Genesis G80 vs BMW 7 Series

Redesigned for 2023, the 7 Series is BMW's full-size flagship sedan, arch-rival to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8, and newcomers like the Genesis G90. For 2024, BMW has added the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 750e and lightly updated the infotainment system. Unfortunately, these additions don't change the 7 Series calculus. The 750e offers a boost in power and efficiency over the low-end 740i, but it costs more, has a disjointed driving personality, and quickly eats its electric charge. Despite the update, the car's digital systems remain frustratingly complex.

Verdict: The 2024 BMW 7 Series has lots to offer luxury buyers, including features like a rear-seat theatre and cashmere upholstery, plus performance and fuel efficiency that are often superior to most rivals, few of whom offer PHEV options. But the car's frustrating digital systems and controls undermine the experience.

The 2023 Genesis G80 offers all of the luxury and premium appointments as its legacy rivals, but it does so at often thousands less. However, with so many established luxury brands vying for new car buyers, a low price alone may not be enough. How does a relative newcomer make a splash in a market where the name brand and prestige matter so much? By offering an electrified variant of its cornerstone luxury sedan.

It may seem like electric cars have only just arrived, but the Tesla Model S was introduced a decade ago. EVs still make up a very small fraction of the market, but their numbers are growing. And the critical inflection point is coming when EVs pivot from early adopters to mass appeal.

And when that broader acceptance happens, it will be thanks to vehicles like the 2023 Genesis Electrified G80. It has an all-electric powertrain, but it presents like your typical luxury car. This format of an EV as a conventional luxury sedan is the perfect way to showcase what an electric vehicle really can be to the broader buying public.