There’s a new contender in the luxury car market – Genesis, a premium brand from
South Korea’s Hyundai, and I was able to run the rule over the marque’s big, elegant saloon, the G80 - in Luxury Line trim - on a week-long road test.
Style file
The car certainly has kerb-appeal, with its dynamic, sophisticated lines drawing plenty of attention from passers-by, often eager to stop and ask about the motor as I was about to slip behind the leather-trimmed wheel. The G80 looks truly impressive, sitting on its 20in alloy wheels.
I particularly liked the slim quad headlights, their design echoed in the rear lights. And the athletic elegance of the exterior is continued in the cossetting cabin, with its eye-pleasing design, premium materials and high-quality finishes.
Features
With its leather upholstery and tactile dashboard controls, the four-door car offers a swathe of lovely equipment and a wealth of attention to detail, from the three-stage heated (or cooled), 12-way adjustable, powered front seats, with four-way lumbar adjustment, to the door-mirror puddle-lights projecting the Genesis badge, and the power-opening boot lid.
Equipment also includes heated steering wheel, adjustable interior ambient lighting, premium audio with multiple speakers, 14.5in display screen for satnav and infotainment, front and rear parking sensors, power-folding door mirrors and dual-zone air conditioning. There’s a 3D instrument cluster and heads-up display, and the car even greets you and bids you farewell with its ‘welcome/exit jingle’.
Tech time
You will find a host of advanced safety features including smart cruise control, driver attention warning, and blind spot view monitor, which uses cameras placed on the exterior mirrors to provide the driver with a video feed of their blind spot to assist when changing lanes, which I found a great piece of equipment.
There is also electronically-controlled suspension with road preview, which uses a forward-facing camera to automatically detect upcoming road information, such as potholes, to optimise the suspension in real time. You will also find evasive steering assist, which uses sensors placed around the car to help detect and prevent potential collisions with vehicles, pedestrian and cyclists.
On the road
Large and luxurious, the G80 is a treat to drive, with its eight-speed automatic transmission giving seamless gear-changes as it channels the power of the 300bhp, 2.5-litre, petrol engine via all-wheel drive.
The car is at home in all driving conditions from tootling around town, to tackling twisting country lanes and taking on the motorway haul with aplomb.
It also ticks the box marked ‘power and pace’ with performance figures of 0-62mph in six seconds and a top speed of 155mph. There are three selectable drive modes, Sport, Eco and Comfort. Combined fuel consumption is 32.96 mpg.
Verdict
With its elegant and dynamic lines, cossetting, sophisticated interior and great driving experience the Genesis G80 is a prestige motor with luxury writ large. Excellent build quality, top tech and attention to detail throughout give the car a truly premium feel.
The car also boasts an impressive five-year care plan, including warranty, servicing, roadside assistance, courtesy cars, and maps and ‘over the air’ updates.
Price: £54,280.
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