2023 Genesis Electrified G80 Goes For A Less-Jetsons Approach to Electric Cars
Sara Lacey
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If you’re put off by the minimalism of EV’s, Genesis has your solution.
There are many people thinking about purchasing an electric car but just don’t want every aspect of the car managed by a giant screen. Actually, “many people” might be me. I prefer to have some buttons, knobs, and/or switches. I don’t need a full complement, but I’d like to have the basics.
While I’m at it, I would like some creature comforts, like some fancy seats with massage features. Can you make them heated and ventilated? And since I’m asking, how about some beautiful design cues that don’t make the car feel like it’s out of the Jetsons? Now that I think about it, can I just have a beautiful car that happens to be electric? That’s the idea behind the Genesis Electrified G80 sedan: everything you want and need, just electric.
Related: Genesis GV 60 Electric SUV First Drive: The Tech Will Wow You, the Luxury Will Woo You
Please, Sir. May I have some buttons? Photo: Sara Lacey
Genesis says, “Sure!” And builds the 2023 Electrified G80
To put it simply, the 2023 Genesis Electrified G80, the second electric car from Genesis, is a G80 that’s been modified to become an electric car. Of course, they did a lot of work to make this car a reality. But Genesis realized that in order for some people to become more interested in an electric car, it would be important to have a lot of things look and feel the same as a car powered by a conventional gas engine.
Related: MPGe, kWh, 4xe? Everything You Need to Know About Electric Car Lingo
Please, Sir. May I have some buttons? Photo: Sara Lacey
That It’s Electric Can Be Your Little Secret. The G80 Won’t Give You Away
Beginning with the exterior, the 2023 Electrified G80 looks like a regular G80. It’s built on the same platform as the G80 and in order to make it electric, Genesis had to reduce the overall weight by 11% and the overall number of parts by 11% to make electrification possible. There isn’t any badging on the car that screams (or even whispers, for that matter) the car is electric. The absence of tailpipes is really the only tell that this car is not your typical, well-loved G80.
The interior has some sustainable materials that are a highlight, including carpet made from recycled plastic bottles. Also, the Electrified G80 has a “forged wood” trim option made of remnants of the birch wood they use in a different trim mixed with a composite material to create a really interesting surface that is very distinctive.
Another tell is that you can get a special edition color for the Electrified G80. The car I drove for this sneak peek was a beautiful metallic blue-green that looked more blue in some instances, and more green in others. But if you don’t opt for this special edition color (or even if you do and people don’t KNOW that it’s exclusive to the G80) then few people outside of your circle of trust will have any clue that it’s electric.
Related: The First Genesis Dealership, Genesis of Lafayette, Louisiana, Is Just Daring HBO To Make A Series About It
Rear end of the 2023 Genesis Electrified G80. Photo: Sara Lacey
The Electrified G80’s Instant Acceleration Is a Giveaway That This is an Electric Car
What isn’t different about the Electrified G80 from other electric cars is the power and torque. A big draw to electric cars besides the use of electricity to power them is the instantaneous, thrilling speed. The Electrified G80 is as fast and as powerful as you want. There are three drive modes, Sport, Comfort, and Eco. Sport will give you power and speed with zero lag. The suspension and steering tighten up a bit and you get more road feel. Sport mode is highly addictive but will drain your battery faster. Comfort mode is just what it sounds like, a softer ride and a gentler steering situation. Eco mode isn’t as responsive when you put the pedal down (but trust me, it’s still responsive), this mode will help you watch your consumption. Additionally, you can adjust the regenerative braking by using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
Eco mode puts your G80 into one-pedal driving mode. Essentially, this means that when you press the accelerator to the floor, the G80 will speed up. As you ease up on the accelerator, the G80 will actually brake. So think of this as a super efficient way of accelerating and slowing down. This type of driving paired with a regenerative braking system can also create energy that’s given back to the batteries. In effect, recharging your vehicle when this happens. This is a way to keep your charge from depleting as quickly. Whether you’re in Eco mode or Sport mode, you will learn that (not unlike with a regular internal combustion engine) there are circumstances that will change your efficiency: Aggressive driving and hard accelerations will deplete the battery, just as they’ll drain your gas tank.
Related: Hyundai IONIQ 5 First Drive: A Pivotal Moment for Hyundai—and for Electric Cars
Instrument cluster in the 2023 Electrified G80. Photo: Sara Lacey
The Electrified G80 Pure Luxury Driving
The Electrified G80 driving experience is a fun one. Like many electric cars, the Electrified G80 sticks to the road. There is very little body roll, and the car doesn’t feel squirrely at all. For some drivers who like a distinctive drive, this isn’t necessarily it. There are no acclimating to nuances, it’s ready to perform from the second you sit down. And on the sinewy roads of northern Arkansas and Missouri, the Electrified G80 was a pleasure no matter what mode I was in.
Maybe it’s because the G80 is equipped with cameras on the front end of the car that communicate with the suspension. These cameras show any abnormalities in the road and the suspension adjusts to create a smoother ride. In addition, there is a system in the cabin of the Electrified G80 that essentially acts as a noise-cancelling system and quiets any extraneous road noise. I kept feeling like Arkansas had the smoothest, best roads in the country, but maybe they had some help from Genesis.
Rear seat of the 2023 Genesis Electrified G80. Photo: Sara Lacey
There are Some Compromises, but no Deal-Breakers
The Electrified G80 will be different than a car built specifically to be electric in a few ways. First off, the G80 electric has the same body as the regular G80, so it’s got the hump in the floor of the rear seat. Secondly, there is no frunk (front trunk, the area under the hood where an internal combustion engine lives. The G80 houses its power plant there, so there is no space for cargo. Thirdly and not so obviously, Genesis had to tailor the G80 to accommodate the weight of an electric system. Some components were swapped out for lighter materials, or eliminated altogether. As a driver or passenger, this is not a noticeable change whatsoever. But it’s notable in that a car company does have to address some hurdles to make a car shift from an internal combustion engine to an electric power plant.
The Genesis Electrified G80 will charge up to 80% of the battery at a level 3 DC fast-charger in about 22 minutes. Using a level 2 charger at home will get you to 100% in about 7 hours and 22 minutes. It should be said that the majority of the time you will only charge to 80%. This is because fully charging every time will diminish the overall life of the batteries. Save those 100% charges for occasions like being on a road trip. A full charge with the G80 will have approximately 282 miles of driving range.
2023 Genesis Electrified G80 front angle. Photo: Sara Lacey
But Wait, There’s More!
To help newbies get used to the electric car life, Genesis will be partnering with Electrify America to offer free charging for three years. These charging sessions will last for 30 minutes, which is plenty for the G80 Electric since it only takes 22 minutes to get to 80%.
There is no pricing available yet for the 2023 Genesis Electrified G80. Genesis hopes to have the first models available in select states at the end of the summer (New York, New Jersey, California, and So-Connecticut, that’s you). Everyone else in the U.S. will have to wait for a rollout through 2022. As of now, the Genesis Electrified G80 has no direct competitors.
As for the future of Genesis electric cars, they announced that they will be all-electric by 2030. With the GV60 as their flagship electric car, and the Electrified G80 as their electric-but-traditional-looking car, they’ve got appeal to anyone who is ready to live the electric life.
2023 Genesis Electrified G80 grille. Photo: Sara Lacey
Disclosure: Genesis hosted me in Bentonville, AR for the sneak peek of the Electrified G80. All opinions are my own.