Genesis – SRMotorCars.com – The Auto Maintenance and Repair Expert

Test Drive: 2022 Genesis GV70 2.5T Advanced

2022 Genesis GV70 2.5T AWD Advanced in Cardiff Green (A $500 option)

2022 Genesis GV70 2.5T AWD Advanced

Miles driven: 447

Fuel used: 21.5 gallons

CG Report Card


Room and Comfort	B
Power and Performance	B
Fit and Finish	A
Fuel Economy	C+
Value	A

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	A
Tall Guy	A

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. “Big” rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	300-hp 2.5L
Engine Type	Turbo 4-cylinder
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Drive Wheels	All-wheel drive

Real-world fuel economy: 20.8 mpg

Driving mix: 65% city, 35% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 22/28/24 (mpg city, highway, combined)

Fuel type: Premium gas recommended

Base price: $41,000 (not including $1045 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Cardiff Green paint ($500), Select Package ($4000), Advanced Package ($4150)

Price as tested: $50,695

Quick Hits

The great: Posh, comfortable cabin; quietness; long list of available comfort and convenience features

The good: Respectable acceleration from 4-cylinder engine; confident, distinctive styling; competitive pricing

The not so good: Our mediocre observed fuel economy trailed EPA estimates; some control-interface quirks

More Genesis GV70 price and availability information

John Biel

Perhaps Genesis mislabeled its brand-new premium-compact SUV by calling it the GV70. It is derived from the platform of the G70 sedan and styled in the same vein. But the available engines, rotary-dial gear selector, and console dial for the infotainment system are straight out of the midsize G80 sedan and GV80 sport-utility. Maybe the newcomer ought to really be called the GV75.

Of course, there are numbers that truly are more important to shoppers and we’ll get to them by and by. What really counts is that with the GV70 Genesis has created an excellent, value-packed entry in this busy market segment.

The Genesis GV70 launches for 2022 as the second crossover SUV in the growing Genesis-brand product lineup; in size and price, it slots in below the midsize Genesis GV80, which debuted for 2021.

Riding a wheelbase of 113.2 inches and ranging 185.6 inches from bumper to bumper, the 5-passenger GV70 is, respectively, 3.1 and 9.1 inches shorter in those categories than the GV80 that’s set up to carry seven in some models. Where the G70 premium-compact sedan offers the choice of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four or a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6, the GV70 engines are a similarly aspirated 2.5-liter four and 3.5-liter V6.

All-wheel drive is standard in every GV70. Prices (with delivery) begin at $42,045 for the base 4-cylinder version and rise to $63,545 for the V6 Sport Prestige. Consumer Guide sampled a 2.5-equipped Advanced—it sits second from the top of four 4-cylinder models—with a starting price of $50,195. Only a spray of Cardiff Green paint nudged the final tab to $50,695.

Test Drive Gallery: 2021 Lincoln Corsair Reserve

The GV70’s interior is dazzling in terms of both design and materials. The infotainment system can be controlled via a center-console dial (which is unfortunately easy to grab when you intend to use the rotary-dial gear selector mounted just aft of it) or the extra-wide, 14.5-inch high-definition touchscreen.

Typically for a Genesis, trim levels are treated as packages added to the core model. To get two steps up from the base vehicle, CG’s tester first had to absorb Select equipment (19-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, 16-speaker Lexicon premium audio, ventilated front seats, and brushed-aluminum interior accents). Then came the Advanced package with leather upholstery, heated steering wheel, interior trim with a “Waveline” pattern, surround-view monitor, blind-spot view monitor, front parking-distance warning, rear parking-collision avoidance, Remote Smart Parking Assist (to jockey the vehicle in and out of tight spaces while the driver stands outside), and advanced rear-occupant alert.

Test Drive: 2022 Genesis G70 3.3T Sport Advanced

There’s ample space in the GV70’s front seats, but the rear-seat legroom and headroom can be tight for adults.

All that is the frosting on the cake. It builds on GV70 basics like LED headlights and taillights, heated exterior mirrors, heated front seats with power adjustment, dual-zone automatic climate control, front and rear 12-volt power outlets, and hands-free liftgate. Tech items include an infotainment system with 14.5-inch screen, navigation, satellite and HD radio, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility; dual front and rear USB ports; wireless device charging; and fingerprint recognition for one-touch starting. Safety and driving assists consist of adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping and following assist, rear parking-distance warning, and blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring.

First Spin: 2022 Lexus NX

The GV70’s cargo volume is a bit better than most premium compact SUV rivals–there’s 28.9 cubic feet behind the second-row seats, which grows to 56.8 cubic feet when the second-row seat backs are folded.

The Advanced’s luxury additions fill out a cabin that’s pretty lush for the price, with lots of soft-touch material—even far down on the doors past the point at which lots of other manufacturers default to plastic. Knurled surfaces adorn the ends of the wiper and light-control stalks, steering-wheel thumb buttons, and the transmission selector dial. Metal accents brighten the doors, dash, console, and steering wheel. The big infotainment display atop the instrument panel is vibrant, easily legible, and can show two things at once (for instance radio settings and navigation map). Fortunately, it is a touchscreen, which means you don’t have to use the remote console controller—and this one reminds us a little of the Lexus Remote Touch get-up that we’ve never particularly liked. By the way, it’s uncanny how easy it is to reach this round controller when you really want the trans selector. Easy-working temperature dials mix with numerous buttons for climate control.

Quick Spin: 2021 Genesis GV80 3.5T Advanced

A 300-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder is GV70’s base engine; a 375-hp turbo 3.5-liter V6 is also available. Choosing the Select package upgrades the standard 18-inch wheels to 19-inch alloys.

Comfortable seats welcome four adults. The front row is roomy; the second row slightly less so—but it would be wrong to call it cramped. Headroom is quite good, too, and driver sightlines are fairly unobstructed. Personal-item storage is accomplished in a large glove box, decent covered console bin, door pockets with bottle holders, and net pouches behind the front seats. Exposed cup holders are found in the console and the pull-down center armrest in the rear seat.

Overall cargo space is good, even if the rakish rear shape might stand in the way of certain loading options. The cargo bay holds at least 28.9 cubic feet of stuff. Drop the 60/40-split rear seats, which fold absolutely flush with the load floor, and a further 28 cubic feet open up.

Quick Spin: 2021 Volvo XC60 Recharge

The GV70’s attractively athletic body shape is highlighted by nicely executed styling details, such as the Genesis brand’s signature shield-shaped grille and slim “Quad Lamp” LED headlights and taillights.

The 2.5 engine, rated at 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, is attached to an 8-speed automatic transmission. This powerteam is an eminently competent pairing for moderately lively performance that gets a little zestier (and a touch louder) in “Sport” mode, with its quicker throttle response and more patient upshifts. Still, you can happily cruise all day in subtler “Comfort” mode. “Eco” and “Custom” settings are available as well. We wish the GV70 was a little stingier with gas—premium, wouldn’t you know. EPA ratings are 22 mpg in city driving, 28 on the highway, and 24 combined. When this driver put 81.5 miles on the test vehicle—with 69 percent city-style operation—it returned just 20.3 mpg.

With a suspension that’s a retuned version of the G70’s front struts and multilink rear, ride quality is luxury-brand good, with fine bump absorption and isolation from road noise. Steering is nicely weighted and responsive in the Comfort setting. Maybe the more resistant Sport-mode steering is a help on twisty roads where you wouldn’t want to overdo inputs, but in lazier urban-expressway driving it just feels heavy. Brakes are easy to modulate and predictably reliable.

The inaugural GV70 finds its strength in numbers—the number of things it does right. That would be true no matter what number Genesis assigned to it.

First Spin: 2022 Infiniti QX55

The new-for-2022 Genesis GV70 might be the Genesis brand’s most impressive vehicle so far; it delivers an athletic driving character, attractive styling inside and out, and a high level of luxury and available technology features, all at prices that handily undercut its primary European luxury-brand rivals.

Listen to the Car Stuff Podcast

Genesis GV70 2.5T Advanced Gallery

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Genesis GV70 2.5T Advanced

Meet the 2022 Consumer Guide Best Buys

Genesis GV70 2.5T Advanced

Car Stuff Podcast

Written by: The Daily Drive staff on December 22, 2021.

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Red Hot at Road America: Quick Takes on 6 New Rides

2022 Genesis GV70

We’re certainly not completely out from under the shadow of COVID-19 at this point, but it at least feels like we’re on the road back to some kind of normalcy. During the 2020 calendar year, most of the manufacturer-hosted press events our editors attend to produce our First Spin test-drive reviews were put on hold, but they’ve been ramping back up again throughout 2021.

Our editors also attend regional, multi-manufacturer press events that allow us brief access to a broad variety of new vehicles from a host of manufacturers, for quick-take impressions and helpful back-to-back comparison drives. The Midwest Automotive Media Association’s annual rallies—journalist-only events that showcase many of the auto industry’s freshest new products—are among the best of these events, but the ongoing pandemic meant that the MAMA rallies were also put on hiatus for 2020.

However, we were back in the saddle for Fall 2021… the 2021 MAMA Rally was held earlier this month at the Road America race course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, with COVID protocols in place. Road America is a fabulous facility that’s much more than just a race track—it offers plenty of opportunities for both street driving (on picturesque, winding Wisconsin roads that are particularly lovely in autumn) and off-road driving (at a top-notch off-road course on the grounds at Road America), as well as controlled track driving and an autocross course for select vehicles. Here are a few first-drive impressions of vehicles that stood out to us at the event.

Rally recap on the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

Quick Takes on 6 New Rides

2022 Ford Maverick

2022 Ford Maverick Lariat

Driving the new-for-2022 Ford Maverick for the first time reminded me of a famous quote that’s frequently (and most likely erroneously) attributed to Henry Ford: “If I would have asked the people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” I don’t recall the auto-buying public (or any auto journalists) banging the drum for a compact pickup truck built on a unibody front-wheel-drive platform, with a small integrated pickup bed and a standard fuel-sipping gas/electric hybrid powertrain. Yet, Ford has made just that in the Maverick, and all signs point to it being a huge hit.

2022 Ford Maverick Lariat

The Maverick is a truly compact vehicle, but Ford’s clever design features have made the most of the tidy cabin dimensions and pickup bed. For example, the door panels use a clever, ergonomically agreeable door-pull design that opens up enough space for a large water bottle to fit in the door pocket. My 6’6” self fits in the rear seat better than I was expecting—I wouldn’t want to be back there for a long trip, but it’s tolerable for a cross-town jaunt. The interior is trimmed in lots of low-buck hard plastic, but thanks to the smart design and clever color accents, the overall ambiance is fun, funky, and functional.

I drove two Mavericks at the event—one had the 191-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain and the other had the optional 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. The base engine is sufficiently powerful in everyday driving situations, with a well-integrated hybrid system—both throttle and brake-pedal response are smooth and linear. The turbo 2.0 is downright zippy—I would love it if Ford saw fit to release a street-performance-focused Maverick (Maverick ST-Line?) with a sport-tuned suspension and this engine. – Damon Bell

First Look: 2022 Ford Maverick

2022 Genesis GV70

Hyundai’s Genesis luxury division launched for 2017 with a pair of large sedans, then added the compact G70 sport sedan for the 2019 model year and the GV80 midsize SUV for 2021. The new-for-2022 GV70 compact SUV looks to be the vehicle that will truly put this fledgling premium brand on the map, both in terms of its positioning in one of the most popular vehicle segments (for luxury brands and mainstream brands alike) and its confident execution overall.

2022 Genesis GV70

The GV70’s bold, athletic exterior styling looks fabulous and wears Genesis’s signature shield-shaped grille very well, but it’s the interior that truly dazzles. In top-line models, the cabin is impeccably finished, and decked out with high-tech features such as a trick 3D digital gauge cluster and a fingerprint scanner on the dashboard (which enables you to start the vehicle without carrying a key fob—you’ll just need your smartphone).

The GV70s we drove at the event were top-line AWD 3.3T Sport Prestige models, which delivered invigorating acceleration and offered a nice balance of ride comfort and cornering prowess (that definitely leaned to the sportier side). The bottom-line sticker price of the vehicle we drove was $65,045—not cheap, but still a compelling value compared to similarly equipped European rivals. – Damon Bell

More Genesis news and reviews

2022 Infiniti QX60

2022 Infiniti QX60

Given that most of all luxury-vehicle sales in the U.S. are comprised of small or midsize crossovers, it is unconscionable that Infiniti allowed the QX60 to go for almost a decade without a significant re-do.

Treated only to minor updates since its 2013 introduction (it was launched as the JX35 before being renamed QX60 for 2014), this three-row midsize crossover eventually fell off of most premium-crossover shoppers’ lists. As, frankly, it should have. The good news is that the QX60 has been redesigned for 2022 and it is, at least at first blush, a vastly better vehicle than the one it replaces.

The new QX60’s cabin is fresh and airy, with a full suite of connectivity features accessed via voice commands or a big, easy-to-read touchscreen. Appointments in the top-of-the-line Autograph model I drove were of apparent high quality and certainly up to class standards.

The really big news for 2022 is the replacement of the QX60’s problematic CVT automatic transmission with a conventional 9-speed automatic. On the road—at least during my short drive—the new 9-speed makes the most of the standard 3.5-liter V6, providing smooth, crisp shifts in a timely fashion.

After a long hiatus, you’ll likely want to put Infiniti back on your premium midsize crossover test-drive list. – Tom Appel

First Spin: 2022 Infiniti QX60

2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

Given that Ford and General Motors see otherworldly profit margins on their large SUVs, it stands to reason that Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles)—would eventually enter the segment. But the company’s first vehicle to truly challenge the likes of the GMC Yukon and Lincoln Navigator comes not as a Chrysler or Dodge, but as a Jeep.

2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

Jeep’s new big rigs revive a nameplate from the brand’s past—they come in Wagoneer and luxury Grand Wagoneer variations, and only in a single length (at least for now).

I spent the most time in a “base” Grand Wagoneer Series I; even-ritzier Series II and Series III trim levels are also offered.

Checking in at a shade under 215 inches long, Jeep’s new flagship is slightly longer overall than a standard-length GMC Yukon. To my eyes, the Grand Wagoneer appears larger than that in person.

My short drive left me most impressed by the GW’s indulgent cabin appointments and overall interior quietness. A 6.4-liter Hemi V8 is standard; it’s rated at 471 horsepower and provides plenty of smooth, seamless power. Alarmingly, the truck’s trip computer reported fuel economy hovering just over 10 mpg during my stint behind the wheel.

On the road, I found the Grand Wagoneer’s steering vague and overboosted. I also found hustling this extra-large Jeep around city corners to be something of a chore—it feels every bit as big as it is, and likes to plow forward in tight turns.

At $91,735 as-tested, even the “entry-level” Grand Wagoneer is priced against the likes of the Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon Denali, and Lincoln Navigator. Will luxury-truck intenders cross-shop Jeep’s new contender against a slate of excellent competitors? It’s telling that no Jeep badges appear anywhere on the Wagoneer or Grand Wagoneer. So, Jeep marketing folks seem to be asking the exact same question. – Tom Appel

First Spin: 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer

2022 Lexus NX

2022 Lexus NX 450h+

This was my first chance to get behind the wheel of the redesigned-for-2022 Lexus NX compact SUV. The NX model line expands significantly for 2022 to encompass four models: the entry-level NX 250 (powered by a 203-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder), peppier NX 350 (powered by a turbocharged 270-hp 2.4-liter four), hybrid NX 350h (which gets a 2.5-liter four paired with two electric motors, for standard all-wheel drive and a total output of 239 hp), and the plug-in-hybrid NX 450h+ (which gets a plug-in-hybrid version of the 2.5 four that puts out an impressive 302 hp total).

I drove an all-wheel-drive NX 350 Luxury and an NX 450h+ F Sport. Both delivered satisfying power, and the 450h+’s hybrid system is as smooth as they come (Toyota and Lexus have been at this hybrid thing for a while now, and it shows). The cabin was nicely finished, with new features such as “Digital Latch” electric-release door handles and the much-improved Lexus Interface touchscreen infotainment system (a big improvement over the previous Lexus Remote Touch interface, though I am going to need a lot more time to fully explore the ins and outs of the new system and its capabilities).

For me, the biggest downside of the new NX is that my extra-tall frame doesn’t fit behind the driver’s seat particularly well. I felt like I was hovering over the dashboard and steering wheel instead of behind ensconced behind them, and even with the seat all the way down and back, my head was uncomfortably close to the headliner/windshield header. Shorter drivers shouldn’t have an issue, however. You can check out our First Spin test-drive report (link below) for more on the new Lexus NX. – Damon Bell

First Spin: 2022 Lexus NX

2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

There was a time when an all-new version of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class was anticipated with the same fervor as a new pope. Sadly, the seventh generation of the German luxury automaker’s flagship sedan has been eclipsed in the news by crossovers and electric vehicles, including Mercedes’ own EQS pure-electric large sedan.

2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

That’s a shame, as the new S-Class is, at least at first blush, everything a car of this lineage should be. The S-Class sedan’s status as a benchmark for quietness, ride quality, and overall refinement appears secure. Cabin design and materials quality are also top notch.

The biggest change for 2021 is a new control layout. Since I’m accustomed to impressive—almost intimidating—rows of tidy bright-metal switches and knobs when I get behind the wheel of an S-Class, I was stunned by the near absence of traditional switchgear in the new big Benz. The effect is a clean and uncluttered console/dash that should be the envy of carmakers still offering physical knobs, switches, and buttons.

I need more time with the S-Class before I determine that moving almost all of the infotainment and climate controls to a touchscreen is a good thing, but from a design standpoint, the change is a huge success. For 2021, the base S500 4Matic starts at $110,850, including the destination charge. The S580 4Matic I drove checked in at $146,290 all in, including the $6730 Burmester audio system. – Tom Appel

Listen to the very entertaining Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

New Rides at Road America Gallery

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Written by: The Daily Drive staff on October 27, 2021.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Ford check out Bowditch Ford TODAY!

Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast, Episode 103: Chevrolet Vs Ford in the Forties, Our Favorite New-For-2022 Vehicles

Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

Whether you drive a car, need a car, or just occasionally bum a ride with friends, you’ve come to the right place. Join the editors of Consumer Guide Automotive as they break down everything that’s going on in the auto world. New-car reviews, shopping tips, driving green, electric cars, classic cars, and plenty of great guests. This is the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast.

Episode: 103

Broadcast date: October 24, 2021

Guest: John Biel

Chevrolet Vs Ford in the Forties, Our Favorite New-For-2022 Vehicles

Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing their favorite new vehicles from a recent automotive-media test-drive event–particularly the new-for-2022 Ford Maverick compact pickup and Genesis GV70 premium compact SUV. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins us to chat about the great features in the December 2021 issue, including a detailed overview of the Chevrolet/Ford rivalry as it existed in the 1940s. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on the best-selling vehicles in select U.S. states, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a First Spin test-drive review of the redesigned-for-2022 Toyota Tundra full-size pickup.

The Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast is broadcast every Sunday on Chicago’s WCPT AM 820 at 1:00 PM CST.

Discussed this week:

2022 Ford Maverick

Subscribe to Collectible Automobile Magazine

Collectible Automobile features on the CG Daily Drive Blog

Quick Spin: 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy

Forgotten Concept: Pontiac Rageous

First Spin: 2022 Toyota Tundra

Photo Feature: 1955 Monarch Richelieu

Written by: The Daily Drive staff on October 22, 2021.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Toyota check out Right Toyota TODAY!

Test Drive: 2021 Genesis G80 2.5T Standard

2021 Genesis G80 2.5T Standard in Uyuni White (a $400 option)

2021 Genesis G80 2.5T Standard RWD

Class: Premium Large Car

Miles driven: 389

Fuel used: 16.3 gallons

CG Report Card


Room and Comfort	A-
Power and Performance	C+
Fit and Finish	B
Fuel Economy	B
Value	A-

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	B
Tall Guy	B+

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. “Big” rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	300-hp 2.5L
Engine Type	Turbo 4-cylinder
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Drive Wheels	Rear-wheel drive

Real-world fuel economy: 23.9 mpg

Driving mix: 55% city, 45% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 23/32/26 (city, highway, combined)

Fuel type: Premium gas required

Base price: $47,700 (not including $1025 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Uyuni White paint ($400)

Price as tested: $49,125

Quick Hits

The great: Value pricing for a luxury-brand large car; quietness

The good: Respectable fuel economy; distinctive styling; comfortable cabin

The not so good: Ride composure isn’t quite as refined as class leaders’; transmission is sometimes slow to upshift; budget pricing means foregoing some fairly common luxury-class features

More Genesis price and availability information

John Biel

Much has happened in the luxury-sedan space just since Hyundai’s stand-alone Genesis brand first wedged its way in for the 2017 model year. It is marking 2021 as a year to begin catching up to the latest trends, and it is starting with the premium-midsize G80.

Among the things lately stirring the premium-midsize pot that an all-new G80 addresses are a taste for remotely controlled big-screen infotainment and a switch to smaller turbocharged engines. Indeed, both powerplants found in the ’21 G80s are newcomers: a 2.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder (in place of the former entry-level 3.8 V6) and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 (in lieu of an erstwhile 5.0-liter V8).

The assertive, shield-shaped grille is clearly the focal point of the 2021 Genesis G80’s styling, but rest of the car has a bold, confident look as well. The sloping roofline and dual headlight/taillight treatment are among the highlights.

What isn’t changing is the brand’s quest to deliver a luxury experience for lots less than you’d pay for, say, an Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz. Consumer Guide tested the absolute starting point of the new G80, the 2.5T Standard with rear-wheel drive, a car priced at $48,725 with delivery. (Only an application of Uyuni White paint boosted the full tab for the test car by another $400.) The 2.5T also comes in Advanced and Prestige trims, while the V6 is dressed in Standard or Prestige garb. All are available with all-wheel drive, which costs an additional $3150, so starting prices reach to $69,275 at the top end.

Quick Spin: 2020 Genesis G70 3.3T Sport

Even in base trim with leatherette upholstery, the G80’s interior ambiance is classy. HVAC vents are integrated into the mid-dash trim, and the climate controls use a touchscreen input system in addition to physical buttons and knobs.

A lighter body (thanks to added use of aluminum) is fronted by a bigger version of Genesis’ shieldlike grille, now pointed at the bottom. The visual effect of new twin-strip headlights continues as simulated vents in the front fenders behind the wheel openings, and then is reprised in back by the taillights. Overall height has been reduced from the previous G80; the profile is low and flowing.

Test Drive: 2020 Genesis G90 3.3T Premium

The extra-wide infotainment screen is a plus. None of our testers were particularly enamored with the circular infotainment control system (which is located just in front of the rotary-dial gear selector).

The 4-cylinder engine that CG sampled generates 300 horsepower at 5800 rpm and 311 lb-ft of torque that holds up from 1650 to 4000 rpm. Paired with an 8-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission, it’s a powerteam that provides better-than-adequate acceleration with decent fuel economy. Selectable drive modes—Comfort, Smart, Eco, Sport, and Custom—adjust transmission mapping and throttle responsiveness. We certainly felt crisper shifts in Sport in brisker driving. However, when puttering around town in that mode the car often was at speeds that had the trans wavering on shift points, sounding for all the world like it wanted to upshift, but then doing so in a slow, slurring action. This driver put 121.6 miles on the test car, 57 percent of that in city-type operation, and averaged 24.6 mpg. That’s about in line with the EPA estimates of 23 mpg in the city, 32 on the highway, and 26 combined.

Test Drive: 2020 Cadillac CT5-V

There’s fine room in the G80’s front seats, and good space for average-sized adults in the rear seats.

If anything reminds you that Genesis is still a striver in a class dominated by established heritage brands it is the refinement of its fully independent multilink suspension. There’s nothing particularly objectionable about the G80’s ride quality in its base state but it isn’t as supple as that of its august peers. (Note that cars with the 375-horsepower V6 come with standard adaptive dampers.) Steering is precise if a little numb, and braking is good.

Quick Spin: 2020 Lexus ES 300h Ultra Luxury

There’s 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space in the G80’s trunk–a middling number for the premium large car class, and the rear seatbacks don’t fold.

If anything tells you that Genesis has indeed gone to school on the masters it is the exceedingly quiet cabin with a luxury look and feel. At the extreme base level of the car we tested there were some signs of cost cutting (no moonroof; no power-closing trunklid; seats, dash topper, and door inserts covered in leatherette). However, the Vanilla Beige seats were attractively detailed, the driver was confronted by a distinctively styled leather-wrapped steering wheel, and console devices like the rotary transmission selector and circular infotainment controller had knurled surfaces for added visual and tactile interest.

The centerpiece of the infotainment system is the 14.5-inch touchscreen that sits atop of the dashboard. It has a jumble of information on it, but if you study it, it soon begins to make sense for audio tuning, inputs, and the like. (One of the functions that can be accessed is a supposedly calming “Sounds of Nature” program, which includes soothing ambient sounds such as Lively Forest, Warm Fireplace, and Calm Sea Waves.) Why cars with touchscreens need remote central controllers and cars with central controllers need touchscreens is beyond us, but the G80 has both—plus steering-wheel buttons and voice command—so however you prefer to interact with your infotainment cluster that capability exists in this Genesis.

Other standard equipment on the G80 Standard includes heated 12-way power adjustable front seats, front passenger-seat “walk in” (it automatically slides the seat back when the door is opened, then returns it to its prior position when the door closes), piano-black interior trim, ambient lighting, satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone compatibility. The dual-zone climate system has big external dials to make quick, direct temperature settings, but the rest of the controls are on a touchpad that looks great but can be hard to read in certain light conditions. Among exterior features are 19-inch alloy wheels, full LED lighting, high-beam assist, and power-folding mirrors with puddle lamps that project the Genesis logo.

Test Drive: 2021 Acura TLX

As its name suffix suggests, the G80 2.5T is powered by a 2.5-liter engine–a turbocharged 4-cylinder that puts out 300 horsepower. The 18-inch wheels on our test vehicle are standard equipment; 19s are available in option packages.

Passengers will find abundant head- and legroom in both rows with good seat comfort. Three svelte adults might share the rear seat, though the middle occupant would have to be shortest one of the bunch and be comfortable straddling a floor tunnel. Plenty of glass area opens up vistas for driver vision.

Personal-item storage for front-row occupants is handled by a good-sized glove box, modest split-door console box with a 12-volt input and adjustable suspended tray inside, covered bin with USB inputs at the front of the console, twin covered cup holders, and long front-door pockets. Rear-seat storage comes down to cup holders and a cubby (both covered) in the pull-down center armrest, hard-sided pouches on the backs of the front seats, and smaller door pockets.

The trunk has 13 cubic feet of space on a flat floor, though it narrows considerably between the wheel houses. Net pouches on the sides hold incidentals. The gooseneck hinges are covered. Rear seats do not fold, but a central pass-through accommodates long objects.

It’s useful, it’s fairly plush, and it’s affordable. The G80 is a pleasant luxury-market surprise.

Quick Spin: 2020 Lexus LS 500h

With its redesign for 2021, the Genesis G80 gets bolder styling, new powertrains, and a host of new technology features. In base trim, it delivers true luxury-car attitude (if not all the luxury-level features) at a more accessible price.

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2021 Genesis G80 2.5T

Written by: The Daily Drive staff on January 18, 2021.

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