Electric Genesis G 80 in everyday testing: Faster than a Porsche Taycan
Created: 08/05/2022 10:01 am
By: Rudolf Boegel
Luxury sedan as a combustion engine or Stromer.
With the G 80, Genesis is now attacking the luxury segment, which is dominated by the Germans.
© Dominic Fraser / Genesis
With the G 80, Genesis, Hyundai's luxury brand, is challenging the German luxury manufacturers.
At a competitive price and with high quality.
Even as an electric car.
With twice 185 hp, this Genesis attacks the German Oberliga.
The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes just 4.9 seconds.
The petrol engine is available from a cost price of 50,700 euros.
It's lonely at the top.
Hollywood star Judy Garland already knew that.
But that was once.
At least as far as the luxury league among automakers is concerned.
Mercedes S-Class against BMW 7 Series – a real classic: sometimes the people from Munich overtook the people from Stuttgart, sometimes the star was the lonely top.
However, the e-revolution changes everything.
Suddenly other manufacturers are also pushing upwards.
Whether the electric pioneer Tesla, which is almost part of the establishment, or the new Californian noble startup Lucid.
Not to forget the Korean luxury brand Genesis - they all try their hand at the prestigious and economically particularly lucrative premier league.
With the G 80, the Hyundai Motor Company reaches straight for the top.
First with two combustion engines and now also purely electrically.
Exhaust searched in vain.
Of course, the Gernesis Electrified G 80 no longer needs something like that.
© Dominic Fraser / Genesis
"Is that a Cadillac?" the passer-by wants to know
The noble planer stands on the street all in white.
"Is that a Cadillac?" the interested passer-by speculates.
"Genesis - never heard of it," he says with an admiring look.
Genesis comes from the Greek and means something like origin or birth.
The Bible describes the early history of mankind in Genesis 1:1.
"In the beginning God created heaven and earth..." And so on.
What made the Hyundai Motor Company call their premium brand Genesis?
A rogue who thinks evil.
In any case, the G 80 from Genesis is the flagship of the Koreans.
Almost five meters long and with a wheelbase of just over three meters, it has very decent dimensions, but it doesn't come close to the Mercedes EQS or the i7 from BMW.
They each have at least 20 centimeters more, which mainly benefits the passengers in the rear.
The G 80 also has to make do with the trunk volume.
A measly 345 liters are available here.
That happens when you convert a pure combustion engine (it still has 424 liters) to an electric engine.
And so some of the weekend shopping has to be in the back seats because the trunk is already full.
Precise processing, fine materials.
The Genesis G 80 can easily keep up in the premium segment.
©Genesis
Where have the basses gone?
That is annoyance number 1. But the second stroke follows immediately if you are looking for good sound.
Lexicon may be a celebrated hi-end specialist, but somehow they lost the bass going from the studio to the car.
Steam radio without steam.
It's a shame, because an electric car is the perfect place for uninterrupted music enjoyment, because the well-insulated body allows for almost no disruptive outside noise.
But now enough complaining.
If you want more from the sour pot, you have to stop reading here.
Because the Genesis is otherwise a very good and pretty much perfect touring sedan.
The adaptive chassis alone, which evaluates its own camera images and GPS data to adjust the shock absorbers preventively and comfortably for the passengers, is a pleasure.
And then the majestic silence in the car, floating made easy.
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In contrast to the electric variant, the G 80 petrol engine has an open radiator grille.
It is better suited as a long-distance car.
©Genesis
Electrified G 80 - faster than the "small" Porsche Taycan
The G 80 is powered by two powerful electric motors (136 kW or 185 hp each), one of which works on the rear axle and the other on the front axle – all-wheel drive.
When both electric motors turn up, it's: Hooray, the chamois (O-Ton Süd "the chamois")!
Since the G80 goes off like a Porsche Taycan, but only the single-engine entry-level model.
The chic, three-dimensional digital speedometer shows 100 km/h in a breathtaking 4.9 seconds (the smallest Taycan needs 5.4 seconds for this).
It's a roller coaster, but without any rattling.
In sport mode, the G80 sweeps through the area with great traction, and it also cuts a fine figure in curves, although that is not the real purpose of this luxury sedan.
Leather, aluminum, wood decor.
When it comes to processing, Genesis takes it very seriously.
The Koreans can easily keep up with the Germans.
©Genesis
Charging in 22 minutes - that's fun
The touring car with the 87.2 kWh battery is supposed to cover up to 520 kilometers – practice teaches us otherwise.
Admittedly, the test drives took place in the hot summer of 2022, so the air conditioning may have absorbed a lot even in eco mode, but if we take our consumption values as a basis, then with the best will in the world we only get 400 kilometers.
Less the last 50 fear kilometers, which we prefer to leave in because you often don't know whether the next charging stations are occupied or broken, you have to refuel after 350 kilometers at the latest.
The G 80 does this with flying colors - thanks to the 800 volt on-board system from the Hyundai Motor Group with up to 350 kW or 22 minutes from 10 to 80 percent.
For long distances this is rather cumbersome.
Anyone who travels frequently can also drive a Genesis, but should switch to the G 80 2.5 T AWD.
With 304 hp and 422 Nm, the petrol engine is also fun, but it can be fully refueled in just a few minutes.
With rear-wheel drive and premium equipment, it costs 50,700 euros and is therefore almost 20,000 euros cheaper than the Electrified G 80 with the slightly better Luxury Line.
With the solar roof, the Genesis G 80 Electrified has a range of up to 1,500 kilometers per year.
©Genesis
Stand down, wait - then the tailgate opens automatically
As usual with Genesis, they've included some neat electronic gimmicks in the G 80 as well.
The tailgate, for example, opens as if by magic when needed.
You don't have to embarrassingly step under the rear apron like you do with other manufacturers.
You simply place yourself 50 to 100 centimeters behind the trunk, flash the hazard lights briefly, and then the flap swings up.
Magical.
The optional solar roof is also a good idea.
For 1,610 euros, you get between 1,000 and 1,500 kilometers of additional range.
Yearly.
That's fine - because the sun doesn't send an invoice.
Fancy an espresso on the go.
No problem, the machine gets its power directly from the battery of the G 80. © Genesis
Our verdict on the Electrified Genesis G 80
The big question is whether the vehicle-to-load function is needed, with which all kinds of devices can be operated electrically from the on-board network.
That would be interesting mainly for electric bicycles.
But similar to the G 80, no towing capacity is permitted for the E variant either.
This means that the e-bikes cannot be accommodated on a bicycle carrier on the trailer hitch.
Unless you transport them awkwardly on the roof, where at least 100 kilograms are allowed.
But maybe you want to serve your own espresso at a picnic in the countryside?
Or make ice cubes?
The adapter for this, like the charging plug, is flanged onto a hidden recess in the radiator grille.
That's a nice gimmick - nothing more and nothing less.
When it comes to buying the G 80, there should actually only be one criterion.
Rudolph Boegel
Specifications Genesis G 80 2.5T AWD
Engine: Turbo in-line four-cylinder
Displacement: 2,497
Max. power: 224 kW (304 hp) at 5,800 rpm
Max. torque: 422 Nm at 1,650 - 4,000 rpm
Type of drive: all-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic
0-100km/h: 6.3 seconds
Top: 250 km/h
Consumption: 9.1 l / 100 km
CO2: 205 g/km
Length / width / height: 4.99 / 1.93 / 1.47
Trunk: 424L
Empty weight / payload: 1930 / 520 kg
Support, roof and trailer load not allowed
Price from: 50,700 euros
Genesis Electrified G80
Electric motors: Two machines on the front and rear axles
Max. system output: 272 kW (370 hp)
Max. system torque: 700 Nm
Type of drive: all-wheel drive
Battery: 87.2kWh
Range: up to 520 km
Charging time: 22 minutes from 10 to 80 percent (DC / 350 kW)
67 min from 10 to 80 percent (DC / 50 kW)
7 hrs
30min (AC / 11kW)
37 hrs
from 10 to 100 percent (AC single-phase, domestic socket)
0-100km/h: 4.9 seconds
Top: 225 km/h
Electricity consumption: 19.1 kWh
Length / width / height: 5.01 / 1.93 / 1.47
Trunk: 354L
Empty weight / payload: 2325 / 445 kg
Support, roof and trailer load not allowed
Price from: 69,200 euros (less environment bonus of 7,975 euros)