Genesis is the exciting, young luxury car label of the Kia Hyundai Group, but where do you get the products from? After all, there are no classic dealers. ntv.de clarifies this and much more as part of a practical test. The focus here: the classy sedan Electrified G80.
If you want to establish a new car brand in this country, you need more than just a good product. The customer, especially in the higher-priced segment, would like to buy his set of wheels in a fine ambience, at least that should apply to the somewhat more conservative clientele. Going to the car dealership could be part of the expected shopping experience, one might think. But it is the case that this possibility does exist with Genesis. The stores called Genesis Studio, with their noble-looking interior design, leave no doubt that they are a suitable setting for the purchase of a Genesis - however, there are currently only such stores in Munich and Frankfurt am Main.
So what to do? A quick check of the genesis.com website will help - either fill out the contact form or dial the 0800 number given on the homepage if you are not patient enough to expect an answer. Genesis promises that a personal assistant will take care of everything - from advice on the test drive and ordering the desired product to its delivery if necessary to your own front door, the Kia-Hyundai subsidiary bags all of this. Then that would be clear.
Otherwise, Genesis would like to go electric, as is the case for many car brands these days. The Electrified G80 is too - however, like the GV70, it can also be supplied with combustion engines, in contrast to the GV60, which is based on the so-called E-GMP, i.e. the electric platform of the Kia Hyundai Group.
The fact that the G80 was not developed as a purely electrically powered vehicle from the outset does not detract from it in practice - but there are small details that give it away: the trunk volume of 354 liters is below that of the combustion engine variants (424 liters). But the main thing is that the five-meter liner accommodates its guests in an airy manner. And he does, even in the second row there are no complaints, because the front seat backs are really far away.
But as a curious motorist, I naturally want to get behind the wheel of the power-boosting business class. But before I get started, my gaze first wanders through the interior, taking notice of the fine, terracotta-colored leather upholstery, which can be found in the price list under the name "Havana Brown". Noble seams on the leather dashboard give the G80 that luxury class flair that is expected of it. The aluminum decor of the test car looks really cool, but a nice wood paneling would be a bit more harmonious. It's a matter of taste, of course, and Genesis caters to different tastes by naturally offering a variety of woods.
Quickly check the instrument cluster, there are only virtual graphics here. But classic with round dials at least. But now let's go - tapped the start button and ready. The 2.3-tonner rolls quietly onto the road (although a lot more aluminum is used in the BEV version) and the 370 hp from two powerful electric machines are already in your mind. But city traffic doesn't allow for acceleration orgies, caution is the order of the day. The elegant limousine is only allowed off the leash after the town limit sign.
Now only the power-reducing "Eco" mode prevents the neck muscles from being overstrained. OK, that can be changed. Full power is available in "Sport". But surprise, the technicians programmed the acceleration characteristics of the G80 according to its class in such a way that it very gently gains speed. Emphatically, of course, already, 100 km/h are dealt with within 4.9 seconds. And the factory puts the maximum speed at 225 km/h, in practice it can sometimes be 10 things more.
The noble Japanese never loses its composure, which is not least due to the low center of gravity (the battery is mounted in the underbody area). The alignment of the chassis is clearly comfortable, despite variable damping, the Genesis never becomes sporty - hardly feasible with a wheelbase of over three meters.
Samig parried the all-wheel drive long-wave distortions on the highway. And it can perhaps do it a bit more smoothly than some of its competitors, because a camera records the road surface in front of the front axle in order to adapt the chassis to the conditions as best as possible. And while this feature is standard, you can still boost the comfort with an additional charge of 5510 euros. Then there are high-tech chairs with massage functions and pneumatic side bolsters. But there is even more in this package - for example screens at the rear, an electric rear blind and the closing aid for all doors.
Screens generally play a major role in the G80, because there is a concisely large example in the eye-catching 16:9 format and also in a touch-sensitive version. Incidentally, most of the vehicle functions are dealt with via the . However, the console also has a conventional row of switches ready with buttons for individual topic complexes (calls up the corresponding menus). A module for operating the automatic air conditioning is emblazoned underneath - albeit as a small touch field with two rotary controls for the interior temperature.
Perhaps a few more words on the topic of charging practice and consumption: During the test phase, the electricity consumption was more than 20 kWh/100 kilometers when driving moderately, i.e. above the average WLTP factory specification of 19.1 kWh. However, consumption in electrically powered vehicles is difficult to reproduce because they are sensitive to many external factors. In addition to the ambient temperature, the topography can also play a role. Accordingly, it can even make a difference of two to four kWh whether you drive with a similar driving style from Cologne to Munich or vice versa from Munich to Cologne.
What is pleasing about the Genesis is that its predicted range is always accurate and not too progressive. With many electric vehicles, you should always subtract a few kilometers in your head to get to your destination safely. DC charging also works quickly thanks to the 800-volt architecture - around 22 minutes are realistic to bring the battery from 10 to 80 percent charge. However, the charging capacity of the Genesis is limited to 240 kilowatts and is not around 350 kW, as suggested in the brochure. However, Genesis recommends the use of 350 kW charging stations in order to fully exploit the charging potential.
With a basic tariff of 69,200 euros, the electric G80 even falls within the eligible price window and will be subsidized with a total of 7,500 euros this year. From January 1, 2023, this sum will be reduced by 3,000 to only 4,500 euros. In the case of company cars, however, the halved gross list price still applies as the basis for the flat-rate taxation of private trips.
Conclusion: The bottom line is that you get a lot of car for the money you spend with the Genesis Electrified G80, since the standard equipment is really lavish. LED headlights, navigation system, parking beeper, reversing camera, electric seats, keyless locking system, heat pump and cruise control with adaptive control are therefore free. Of course, more is always possible: the technology package for 4530 euros extra tempts with gadgets such as a head-up display, 360-degree camera and adaptive headlights. There will also be even more assistance, especially in the area of autonomous braking scenarios - more comfort and safety is hardly possible.
And the Genesis scores in one area in particular - even if it should sell better than the Genesis managers dare to dream, it will remain exotic in this country. And having something that is not necessarily mainstream can also be a pleasure. Or in this case maybe even electrify.
