Introduction
2023 Genesis Electrified G80 Proves Quick, Quiet, and Luxurious
The luxury EV sedan retains almost everything that's great about the gas-powered G80Overview
The 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 is based on an existing gasoline-powered car, unlike a vast majority of the new electric vehicles hitting the market—including Genesis’ own GV60—that ride on new-from-the-ground-up dedicated EV platforms.
That type of reverse-engineering typically brings big compromises, but after spending time with an Electrified G80 (yes, the official name is ridiculous) that we rented from Genesis, we think this is one of the nicest-driving and easiest-to-live-with luxury EVs so far.
In short, the G80 EV possesses everything that’s great about the gas-powered G80: It has a comfortable ride, competent handling, and a luxurious, well-made interior. But it adds the immediate and thrilling forward thrust that comes with an EV that puts 365 horsepower to all four wheels, while eliminating powertrain noise and tailpipe emissions.
The best thing about the Genesis Electrified G80 may be that it looks and drives nearly like a “regular” car. The only real downsides are slightly reduced front and rear headroom, and a smaller trunk.
The 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 has an EPA-rated driving range of 282 miles. While that’s reasonably far, it’s far short of a Tesla Model S, which has an EPA-rated driving range of 348 to 405 miles, depending on the model.
There is only one configuration of the G80 EV, with features and content essentially identical to the highest-tier 3.5T Prestige gas version, although the EV gets some unique interior touches and colors.
Even though Genesis officials told CR that this current generation of the G80 was designed from the outset to be able to handle an EV powertrain, a few compromises still had to be made in the transformation, and one of those is slightly less trunk space. Trunk volume was reduced from the gas version’s 13.1 cubic feet to 10.8 cubic feet, with a noticeable hump toward the rear seats—a requirement in order to fit the rear motor and related EV electronics.
Another compromise in the switch to EV comes in the form of slightly reduced front and rear headroom. The EV’s large battery underneath the car makes for a slightly higher floor than the gas G80, and the seats are slightly higher. Front-seat headroom was reduced by about a half-inch, while rear-seat headroom has been scrunched down by 1.2 inches, according to Genesis. This resulted in some of our taller drivers saying that they felt they were sitting “too high in the saddle,” wishing they could lower the seat more. The reduction in rear-seat headroom means that even average-sized adults are likely to brush their head on the roof.
It’s pretty much unheard of for a luxury sedan at this price to not come standard with a sunroof, let alone a panoramic one that runs nearly the entire length of the roof. But it’s not even available as an option. Genesis says the decision to not include one was a factor of weight savings in an effort to extend the car’s driving range. Movable sunroofs also tend to encroach on available headroom. In a virtual meeting with CR, Genesis officials told us that they could consider a solar roof for the car in the future.