It has been five years since we met the second-generation Genesis G80. While not a strong seller in a world dominated by SUVs and crossovers, it has nonetheless built a respectable following among those who prefer not to go with the flow. Half a decade later, this mildly refreshed 2025 Genesis G80 3.5T Sport shows us that Genesis isn’t one to sit on their laurels, introducing several updates that keep it competitive in a hotly contested segment normally ruled by European brands.
Genesis—and Hyundai, its parent company—haven’t exactly kept their wishes to directly take on BMW a secret, but the G80 seems to target Mercedes-Benz clientele a little more. Even with the “Sport” badge on the back, the G80 isn’t quite in the same league as the 5 Series in terms of handling and driving dynamics, but its overall relaxed nature and interior trimmings remind us of the new E-Class in more ways than one.
How does the Genesis G80 drive?
The G80 may not quite hold a candle to the 5 Series, but that’s not to say it’s clumsy or lacks polish. With luxury being placed first and foremost, the G80’s ride is comfortable, quiet, and buttery smooth, even on our tester’s staggered 20-inch wheels over some of the worst winter-ravaged pavement I’ve seen in years. Wind and road noise is nearly absent on the highway, and while it’s not a true sport sedan—the G70 holds that place in the lineup—the G80 more than holds its own on a twisty road or tight on-ramp.
The communicative chassis, well-tuned steering, and standard-in-Canada all-wheel-drive system all inspire the same sort of confidence you’d find in its established European rivals. The G80’s rear-wheel steering is almost Mercedes-like in how it responds at low speeds; it feels almost too sharp when you first turn the wheel, rather than operating almost imperceptibly like a BMW.
In Canada, the G80 has three powertrain options. The base engine is a 2.5-litre turbo-four pumping out a respectable 300 horsepower, but our Sport tester’s 3.5L twin-turbo V6 ups the ante with 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. These figures might’ve been class-leading five years ago, and they’re still respectable today, but it lacks the mild hybrid assist (and the accompanying power bump) of its competitors. This isn’t to say that the 2025 Genesis G80 Sport is slow; it still manages to sprint from zero to 100 km/h in about five seconds. If you desire the fastest G80 available, the electric powertrain is about a second faster to 100 km/h, and boasts a range of up to 450 km.
We wouldn’t consider the 2025 Genesis G80 3.5T Sport the most fuel efficient, but it’s within expectations. It’s officially rated at 15.6 L/100 kilometres in the city, 10.2 highway, and 13.1 combined. I averaged 13.2 L/100 km in my week of wintry commuting, and premium fuel is recommended. We can’t help but think how much a mild hybrid assist would improve those numbers. We averaged 10.5 L/100 km with the new E-Class and its six-cylinder mild hybrid powertrain, albeit in much more agreeable weather.
What’s new with the updated G80?
For 2025, Genesis tweaked the G80’s styling inside and out. The front and rear fascias look a bit more chiseled and aggressive, the restyled grille has a similar diamond pattern to the also-refreshed 2025 GV80, and minor tweaks to the headlights help improve light output and design. Our tester also had the optional, $1,700 Makalu Grey Matte paint. It’s a sharp colour that helps the G80 turn heads by looking like nothing else on the road. That’s a huge win in my books.
The changes are much more significant inside. Starting with the new 27-inch OLED display arrangement, the 2025 G80 looks much more modern than before, and just as technologically advanced as the 5 Series and E-Class. But unlike its German counterparts, the G80’s technology is simple to use. You have the option of using the touchscreen or the knurled dial on the centre console. The touchscreen is now closer to the driver, in response to complaints that the previous layout was too much of a stretch in order for shorter drivers to comfortably operate the screen. Genesis also reworked the climate control panel; there are slightly fewer buttons, but at least Genesis retained the knobs for ease of use, and you don’t have to dig through multiple menus for adjustments that should be simple.
Another big update for 2025 is the sound system. The previous Lexicon unit served the outgoing G80 well for several years, but it’s been replaced by a Bang & Olufsen unit with 18 speakers, a 14-channel amplifier, and 1,400 watts in total. The old Lexicon system was great, but the new B&O unit is sublime. Oh, and you can finally stream your music over wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
What hasn’t changed is Genesis’ fit-and-finish, material quality, and attention to detail throughout the G80. Everything you sit on and touch is either Nappa leather, Alcantara, or soft-touch plastic, and the two-tone black-on-red upholstery is stunning. The previous steering wheel with its football-shaped airbag is gone, replaced with a sportier-looking wheel we’ve also seen in the GV80. All in all, the interior is solid and on-par with the best from Europe.
Is the 2025 Genesis G80 Sport worth it?
As before, Genesis continues to offer their vehicles on their all-in pricing structure. The G80 starts at $74,000 with the base turbo-four; you’re looking at $89,000 for the Sport with the V6, and adding matte paint brings the grand total to $90,700 as-tested. That’s far from cheap, but still relatively good value. That being said, it seems like the Germans are catching onto this whole “value” thing. You can get into a well-equipped, new-generation E-Class for not much more—and that has a three-pointed star on the hood.
As Genesis slowly chips away at the competition with award-winning cars and SUVs, the 2025 Genesis G80 3.5T Sport marches on with small yet significant changes to keep up with the Joneses. Anyone looking for something unique, with a luxurious interior and attractive exterior, should have the G80 near the top of their shopping list.
