Competes with: Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series and Lexus ES
Looks like: Genesis gave the new G80 the big-face treatment, bringing it in line with the redesigned G90 sedan and forthcoming GV80 SUV
Powertrain: 300-horsepower, turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder or 375-hp, turbo 3.5-liter V-6; rear- or all-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: Second half of 2020
Genesis has unveiled a redesigned version of its mid-size luxury sedan in South Korea. The 2021 G80 gets a dramatic style upgrade, rides on a new platform, uses revised powertrains and gets additional advanced driver assistance systems.
Related: Genesis G80 Redesign Revealed: What We Know and What We Don’t
Exterior
Like its siblings, including the redesigned G90 sedan and all-new GV80 SUV, the 2021 G80 also wears the dramatic — like really, really big — Genesis crest grille. It also shows off the double-lined Quad Lamp headlight layout, which features graphics that extend beyond the headlamps and wrap along the sides of the body. Genesis says this will be a signature design element across its model range.
In profile, the new sedan also borrows the G90’s silhouette, wearing more of a sleek fastback look than the previous generation. The design tapers off in back with a sloping deck lid and similarly designed Quad Lamp taillights. A subtly curved line runs the length of the body from the headlights to the taillights; it’s accented by chrome trim throughout.
Interior
Genesis said it lowered the seating height of the second row to accommodate the sloping roofline, and to increase headroom and legroom in the backseat. Interior materials include leather seating and surfaces, soft-touch fabrics and open-pore wood finishes.
Like the new GV80’s control setup, screens are a big part of the new G80’s cabin. Ahead of the driver, there’s a head-up display and a 12.3-inch 3-D instrument cluster with driver recognition. It provides various driving information and can be converted to 2-D, depending on the driver’s preference. Also like the GV80’s cabin, there’s a dial transmission shifter and sleek steering wheel (this one two-spoke).
There’s also a 14.5-inch multimedia screen that can be controlled via touch or by using the Genesis Integrated Controller knob, which allows users to set destinations or enter phone numbers by writing on the main control center. Below that are more traditional climate control knobs and buttons.
Other control features include wireless updates to the navigation system as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Engine and Transmission
As with its predecessor, the third generation of the G80 rides on a rear-wheel-drive platform, and Genesis says the model’s new platform provides a lower center of gravity and a wider cabin for improved driving stability. The automaker also expects fuel economy to benefit from the new design, which uses 19% more aluminum than the outgoing model.
The G80’s engines are new and are shared with the new GV80. A turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder makes 300 horsepower, or buyers can upgrade to a turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 good for 375 hp. The prior version used a 311-hp, 3.8-liter V-6 engine for base models or a 365-hp, twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6 for 3.3T Sport trims. There was also a range-topping 5.0 Ultimate version which used a 420-hp, 5.0-liter V-8. No word yet on whether a V-8 will return to the lineup, but a diesel will be available outside the U.S. There’s also no word on available transmissions (the outgoing G80 uses an eight-speed automatic).
All-wheel drive is available, as well as Genesis’ first active adaptive suspension. The automaker says the Electronically Controlled Suspension with Road Preview enhances ride quality by reducing road impacts using information supplied through the front camera.
More From Cars.com:
- Shopping for a 2020 Genesis G80? Research One, Here
- Find a 2020 Genesis G80 for Sale Near You, Now
- 2021 Genesis GV80: 10 New Things We Know About Genesis’ First SUV
- 2021 Genesis GV80: About Damn Time
- Find Your Next Car
Safety
The new G80 features many more available safety and driver assistance features than the outgoing model, including adaptive cruise control that uses machine-learning capability to adapt its performance to the habits of its drivers, a highway assist system that includes lane changing, a blind spot monitor that can actively intercede to avoid collisions in situations such as leaving a parking space, and a forward collision system with automatic braking and pedestrian detection that also will respond to vehicles approaching from the right or left at an intersection.
The G80 will also offer the Remote Smart Parking Assistant found on Genesis parent company Hyundai’s 2020 Sonata, which guides the car into narrow spaces — perpendicular or parallel — and can be enabled inside the car or remotely via the key fob. No word yet on which features are standard or optional, however.
The 2021 Genesis G80 goes on sale today in South Korea and in the second half of 2020 in other markets, starting with North America. No word yet on pricing.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
Source: Read Full Article