Like so many different luxurious automakers, Genesis has been placing a lot of its deal with the SUV market recently, with new fashions just like the GV70 and GV80.
It’s no shock contemplating that’s the place a lot of the consumers are going. However the automaker hasn’t walked away from its conventional sedan line-up. If something, it’s taking steps to make them much more interesting, as I came upon throughout a go to to California’s scenic Central Coast to drive the 2022 Genesis G80 Sport.
“The market continues to be very massive. There are nonetheless many purchasers for sedans,” Genesis North America Chief Working Officer Claudia Marquez defined simply earlier than I headed out from San Luis Obispo for an extended, winding drive by mountains and woods.
Overview
The G80 acquired a significant makeover for 2021, with up to date styling, a extra dynamic driving expertise and loads of further high-tech security and infotainment expertise.
So, it would come as a shock to see it get one other replace for the brand new mannequin yr. When the latest-generation sedan launched it was provided in two key packages based mostly round its drivetrain choices. The bottom mannequin, if you’ll, featured a 2.5-liter turbo-4 making a stable 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque.
The choice got here with a 375-hp twin-turbo V-6. And that now serves as the premise of the 2022 replace. All fashions utilizing the larger engine shall be known as Sport going ahead. There are, nevertheless, two variations of the Sport line and Genesis is following the lead of its German rivals, with one mainly simply getting an look improve.
I spent my driving time within the extra “sporty” 2022 Genesis G80 Sport Status bundle, which provides some mechanical niceties together with electronically adaptable dampers that, throughout aggressive driving, put which means to the phrase, “sport.”
Exterior
As we first noticed when the G80 acquired a makeover for 2021, the brand new sedan picks up on key styling particulars first seen on the larger G90 line, in addition to the GV80 SUV. That begins with the model’s distinctive split-quad headlamps that body an enlarged model of the Genesis crest grille.
The G80’s lengthy hood flows right into a sweeping, coupe-like roofline and fastback rear that brings to thoughts the newest Audi A7. A single “parabolic” accent line flows from nostril to tail — a design cue additionally discovered on the GV80. “It’s all about simplicity,” design chief SangYup Lee advised throughout a current Zoom name. Bulging arches body the sedan’s 20-inch chromed wheels.
The break up/quad headlamps are echoed by marker lights on the entrance quarter panel and, once more, with the break up/quad taillights. The dual exhaust pipes, in the meantime, decide up on the form of the Genesis crest grille.
For 2022, the Sport fashions go along with distinctive 19- and 20-inch wheels. They function completely different entrance and rear bumpers, and get darkish shiny chrome accents on the grille, trunk lid molding and different exterior trim. There’s a particular entrance fascia and new, coloured entrance brake calipers. All informed, the impact is to offer the Sport a extra sinister look.
Inside
When the 2021 G80 rolled out final yr, one of many massive surprises was simply how roomy it’s inside. There’s loads of leg and headroom for 4 or 5 passengers, even with the sloping, coupe-like roofline. A part of the trick was barely decreasing the rear seats in comparison with the outgoing mannequin.
The sedan additionally acquired upgraded particulars that align it nearer to the top-line G90. The instrument panel flows low and large, a horizontal structure enhanced by the brand new air vent design. The IP includes a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.5-inchbroad infotainment display topping the middle stack.
The plushly upholstered entrance “movement seats” function seven air cells that subtly change form whereas driving, Genesis says, to enhance consolation and scale back fatigue on lengthy journeys. Two- and three-zone management programs can be found.
From a extra basic luxurious perspective, the brand new G80 includes a vary of various inside materials decisions, together with a premium leather-based bundle and open-pore woods.
Because the Sport mannequin splits off, it provides distinctive inside colours, a brand new chevron sample sew on upholstery, steel pedals, a singular steering wheel and a selection of both aluminum or carbon fiber accent trim.
Powertrain
All variations of the G80 Sport are powered by the beforehand talked about twin-turbo, 3.5-liter V-6 placing out 375 hp and 391 lb-ft. As with the bottom engine, it’s mated to a clean, nearly invisible 8-speed automated gearbox with energy despatched out to all 4 wheels.
The underlying platform begins out as rear-wheel-drive and the AWD system stays rear biased, an method that interprets into decidedly extra sporty manners throughout “spirited” driving.
The newest-generation G80 really went on a food plan, dropping about 166 kilos in comparison with the unique sedan. Whereas Genesis isn’t releasing 0-60 numbers the lighter mass helps it are available in just below 6 seconds. And, must you wish to push issues to the boundaries, the efficiency bundle for the 2022 G80 Sport provides Launch Management.
Genesis engineers have, in the meantime, made another welcome upgrades for the debut of the brand new sedan when in Sport+ mode. Drive exhausting and the transmission will assert itself with a sportier shift sample. It now will maintain gears whereas cornering — which avoids sudden modifications in torque that may destabilize the sedan. The idle has been raised and, on the whole, nanny options develop into much less intrusive, although they continue to be on the prepared must you overcook a nook.
One other good new function is the addition of rear-wheel steering. The again tires can flip by as a lot as 2 levels. At low speeds, they flip the other way from the entrance, permitting the sedan to maneuver and park like a smaller car. At freeway speeds they flip in the identical path, enhancing cornering capabilities.
On the efficiency bundle you can also order summer season tires for $500. That bundle features a new lively noise management system.
Security and Know-how
There’s loads of expertise onboard, beginning with the noise management system which capabilities very similar to the noise cancelling headsets airline vacationers favor. It makes use of strategically positioned microphones and different sensors to detect after which cancel out the noises that might carry into the passenger compartment.
Probably the most vital additions to the Sport Status bundle is an electronically variable damping system which makes use of a digital camera to look at the street forward. It predictively adjusts the shocks to clean out tough pavement. The system can also adapt every particular person damper when driving exhausting to maintain the sedan extra firmly planted.
The G80 Sport has an non-compulsory reconfigurable gauge cluster — customary on the highest bundle — a big touchscreen and an non-compulsory head-up show. It additionally consists of each Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A smartphone app permits a driver to watch and management car capabilities, corresponding to locking and unlocking doorways, remotely.
Genesis is quickly migrating to digital key expertise which permits drivers to make use of their smartphone as a substitute of the keyfob to enter, function after which lock the car. With the G80, a motorist can also push a button, step out and have the sedan remotely park itself.
Computerized emergency braking and blind-spot collision avoidance are among the many many superior driver help options. Genesis additionally notes a “Machine Studying” function permits the sedan to be taught and mimic a motorist’s driving fashion, whereas the “Freeway Driving Help II” function mechanically modifications lanes with a faucet of the flip sign. There are many superior driver help programs built-in into the brand new sedan, such because the Freeway Driving Help II bundle that may function nearly hands-free and even execute a move just by tapping the flip sign.
Driving Impressions
Clearly, the brand new G80 wasn’t designed to be a muscle automotive. And it isn’t fairly as aggressive as a BMW M and Mercedes-AMG throughout exhausting driving. However with the lively damping system, the brand new sedan clearly holds its personal once you press it exhausting.
It has a pleasant, hunkered-down feeling, particularly in sport mode, with surprisingly little physique roll, even in tight corners. Steering is exact and predictable, with a properly balanced street really feel. In consolation mode, the suspension on our take a look at car did an ideal job at smoothing out tough roads.
I used to be capable of easily wend my means by the tight and twisty corners on the numerous backwoods roads main up into the 9 Sisters, the jagged mountain chain close to San Luis Obispo. The dual-turbo V-6 was fast to reply to my proper foot and the brakes willingly scrubbed off pace earlier than coming into a decent nook. One of many good touches on the Status bundle was the power to dial up the aggressiveness of the braking system.
Wrap Up
On the entire, the 2022 Genesis G80 Sport Status delivers exactly what I had hoped for. It’s a basic grand tourer. Go simple on the throttle and you may cruise all day in elegant consolation. Stand on the throttle and it’s greater than keen to reply, letting you bob and weave down mountain passes whereas all the time sustaining a way of poise and stability.
The “base” model of the sedan, the three.5 AWD Sport, begins at $63,450. The sportier Status jumps to $69,750 with all-season tires. Add one other $500 for the summer season tire and noise management bundle. And supply charges tack on one other $1,045.
To place issues into perspective, the beginning worth for the G80 with the turbo-4 engine is $48,000.
For the cash, it’s exhausting to give you a greater different. True, the U.S. market has largely moved to SUVs. However there are issues you possibly can’t get with a utility car and for many who nonetheless crave the feel and appear of a sedan, the 2022 Genesis G80 Sport needs to be excessive in your checklist.
