The new Genesis Electrified G80 (yes, ‘Electrified’ is what Genesis named it) follows a line of thought that luxury sedan buyers don’t necessarily want to drive something that screams “EV!” Hence this $75,000 sedan that looks exactly like its ICE-powered G80 brethren, minus the solid front grille. TFL headed out to Scottsdale, Arizona, last month to check out the G80 EV, and its more powerful EV SUV, the GV70. But while the GV70 may get more bling and specs, the G80 slots into a still-worthy market for distinguished luxury sedans.
What Makes an Electrified Genesis G80?
On the exterior, the aforementioned solid grille, which also hides the charger outlet, is the only distinguishing design element that differs from the ICE version. The roofline, ground clearance, length — all the exterior dimensions are the same. The inside is the same, except the floor is higher to accommodate the battery. Its skateboard structure runs between the wheels and eats into the leg room. As a result, the drivers and passengers sit a little higher to fit taller Americans, Genesis nixed the sunroof. The trunk is also smaller thanks to a hump housing that contains the drive unit for the rear wheels. But that’s it.
Genesis claims a range of 283 miles from a 87.2-kW battery pack, which isn’t bad for the car’s size and competition. Thanks to its fast charging at 350 kWh, the Koreans claim the battery can go from a 10% state of charge to 80% in 22 minutes. Horsepower comes in at 365, while torque hits a sports car-like 516 lb-ft.
While the G80 is distinctively beautiful and the EV specs are absolutely respectable, Roman and Alex from Auto Buyers Guide wonder who will buy the Electrified G80. The market for luxury sedans in North America seems to shrink every year. Within this market, the number of buyers for an EV is even smaller. But maybe that’s what Genesis is banking on. They hope the G80 will appeal to those who appreciate distinctive luxury at a good price and don’t want to follow everyone else.
Check out the G80 yourself by clicking the video below:
