2026 Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD Review: Bold Luxury Sedan

In a marketplace in which there seems to be value in conformity, the Genesis G80 is a refreshing take on the traditional luxury sedan. Its unorthodox look seems penned specifically to appeal to those for whom the status quo won’t suffice. Granted, it takes a pretty brave individual to buck the same-old-same-old, when Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Lexus and Mercedes offer “safer” choices. After all, people know those brands and what they stand for. Thus, when someone asks what you drive, you’re rewarded with instant recognition when you cite one of those nameplates. If you say Genesis, though? Yeah, not so much—yet.

Base Trim Engine

2.5L I4 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

8-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

300 HP @5800 RPM

Base Trim Torque

311 lb.-ft. @ 1650 RPM

Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)

20/29/24 MPG

Make

Genesis

Model

G80

Segment

Midsize Luxury Sedan

2026 Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD First Impressions

Possessing something of a polarizing design, you’ll either like the look of the G80 right away or you won’t. On the positive side, the rearward sweeping lines of the Genesis do suggest motion, even when the midsize luxury sedan is at rest. Similarly, the marque’s signature headlight treatment is a fresh take on a necessary aspect of car design. On the other hand, that oversized grille—as hard as the designers tried to give it some character—registers as nondescript to my eye. I’m also still trying to get used to the G80’s sloping rear end, as it strikes me as being droopy and somewhat disproportionate. However, the overall appearance does register as something to which a generous degree of prestige should be conferred.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

Lyndon Conrad Bell | Top Speed

The example I drove was fitted with the marque’s 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6. Tuned to produce 375 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm and 391 lb-ft of torque at 1,300, the engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. My Omega Speedmaster registered just over five seconds for the Genesis to get to 60 mph when I gave the G80 full throttle from a standing start. This is a commendable figure, and even more so given the sedan’s 4,508 lbs. of curb weight.

Lyndon Conrad Bell | Top Speed

While the all-wheel drive powertrain complied when I pushed the G80 to live up to the “Sport” aspect of its nomenclature, that isn’t what its engineering team intended—and it shows. Instead, the G80 was happiest when cruising at a relaxed pace on the highway, when its plush ride quality and quiet cabin could be best appreciated. Here, I’m reminded of a publisher with whom I once worked who said, “Everything doesn’t have to drive like a sports car, Lyndon.” While he ain’t wrong about that, cars do tend to interest me more when they do.

Lyndon Conrad Bell | Top Speed

Bottom line, the G80 goes like a proper luxury car; one whose raison d’être is the coddling of its occupants. Steering is both precise and effortless, if somewhat devoid of feel. The brakes can best be characterized as dutiful, while the smooth shifting transmission and powerful engine give the Genesis an air of sophistication, underscored by graceful competence.

Performance Specifications

Genesis G80 3.5T Fuel Economy

Lyndon Conrad Bell | Top Speed

The EPA says the G80’s 3.5T AWD powertrain is capable of returning 16 mpg in the city, 24 on the highway and 19 overall. I managed to beat that combined figure by one mpg, with a score of 20 mpg overall. And yes, those numbers are quite meager by modern standards. Here again, though, let me remind you that the G80 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD weighs 4500+ pounds and offers 375 horsepower without the benefit of supplemental electric motors.

Interior Design And Comfort

This is where the G80 truly shines. Its interior architecture is reminiscent of nothing else, and it instantly registers as luxurious. The materials employed are at once tasteful and sumptuous, with quilted upholstery and contrasting piping on the heated and ventilated seats. Soft closing doors, rear sunshades, a heated steering wheel, and a heated center armrest further add to the luxury quotient.

Lyndon Conrad Bell | Top Speed

Soft-touch materials are employed throughout the passenger compartment, and the architecture they upholster is elegant in both design and proportion. The 27-inch widescreen monitor and strategically positioned ambient lighting evoked a contemporary vibe, while the traditional values of ample legroom, headroom, shoulder room, and hip room are respected at all four of the main seating positions, which—by the way—are swathed in Nappa leather.

Lyndon Conrad Bell | Top Speed

Granted, the rear seats could have been a bit more generously proportioned. Keep in mind, though, this is the company’s mid-size sedan—and they offer sufficient comfort just the same. Ingress and egress were uncomplicated. Outward visibility was only mildly compromised to the rear ¾ by the slope of the rear end. However, I did encounter something of an annoyance. While I applaud the inclusion of a rotary controller for the infotainment system, placing it immediately adjacent to the dial for the transmission’s gear selector could have been thought through much better. I was constantly grasping one when I needed the other.

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

While the inclusion of an oversized digital monitor is the latest fashion, I’m over it already. Too many designers are specifying them now, which makes them less special. That said, the graphics employed are crisp with a nice font. What’s more, the color scheme is pleasing to the eye. The infotainment system’s user interface can be actuated by voice, touch, buttons on the steering wheel, or the aforementioned rotary dial on the center console.

Lyndon Conrad Bell | Top Speed

Wireless CarPlay and Android compatibility are standard, as is a crystalline Bang & Olufsen audio system, and a heads-up display. The G80 is also capable of parking itself without a driver in the car. Additional driver aids includeautomated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature, and driver attention monitoring.

Cargo And Storage Space

As luxury cars go, the Genesis G80 comes up a bit shy on trunk space, at 13.1 cubic feet of carrying capacity. Although, one could argue you don’t really need much more than that, as it is still enough room for a family of four to pack for an extended road trip. Inside storage includes the usual array of door pockets, center console hidden storage, and, of course, a glove box.

2026 Genesis G80 3.5T AWD Vs. Its Competitors

Audi

Lyndon Conrad Bell | Top Speed

Mercedes-Benz

The two most formidable competitors in the G80’s market segment are the Audi A6 and the Mercedes-Benz E450. Both are highly respected models from prestigious manufacturers with long histories. The Mercedes and the Audi are also priced quite similarly with base prices of $64,100 for the Audi and $63,900 for the Mercedes. Meanwhile, the G80 seems to undercut the two of them by a significant margin at $58,450.

Lyndon Conrad Bell | Top Speed

However, those numbers are for the base trimmed cars. The Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD model I drove starts at $77,000. A comparably equipped A6 starts at $72,695, and the equivalent Mercedes-Benz E450 starts at $78,850. This places the G80 right between Audi and Mercedes in terms of price. This decimates the value advantage the Genesis appears to have over its German rivals at first glance.

How The Genesis G80 3.5T AWD Compares To The Audi A6

Base Trim Engine

3.0-liter TFSI V6

Base Trim Transmission

7-speed dual-clutch Automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

362 hp

Make

Audi

Model

A6

Segment

Midsize Luxury Sedan

Compared head-to-head, the Genesis is more spacious and has better warranty coverage. However, the Audi A6 offers a more engaging driving experience. Of course, Audi has always seamlessly married performance and luxury into an appealing package. Remarkably, though, the G80 3.5T gets 375 horsepower from its turbocharged six, while Audi makes do with “just” 362. Another win for Genesis comes in the form of warranty coverage. In addition to 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain protection, the G80 comes with three years or 36,000 miles of included maintenance, with a valet service that picks the car up and brings it back to you when the service is complete.

How The Genesis G80 3.5T AWD Compares To The Mercedes-Benz E450

10/10

Engine

Turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 48-Volt mild hybrid technology

Transmission

9-speed automatic

Horsepower

375 hp @ 6,100 rpm

Torque

369 lb-ft @ 1,800 rpm

There is no competing Mercedes-Benz in terms of prestige. The E450 is also seen as the more refined and technologically advanced choice, while the Genesis G80 3.5T offers a more spacious, “Bentley-adjacent” luxury experience.Both cars can boast 375-horsepower engines, but the Genesis delivers 391 ft-lbs of torque compared to 369 for the Benz. Still, though, the E450 is quicker to 60 at just over four seconds versus just over five for the G80 3.5T.

While the Genesis has a more spacious cargo compartment, the Mercedes has a bigger trunk. And, while the G80 can boast a 27-inch OLED display, the Benz goes one better with its dash-spanning “Superscreen” featuring augmented reality navigation that superimposes directions over a live view of the road. As for warranty coverage, the Mercedes is outclassed by the Genesis, as is pretty much everything else.

Our Recommendation For Which Model You Should Buy

Lyndon Conrad Bell | Top Speed

At this level of the game, it’s hard to go wrong with any one of these. Granted, the Audi and the Mercedes will confer more prestige upon you in the eyes of the uninformed. However, the Genesis G80 has other charms, even when price is taken into consideration. For my money, though, the A6 gets the nod. It’s all-new for the 2026 model year, so it will look current longer than the Genesis or the Mercedes. Plus, it’s more fun to drive and just as opulent—at a better price.