Much has been written about Genesis Motors and their rapid ascension as a reputable luxury brand, but little do we know they have their sights set even higher, at becoming one of the leading electric luxury automakers. They started with the compact GV60 crossover, followed by the bigger Electrified GV70 and this – the 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 luxury midsize sedan. By taking the silky smooth and whisper quiet electric powertrain and applying it to a segment that values plushness seems like a match made in heaven, and we set out to put this theory to the test.
Unlike many of the current electric vehicles, Genesis Motors has opted to keep their Electrified G80 from looking too unconventional. There are no funky design elements or green badges, and even the charging door location is kept discrete so you really have to be keen to notice, and the Electrified G80 simply looks like another trim of the G80 lineup, great for those wanting to be understated.
The most noticeable differences on the outside are the shuttered front grille and the lack of tailpipes, but to the untrained eyes, the Electrified G80 is indistinguishable from the regular gas version. That said, we love the way the G80 looks – it carries more theatre than anything else in its class and demands attention the moment it shows up everywhere.
Sporting two electric motors driving all four wheels, the Genesis Electrified G80 outputs a healthy 365 horsepower and 516 lb-ft. of torque that propels the midsize sedan with ease. Just like any EV, maximum torque is readily available and Genesis engineers tuned it with a linear acceleration profile that is perfectly suitable for the luxury sedan status it holds. The force is there without feeling too violent and the Electrified G80 manages to strike that fine balance between confidence and serenity.
Instantaneous power aside, EVs offer another big advantage over gasoline powered luxury sedans in that the powertrain can operate without any noise, vibration, and harshness. As a result, the Electrified G80’s cabin is exceptionally quiet, with the only complaint being some elevated tire drone from the exclusive 19-inch wheels, but even that is only audible because of how quiet everything else is. The suspension is well tuned to absorb most road imperfections and the Electrified G80 is one of the more comfortable options in its class – easily punching above its weight with its ride quality.
Handling is also quite good – steering is responsive and the low centre of gravity created by the heavy batteries below the floorboard enhanced the stability in the Electrified G80 through the corners. The only caveat to having the batteries below the seats is that it made for a higher seating position than we are normally used to in a sedan and in turn a bit less headroom, and the battery pack also ate away some trunk space. That said, legroom is quite generous throughout and passengers will never feel cramped inside.
Drive range with a full 87.2 kilowatt-hour battery is rated at 454 kilometres, which is plentiful for most urban users. Combing the usable electric range with the convenience that the Electrified G80 can achieve 80% charge in as little as 22 minutes using a DC fast charger means road tripping is also doable with advance route planning. We found the range estimates to be quite accurate throughout the week of testing.
Featuring the same interior layout as the gasoline version, the Electrified G80 is a welcomed departure from the current trend of big-tablet-and-nothing-else found in many EVs. The luxury mid-size sedan’s craftsmanship and materials are top notch – we love the use of matte finish wood trim that has a real texture to the touch and the quality of the Nappa leather seating surface is exceptional.
The long features list on the Electrified G80 includes massaging seats with heat and ventilation, air filtration, wireless phone charger, and full suite of driver assistance system. We love the 12.3-inch 3D holographic digital instrument cluster – it sets a great first impression for the premium experience and worked surprisingly well in real life.
Infotainment is delivered through the 14.5-inch touchscreen display with intuitive system layout and vivid graphics. A rotary dial is located below the shifter to help with command inputs but the proximity to the rotary shifter made for a bit of confusion when we were reaching for the knobs while driving. There is a row of short cut keys as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support to keep things simple for the users, and the 17-speaker Lexicon premium sound system offers great sound quality on par with many of its luxury rivals.
By combining beautiful design and craftsmanship with the silky-smooth electric powertrain, the 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 takes the company’s great luxury car approach and turned it into an early lead in what we assume to be a revolution in the luxury car industry. While pricing has not been released at the time of writing, the Electrified G80 should enjoy early success as competition is still few and far between, with the upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan being the second closest to market in the luxury mid-size sedan segment.
See Also:
2022 Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Plus
