The Genesis G80 Sport Prestige is all about luxury and performance

Genesis introduced the G80 around five years ago, and its 2022 model year presents us with the best iteration of the G80 to date. There are many improvements this year, starting with the design. Genesis refers to its design language as “athletic elegance” and we certainly see that in the G80.

The front grill is a bit different with a lower grill area now that makes the front end look more connected with the rest of the car. 19-inch wheels are standard with the V6 engine and Genesis equipped our test model with 20-inch wheels with very cool-looking alloy wheels. While the side body lines are similar to last year, going around to the back, you’ll see some subtle changes. There are dual exhaust tips, a lip across the trunk that looks like a small spoiler and a more sculpted, rounded look.

Under the hood is a 3.5-liter V6 engine that’s good for 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. The EPA rates the car at 17 miles per gallon in the city and up to 26 on the highway. It’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Power is delivered to all four wheels on the Sport model and that’s certainly handy for people living in the northern half of the country. However, it’s not good news for those who want to drift. Genesis claims the car will do 0-60 in 4.7 seconds.

There are four drive modes on the G80 Sport, including comfort, sport, sport+, and custom. If you opt for the custom one, there are a lot of available settings in this mode. You can adjust everything from the braking performance, the steering wheel feel, and suspension stiffness and adjust the all-wheel-drive system so it has more of a rear-wheel bias.

On the road, the G80 handles itself very well. There’s tons of passing power, get-off-the-line power, and very nimble handling. In sport mode, you’ll see very minimal body roll with a nice weighted steering wheel feel. Additionally, with the Sport model and prestige trim, you get an extra 2 degrees of rear-wheel steering. Genesis going to a front and rear multi-link suspension has paid huge dividends in improving its handling from prior model years.

Inside, you’ll find an absolutely stunning red and black interior with the “chevron package”. The driver seat is 16-way adjustable with massage, however, the passenger seat gets no such luxury as massage. However, it is still very comfortable and supportive with good lumbar. Stitched Nappa leather is bountiful throughout the cabin and there’s a mild and tasteful use of carbon fiber.

The rear passengers also have some gorgeous, sculpted seats that are very supportive. There is a ton of legroom in the back with plenty of charging ports, window screens, and storage in front of the passenger, on the back of the front seats. You also have climate control, three-stage heated seats, an armrest with cup holders, and a bit of extra storage.

There is so much great technology in the G80. One of the first things you’ll notice is the digital instrument cluster that is customizable and turns the tachometer and speedometer into quick camera views, depending on which turn signal is activated – this gives the driver a very clear view of what’s in the blind spots.

Driver aids include adaptive cruise control with stop and go feature, lane-keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, emergency frontal collision avoidance with stopping, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian alert, and a facial-scan system that will alert you if you take your eyes off the road too long (yeah we know, kind of creepy).

Its Lexicon infotainment system provides excellent audio fidelity but isn’t the best we’ve heard in other vehicles. There’s a 14.6-inch touch display that is in the center of the dash. You can use it with a combination of the center-console dial. Additionally, it might be a little out of reach for shorter people. You also get support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well.

There’s AM/FM and SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and USB media supported as well. There are a few apps included as well as overall vehicle settings that let you fine-tune things like the climate, seats, and built-in navigation. If you don’t want to use the touchscreen, there are some buttons below the screen that let you get to the main parts of the infotainment system.

Pricing on the G80 starts at $47,000 but when you step up to the Sport model, you quickly get to $67,000. However, our test vehicle was fully optioned out and chimed in at $71,000. Genesis gives a 3-year / 36,000 miles complimentary service with valet, a 5-year / 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty with an industry-leading 10-year / 100,000-mile warranty on the powertrain.

There’s a lot of competition in this vehicle category from Germany as well as Japan. With the 2022 Genesis G80 Sport, it’s clear that Genesis is bringing its A-game.