Genesis Electrified G80 review

The Electrified G80 is brilliantly luxurious to sit in but not as good to drive as its key German rivals

RRP £76,515

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RRP from: £76,515

Leasing deals

From £749

About our price indicator

What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)

Genesis Electrified G80

Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £749.40 Initial payment £8,992.80

Step-by-step

Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.

• Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
• Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
• Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end

What you get

When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:

• Full manufacturer’s warranty
• Road tax and roadside assistance included
• No admin fees
• Free returns within 30 days*

In partnership with

£8,993 initial payment, 60 month contract, 5000 miles p/a. Subject to status and conditions.

• Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
• No balloon payments
• Road tax included

Power

365 bhp

0-62 mph

5.1 s

Range

354 miles

Figures for Dual Motor 94.5kWh Dynamic Auto AWD 4dr

Electric

Luxury

Saloon

Jump to:

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Buying & owning

George Hill

Updated: 27 June 2025

How we test cars

The Genesis Electrified G80 – it's a name that's as literal as it is promising. Because while the regular G80 had its charm, its engine was gruff and thirsty, falling short of German rivals' standards.

We mention the G80 in the past tense because the Electrified G80 is now the only version you can buy in the UK. That’s not such a bad thing, because at a bare minimum a luxury car needs to deliver decent levels of refinement and smoothness for the passenger, along with low running costs and emissions for the owner. Those are far easier to achieve with an electric car – which brings us to the finer details of the Electrified G80.

New car deals

Best price from £76,515

What is What Car? best price?

The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.

RRP from: £76,515

Leasing deals

From £749

About our price indicator

What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)

Genesis Electrified G80

Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £749.40 Initial payment £8,992.80

Step-by-step

Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.

• Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
• Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
• Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end

What you get

When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:

• Full manufacturer’s warranty
• Road tax and roadside assistance included
• No admin fees
• Free returns within 30 days*

In partnership with

£8,993 initial payment, 60 month contract, 5000 miles p/a. Subject to status and conditions.

• Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
• No balloon payments
• Road tax included

Out goes the 2.5-litre petrol engine and in comes a sizeable 94.5kWh (total capacity) battery pack that sends its power to two motors – one mounted on each axle to give the Electrified G80 four-wheel drive. Combined, you get 365bhp and an official 0-62mph time of just 5.1 seconds. Not too shabby.

To succeed in the luxury electric car market, the Electrified G80 will need to take on the likes of the BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE. And now, because it’s only available in long-wheelbase (LWB) form following a recent update, it’s also targeting the likes of the BMW i7 and Mercedes EQS.

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Read on to find out how we rate the Genesis Electrified G80 against the best electric cars…

Verdict

The Genesis Electrified G80 is almost a halfway point between the BMW i5 and BMW i7 electric cars, offering a luxurious interior, ultra-quiet driving manners and a vast amount of rear leg room – all for a price that’s closer to the i5. That said, the suspension doesn’t deliver the comfort you’d expect from a luxury car, it's not as luxurious in the back as an i7 and key rivals have longer official ranges.

Best buy

94.5kWh Dynamic Saloon 4dr Electric Auto AWD (Dual Motor) (370 ps) review

RRP £76,515

Pros

• Stunning interior
• Great infotainment system
• Generous standard equipment list

Cons

• Lack of air suspension means the ride never quite settles down
• Boot is surprisingly small
• Range not as long as some rivals’

Best buy

94.5kWh Dynamic Saloon 4dr Electric Auto AWD (Dual Motor) (370 ps) review

RRP £76,515

New car deals

Leasing deals

Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

Strengths

• Punchy performance
• Little wind and road noise
• Plenty of traction

Weaknesses

• Inconsistent ride around town
• Not as sharp as a BMW i5 in the bends
• Mercedes EQE has a longer official range

The Genesis Electrified G80 comes in just one dual-motor, four-wheel drive variant. It has identical 182.5bhp motors on both the front and rear axles, delivering a combined total of 365bhp. The rear motor drives the car most of the time, with the front motor kicking in when extra power or traction is needed.

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It’s an effective system that even in wet conditions allows you to accelerate hard out of a junction with limited wheelspin.

It actually feels quite a bit quicker than its official 0-62mph time of 5.1 seconds suggests and will keep accelerating up to motorway speeds with no real let-up in forward momentum. While a Mercedes EQE 350+ or BMW i5 eDrive40 wouldn’t see which way it went in a traffic light grand prix, the four-wheel drive versions of those cars are much quicker.

With that, the Electrified G80 is no match for an Audi E-tron GT or Porsche Taycan either. It’s evident that it's geared towards comfort, as opposed to sporty driving, but it's not perfect.

The accelerator could do with better calibration in Sport mode because it feels quite sensitive, and even in Comfort mode, the set-up takes some getting used to. For a smoother driving experience you can select Chauffeur mode, which smooths out the accelerator response, allowing you to accelerate with more grace, with a gentle surge in power as you press on.

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The front-end has plenty of grip but the steering is a touch vague and body control is rather loose. That forces you to be reserved and smooth with your inputs on the kind of give-and-take country roads that would be a riot in an i5. Even an EQE feels better tied down, with the G80 tending to pogo its way down undulating roads.

The lack of control can also be felt around town, where the G80 sometimes thumps over raised ironwork and potholes. That's also a problem in an entry-level EQE, but at least Mercedes gives you the option of air suspension. The G80 relies on the same concept as all Genesis car models – it sits on steel coils and adaptive dampers, giving it a narrower operating window. A BMW i7 is more comfortable overall with its air-sprung set-up.

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Ultimately, the G80 feels at its best on a smooth motorway, where the suspension can breathe with the road and the lack of wind and road noise makes for a relaxed driving experience. It’s a good thing, then, that the official electric range is a useful 354 miles, which is better than the i5 M60 xDrive (315 miles) but some way short of an EQE 500 (385 miles), i7 xDrive60 (387 miles) and EQS 450 (467 miles).

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Usefully, the Electrified G80 is available with rear-wheel steering. It’s an expensive option but we’d be tempted to go for it because it makes this long, limo-like car surprisingly easy to manoeuvre in town.

“I could happily do a lot of motorway miles in the Electrified G80. It has triple-sealed door surrounds, soundproof glass and an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC-R) system that does a great job of isolating occupants from road noise.” – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

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Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

Strengths

• Great driving position
• Intuitive infotainment system
• Impressive interior quality

Weaknesses

• Touch-sensitive climate controls are fiddly

We’ve few complaints about the driving position in the Genesis Electrified G80. The driver's seat has plenty of fully electric adjustment, including for lumbar support.

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What’s more, you’re lined up well with the steering wheel and pedals, making it a generally comfortable affair. Our only gripe is that, depending on your driving position, the steering wheel can block out the corners of the digital driver’s display.

Unlike an electric SUV, the G80 positions you closer to the road yet still offers good visibility to the front and at junctions, making it easy to manoeuvre the car. Along with that, rear visibility is decent thanks to its rear quarterlights, while standard blind-spot monitoring and a rear-view camera help matters further.

One of the highlights of the interior is the large, 27in display, which combines the infotainment touchscreen and the digital driver’s display. Usefully, the infotainment section can be operated with a large dial between the front seats, like the iDrive dial in the BMW i5.

Although it’s easy to accidentally grab the controller when reaching for the gear selector, it remains less distracting than the touchscreen-only interface in the Mercedes EQE. Similarly, the driver’s display is operated with physical steering wheel buttons, which are easier to use than the haptic buttons in the EQE.

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If you prefer, you can operate the infotainment system with the touchscreen, which is sharp, responsive and very well laid out. It includes DAB radio, Bluetooth, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. Additionally, an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen system is standard, providing a powerful audio experience with active noise cancelling for improved refinement.

Unfortunately, Genesis has replaced most of the physical controls in the pre-facelift car with touch-sensitive buttons for the climate controls, which are fiddly to operate on the move. That said, you still get physical dials for the temperature adjustment, which is a significant advantage over the i5's interior, where the temperature and climate controls are adjusted using the touchscreen.

The Electrified G80’s interior looks elegant and feels solidly put together, and most buttons and switches have a suitably expensive feel to them. There are a number of colour schemes and real wood choices, along with plenty of aluminium highlights, so the interior can be as light and airy or dark and conservative as you choose.

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The level of quality and sophistication continues in the back seats, where the soft-touch plastics and leather from the front can be found, such as on the doors.

To aid passenger comfort, the Electrified G80 is available with a Second Row Comfort Pack, which adds heated outer rear seats, power closing and soft-close rear doors, sun blinds and a centre armrest control panel. It's a noticeable step up from the i5 but doesn’t offer the level of comfort or luxury found in a BMW i7 with its Rear Comfort Pack.

“I’ve sat in the back of an Electrified G80 with the optional Second Row Comfort Pack and I found it very comfortable. However, I did find it odd that the rear control panel only lets you control certain aspects of the front infotainment screen. There’s also no back button, so you can easily get stuck in a menu.” – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

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Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

Strengths

• Plenty of space up front
• Lots of rear leg room
• 40/20/40 split folding rear seats

Weaknesses

• Middle rear passenger has limited head room
• Rivals have bigger boots

You’ll find lots of space in the front of the Genesis Electrified G80, with seats that slide back a long way on their runners and plenty of head room.

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The same goes for head room in the back, where even six-footers won’t find their heads rubbing against the roof. Leg room for people sitting in the two outer seats is very good too, no doubt thanks to the extended wheelbase.

As such, the Electrified G60 offers more leg room than you’ll find in the BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE and a similar level to the BMW i7 and Mercedes EQS. It’s more comfortable in the back than an EQE or EQS (the rear seats in those cars place you in a slightly upright position and the seatbases lack support).

If you want to carry three people in the back of the Electrified G80, it’s a bit of a squeeze. The slightly raised middle seat will mean taller people might need to duck slightly to fit in.

As the Electrified G80 is a saloon, the boot opening is quite small, but the same goes for its key rivals. A bigger problem is that the 354-litre boot space is seriously compromised, with the battery pack eating into load space. That's way down on the i5 (490 litres), i7 (500 litres), EQE (430 litres) and EQS (620 litres).

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Thankfully, you can fold down the rear seatbacks electrically, and they split in a handy 40/20/40 arrangement. A powered tailgate comes as standard.

“I think it would be useful if the Electrified G80 had a front boot. Even though its closest rivals don’t have one either, it would add some much needed storage capacity.” – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

Strengths

• Competitively priced
• Well equipped
• Decent charging rate

Weaknesses

• The optional kits are quite expensive

The Genesis Electrified G80 costs considerably less than a BMW i7 or Mercedes EQS but is priced in line with its main electric car rivals – the BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE. All electric cars attract very low BIK tax rates so it will set you back a tiny amount as a company car.

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Genesis gives you a huge amount of equipment as standard. We’re talking 19in alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights, a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, leather upholstery, a head-up display, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, three-zone climate control and a powered tailgate.

Ways to buy

Cash from £76,515 Own the car outright. No monthly payments.

Lease from £749pm Drive a new car every few years. Lower upfront costs.

£8,993 initial payment , 60 month contract , 5000 miles p/a . Subject to status and conditions.

You can add a number of attractive option packs. These include a front Comfort Pack (which adds ventilated and massaging front seats, among other things), a Second Row Comfort Pack (as mentioned previously) and a Nappa Leather Seat Pack. There are a number of standalone options too, including vehicle-to-load (V2L), which lets you use the Electrified G80’s batteries to power other things.

​​The amount of standard safety kit is impressive and is one of the reasons the G80 scored five stars out of five in its Euro NCAP safety test.

The G80 comes with automatic emergency braking (AEB), rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist. It also has a useful surround-view camera system and Remote Smart Parking Assist, the latter of which lets you remote park the car by pressing a button on the key fob.

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The Electrified G80 has a sizeable 94.5kWh battery pack that can top up at a maximum charging speed of 187kW. That’s a quicker charging rate than an EQE (170kW), but it’s less than an i5 (205kW), i7 (200kW) or EQS (200kW). That said, its charging time is competitive with those cars, with a 10-80% charge taking around 25 minutes at a rapid public charger.

We don't have any reliability data for Genesis but every car is backed up by a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty. Parent company Hyundai did very well in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey, which bodes well for its premium car division.

“The driver monitoring system in the Electrified G80 is very sensitive. It told me to look at the road when I was looking at the infotainment screen for a very short period of time.” – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

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If you're interested in finding a Genesis G80, or any of the other electric cars mentioned here, head over to our Cars available now pages to find new cars listed for sale at great prices.

Genesis G80 specifications

Best buy

94.5kWh Dynamic Saloon 4dr Electric Auto AWD (Dual Motor) (370 ps) review

RRP £76,515

RRP price range

£76,515 - £84,215

Battery range (miles)

354

Available fuel types (which is best for you? )

Electric

Number of engines (see all)

1

Number of trims (see all)

2

Warranty

5 years / 120,000 miles

Company car tax at 20% (min/max)

£612 - £673

Company car tax at 40% (min/max)

£1,223 - £1,346

FAQs

What is the 0 to 62mph on a Genesis Electrified G80?

The official 0-62mph time for a Genesis Electrified G80 is 4.9 seconds.

How long does it take to charge Genesis Electrified G80?

Provided you can find a rapid public charger capable of delivering 187kW, the Electrified G80 can charge from 10-80% in around 25 minutes.

Is Genesis a posh Hyundai?

Genesis is the luxury arm of Hyundai, in the same way that Lexus is Toyota's posh off-shoot. It's pitched against electric luxury cars and has a simple engine range, plus three well-specced trim levels to choose from.

New car deals

Best price from £76,515

What is What Car? best price?

The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.

RRP from: £76,515

Leasing deals

From £749

About our price indicator

What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)

Genesis Electrified G80

Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £749.40 Initial payment £8,992.80

Step-by-step

Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.

• Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
• Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
• Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end

What you get

When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:

• Full manufacturer’s warranty
• Road tax and roadside assistance included
• No admin fees
• Free returns within 30 days*

In partnership with

£8,993 initial payment, 60 month contract, 5000 miles p/a. Subject to status and conditions.

• Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
• No balloon payments
• Road tax included

About the writer

Name: George Hill

Title: Used car writer

Follow George Hill on

George Hill first joined the What Car? team as a staff writer in 2021, before becoming a used car writer in 2024 and a reviewer in 2026. In his current role he writes new car reviews for What Car? magazine and whatcar.com.

If you follow What Car? on social media, you might see him presenting the odd video on new cars too.

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Hyundai's premium brand Genesis to launch in UK this year

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Wed May 26 2021

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