2022 Genesis G80

The 2022 Genesis G80 is a mid-size luxury sedan with a sporty, turbocharged outlook on life. The biggest change for 2022 is the addition of a 14.5-inch touchscreen to the dash, while the Sport trim level has been recast as an all-wheel-drive-only option.

The G80 comes standard with a hearty 2.5-liter turbo-4 and the range-topping Sport offers a boosted V-6 linked only with all-wheel drive. On all, an 8-speed automatic furnishes power to the wheels. Available camera-linked adaptive dampers and optional rear-wheel steering bolster the G80’s performance credentials.

With no hybrid configuration, the G80 delivers average fuel economy. The best ratings are for the turbo-4, rear-drive G80: it is rated at 23 mpg city, 32 highway, 26 combined. All-wheel drive slices those numbers to 22/30/25 mpg, while the powerful V-6 version sees just 20 mpg combined.

Both the NHTSA and the IIHS say the G80 is an especially safe option. Standard equipment includes automatic emergency braking, active lane control, blind-spot monitors, and automatic high-beam LED headlights. A head-up display, a surround-view camera system, and rear automatic emergency braking are available features.

Model Lineup

The G80 starts just under $50,000, undercutting most rivals – especially when you consider its ample fare. All-wheel drive adds around $3,000.

Standard features include 18-inch wheels to 12-way power front seats with heating, LED headlights, synthetic leather upholstery, and a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

The optional Advanced package tosses in a panoramic sunroof, 19-inch wheels, cooled front seats, matte wood trim, and 21-speaker Lexicon audio, while the available Prestige package (for rear-drive G80s only) ups the ante with a surround-view camera system, leather upholstery, remote park assist, more front-seat adjustments, heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel, and wireless smartphone charging.

The Sport version swaps in electronically controlled dampers linked to a forward-facing camera system and a few other items, plus the more powerful V-6 engine. It offers 20-inch wheels, blind-spot cameras, nappa leather, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster as options.

Exterior

Elegant and dramatic, the G80 has a low-slung profile that brims with stunning details. Its wide crest-like grille comes to a hard point at the bottom and features honeycomb texturing. Thin LED running lights dive toward the front wheels and are echoed with side strakes and taillight designs.

Sport versions swap in darker trim and a revised front bumper design.

The standard 18-inch alloy wheels are sharp enough, but the intricate honeycomb-style wheels included with the Advanced package merit their own special mention – they’re worth a look, that’s for sure.

Interior

The G80 thrills inside, too. Its big touchscreen is perched high on the dash, where it floats above surfaces covered in beautifully stitched synthetic hides and real wood trim that give the cabin a wide appearance. Two knobs in the center console handle infotainment functions (front) and gear changes (rear).

The G80 is a big sedan with a long wheelbase that affords ample cabin space. The front seats come with 12-way adjustment as standard and offer additional controls, heating, cooling, and positionable bolsters as an option.

The rear seat impresses as well with ample leg room and plenty of width for three abreast.

A somewhat small trunk – 13.1 cubic feet – is canceled out to a degree by terrific interior storage.

Driving Impressions

Base cars use a 300-hp engine that delivers a 60-mph sprint of around seven seconds with rear-wheel drive. The 8-speed automatic transmission features paddle shifters for more engaging driving, though it does a great job when left to its own devices.

It’s not quite as quiet and refined underhood as our ears would prefer, but the smooth, firm ride has a properly luxurious feel. It’s composed and alert, but not taxing on a long drive.

The G80 Sport’s 375-hp 3.5-liter twin-turbo furnishes genuinely fast acceleration, even though it’s fitted only to the heaviest version of this big four-door. With the optional adaptive dampers linked to the forward-facing camera system, the G80 Sport can proactively prepare the suspension for thumps and bumps ahead. In Sport mode, the G80 Sport is, well, a bit too sporty for our tastes. Better yet is to leave it in standard Comfort mode, where the dampers do a good job compensating for the small sidewalls on the performance-oriented tires.

Final Word

If you’re not smitten with an SUV, the Genesis G80 is a worthy mid-size performance sedan with sizzling turbocharged acceleration and breathtaking design touches.

—by Andrew Ganz, with driving impressions from The Car Connection