The other day an interesting news flash came over the wires. The Genesis G80 was awarded the J.D. Power 2021 Canada ALG Residual Value Award among all premium full-size cars.
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What does this mean? It means the Genesis G80 is projected that it will hold the highest percentage of its MSRP after a three-year period (four years for mainstream cars). That speaks to its ability to hold its value, which in turns speak to the quality of the car.
We’ve gradually been introduced to the Genesis fleet, still relatively new, created in 2015 as Hyundai’s luxury vehicle spinoff. We wrote on the athletic and elegant G90, and that one was scoring higher among affluent, older men in terms of buyer profile. Pandemic aside, we’re not ready to retire to Florida, and have this full-size sedan shepherd us there.
The G80 came at us a few weeks after we spent some time test driving the 2021 BMW 540i Drive Sedan, a direct competitor. The G80 is priced lower, starting at $66,000, and the cars are pretty comparable. Where the G80 scores some initial points is in charisma, and that is a surprise.
Charisma factor
Pulled up to the coffee shop next door for a caffeine fix before my drive, and a construction worker walked by and out of nowhere asked if the car was a Genesis model. He said he had seen it at a recent auto show and was impressed. Awards are good, but when word of mouth starts resonating, as a car manufacturer you are on a good track.
First impressions? Loved the long, horizontal, landscape-shaped 14.5 inch infotainment screen, spread across the dash, since it gave a sense not only of style, but also space, relaxation. Not so nice? We found the drive mode button, closer to my right elbow, resting on the arm rest, to be a little awkward, and clunky.
A few days later, stopped in a mall parking lot, outside a Chapters store to pick up a holiday gift curb side, and there it was again – charisma factor. A middle-age gent, in the Pandemic Era lineup waiting to go into the store, piped up about the car, asking me questions about it, and telling how much he liked the design, the look.
Twin turbo V6
The Genesis G80 really scores on aesthetic. When we asked someone at Genesis what was new about the car compared to past versions, the answer was, “in short, almost everything.” The car was completely re-designed from the ground up. The crest grille is the initial statement, and the side Parabolic Line speaks to the overall sophistication of the car’s design, harkening back to classic sedans of the past, likely one of the reason perfect strangers walk up and make comments.
The grille and the quad lamps are inspired by the brand’s winged emblem. The lighting technology of the quad lamps is another statement-maker, another unique signature feature of the Genesis design. The rear view of the car is dominated by a sloping deck lid and rear Quad lamps.
Performance? Depends on which one you go with. There are two – G80 2.5T Advanced all-wheel drive, for $66,000, and the G80 3.5T Prestige all-wheel drive, for $76,000. The higher priced version offers more power – 3.5-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 engine generating 375 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. The other version has a 2.5-litre inline four cylinder turbo engine generating 300 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. Both versions are paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Drivers can better navigate the rougher terrain via an electronically controlled suspension, including technology that recognizes the road ahead via a front camera. That just adds to a comfortable ride.
The Genesis G80 comes loaded with advanced driver safety and assistance technologies – highway driving assist, smart cruise control, forward collision avoidance, blind spot collision avoidance and much more.
Elegant interior
The leather interior created a real sense of openness, even soulfulness, but all premium cars at this level do. Here though the Genesis G80 stands out. Elegant and sleek, you will notice thin air vents that run across the passenger department. A 21-speaker Lexicon premium audio system delivers a powerful listening experience. That infotainment screen comes with navigation, Surround View Monitor, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Pop off the panoramic sunroof if the weather permits.
And that comfort and seamlessness is also part of the pricing. It’s all-inclusive. No additional fees, no added surprises. Genesis tosses in five years of complimentary scheduled maintenance. So great value for the price here, as the Genesis brands continues to build in the luxury car segment.
IMAGES: GENESIS
I am a 50-something Torontonian who loves everything about my city. It’s been my home, my playground, for my entire life. I went to school here. I met my wife here. I own real estate here. I love writing about the transformation of my city on the world stage, which hasn’t been anything short of dramatic. That continues on, as I write this. I write on the real estate scene. I write on travel and fashion. I like following the world of luxury watches.
But I love writing about cars – check that, luxury cars, a level of superior, engineering sophistication, high performance and style, that transports you not just from one destination to another but also out of whatever you are going through on a particular day, whatever mood you are in, all to another head space. It’s complete and total exhilaration, head to toe.
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