2025 Genesis G80 3.5T Review: Welcome to the Party

The 2025 Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Prestige scores a 7.7 out of 10, and it earns it the hard way. This is the twin-turbo V6 car, 375 hp, all wheel drive, rear-wheel steering, and an as-tested price of $78,525. The first thing I did when I saw that number was build its German rivals to match. Genesis played the old Lexus strategy for years, undercutting the market leaders to buy market share. At nearly eighty grand now, that era is over. This car is priced like it has arrived. So the question for the whole week was simple: has it?

G80 Spec Strip

Spec	Figure
As-tested price	$78,525 (3.5T Sport Prestige AWD)
Powertrain	3.5L twin-turbo V6, 8-speed automatic, AWD
Output	375 hp / 391 lb-ft
EPA	15 city / 24 highway / 18 combined (I saw exactly 18)
Trunk	13.1 cubic feet, smallest in the class
Chassis	Rear-wheel steering, e-LSD, electronically controlled suspension with Road Preview
Rivals as I configured them	BMW 540i $81,100 / Mercedes E450 $90,150 / Audi A6 $80,000

How much does the G80 3.5T Sport Prestige cost?

$78,525 as tested. I am not saying it is not worth it, but eighty thousand is a lot of money, so let us see what the Germans charge. To get 375 hp from BMW you need at least the 540i, which starts around $67,000. Add M Sport to match the sporty brief, the same silver, matching 20s, Merino leather to answer the Nappa, carbon fiber trim, then the Executive package, the Luxury Seating package, and Bowers and Wilkins. That build lands at $81,100. My Mercedes E450 build came to $90,150, and the Audi A6 to about $80,000. So the Genesis is no longer the bargain in the room. It is simply in the room.

Is the G80 the best looking sedan in its class?

Man, is this Genesis gorgeous. Of the sedans it does battle with, the only one that comes close is the newly redesigned Audi A6 in sport trim, which looks properly sinister. But the G80 is just GORGEOUS. The shape, the wheels, the lighting. It has been out for a while now with only subtle refreshes, and by golly it is one of the best designs the luxury sedan market has seen in recent history. Whenever the G80 does get redesigned, I hope Genesis keeps this ethos and resists the Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis habit of blowing everything up and starting over. Point to Genesis.

How does the twin-turbo V6 drive?

Some stunners in this class. The B58 in the BMW is a gem, the 3.0 turbo six in the Audi is solid, and the 375 hp inline six in the Mercedes is great too. On pure sound, thrust, and sportiness, the Genesis was my second favorite. It is not the fastest here, the BMW holds that, but the engine and transmission work together to deliver a genuinely luxury experience. The car does not accelerate, it adds thrust, something my old Phaeton used to do and the hallmark of a good luxury sedan. Is it the best engine in the class? No, that is the B58. But damn is it close. Point to the competition, barely.

The chassis is where the G80 fights back. This car had rear-wheel steering, an electronic limited-slip differential, and a proper Sport+ mode, and together they let it shine. Is it an AMG, M, or RS product? No. But man does it like to go around corners, and it is a lot of fun doing it. Point to Genesis.

What about fuel economy?

The Genesis is old school here. A twin-turbo 3.5 V6 with a bunch of power and no electric assist, and it drags at the pump because of it. If you looked at the MPG stat line blind, you would think you were reading about an E39 540i. It is rated 15 city, 24 highway, 18 combined, and boy does it meet that. Over my week I saw exactly 18. The BMW returns 28 combined and the Mercedes 25, and both clear 30 on the highway. Highway efficiency on the Genesis is decent enough to give it real road-trip range, but around town it is pretty brutal. This is one of the two big detractors. Point to the competition.

How practical is the G80 for a family?

The trunk is the other detractor. That gorgeous roofline compromises it, and at 13.1 cubic feet the G80 drags in last against its rivals. The BMW carries five more cubic feet in a more usable layout. Point to the competition.

Space for people is a different story. Most front legroom in the class, most rear legroom too. Everyone was comfortable, including my son in his car seat and my wife in either row. The Germans are no penalty boxes, but the Genesis has the edge. Point to Genesis.

Inside: world class, except those buttons

The materials are world class. Nappa leather, real carbon fiber, a microfiber suede headliner, a heated armrest, soft-close doors. And yet. MAN, THEY STILL SHARE SOME FREAKIN BUTTONS WITH HYUNDAI. Some of the switchgear is straight shared parts bin. Does it feel good? Yes. It is integrated well and blends into the dash. But looking at a panel and realizing it is shared with a Hyundai group product that costs $40,000 less hits a little hard at this price. That said, there are still real knobs for temperature and volume, which is huge and cannot be said for the rest of the class. Materials better, buttons worse. I am calling it a tie.

One more point though, and it matters. The tech is beautiful and restrained. The 27-inch OLED cluster is integrated into the dash instead of the massive screens-everywhere approach the Germans are on right now. The head-up display is there and works, the tech never overwhelms, and the cabin is not a Best Buy TV section. That restraint is exactly what I want from a midsize luxury sedan. I want to sit in it, have oodles of room, and feel really great. Point to Genesis.

The take: has Genesis actually arrived?

Final tally: Genesis 4, the Germans 3, one tie. The midsize luxury market right now is the most contested it has been since the early 2000s. The E450 is truly great, the 540i is solid, and the freshly redesigned A6 holds its own. For the Genesis to be genuinely part of that conversation is a testament to a brand that kept iterating and focused on what matters. The catch is that Genesis knows it too. This car bites at the heels of BMW and Mercedes, but it is now cost competitive instead of cost competitive AND a bargain. The pitch used to be two sentences. Now it is one: yeah, that Genesis G80 is a damn good car.

Welcome to the party, Genesis. As a former G70 manual owner, I knew you had it in ya. Excited to watch it happen. If the badge play is not for you, the Lexus strategy this brand copied is still alive elsewhere, and the GV90 shows where Genesis goes next.

Verdict Scorecard

FAQ

How much does the 2025 Genesis G80 3.5T cost?
$78,525 as tested for the 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD. Comparable German builds ran $80,000 to $90,150 in my configurations.

What engine does the G80 3.5T have?
A 3.5 liter twin-turbo V6 with 375 hp and 391 lb-ft, an 8-speed automatic, and standard all wheel drive.

What fuel economy does the G80 3.5T get?
EPA rated 15 city, 24 highway, 18 combined. I saw exactly 18 combined over a week of mixed driving.

Is the Genesis G80 better than the BMW 540i?
It is comparably priced once the 540i is optioned to match. The BMW has the better engine and economy. The Genesis answers with the better looking body, more passenger room, and a calmer, richer cabin. It belongs in the conversation, which is the story.

I’m MoneyShift. If it has wheels and a story, it ends up here. Follow along for all things car news and reviews you can trust.