The 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 isn’t so much a revolution in gasoline-powered cars as it is a stunning adaptation of the excellent car that already drove its German rivals.
It made me spend a week wondering if Mercedes-Benz made a mistake with the EQE.
The 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 has an EPA range of 282 miles, a gorgeous design, and a $80,920 price tag that should give consumers pause before heading to rival showrooms. That is, if they live in the 12 states that are actually sold.
2023 Genesis Electric G80
Turn it up to 800 volts
The Electrified G80 isn’t a brand new EV like its E-GMP-based GV60 sibling. Genesis revamped the current G80 by removing the gas powertrain bit and sliding the electric powertrain in its place.
A hybrid accelerator and 365-horsepower dual-motor powertrain with 136-kilowatt electric motors on each axle won’t put you in the seat like a Tesla Model S or some other EVs, but it’s easily a G80 for the money. The fastest you can buy. Instant torque, all at 516 lb-ft, is much more than any other G80, including the G80 Sport’s 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. It takes the EG80 off the line and the car really accelerates from 25 to 80 mph.
Aside from a smooth powertrain, the EG80 has no pretense of sportiness. The G80 model with the softest springs, the electric version has the most body roll, but it is still well controlled. The steering is lightweight and provides just enough feedback to let you know what’s going on at the wheel, but the system isn’t as communicative as you’ll find in the Cadillac CT5. As with the G80 Sport, standard rear-wheel steering tightens the turning radius and narrows corners for the midsize luxury sedan. Unlike its gasoline-powered siblings, the system in the electric model never felt jarring or produced odd suspension fluctuations. That’s likely due to the retuned suspension working well with the car’s added mass. The EG80’s modest body roll ensures you’re acutely aware that it’s heavier than any other G80 model, and that’s because it weighs just over 5,000 pounds. The gasoline-powered G80 weighs between 4,000 pounds and nearly 4,500 pounds.
2023 Genesis Electric G80
2023 Genesis Electric G80
Genesis offers three levels of regenerative braking and a system that the brand (and Hyundai and Kia) call i-Pedal, which is essentially one-pedal drive with maximum regenerative capability. The level of regenerative braking is controlled via steering wheel paddles, and the i-Pedal is activated by the right shift paddles. Annoyingly, the EG80 remembers the first three levels of regenerative braking on restart, but refuses to restart with the i-Pedal engaged.
The 87.2-kWh lithium-ion battery pack is a tad smaller than the 90.6-kWh pack in the Mercedes-Benz EQE. Genesis went through the trouble of upgrading the EG80’s electrical system to 800 volts, while Mercedes-Benz opted for a 400 volt system instead of a clean EQE. According to Genesis, this enables the Electrified G80 to charge the battery from 10% to 80% in just 22 minutes using a DC fast charger, and helps future-proof the EG80.
2023 Genesis Electric G80
2023 Genesis Electric G80
I almost saw this charging performance in the real world. It took about 23 minutes to charge the EG80’s battery from 30 percent to 80 percent when connected to a 350-kilowatt charger, with a peak charge rate of 145 kilowatts when the battery was 68 percent charged. Genesis says the EG80 takes about 7.5 hours to charge from 10 percent to 100 percent on a 48-amp, 240-volt charger. A 110 volt charger will take 80 hours of painful charging, so just think of it as trickle charging.
Despite ambient temperatures in the mid-30s for most of my time with the EG80, I saw a respectable average of 3.1 mpg over 367 miles of driving. Over the first 185 miles of driving, that average was higher at 3.3 mpg until more cold and highway speeds were baked in. The EPA range of 282 miles seems realistic. That’s probably about the same range that a comparable dual-motor EQE hits when it’s rated.
The Electrified G80 is also capable of bi-directional charging, sometimes referred to as vehicle-to-grid or vehicle-to-load functionality. That means the EG80 can discharge at a rate of up to 3.6 kilowatts to charge another electric car, power appliances, or even power your home. I did not test this function. Next time, Genesis.
2023 Genesis Electric G80
looks like G80
Most people can’t tell that the Electrified G80 lacks a gas engine under the hood. Its design is nearly every bit the same as its dino-drinking sibling, and that’s not a bad thing.
Unlike the futuristic Mercedes-Benz EQE, the Electrified G80 sports classic rear-wheel-drive proportions, with a long hood, long instrument-to-axle ratio and a suitably short rear end. It inherits the proportions of the gas model, so the Genesis can’t go with a cab-forward design like the Mercedes in the name of aerodynamics.
2023 Genesis Electric G80
The visual changes that distinguish the electric G80 are limited. Key giveaways are a closed diamond grille with a hidden charging port on the driver’s side under the diamond doors, but model-specific 19-inch wheels and available Matilla Blue exterior paint also link the electric model to the Less efficient models distinguish the eighties. Oh, and no exhaust pipes.
2023 Genesis Electric G80
Inside, the Electrified G80 looks just like any other G80, except it’s loaded to the gills so that it doesn’t offer any options. A 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument cluster swaps the fuel gauge for a regenerative braking mode gauge, the tachometer becomes a power meter, and instead of a mileage indicator, the display shows how much charge is left in the battery pack. Standard controls are all here, including the 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with its easy-to-use tiled interface, a rotary controller for the touchscreen-enhanced infotainment system, and hard buttons for the audio system and climate controls. Remember the button, Mercedes-Benz?
When you slide into the cockpit, the transformation from the gas car is a sight to behold. I noticed right away that the seating position feels high compared to the petrol model. Genesis spokesman Jarred Pellat confirmed the seat is about an inch higher because of the battery pack. That means the driver gets a better view of the road (which can also be achieved by raising the seat in any vehicle), but with about an inch less headroom than in the standard G80. compromise.
2023 Genesis Electric G80
While the trunk retains ski access, it drops 3.0 cubic feet for a rather modest 10.0 cubic feet of cargo-hauling space. I was still able to fit four sets of downhill skis (two adults and two kids) and four sets of ski boots in the trunk with room to spare.
Unlike the EQE, which lacks gas due to engineering decisions, the EG80 lacks gas because its ICE platform uses an electric powertrain for pitching. Opening the long hood reveals the front motor, inverter and necessary cooling hardware.
Compared to the comparable Mercedes-Benz EQE, the 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 has similar range and efficiency, a nicer design, and more future-proof hardware compared to the EQE without fully committing to EV architecture. has some advantages. It’s $8,000 more expensive than a comparable gas model, but effectively trades gas for electrons. I’m expecting A-game, clean EV stuff from Genesis. Be careful, Germany.