Genesis became a standalone brand in late 2015. Named after the Hyundai Genesis mid-size luxury sedan, Genesis entered 2024 with a mid-cycle refresh for the more affordable brother of the G90.
Coming to the US market as a 2025 model, the facelifted G80 is available in South Korea in two flavors and with two engine choices. The lists comprise Standard and Sport, as well as a 2.5-liter turbo inline-four engine and a punchier 3.5-liter V6.
From a displacement of 2,497 cubic centimeters, the smaller powerplant develops 304 ps at 5,800 revolutions per minute and 43.0 kgfm at 1,650 to 4,000 revolutions per minute. Over in the US market, said figures convert to 300 hp and 311 lb-ft of twist. The 2.5er is joined by a 65-liter (17-gallon) fuel tank, whereas the 3.5 features a 73-liter (19-gallon) tank.
Genesis Korea promises 380 ps at 5,800 rpm and 54 kgfm between 1,300 and 4,500 rpm for the larger engine, meaning 375 horsepower and 390 pound-feet. If those numbers seem familiar, that's because the GV80 crossover packs the very same turbo V6. The e-Supercharger V6 of the G90 full-size luxury sedan isn't available, which is a bit of a bummer because the G80 is both smaller and lighter to boot.
While on the subject of mechanical bits, the G80 Sport with the 3.5-liter turbo flaunts rear-wheel steering for improved high-speed stability and better maneuvering at low speeds. Hyundai's luxury-oriented marque further sweetens the deal with an electronic limited-slip differential, Michelin performance rubber, and the Sports+ driving mode.
Photo: Genesis
The G80 Sport distinguishes itself from the G80 Standard by means of – no surprises here – sportier design elements. The interior, meanwhile, can be spruced up with a flat-bottom steering wheel and silver or red carbon trim. Both the G80 Sport and G80 Standard come… uhm… standard with Micro Lens Array LED headlamps, a 27-inch-wide OLED display that integrates the instrument cluster and infotainment system, touch-based controls for heating and ventilation, and a shift-by-wire shifter. The shifter in question resembles the crystal sphere of the GV60 zero-emission utility vehicle, which is the Genesis marque's take on the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
The Bang & Olufsen premium sound system features real aluminum speaker grilles, and Genesis also improved the mood lighting system with more indirect lighting. The steering wheel's horn cover now sports the redesigned Genesis emblem, and Genesis further waxes lyrical about the materials used inside. Think leather, aluminum, and wood.
The G80 has sold more than 400,000 units globally since 2016, greatly contributing to the brand's cumulative global sales of more than 1 million sedans and crossovers. The 400,000 units mentioned earlier include the Electrified G80, which Genesis has yet to detail for the 2025 model year. Truth be told, little can be done to improve an electric vehicle based on a platform meant for internal combustion vehicles.
According to reports from South Korea, that could change in 2025 with the introduction of the Stinger-replacing Kia GT1. The yet-unconfirmed electric vehicle offers up to 603 horsepower from a dual-motor setup. The eM platform on which it's based is reportedly good for anything between 700 to 800 kilometers (435 to 497 miles) of driving range from 113.2 kilowatt hours in the WLTP. It's easy to imagine a Genesis-branded sedan on the eM platform, even more so a midsizer such as the G80, but only time will tell what kind of vehicle Genesis will design on the eM.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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