2021 Genesis G80 Review

Name: 2021 Genesis G80
Brand: Genesis

Price Range: $25,998 - $35,998

2021 Genesis G80 3.5T Sedan Exterior Shown

The second-generation 2021 Genesis G80 is to its predecessor the way Pulp Fiction is to Reservoir Dogs: the follow-up smash hit to the groundbreaking first attempt. Interior design and materials are on-point, and the driving experience is thoroughly improved. This is a luxury sedan that bypasses the American and Japanese competition to truly go toe-to-toe with the German leaders in this class. However, a few missteps leave it short of the standards set by top-tier rivals.

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Average price: $30,415

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Appraise My 2021 Genesis G80

Genesis G80 model years

Genesis G80 for Sale

Pros

Costs less than comparable luxury sedans in its class
Roomy interior stays quiet at highway speeds
High-quality interior design and materials
Comfortable front seats

Cons

Rides less smoothly than some rival sedans
Infotainment interface takes some getting used to
Cargo space is limited by a rear seat that won't fold flat

What's new

Redesigned for 2021
More powerful engines
New technology features
Launches the second G80 generation for 2021

Overview

Written by automotive expert Kurt Niebuhr

2/26/2021

The idea of a Korean luxury automaker was the furthest thing from the public's collective mind when Hyundai launched the Genesis sedan in 2009. But slow and steady progress has indeed resulted in a stand-alone Genesis brand (starting in 2017) and now a full redesign of the midsize sedan that started it all.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

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2021 Genesis G80
2.5T Sedan
$21,995
- 133,525 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 23 City / 32 Hwy MPG
- United Auto Sales (111 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Providence Forge, VA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
26 Combined MPG (23 City/32 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: KMTGB4SCXMU067390
Stock: 067390
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 11-15-2025
2021 Genesis G80
2.5T Sedan
$26,777
great price
$2,978 below market
- 60,330 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 22 City / 30 Hwy MPG
- Genesis of Alexandria (27 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Alexandria, VA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
25 Combined MPG (22 City/30 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: KMTGB4SC6MU046519
Stock: 260310AA
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 12-13-2025

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The 2021 Genesis G80 builds on the groundwork laid by its predecessors, offering more technology, driving aids and luxury features than ever before. Genesis has also given it the quad headlight design and large grille that it first introduced on the new GV80 SUV and refreshed G90 large sedan.

The G80 is powered by your choice of two engines. The previously standard V6 has been replaced by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 300 horsepower. For more power, there's a new turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 with 375 hp. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional for the latest G80.

It's a pretty compelling package compared to luxury stalwarts such as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Although these sedans haven't been as recently redesigned as the G80, they offer exceptionally high levels of refinement and technology. Other brands, such as Lexus and Volvo, offer luxury alternatives as well. What's our take? Check out the categories of our Expert Rating below for our in-depth review on the new G80.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Good

8.0

out of 10

We drove the 2021 Genesis G80 on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

8/10

How does the G80 drive? The redesigned G80 is a solid performer all around. The turbocharged V6, which is what we tested, has plenty of power whether you're hoofing it from a stop or need a squeeze of power on the highway. At our test track, our V6-equipped G80 test vehicle accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. That's a bit slower than six-cylinder German rivals but right on point with the Cadillac CT5 V-Series. Other highlights include smooth and quick transmission shifts and an unobtrusive engine stop-start system.

The G80 3.5T comes standard with an adaptive suspension. (It's otherwise optional on the 2.5T.) Put the car in its Sport mode and the suspension firms up and does a good job of reducing body roll when you drive around turns.

Comfort

8/10

How comfortable is the G80? The G80 is sport sedan adjacent, so it should be exceedingly comfortable, right? Yes. Mostly. The plush seats are wonderfully supportive and wide without making you feel like you're being swallowed by them. Other highlights include nicely sculpted rear outboard seats and quick heating for the seats and steering wheel.

Now for the "mostly" part. We expected more from the G80's trick road-scanning adaptive suspension. Overall tuning is on the soft side when you put the car in Normal mode. Pleasingly, there's no residual bounciness after traveling over bigger bumps. However, the ride can get overly brittle over cracked pavement. There's also some noticeable road noise, though wind and engine noise is sufficiently muted.

Interior

8/10

How’s the interior? An agreeable ride height and narrow door sills make it easy to get in and out of the G80. The driver literally has the best seat in the house, with additional adjustments (including massage) that aren't available on the front passenger seat. The view outward, though not bunker-like, is hampered slightly by thick front and rear pillars and a tall decklid. Certain features included on our tester — including surround-view and blind-spot cameras — definitely help.

Once inside, tall folks might notice their hair brushing against the headliner in either row. Sub-6-footers should have no problem, however, and you can always slouch a little and take advantage of the prodigious amount of legroom.

The dashboard layout and design are attractive, with a pleasing selection of physical buttons for controls that you might use frequently. The touchpad/wheel infotainment controller presents an initial learning curve. Some of our drivers found it became second nature after some practice, but others never warmed up to it. The display is a short but ultra-wide touchscreen. Touching the right side of it from the driver's seat can be a stretch.

Technology

8/10

How’s the tech? The 21-speaker Lexicon audio system is mind-blowing. Throw on some hip-hop or electronica, and you'll feel the bass in your bones. Even at higher volumes, the speakers did not distort or get muddy. We've experienced inferior systems in Bentleys. The navigation system offers multiple input methods for easy destination search, and the maps display is bright and free of clutter. Using the touchpad/wheel can be distracting, and the voice recognition system returns hits as often as misses. Audi's MMI and Mercedes' MBUX are much better.

The driver aids are fine. The adaptive cruise control works well but the lane-centering feature will sometimes ping-pong the vehicle to either side of the lane. That's not terribly unusual at this stage of automated technology development, but rivals are a little bit smarter. A larger dip in surface pavement caused the collision mitigation braking feature to trigger and momentarily pump the brakes. This is totally unacceptable on any vehicle.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? At 13.1 cubic feet, the G80's trunk is larger than the CT5's, the same as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class' but a bit smaller than the BMW 5 Series'. It is quite deep, however, and there are pockets with nets behind each of the wheelwells. Interior storage space is more impressive, with numerous large bins and trays sprinkled throughout the cabin.

Got kids? It can be initially difficult to install a child safety seat because the lower car seat anchors are not as easily accessible as those in other luxury sedans. But once you've got that done, the large rear doors and expansive rear legroom make it easy to get infants in and out.

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The V6-powered, all-wheel-drive G80 is rated at 21 mpg combined (18 city/26 highway). These numbers aren't stellar for the class, especially since the big three Germans all use mild hybrid powertrains that boost fuel economy. That said, we achieved 24.1 mpg on our mixed-driving 115-mile evaluation route, illustrating that the EPA's numbers should be easy to achieve in real-world driving. The G80 is also more efficient than rivals without whizbang technology. A similarly configured Cadillac CT5 has identical EPA estimates, yet we observed 21 mpg on our evaluation route.

Value

8/10

Is the G80 a good value? Value has always been a Genesis strong suit, and the G80 starts off thousands of dollars less than its German competition. However, our fully loaded test G80 cost more than $69,000, which is only slightly less expensive than similarly equipped top-tier rivals. Conclusion: The G80's best value is lower on the trim ladder.

Interior materials are a pleasant mix of leather, faux leather, open-pore wood and aluminum. The overall effect is simply stunning, especially when you compare this G80 against its predecessor. That said, our tester exhibited a popping noise after hitting a bump or turning the wheel full lock at low speeds, which really marred the luxury experience.

Genesis' warranty coverage can't be beat: five years/60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper and 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain. Three years/unlimited miles for roadside assistance is a little stingy, but three years of complimentary maintenance is among the segment's best.

Wildcard

8.5/10

The G80 is supremely comfortable in most situations, whether you're stuck in traffic, puttering around town, or cruising on the highway. It's a little slower and less fun to toss around than Germany's best, but the G80 gives you 95% of what you'd expect from a midsize luxury sedan.

Genesis' new shield-like grille is an acquired taste, but you have to admit the G80 doesn't blend into the ether of parking lots anymore. The new cabin design is also hugely impressive compared to the previous model. While the first-generation G80 did a great job differentiating itself from its Hyundai roots, the second-gen model allows Genesis to forge its own distinct identity.

2021 Genesis G80 trim level differences

The 2021 Genesis G80 is available in two trim levels that depend on the engine selected. The G80 2.5T is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (300 horsepower, 311 lb-ft) and the G80 3.5T uses a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 (375 horsepower, 391 lb-ft). Both engines use an eight-speed automatic transmission and can be optioned with all-wheel drive. Highlighted standard features include: Compare the 2021 Genesis G80 trim levels in-depth.

Which G80 trim does Edmunds recommend?

For the full luxury sedan experience, we'd opt for the G80 3.5T for its more powerful engine and greater number of standard features. To that, we'd add the Prestige package for its impressive array of features. You may want to opt for all-wheel drive if you live in an area with inclement weather.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$171/mo

$185/mo

Avg. Large Car

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Reliability

The 2021 Genesis G80 has a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic warranty and no recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Recalls

There are no recalls for the 2021 Genesis G80

Warranty

5 years / 60,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 10 years / 100,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 7 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Free maintenance Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles

Genesis G80 Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.1

9 reviews

5(56%)

4(11%)

3(22%)

2(11%)

1(0%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2021 G80 Highlights

Trim:

2.5T

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$47,700
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$171/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the G80 models:

Rear Occupant Alert: Uses sensors to detect the presence of rear passengers and can alert the driver both before and after he or she exits the vehicle.
Lane Departure Warning/Lane Keeping Assist: Issues audible warning if the driver drifts from the lane without signaling. Introduces subtle steering input to keep the car in the lane.
Driver Attention Alert: Monitors and analyzes driver steering, lane position and drive time, and alerts the driver if it detects erratic driving patterns.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover10.1%

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2021 Genesis G80 Review

Price & Payment

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

For sale near Ashburn, VA

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

2021 Genesis G80 trim level differences

Which G80 trim does Edmunds recommend?

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Recalls

Warranty

Genesis G80 Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2021 G80 Highlights

Safety

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