 | Positives: Sophisticated exterior styling, interior worthy of a car costing more, powerful dual motor thrust, solid range level. |
 | Negatives: Compromised headroom in both rows, trunk space suffers. |
 | Bottom Line: The Electrified G80 is really unlike any EV we've ever drive. It's luxurious, stunning to look at, and it's actually a very usable EV. It's too bad tall occupants won't like sitting it. |
Driving Experience
Two electric motors change the power game. The gas version, even with the 2.5-liter turbo four is very good, and the 3.3-liter V6 is even better. Giving it robust torque and power to all four wheels electrically really ups the ante. The Electrified G80 also manages the weight well since the floor-mounted battery keeps the center of gravity quite low.
Ride Quality: The ride is smooth, comfortable, and very composed. Dampening is performed with aplomb, and yet it doesn't give up much in its sportiness.
Acceleration: 0-60 comes a half a second quicker than the V6 gas version, in about 4.1 seconds. That's a proper launch that doesn't involve shifting, and the fact that there are four driven wheels provides assurance. .
Braking: Braking feels a bit numb due to the regen function, but they bring the G80 EV to a stop with good assurance and decent stopping distances.
Steering: The steering is on the light-ish side, but turn-in is quick. Precision and on-centeredness is also very good.
Handling: The EV G80 weighs almost a thousand pounds more than the gas version, but its low center of gravity due to the location of the battery in floor helps. There's minor body roll, but you can certainly feel the weight .
Technology
We love the fact that the G80 relies on a lot of great physical controls for its large 14.5" touchscreen. The look and feel of the whole system is premium and easily crushes Lexus. We'd say it's almost as good in its operation and look as BMW and certainly better than system operation in the current Mercedes lineup.
Infotainment System: The big 14.5" screen is beautiful, although the far end of the screen is hard to reach for the driver. Good thing there's a control wheel in the center console. Menus are fluid and easy to use, and the whole thing looks very upscale.
Controls: The G80 might just have some of the best overall knobs in the business. The knurling found on the stalks, steering wheel controls, gearshift knob, drive mode selector, HVAC vents, mirror adjustment, etc. are metallic and wonderful. The infotainment control wheel is a bit too close to the gearshift wheel, and it can be confusing when you grab the wrong one.
Styling
You would never guess that the EV version of the G80 was electric by the way it looks. In fact, it pretty much looks like the gas version. Nothing about how it's styled gives the electric powertrain away, and the charging port is behind the grille. The car remains stunning and elegant, inside and out.
Front: The EV G80 has the same grille shape, but the mesh is solid. Very few people will notice the difference. It looks stunning, and the charging port is hidden behind a pop-out door on the right side. The parallel beam headlights/DRLs retain their look, which we totally love.
Rear: This is the most attractive view of the G80. The LED taillights are some of the best we've seen, and we also adore the refined treatment of the small trunk spoiler and the tailpipes that mimic the shape of the grille.
Profile: The continuity of the lights from tip to toe with the parallel lines are flawlessly executed. The G80 is also very well-proportioned. The turbine wheels are gorgeous and befit the G80 without having to be dumpy aero-friendly wheels.
Cabin: The cabin is lush and stunning everywhere. We especially love the matte wood trim. The two-tone interior with dark and medium browns is wonderful. Also, every control knob and the fluid door panels are wonderful to look at. Genesis paid a lot of attention to this car.
Comfort
The G80's cabin uses high-end materials everywhere, and none of it feels like the brand has scrimped. It's a cabin fit for a king, but a shorter one because the headroom in both rows is compromised due to the location of the battery. If you're 6-feet tall or more, you're going to be challenged to sit without scraping your noggin. It's the one thing that would keep us from buying the EV over the gas.
Front Seats: Rich Nappa leather is slathered all over the seats. There's good bolstering and the right amount of cushioning. The headroom drops from
Rear Seats: 38.7 inches of rear legroom puts it at the top of its class in terms of space. It's bigger than the BMW 5-Series, the Mercedes E-Class, and the Audi A7. It's a tad smaller, however, than the Lexus ES.
NVH (noise/vibration/harshness): Supremely quiet and well built, the G80 dispels road noise with ease. It's just too bad the engine doesn't sound better.
Visibility: Visibility all around is excellent, aided by manageable pillar thickness, big windows, and a good seating position.
Climate: The system worked very well with good air movement and quick temperature control.
Safety
The G80 performed extremely well in safety tests with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The fact that it also has a robust set of safety tech bumps up the quotient nicely.
IIHS Rating: In 2022, the G80 earned the Top Safety Pick+ award and its only demerits were "acceptable" in headlights and LATCH ease of use. Otherwise, it scored at the top in the other categories.
NHTSA Rating: Not tested.
Standard Tech: The Electrified G80 comes with a massive set that includes Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind Spot View Monitor, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Highway Driving Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Driver Attention Warning & Forward Attention Warning, High Beam Assist, Rearview Camera w/ Dynamic Guidelines, Surround View Monitor, Parking Distance Warning, Parking-Collision Avoidance Assist, Remote Smart Parking Assist, Safe Exit Assist, and an Advanced Rear Occupant Alert.
Optional Tech: None.
Storage/Cargo
As big as the cabin is, the trunk space isn't cavernous, unfortunately. The interior, however, does have some nice compartments to stash belongings, and the level of style inside doesn't betray its practicality.
Storage Space: The large armrest and door pockets are easy to use and access. There's also a front binnacle under the center stack with its own retractable door.
Cargo Room: Cargo room drops from 13.1 cubic feet to 10.8 due to the battery.
Fuel Economy
The Electrified G80 gets 282 miles on a full charge, and that's more than sufficient to use it to and from work without having to charge for a few days. It's not as good as the Mercedes EQS 450+'s 340 miles, but it's still very usable.
Observed: 88 MPGe
Distance Driven: 241 miles.
Audio
The premium Lexicon system in the Electrified G80 is standard. It's a great system that provides ample bass and good clarity. There was no distortion that we noticed. It's nice to see a high-end system without added costs when other carmakers are charging thousands for one.
Buying Guides 
