2018 Genesis G80 3.3T AWD Sport and G80 3.8 RWD Test Drive Review

"KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time" (kngt)
06/09/2018 at 17:12 • Filed to: Genesis G80, G80, Genesis, Genesis G70, Oppo review, Car Review

G80 was fully loaded AWD $58K

Love the way this car looks. Sure it’s derivative styling but with that big grill and copper accents has a very handsome look. It’s not beautiful, it’s handsome and understated elegance.

Interior was very good. Lots of space, headroom was better than legroom which I expected it to be more. Sat behind myself at 5'11" and had about 4 to 5 inches of legroom. Car was not super low like most new sedans and I could get in an out without crouching too much or hitting my head front and rear. YUGE trunk.

Quality of materials is good all around but this is no Lexus or BMW/Mercedes and same can be said of the switchgear. My wife has a Kia and immediately noticed the steering wheel and the infotainment/climate buttons were the same BUT they are a better quality and less plasticky. Everything was put together very well. Seats were good, Infotainment was standard Hyundai stuff no problems there but didn’t look cheap. I know they have to do these things to keep costs low but If you really did care about having the absolute impeccable interior you might have to look at Lexus or Mercedes. I will say before hand the G80 Sport’s interior especially the trim makes it better than the normal G80 despite it having real wood etc.

G80 sport interior with white leather

The Drive: Man, I love this engine. What a sweet gem! Torque comes on smooth and strong and it pulls and pulls! They have done great job tuning it and the transmission didn’t take me out of the drive. I drove in sport mode most of the time.
This is easily one of the quietest cars I have driven. Road and wind noise were minimum. Whisper-quiet at highway speeds. Full points to Genesis for a true luxury ride. Ride was not soft, not harsh but could use a lot more firmness in Sport setting and I don’t think they have adaptive dampers.
OK, Steering is a little numb this ain’t no BMW. Car is heavy and I felt it but I didn’t mind it too much because it gave me this Germanic solid feel from a few years back before they all became hyper focussed on losing weight.
Handling is competent That’s it. AWD system hooked up quite well and I didn’t feel any oversteer /understeer or wheelspin even when I was flooring out of turns. This is a fantastic highway and city midsize premium sedan but it’s no corner craver. Get a BMW or Jag if you want back roads fun.

Going to the 3.8. Interiors and Features wise it was fully loaded the same way as the sport MSRP around $53K. However I didn’t like the aluminum(Plastic?) trim specifically and the Wood trim across the dash was not enough to make up for it.

G80 3.8 interior

The Drive: The non -turbo 3.8 was silky smooth and fairly quiet until you get into it. Typical v6 behavior and the power was in the midrange top end for the most part. Ride was also softer. Perfect long distance cruiser.
IMO The G80/G80 Sport is the RWD Lexus-Acura RWD based hybrid for thousands less. It is a sensible perfectly competitive luxury sedan.

Think about shopping at Macy’s or Dillard’s for similar stuff instead of Nordstorm. The G80 sport is great value for your money but I would still go for a used BMW 540i personally as this is only 85% there. It is Sport-ish not Sporty if that makes sense. I have not driven an E350 or Audi a6 3.oT to compare. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

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In conclusion, G80 3.3T Sport> G80 3.8 This would do very well with more aggressive suspension and transmission tuning and losing 500 Lbs. THAT is why I am super excited for the G70 3.3T and I think it will be fantastic sports sedan. The reviews so far have been great. The salesguy didn’t know when it will be in stock and I am definitely going back to test drive it.

Update: Salesguy said the G70 will be here September

DISCUSSION (28)

WilliamsSW > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/09/2018 at 16:29

Yes on all counts - though I honestly think this car needs more like a 500 lb weight reduction.

Having driven the 3.3T in both the G80 and Stinger, it’s a wonderful engine, the transmission seems to be in sync with it - and I can’t wait to drive it in a lighter car - the G70 promises to be a lot of fun!

Spanfeller is a twat > WilliamsSW
06/09/2018 at 16:42

I agree, the stinger should’ve been 100-150kgs lighter than it is, and the engine should be offered with a bit more power, they might have beaten the 340i and the s4 in terms of speed but the C43 is still a bit faster.

Also good on Kia for departing a bit from the german model of having a million billion optional extras

Chariotoflove > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/09/2018 at 16:47

The Macy’s/Dillard’s analogy gave me the perfect picture. Good concise review.

Funny how you compare it to Mercedes as the pinnacle of interior materials. Every time I have sat in a Mercedes, I have thought, “well made, and MBTex is pretty good for what it is, but this doesn’t feel particularly luxurious.” Maybe I need to go visit an MB dealer and recalibrate with the current models.

Spanfeller is a twat > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/09/2018 at 16:48

I actually like comfort and eco mode because they make the car react a bit slower, which is good because the stinger feels like it’s doing 60 when it’s doing 100; very bad for my wallet!

The engine is a peach tho, who knew that the lambda II was hiding such goodness.

Chariotoflove > WilliamsSW
06/09/2018 at 16:50

Genesis and Kia don’t seem to be worried about weight at all. Maybe they are going for that feeling of solidity.

Just had a great marketing idea. If Kia is going to use Nathan Rateliff for commercials, then Genesis needs to sponsor a Genesis reunion tour. As soon as Collins is back from his comeback South American tour, they should get in it.

Spanfeller is a twat > Chariotoflove
06/09/2018 at 16:55

They could show off some cool high streght steel on their cars instead of aluminium or carbon fibre

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Chariotoflove
06/09/2018 at 16:55

Oh not MB Tex although it is one of the better non leather alternatives much better than BMW scensatec crap. I meant eveeything else. When I first sat in the 2015 c class I was blown away of how much they have brought down the S class touches inside.

Chariotoflove > Spanfeller is a twat
06/09/2018 at 16:56

I’d buy that for a dollar.

Chariotoflove > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/09/2018 at 16:57

I have a plan this summer to do a series of luxury test drives and catch up so I can do a comparison review to my Kia.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Spanfeller is a twat
06/09/2018 at 16:57

I am in love with this Engine and with the right chassis and better overall tuning will do wonders, that’s why I am waiting for the G70

Spanfeller is a twat > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/09/2018 at 16:59

I think if Kia made a pony-car like coupe (like Yamaha makes cruisers) and added a bit more powerful version of the 3.3tt it’d be quite a spectacle

WilliamsSW > Chariotoflove
06/09/2018 at 17:00

I suspect that they use more steel over higher end materials, which helps cut costs. Given CAFE regs, they have to be somewhat conscious of weight.

But yes, the G80 certainly gives you a very solid feeling - and as KingTChalla notes, it’s a very quiet car, too.

And I love the Genesis idea - all the more so if Peter Gabriel can join in!

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Chariotoflove
06/09/2018 at 17:04

See if you can test drive the new K900 it comes with the 3.3T AWD standard. I suspect it will drive like the G90 but better. Now that would be a steal 3 years from now and close to the G80 sport I think

Chariotoflove > WilliamsSW
06/09/2018 at 17:05

I would love an all inclusive reunion spanning the whole catalog. Collins had said he doesn’t see the point of getting Gabriel back, as he wasn’t there for the majority of their songs now, but that’s stinkin thinkin.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Spanfeller is a twat
06/09/2018 at 17:07

It would go up right against the Infiniti Q60 3.0t 400Red Sport and easily beat it if they pull it off.

Chariotoflove > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/09/2018 at 17:07

Good idea. I’m torn about whether I should drive new examples of the luxury marques for my comparo, or try to find 2015examples for a fair comparison.

Oh who am I kidding? I’m gonna drive the shiny new ones.

Spanfeller is a twat > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/09/2018 at 17:10

That infiniti is a thing to behold

WilliamsSW > Chariotoflove
06/09/2018 at 17:16

Agree. I love both iterations of Genesis but they sound different.

M.T. Blake > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/09/2018 at 17:19

I cannot. I will not. I shall not ever like these cars. They are the Japan-Lite version and I have never liked anything lite. It’s Coors original or nothing.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > M.T. Blake
06/09/2018 at 17:24

Maybe not the G80, but based on what I have read and seen so far the G70 might change your mind. You have to only look at Acura Infiniti (I drive one for the record) and some Lexus models to see that the Japanese have been dropping the ball quite often off late. If you compare it to the Germans then yes, cannot defend Genesis though. I have my brand favorites but I don’t hate any brand per se, because I am just looking for the best car I want/need for my money. If that happens to be a Genesis fine. But not this particular Genesis maybe.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Spanfeller is a twat
06/09/2018 at 17:39

I sat in the red sport recently it is so good looking but is let down by the infotainment, terrible numb steering and middling transmisison. Even the 300Hp 3.OT which I tried in the Q50 sedan is very good but has the same problems.

Spanfeller is a twat > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/09/2018 at 17:49

I hate the darn infotainment in infinities, it’s the thing that fucks em up (specially interior design, why the hell do I want two screens?)

The steering, I like the concept, but as Adam Sandler Jason Camisa proved, it’s still a long way from being viable.

M.T. Blake > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/09/2018 at 18:28

Don’t we both have a G35? All Japanese brands have been ‘dropping the ball’ for us. Where is my new S15? I want a new Celica GT-4 to fight the WRX. And lastly a new S2XXX or whatever they want to call it!

MrDakka > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/09/2018 at 20:51

So September for the G70, huh. Well I’m eagerly awaiting the next couple of months

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > MrDakka
06/09/2018 at 21:02

Canadian reviews have been overwhelmingly positive and it’s already for sale there. I am hoping this will be what the Infiniti Q50 should have really been.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/09/2018 at 21:07

It really is what the Q50 should have been. Doubleclutch.ca has a 6MT tester right now and they are smitten.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
06/09/2018 at 21:23

I trust Zach from Motormouth for Canadian reviews and he liked it

Bentsi > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
06/10/2018 at 15:14

Buying a used 540 is a dumb move, even if the Genesis is not as sharp as the bimmer, it will last longer and cost much less to maintain, I had many German cars, when it comes to BMW or Audi, get rid of it when the warranty is over.

I also had the first generation Genesis, with the 4.6 V8, sold with 108k miles and the only issue since 20k miles was a piece of the sunroof rail that was fixed under warranty.