2026 Genesis G80 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

There are two kinds of Genesis G80 to choose from: the 2.5T and the 3.5T. The G80 2.5T has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the 3.5T features a twin-turbocharged V6. If shoppers go for the 2.5T, their trim level choices are base, Advanced, and Sport Prestige. The 3.5T comes only in Sport Prestige and Prestige Black trim levels. Base prices range from $59,945 to $81,495, including the $1,495 destination charge.

Our test car arrived in 3.5T Sport Prestige specification, equipped with extra-cost Vatna Gray paint, which brought the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) to $80,495. Honestly, that is a little shocking, because an Audi A6 Prestige or a Cadillac CT5-V Platinum costs thousands less with equivalent specification. However, the Genesis does cost less than a similarly outfitted BMW 540i or Mercedes-Benz E 450.

None of those alternatives can match the sheer visual presence of the G80 Sport Prestige. The wheels alone are gorgeous, but they’re bolted to a car that expresses flowing, elegant, and classy styling. The grille’s diamond pattern is reminiscent of a Bentley's, but is that a bad thing? And what really defines the G80 are the Genesis-signature lighting strip elements that tie the front and rear ends together, and we love the turn signal repeater lights within the fender trim elements that flash in unison with the headlights.

Sevilla Red is a bold, fashionable interior choice for a midsize luxury sedan, but it works. The diamond-stitched, quilted leather recalls the grille pattern, and establishes an appropriately opulent ambience.

Quality materials, solid construction, and surprise-and-delight details are the rules, not the exceptions, inside. From the elegant glass gear selector and knurling on the knobs and stalks to the smoothly operating cover for the cupholders and the solid thunk the doors make when closed, it is clear Genesis put a lot of thought into how the G80 makes its owner feel: special.

We’re also grateful for the traditional knobs for operating common functions such as the stereo volume, the radio tuning, and the temperature control. The G80 isn't low-tech, though, because the sizable screens and large head-up display check the box for modern technology.

The G80 3.5T’s twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 is a satisfying engine. It generates a robust 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque—increases of 75 hp and 80 lb-ft over the G80 2.5T’s 2.5-liter turbo-four. Both engines employ a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission, and the G80 has standard all-wheel drive (AWD). Available driving modes include Comfort, Sport, Sport+, and a configurable My Drive Mode.

According to the EPA, the 3.5T should average 18 mpg in combined driving, which is not impressive. However, on our relatively flat Southern California fuel-economy observation route, which has a 50:50 mix of city and highway driving, the test car averaged 22.8 mpg. Later, when driven with more enthusiasm on our mountainous evaluation loop, the G80 3.5T returned 20.6 mpg, with an 18.7 mpg result for the city portion. That was a pleasant surprise considering the four-cylinder G80 2.5T is rated at 23 mpg combined. On paper, the smaller engine is more efficient, but in reality it’s a toss-up—especially if the four-cylinder is driven hard.

Our test car had 20-inch wheels, an adaptive suspension with a road preview feature, and rear-wheel steering. The latter feature makes the car more nimble and maneuverable in the city, and we observed its effectiveness when rounding corners, turning at intersections, and parking.

Drive the G80 3.5T Sport Prestige in Comfort mode, and the suspension is soft and wallowy. However, the road preview technology proved its worth over speed humps and, especially, speed bumps. The latter, taken at 25 mph, resulted in faint thudding and no structural reverberations, which is something of a miracle.

My Drive Mode allowed us to switch the suspension to a firmer Sport setting while keeping the other dynamically programmable aspects in Comfort (steering, powertrain, and the electronic limited-slip rear differential). We found the G80 more agreeable to drive with this setup, and though it didn’t completely eradicate unwanted suspension motion, what remained was appropriate for the car and its character.

During the mountain road evaluation, we switched to the Sport+ mode. However, because it turns off the G80’s stability control—never a good idea on a twisty road running along canyons—our experience with this mode was brief.

After running the G80 down Mulholland Highway near Malibu, it was clear the Genesis is not on a par with rivals from Germany. In Sport mode, there was too much body motion, the steering felt artificially heavy but not more communicative, and the brakes were grabby and inconsistent. While the G80 3.5T is fast in a straight line, it’s not a proper sports sedan.

It is, however, a proper luxury sedan. That suspension soaks up all the bad stuff, the engine effortlessly accelerates to highway speeds, and the cabin is a quiet and isolated cocoon in traffic and on longer journeys. For buyers looking for a traditional luxury experience, the Genesis G80 provides an endless supply of it, and they might even acclimate to the stickiness of the car’s effective brakes.

For a driver, comfort is king in the Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Prestige. Both front seats offer a wide range of power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The center console armrest is also heated, but only the driver benefits from adjustable thigh and side bolsters and an Ergo Motion massage function. Why Genesis reserves those comfort enhancements only for the driver is a real mystery, but otherwise, both front chairs are super comfortable.

That’s not the story with the back seat. Based on its appearance, shoppers might predict it would be a wonderful place to ride. Rear passengers enjoy their own climate control panel, the center armrest folds down to reveal controls for the heated outboard cushions and power rear window shade, and the quilted upholstery is inviting. Visually, it looks as though the G80 offers deluxe executive-level accommodation.

However, those diamond-shaped puffs feel like air-bubble packing materials under the passenger's butt. The bottom cushion is also too flat, so leg support is in short supply for taller people. That’s unfortunate, because the G80 is otherwise accommodating with good legroom and decent space for heads and feet.

Storage space is adequate for the people sitting in front, though the oversized overhead sunglasses compartment deserves special recognition. Rear passengers have more places to stash things than expected, due in part to the sizable storage area hidden within the back seat’s center armrest. Classy coat hooks protrude from each center roof pillar, which prove quite practical for hanging a light jacket or sport coat.

Equipped with a “smart” trunk lid, the G80 senses a person's presence behind the car and, after a few moments, can automatically open the trunk for loading. Inside are 13.1 cubic feet of space—enough to hold three suitcases on their sides, with room remaining for smaller duffels or backpacks. The enclosed lid hinges mean the trunk can be packed full without worrying about crushing something when shutting it. Genesis also provides a ski pass-through to the cabin to carry long items and passengers simultaneously.

Refreshingly unconcerned with plastering screens across the G80’s entire dashboard, Genesis instead uses a relatively discreet 27-inch OLED display that houses the digital instrumentation panel and infotainment touchscreen. The display is wide, but not tall, and while it serves as a defining characteristic, it doesn’t overwhelm the cabin’s aesthetics.

The interface is easy to understand and use, but we found the delicate, low-contrast iconography harder to read during the day. Nevertheless, we loved the sophisticated imagery Genesis uses to illustrate each of the menu shortcuts, and the simple, low-key approach with the displays allows the gorgeously detailed interior to stand out.

It's possible to bypass the touchscreen altogether to avoid fingerprints and smudges. A knob on the center console allows drivers to navigate the menu structure and select items, and more knobs handle stereo volume, radio tuning, and temperature control. Clearly marked climate functions offer quick access to the heated and ventilated seats without hunting around on the display.

The G80’s conversational digital voice assistant is also excellent, making it easy to issue spoken commands without looking away from the road. We were less impressed with the touch-sensing swipe function for the digital driver display, which was sometimes fussy.

Genesis includes three years of complimentary connected services, five years of navigation map updates, and three-month trial subscriptions to a Wi-Fi hotspot and SiriusXM satellite radio. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the G80 supports saved driver profiles, a fingerprint authentication system, and digital key technology that turns a smartphone into the key.

All trims except the base model have an 18-speaker, 1,400-watt Bang & Olufsen premium audio system. It didn't deliver the sound quality we expected with everything centered, but the Beosonic settings (Bright, Relaxed, Energetic, Warm) allow for easy customization.

The G80 3.5T adds a standard head-up display with a 12-inch image projection. It communicates plenty of information, and also shows when other vehicles are in the car’s blind spots. The G80 can also alert drivers when the stopped traffic ahead is once again on the move. We love both of these thoughtful features.

We were mostly impressed with the G80’s driver-assist tech, but we did experience some unexpected and aggravating behavior from its Highway Driving Assist system, which combines the G80’s adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and lane-change assist technologies to handle acceleration, braking, and steering for single-lane highway driving. The driver still has to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, but a touch-sensing wheel requires only light contact to let the car know the driver is still there. That’s preferable to the small steering inputs some other systems require.

During testing, Highway Driving Assist was remarkably effective in a variety of driving situations, but two situations dimmed our opinion of the system. It wouldn’t accelerate on one stretch of freeway as it bent into a curve, and braked when we overrode it by pressing the right pedal. On another occasion, the system continued trying to make a lane change to the right after we’d done it ourselves, which would have put the car on the shoulder.

Aside from Highway Driving Assist, the G80 features the expected suite driver-assistance features. Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 is unexpected, though, and can autonomously park the vehicle in a parallel, perpendicular, or diagonal space while the driver stands outside of the car using the key fob to control the system. We’ve used this tech in the past, and while effective, it’s not something buyers should use on a busy street or in a busy parking lot. Other people won’t have the patience for it.

Our Sport Prestige test vehicle also had a helpful surround-view camera system and blind-spot monitor. That feature uses cameras to show a live video feed of vehicles in the G80’s blind spots, the imagery appearing within the digital instrumentation display. It supports the existing blind-spot monitor system and blind-spot notifications shown on the digital instrumentation panel and within the head-up display.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the G80 a top five-star overall safety rating, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the G80 a Top Safety Pick+.

The G80 carries the lowest starting price in the segment aside from the Cadillac CT5 and Lexus ES, which aren’t on a par with its quality and refinement. But as noted, our loaded 3.5T Sport Prestige lands mid-pack in price when compared to similarly-equipped competitors from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes.

Audi and BMW match the G80’s complimentary scheduled maintenance plan, but not the valet service that picks up the car and leaves a courtesy vehicle. The G80’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty is also unmatched by other luxury brands.

From our perspective, the G80’s real value lies in its classic luxury look, feel, and driving character. It’s a refreshing change in a segment dominated by colder, more technical offerings. This car deserves a lot more consideration than it gets.