When it comes to luxury vehicles, one of the newest models in the segment is made by Hyundai. Genesis G70, G80, and G90 sedans have been around for a few years, but they’ve made little splash in the market. 

Road & Track recently reviewed the 2021 G80. And it’s not only impressive but also an actual contender among its rivals. Let’s take a look at the Genesis G80 and what it offers.

Genesis G80’s humble beginnings

The Genesis brand debuted in 2015, creating a buzz with its G80 and G90 sedans. Despite boasting Audi talent on the inside and a tuning professional from BMW, the cars lacked sophisticated styling and performance. These sedans didn’t live up to the hype surrounding them. 

But it was just the beginning. And as other automakers can attest, improving a vehicle’s reputation takes time. Genesis designers put pencil to paper once again and made plans for future product launches. 

Hyundai, the company behind Genesis, tentatively set a timeline to release improved sedans in 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to those plans, at least temporarily. 

A look at the 2021 Genesis G80

Five years after its initial launch, the Genesis G80 will debut again. This time, it’ll boast a whole new look and improved performance. The 2021 G80 is arguably one of the most attractive cars in its class. 

Its oversize grille is shaped like a shield and covers a good portion of the front end. With its subtly upturned rear, akin to a Mercedes-Benz sedan, the G80 looks poised to fly. Gently curving lines adorn both sides. 

While the exterior has classy styling, the refined interior will knock your socks off. Open-grained wood and real metal accents paired with luxurious leather material give the inside a touch of utopia.

A massive 14.5-inch infotainment screen atop the dash offers top-of-the-line graphics with smooth animations. The G80 also comes with Highway Driver’s assist, a semiautonomous driving feature. Intelligent driving mode lets you choose Comfort, Smart, Eco, Sport, and Custom modes. 

The G80’s performance

The Genesis G80 offers two engine choices. The first is a 2.5-liter inline-four that comes with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. It produces 300 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. This engine gets 26 mpg combined on the RWD and 25 mpg combined on the AWD. 

The second motor is a 3.5-liter V6 that harnesses 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. This motor gets 22 mpg combined in the RWD version and 21 mpg combined in the AWD. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed transmission that switches gears smoothly.

Expect the 2021 G80 to come with steering-wheel paddle shifters, forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, safe exit, blind-spot collision-avoidance assistance, and forward attention warning with an infrared camera. 

While the Genesis G70 and G90 overcame competitors, the 2021 G80 beats out its rivals in quality, reliability, and value. It’s designed with a sophistication that’ll be hard to beat. And it drives like a dream.