Test Drive: 2025 Genesis G80 Sedan - Fly Under the Radar
For the 2025 model year, the G80 sedan receives significant upgrades. (Credit : Jack Kazmierski)
The G80 sedan comes in two appealing trims: 2.5T Advanced AWD and 3.5T Sport Plus AWD. (Credit : Jack Kazmierski)
Both versions of the G80 sedan come very well equipped. (Credit : Jack Kazmierski)
A 27-inch OLED instrument cluster & navigation system with AM/FM/HD Radio is standard equipment. (Credit : Jack Kazmierski)
The digital instrument cluster is easy-to-read. (Credit : Jack Kazmierski)
Standard equipment includes heated (front and rear) and ventilated (front) leather seats. (Credit : Jack Kazmierski)
A drive mode selector that allows you to choose how mild or how wild you’d like your drive to be. (Credit : Jack Kazmierski)
Leather seating surfaces are standard equipment, and the 3.5T models gets Nappa leather. (Credit : Jack Kazmierski)
The rear outboard seats are especially comfortable. (Credit : Jack Kazmierski)
As an executive, if your idea of a company car is a posh mid-size luxury sedan with a potent powertrain that lets you enjoy the finer things in life without drawing too much attention to yourself, then the 2025 Genesis G80 sedan is worth a closer look.
While the G80 nameplate has been around for quite a few years, like a fine wine, this sedan has improved over time. For the 2025 model year, the G80 sedan receives significant upgrades, including new front and rear bumpers, headlights and grille; a redesigned dash with a 27-inch display; a reconfigured gauge display, and other updates. In short, it looks sharper than ever.
Two great choices
The G80 sedan comes in two appealing trims: 2.5T Advanced AWD and 3.5T Sport Plus AWD. The major difference between the two is the powertrain. While the former comes with a turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder engine that delivers 300 hp and 311 lb.-ft. of torque, the latter is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 that’s good for 375 hp and 391 lb.-ft. of torque. Clearly, if you enjoy more spirited driving, then the 3.5T is the better choice.
Both versions of the G80 sedan come very well equipped. So much so, that the options and accessories Genesis offers are almost trivial, and include items like upgraded floor mats, coat hangers and cargo trays. Everything else is pretty much standard equipment, including a long list of safety and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) technologies, all-wheel drive, heated (front and rear) and ventilated (front) leather seats, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a Bang & Olufsen sound system with 18 speakers, and so much more.
That said, there are a few key differences between the 2.5T and 3.5T: The latter comes with rear wheel steering, and with an electronically controlled suspension with road preview (a forward-facing camera scans the road ahead for speed bumps or potholes, and instantly adjusting front and rear damping to optimize ride comfort and handling control), which means that it offers a smoother ride than the 2.5T.
Both trims comes with a drive mode selector that allows you to choose how mild or how wild you’d like your drive to be. However, while the 2.5T offers Comfort, Smart, Eco, Sport and Custom modes, the 3.5T has all of the above plus a Sport+ mode for an even more spirited driving experience.
The 3.5T also has larger rims (20- vs. 19-inch on the 2.5T), and while both trims come with leather seats, the 3.5T gets Nappa leather. The 3.5T also gets two additional ADAS features: Parking Collision Avoidance Assist - forward/side/reverse (automatically applies the brakes if you’re about to hit something or someone) and Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 (you can pull out of, and into, a tight parking spot from outside the vehicle by pressing buttons on the key fob, plus the G80 can maneuver itself into a parking spot—both parallel and perpendicular parking—without human intervention, while you monitor it, from inside or outside the vehicle).
Both trims come with creature comforts and modern must-haves like wireless device charging, a 360-degree camera, a head-up display, a heated steering wheel, tri-zone climate control, and a panoramic sunroof. Acoustic laminate glass is also standard equipment, and it makes the interior especially tranquil and quiet.
Power and performance
With 375 hp and 391 lb-ft. of torque, the 3.5T we drove was a delight to pilot. Acceleration is brisk, the sedan sticks to the road, and the G80 feels surefooted on twisty roads.
While it’s not the fastest or most powerful mid-size sedan on the market, the G80 has been engineered to deliver ample oomph (especially the more powerful 3.5T trim) along with a refined ride, and a quiet, comfortable and inviting passenger cabin. An oasis of tranquility, the G80 sedan is a place of solace after a long day at the office.
Price and Specifications
Year Make Model Trim
2025 G80 3.5T Sport
Base Price
$89,000
Notable Options
None
Price as Tested
$89,000
Engine
3.5L V6
Transmission
Eight-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted shift paddles
Horsepower
375 hp @ 5,800 rpm
Torque
391 lb-ft. @ 1,300-4,500 rpm
Fuel Economy (NRCan)
15.6/10.2/13.1 L/100 km (city/hwy/combined)
Fuel Economy (Observed)
14.4 L/100 km (combined)
Good
Fabulous interior
Ample power and torque
Sleek exterior design
Bad
Prefers premium fuel
