Yahoo Autos The Genesis Electrified G80 Is a Better Luxury Sedan
Hyundai's luxury arm, Genesis, is quickly going all-EV, and in the run-up, it's electrifying existing models. The Genesis Electrified G80, as its clunky name makes obvious, is an electric version of the brand's E-Class/5-Series rival, part of its push for the top.
Basing an electric car off a preexisting gas-powered model brings compromises, and those are evident with the Electrified G80. Trunk space shrinks from 13.1 cubic feet to 10.7 cubic feet, and the floorpan is raised, all to accommodate 87.2 kWh of batteries. Unfortunately, you notice. Despite my short stature, it always felt as if I was sitting a little too high, and while the trunk doesn't seem that much smaller on paper, the actual shape is less practical. Yet, doing an electric version of the G80 has its upsides. For one, it allows Genesis to get a bit more out of a car it's already spent lots of money making. Plus, it's set to introduce the wonders of electrification to a more traditional luxury customer.
Where the other Genesis electric offering, the GV60, is thoroughly avant garde, reveling in its EV-ness, the G80 is fairly old-school. It espouses the traditional luxury sedan values of excellent ride and handling, a quiet, well-appointed cabin, and understated styling. And despite the concessions in space it requires, an electric drivetrain makes the G80 a better luxury sedan.
The silence and smoothness of electric motors suit the character of the G80 well, better than any I-4 or V-6 could. Combined, the front and rear motors make 365 hp, and while that's not enough to give the Electrified G80 the neck-snapping acceleration of the GV60 Performance, it's more than plenty for an E-Class rival. Genesis does something interesting with the motors that's telling. Mat the accelerator pedal from a standstill, and speed builds gradually as in a gas-powered car—there's no Tesla-esque all-the-torque-all-at-once here. Don't get me wrong, it's quick, but not alarming in the way it gets off the line. This definitely seems to be aimed at making the transition to EV easier for would-be customers. Plus, this isn't a sporty car, so why make it overly quick?
Ride quality is exquisite. I took a long-time Mercedes S-Class owner for a spin, and they said the Electrified G80 rides just as well, if not better. Given that the S-Class is the standard bearer for all luxury sedans, I can think of no higher praise. There's no fancy air suspension system here, just adaptive dampers tuned to perfection. It almost feels like you're gliding along the road surface, with imperfections of all sizes just barely registering to the driver.
Handling calls to mind old-school Mercedes—not what you'd call sporty, but it's still very competent along a fast road. Steering is slow and the wheel itself is quite large, but it never feels vague or overboosted. Like everything else from Genesis, it feels as though a lot of attention was paid toward the finer details of the driving experience. All the controls feel well matched to one and other, and this is a car that aids and encourages smooth driving. For daily commuting and long-distance cruising, it's a delight.
The Electrified G80 has an EPA-certified range of 282 miles, and like all other new Hyundai EVs, its 800-volt electrical architecture allows for charging input of up to 350 kW. While you'll not often see such high charging speeds, the Genesis will routinely charge at higher speeds than other EVs on the market—Genesis claims 10 to 80 percent in 22 minutes, though that's a best-case scenario—which makes long trips so much easier.
It's not unique to the Electrified G80, but it's worth mentioning that this car is utterly gorgeous inside and out. Genesis is no longer an imitator, but a leader.
Perhaps the best thing about the Electrified G80 is what it purports for the future. The only real negatives here are a result of Genesis reusing an internal-combustion car platform. The next G80 could well be the best luxury sedan in the world.
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