Name: Genesis G80 (2021 – present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Genesis G80
Rating: 64.0

Summary

The Genesis G80 is a large executive saloon that arrived in the UK in Autumn 2021, looking to challenge the likes of the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Genesis is a spin-off upmarket brand owned by Hyundai, and the G80, alongside the GV80 SUV, is its first foray into the European automotive market after successes in Asia and the USA.

You won’t be able to buy a Genesis at a traditional dealership; orders are delivered to the customer, and cars are collected from the owner for servicing over a standard five-year care plan, as the brand looks to provide an attractive premium ownership experience.

The G80 range offers two engine options to potential buyers; a 304hp 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine or a 210hp 2.2-litre diesel unit, both versions fitted with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. An electric version – called the Genesis Electrified G80 – is now available and we have a separate Expert Rating page for that model.

The Genesis G80 has received a wide range of review scores, ranging from excellent to mediocre, with reviewers often singling out the saloon’s upmarket interior trim and the brand’s ownership care plan and warranty for particular praise.

“The Genesis G80 is an accomplished proposition with a distinct design, knockout interior, lots of well-integrated tech and a strong customer focus”, Car explains. “Unfortunately, that’s the opposite of the engine line-up, with a petrol engine that’s off the pace, a diesel whose time has passed, and no electrification yet.”

Company Car Today concludes its review by stating, “The Genesis G80 is off the pace in a lot of areas, such as tax, ride quality, headroom, boot space and efficiency, compared to established rivals.”

As of February 2025, the Genesis G80 holds a New Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 64%. It earns top marks for its safety rating, but its CO₂ emissions are only average and it also scores poorly for media reviews and running costs. We don’t have any reliability data at this time, so check back again soon.

G80 highlights

Luxury interior trim
Five years of free servicing
Stylish exterior
Good equipment levels

G80 lowlights

Smaller boot than rivals
Rather rigid ride comfort
Poor fuel economy

Key specifications

Body style: Large saloon
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price: From £41,650 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2021
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“If you’re looking for a capable and luxurious executive saloon that runs the class leaders close, then the Genesis G80 is a worthy alternative.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol automatic Luxury Line
Score: 8 / 10
“We’re surprised how close to the class-leading BMW 5 Series Genesis has got first time out. The G80 matches its German rival on quality and class, and offers a unique buying and owning experience and some tech that’s yet to filter through to BMW.”
Read review

Auto Trader+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“Stylish, well-made and packed with tech, the Genesis G80 is impressive. But the lack of a plug-in hybrid option will seriously limit its appeal to tax-conscious business buyers and, by the time you add the additional tech, it’s an expensive choice, even in this company.”
Read review

Business Car+

Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol automatic AWD Luxury
Score: 7 / 10
“The Genesis G80 executive saloon aims to trump Audi’s A6 and BMW’s 5 Series.”
Read review

Car+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Genesis G80 is an accomplished proposition with a distinct design, knockout interior, lots of well-integrated tech and a strong customer focus. Unfortunately, that’s the opposite of the engine line-up, with a petrol engine that’s off the pace, a diesel whose time has passed, and no electrification yet.”
Read review

Carbuyer+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.8 / 10
“The executive saloon class is full of accomplished, established contenders, so it’s impressive that the Genesis G80 gets so close to the best in class.” (Andy Goodwin)
Read review

Carwow+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Genesis G80 is the South Korean firm’s top-end saloon and comes with a quality finish inside, but it’s not as spacious as top-end options.”
Read review

Company Car Today+

Model reviewed: 2.2-litre diesel automatic Luxury Line
“Classy, well priced and well kitted, as well as exceptionally refined and understatedly good looking. The Genesis G80 has plenty going for it, allowing for the online-only and haggle-free buying process that could be a complication.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol automatic
“The Genesis G80 is off the pace in a lot of areas, such as tax, ride quality, headroom, boot space and efficiency, compared to established rivals. The exceptions being engine refinement, the interior materials and their construction.”
Read review

Eurekar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
“There is no doubt that the G80 is a worthy alternative to the class leaders in the sector and its overall package will be good enough to tempt some customers away from the big guns. It is a very capable luxurious executive saloon.”
Read review

Heycar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
“Sad to say, the driving experience like the interior, lacks a little bit of character. It’s much better to drive it as its maker intended and you’ll learn the Genesis is consummate mile muncher.”
Read review

Motoring Research+

Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol automatic Luxury Line
Score: 8 / 10
“As a line-in-the-sand car, the Genesis G80 is a good introduction to this new premium brand. It’s got a lot of work ahead to draw people from their BMWs and Mercedes-Benz – to cement itself as a successful alternative (Lexus) rather than a pointless failure (Infiniti). So, if you’re interested, try a G80, to see what’s in store. Chances are, you’ll be nicely surprised.”
Read review

Parkers+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“New saloon from Genesis faces Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.”
Read review

The Sun+

Model reviewed: Range overview
“I actually preferred the Genesis G80 saloon to the GV80 SUV. It rides better, steered better and just is better. Let’s hope Genesis can make an impression over the next few years and not exit stage left like Infiniti.”
Read review

Top Gear+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“You might never fall in love with it, but nor will you find yourself shaking your fists at it in a moment of Fawlty-esque existential despair.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: May 2021
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 91%
Child protection: 87%
Vulnerable road users: 77%
Safety assist: 91%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of February 2025, the Genesis G80 has not been assessed by Green NCAP. If it happens, we will publish the results here.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of February 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Genesis G80 to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the G80, we’ll publish the results here.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	31 mpg	E	30 – 31 mpg	E – E
Diesel models	44 mpg	C	43 – 45 mpg	C – C

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	201 g/km	D	195 – 205 g/km	D – D
Diesel models	164 g/km	C	164 – 164 g/km	C – C

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	44	D	40 – 48	C – D

As of February 2025, we don’t have complete running costs for the Genesis G80. However, the data we do have shows that the G80 is an expensive car to own and run.

Emissions are average to poor, while insurance is expensive. We don’t have fuel economy data but, given the poor CO₂ data, it’s unlikely to be good. We also don’t yet have servicing costs, so check back again soon.