2023 Genesis Electrified G80 First Drive Review: Goodbye Gas

The 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 gets rid of the least impressive part of the original car.

That’s not to say I wasn’t a fan of the G80’s turbocharged V6. On the contrary, I fell for its power at the late 2020 launch of the second-gen sedan, preferring it to the four-cylinder option.

Part of the appeal of a big luxury sedan is the sheer waftability, and a fully electric powertrain is pretty much perfect for that. In the transition to Electrified, the G80 gives up little of what makes it such a great—if overlooked—luxury sedan, trading that for hush-hush comfort and startlingly good efficiency.

Editor’s Note: Instead of a traditional automaker-organized first drive event, we drove the Electrified G80 as part of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s (AJAC) annual EcoRun, which collects many of the market’s most fuel-efficient vehicles for a long-distance road trip. Stay tuned for more coverage from EcoRun.

It’s right there in the name. Not that you’ll find it anywhere on the car. The Electrified G80 is virtually indistinguishable from the gas car, the only telltale signs the absence of tailpipes and a filled-in grille. The latter is specifically clever, hiding within its design the charge port. It’s all rounded off with unique 19-inch alloys, wrapped in 245/45 front and 275/40 rear Michelin rubber.

Under that long hood sits one of two electric motors; the other is positioned just above the rear axle. Drawing their power from a floor-mounted 87.2-kWh battery pack, the electric motors produce a combined 365 horsepower, and 516 pound-feet. That’s a 10-pony disadvantage versus the gas-powered G80, but a massive 125 lb-ft surplus. Official range is quoted at 282 miles (454 kilometers).

A thumb of the revised starter button primes the G80 for go-time. The rotary drive selector works the same as the gas car, the only difference is the complete lack of noise from ahead. The G80 floats away from a stop, with a well-judged go-pedal that erases much of the low-speed jerkiness that inflicts some EVs. As in the GV60, there are multiple levels of regenerative braking available, from none through to the most aggressive i-Pedal mode, which is capable of stopping the sedan all on its own.

Dig deeper into the accelerator’s travel and the G80 picks up and goes with the same urgency as the V6. It’s quick, clicking off a run to highway speed in a little shy of 5 seconds, but not too much. The delivery is linear and effortless, maintaining its urgency even at highway speeds.

Ride quality is generally excellent. The G80 employs Genesis’ road-reading adaptive damper tech, which scans the road ahead to deliver a magic carpet ride. Even in the sometimes soggy settings of EcoRun 2022, the G80 remained smooth and composed. Rear-wheel steering, which debuted on this year’s G80 Sport, keeps its turning circle commendably tight.

Due to the nature of the event, we spent much of our time on country highways—not exactly an EV’s ideal working atmosphere. What’s more, filming logistics had us high-tailing it behind an event organizer to make it to the next checkpoint before the rest of the group. So imagine my surprise when the E G80 posted an excellent 14.3 kWh/100 km rating. That’s 4.34 miles per kWh for those who speak apple pie. Put another way, the G80 shouldn’t just exceed its quoted range, but obliterate it. We’re talking almost 100 miles (160 km) more than advertised. A later dash exclusively on main highways still saw the G80 click off 18.5 kWh/100 km (3.36 mi/kWh).

And what of charge times? Genesis says as little as 22 minutes when the sleek sedan’s sucking back on a 350-kW DC fast-charger. A Level 2 stretches the wait out to seven hours, give or take.

Just as the exterior doesn’t mess with success, the inside of the G80 leaves well enough alone. The blue-and-cream leather of my tester looks stupendous, with every major touch point draped in the soft hide. Genesis has fit the Electrified with environmentally-conscious trim too. Some of it, like the microfiber headliner made from recycles plastics, is practically imperceptible. Other bits, like the forged-wood trim, is more obvious: there’s nothing particularly natural about the marble-like look, but I appreciate it being made of old furniture all the same.

The wide, minimal dashboard flows down and around the door panels, combining with a wide center console for a satisfying cockpit feel. Compounding that feeling is the raised floor, necessary to clear the battery packs lining the lower deck. If you’re looking for open and airy, then the GV60 is likely more your speed.

At the time of publishing, Genesis had yet to publish pricing of the Electrified G80. With its everything-and-the-kitchen-sink spec sheet and the nature of its EV architecture, we expect it to command a modest premium over the existing top trim, the $71,595 G80 Sport Prestige (Sport Plus in Canada, at $80,000 CAD). That doesn’t count any sort of incentives, however.

There’s not a whole lot of car-shaped alternatives, either. The BMW i4 is arguably the best non-M 4 Series, but it’s a full size smaller. Same with the Porsche Taycan. The Tesla Model S is still chugging along, but it’s about 30-percent pricier. Much quicker in a straight line, yes—and much less interesting to sit in.

There are some vehicles that are well-suited to the EV conversion, and the Genesis G80 is one of them. The 2023 Electrified G80 is a satisfying cruiser that glides across country, cocooning its occupants in a plush cabin that would still impress at twice this price point. That it’s also one of the most efficient EVs we’ve tested goes a long way towards addressing one of the main pinch points of electrics, too.

It’s not going to sell in huge numbers. Comparatively, that will be the job of the smaller, vaguely crossover-like GV60. Yet that’s what will make the G80 all the more appealing to a small group of individuals. Buying a car is a statement piece at this point, and the G80 Electrified makes the loudest one—er, technically, the quietest.

FAQs

How much does the 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 cost?

At the time of publishing, Genesis had not published pricing for the E G80.

When can you buy the 2023 Genesis G80?

The Electrified G80 will begin arriving in California, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York dealerships before the end of the year.

Does the Electrified G80 share its platform with the GV60?

No. The E G80 uses a modified version of the gas car’s platform, not the E-GMP platform.