The G80 interior appears to benchmark the BMW.The Basics
– What: 2017 Genesis G80 Ultimate – Engine: 5.0-liter V8 – Fuel economy: 23 mpg highway, 15 mpg city – Local dealer: Long Hyundai – Price (as tested): $55,715
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The auto gods don’t just give out passkeys to the luxury sedan club.
Earning a place in the circle along with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Cadillac CTS, and BMW 5-Series takes a lot of trial and error. Enter the new Genesis G80, a car that’s evolved from the old Hyundai Genesis sedan with prospects of joining the pantheon of modern luxury cars.
Early reviews are good, and we agree that it’s a solid effort. Some of the most beautiful body lines in the segment pair with a gorgeous, BMW-like interior to create a car with tons of presence.
The sweetener is value. A base, six-cylinder G80 starts at $42,350, and a loaded out eight-cylinder like our tester has a bottom line of $55,715, thousands below the competition.
G80s are available locally at Long Hyundai, 6039 International Drive.
– What is it? A mid-size, five-passenger luxury sedan with surpassing styling inside and out. The G80’s stance and striking profile add up to a car that looks right at home at the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, even if its emblems and badging are so generic as to be mystifying. Even automotive hobbyists are sometimes hard-pressed to name this automobile on sight.
The eight-cylinder, 420 horsepower V8 engine in our tester catapults the G80 from zero-to-60 mph in 5.3 seconds and comes in rear-wheel-drive configuration. Tire grip comes into play if you do a lot of driving on our Chattanooga area mountain roads.
The 3.8-liter version comes with optional all-wheel-drive, which might be a better option for people who live at hihg altitudes.
– Worthwhile options: Genesis has a minimalist approach to options, preferring to cluster them by trim group. Our G80 Ultimate, for example, has only $215 in options, a cargo tray and mud guards. But the list of standard equipment is voluminous and includes such high-end features as matte-finish wood trim, heated and vented seating surfaces, a 9.2-inch touchscreen, 19-inch alloys and arrays of LED lights.
– It’s good buy for Chattanoogans because: If the offerings at the Long Mercedes-Benz dealership are a smidgen out of your reach, turn left and shop the Hyundai/Genesis store. Also, the all-wheel-drive option on the V6 is ideal for our terrain.
– How much: Prices range from $42,350 to $55,500. All models are relative bargains given the high content level.
– Cool stuff: If you are an aspirational luxury car buyer, G80 V-6 is a great starter car. Not only do you get a big, luxurious sedan, but the first three years of scheduled maintenance are free. Also the G80 has a 5-year, 60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and 10-year, 100,000-mile power-train warranty. It’s the closest thing to a worry-free luxury car you will find.
– We wish for: An all-wheel-drive option in the V-8 model would be nice for our market.
– While you are looking: The best benchmark for the G80 is BMW 5-series. You’ll lose a little in cache and driving dynamics with the Genesis, but your wallet will thank you.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-645-8937.