2021 Genesis G80 luxury sedan arrives, dramatically undercutting 5 Series, E-Class, A6

Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis has officially revealed the details of its incoming G80 large sedan which will arrive in Australia in November with a starting price of $84,900 (before on road costs), under-cutting rivals like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class by a considerable margin.

Launching in all-new second-generation form, the 2021 G80 replaces a vehicle that has been a sight on Australian roads since 2014 when it launched as the Hyundai Genesis.

The new G80 joins the smaller G70 sports sedan, GV80 large SUV and forthcoming GV70 midsize SUV in the standalone Genesis stable. The second-gen G80 arrives with fresh styling that Genesis refers to as ‘Athletic Elegance’, with prominent double-blade headlights and taillights and an upright shield-like grille.

The G80 range kicks off with a 2.5-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine that sends 224kW and 422Nm to the rear wheels through an eight-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The entry-level model comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, a genuine leather- and wood-trimmed interior, and a panoramic sunroof.

The price of $84,900 for the four-cylinder variant undercuts similarly powerful rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz E 200 with price of $96,900 (about $106,000 driveaway), the BMW 520i M Sport at $95,900 (about $106,000 driveaway), and the Audi A6 45 TFSI at $95,156 (about $106,000 driveaway) Indeed, the E-Class and 5 Series in less-powerful form commence at about $96,000 apiece.

Standard across the 2021 G80 range is a generously wide 14.5-inch touchscreen with augmented reality built in to help with navigation. This central screen serves alongside a 12.0-inch heads-up display to help keep your eyes on the road.

Other standard features include a wireless charger, 21-speaker Lexicon premium audio, DAB+ radio along with 12-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats.

A bigger and more powerful 3.5 litre twin-turbo V6 engine is offered and puts out 279kW and 530Nm through an eight-speed automatic to an AWD system. The six-cylinder powertrain will set you back $99,900.

That price will offer an attractive proposition to buyers after a large sedan with six cylinders, especially in light of the pricing of the German trio. The Audi A6 55 TFSI S line costs $115,636 (about $128,000 driveaway), while the Mercedes-Benz E 450 costs $149,700 (before on roads) and the BMW 530d inline-six diesel is priced at $125,900 (about $137,00 driveaway).

While all Genesis and Hyundai models have their ride and handling tuned to Australia’s local preferences, the six-cylinder model takes refinement up a notch with the inclusion of Genesis Adaptive Control Suspension, which monitors the road ahead and adapts the suspension accordingly.

Genesis will also add bigger brakes and 20-inch wheels wrapped in stickier Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres to the twin-turbo V6 model  to help keep it on the road.

Both models come with a choice to add the optional Luxury Package that costs an extra $13,000, and  upgrades the digital instrument cluster to a 12.3-inch unit with 3D effects –  (that displays information in three dimensions, powered by a camera that tracks the driver’s eyes), while adding three-zone climate control, soft-close doors, and matrix-type headlights.

Opt for the Luxury Pack and the interior is retrimmed with Nappa leather, with suede fitted to the headlining and pillars – while seats will be upgraded to 18-way adjustable units with a massage function built in.

Genesis fits the G80 with a long list of safety features as standard, with a total of 10 airbags including a new centre airbag to stop passengers colliding during a crash.

Other features such as AEB with the ability to detect pedestrians, cyclists and prevent a side-on collision in a junction, blind-spot monitoring, bling spot avoidance assist, lane keeping and lane departure warning.

It also comes with handy features such as rear occupant alert, safe exit assist and lane following assist system which should make driving every day just a little bit easier.

2021 Genesis G80 prices

• G80 2.5T: $84,900 before on-road costs
• G80 3.5T AWD: $99,900 before on-road costs
• Luxury Package: $13,000
• Matte paint: $2,000