V6 really pushes you into the seat. The sprint from 0-100km/h happens in just 5.1 seconds, which is impressive for a car with a tare weight over two tonnes (2,203kg to be precise).

When opting for the luscious V6 you also get all-wheel drive, though the same eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission as the four-cylinder engine is present. This is a good thing as the gear shifts are almost imperceptible – they are so smooth and quiet that you would be forgiven for thinking that the car hasn’t changed gears. We love this engine and transmission combination and we also love that it is Genesis-specific, which makes it feel more special.

The claimed average fuel consumption figure of the 2022 Genesis G80 Sport Luxury fitted with the V6 is 10.7L/100km. Our week spent behind the wheel of the Genesis with mostly urban driving and the occasional motorway run saw a figure of 12.5L/100km, which is not great, but considering how much grunt it makes, it’s not too bad.

Ride & Handling: 9/10

Being a luxury sedan, the 2022 Genesis G80 has a plush and forgiving ride. The Sport part of the G80 Sport name means that the suspension is slightly firmer than in the regular G80, but we prefer this as there is less of the floatiness seen in the regular G80. Genesis tunes its ride quality to Australian conditions and we think it’s done a great job as it’s soft in comfort mode, but firmer in sport mode, though it’s never uncomfortable.

A largely unique feature to the G80 Sport is four-wheel steering, which makes it feel nimble and smaller than it is. The car pivots around you, which makes its handling ability excellent. Throwing this two-tonne executive sedan into corners is quite fun as it’s very grippy and it has a great chassis. The steering is quite light and offers not much feel, but it’s well weighted. The active safety is also very helpful – the adaptive cruise control will keep you a safe distance from the car ahead and the matrix high beam is excellent. On full beam, the headlights could light up a whole town – that’s how bright they are.

Interior & Practicality: 9/10

The current shape G80 was the first Genesis product to use all-Genesis interior parts and it was impressive upon its release a few years ago – and we’re still quite impressed by it today. Sitting in the 2022 Genesis G80 Sport Luxury gives you the feeling of absolute and resounding luxury. The real carbon fibre trim, leather dashboard and Nappa leather seating make you feel like you are sitting in something much more expensive. The quality of the materials used inside is definitely a match for rivals.

The quality of materials used in the cabin of the G80 is excellent – almost everything is covered in leather, carbon fibre or carpet. Even the end of the indicator stalks is a nice, knurled metal. The quilting on the leather and suede on the headlining is a nice touch that makes a difference to making the cabin feel special. One thing we would like to see is a little heft to the doors to make the car feel more premium, but it’s an otherwise lovely environment to cover distance in.

Sitting atop the dash of the G80 is an expansive 14.5-inch touchscreen that looks like an expensive television. The screen can be controlled either by touch or by the controller wheel in front of the gear selector. The screen features wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio and satellite navigation with live traffic updates. The screen quality is excellent and it is also very responsive, though its sheer size can be a touch overwhelming initially. We love the user experience of this infotainment system, it it easy to navigate and as we said, it looks fantastic.

The G80’s cabin is relatively practical for a large luxury sedan, with ample space for your trinkets. There’s a wireless charger in the centre console, large cup holders, big door bins, a reasonable glovebox and a large centre box underneath the centre armrest.

Open the rear doors and you will be presented with what could be the rear seat of a Bentley. There are the same quilted leather seats as the front – they are very comfortable, especially on longer journeys. They’re also electrically adjustable for extra comfort. The rear legroom is good – though not huge – and offers more than enough room to recline the rear seat and relax. Rear amenities include two 9.2-inch touchscreens, heated and cooled electric outboard seats, sunshades all around, a separate zone for the air-conditioning, rear air vents, a wireless charger and storage in the centre armrest.

The power tailgate of the 2022 Genesis G80 opens to reveal 424-litres of cargo space, which is big enough for a large suitcase, a carry on suitcase and a couple of backpacks. In comparison, rivals offer larger boots – the E-Class has 540L and both the 5-Series and A6 also have 530L. The Genesis’ boot is very well finished, with luscious carpeting and side storage, as well as a space-saver spare wheel.

Service & Warranty: 9/10

Just like its less luxurious Hyundai cousins, Genesis offers a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty for all of its vehicles, which is the same warranty duration as the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class – though two years more than the BMW 5 Series. The G80 also comes with five years of roadside assistance.

The 2022 Genesis G80 requires servicing every 12 months or 10,000km, which is more frequent than the 12 months or 15,000km intervals of Audi and BMW, and the 12 month/25,000km intervals of the Mercedes-Benz. The cost to service the G80 over the course of five years or 50,000 is – wait for it – $0. That’s right, included in the price of your Genesis you get five-years or 50,000km worth of free servicing. Even better is that Genesis will come and pick your car up and leave you with a loan car anytime your vehicle needs servicing. Rivals don’t do that and cost between $2,010 (BMW) and $5,750 (E-Class) for a five-year plan.

2022 Genesis G80 Sport Luxury DiscoverAuto Rating: 8.8/10

The Genesis G80 is a wonderful car that many (us included) will lust after due to its plush interior, exciting drivetrain and gorgeous styling. We love that Genesis has really thrown everything they have at the G80 and it really shows. It is a very well-rounded product that offers more of an emphasis on a luxury feel than its rivals, which try to mix luxury and sportiness. It’s this luxury feel that makes us love Genesis so much and it’s definitely a selling point against its rivals.

Would we put our money into a brand that is only in its infancy stage in Australia? Definitely. With such a strong product lineup so early on in its Australian life, Genesis shows excellent potential for the future. We love the G80 and would say that if you don’t look at it when considering a luxury product, it’s absolutely your loss.