Genesis has freshly spun out of Hyundai as its own imprint, and it's dying to compete against the likes of Lexus. The structure of their purchasing system is a bit different - streamlined, in some ways. This is good news for buyers, but it can be hard to know what goes where. We're breaking it all down.
How Genesis Works
The G80 offers a combination of several options - there are “Trims,” and “Packages.” The “Trim” refers primarily to the powertrain of the vehicle. The “Packages” are the special features and amenities. Genesis offers these in several combinations, for a total of 7 options.
3.8L RWD
The base trim for the G80 is the 3.8L RWD. This comes at a starting MSRP of $41,400. Its V6 engine gives it 311hp and 293 lb-ft. Of torque. It gets 18mpg in the city and 28mpg on the highway. This model is available with Standard, Premium, and Ultimate packages.
3.8L AWD
Someone who lives in an area with rough terrain or harsh weather might want to consider all-wheel drive. Starting at $43,900, this trim has a lightweight HTRAC AWD system that offers multiple modes and a high torque distribution for a luxury car. It also lowers the gas mileage to 16 city/25 hwy. It also has heated rear seats as an optional feature, which the RWD does not. This is a little stranger considering how standardized the other features are.
Standard Features
So, once you’ve decided on rear- or all-wheel drive, you get to choose a features package. Even standard, the G80 comes pretty loaded. Genesis is about selling an experience as much as a car. That means that for three years, you get SiriusXM, 24/7 enhanced roadside assistance, annual map updates, and Genesis Connected services. Lots of cars come with a complimentary year of satellite radio, but three years is a long time - especially considering what else you get. You also get complimentary scheduled maintenance for 3 years or 36,000 miles.
The G80 comes with fog lamps, Bluetooth connectivity, a backup camera, remote start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview mirror, universal garage door opener, a hands-free liftgate, and a hard disk drive media storage.
The safety system is impeccable. Stability and traction control are standard, as are radar- and camera-based features to help you drive more safely. You get smart cruise control with stop/start, automatic emergency braking, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane keep assist and lane departure warnings, and high beam assist.You get air bags throughout the cabin, anti-whiplash front head restraints, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and low tire pressure warnings, as well. The G80 also comes with an Intelligent Drive Mode to adjust your ride and handling depending on the situation.
Premium Features
So if that’s what you get standard, what’s even left for options? Turns out, there’s plenty. The Premium package is an extra $4,750, and comes with a Lexicon 14-speaker surround sound system, ventilated front seats, and a power tilt-and-slide panoramic sunroof. You also get LED foglights.
Ultimate Features
The standard features are so numerous - and so nice - that the “Premium” might not be worth it. The Ultimate package, however, looks pretty promising. This package bumps the Lexicon sound system up to a 17-speaker Discrete audio system. It covers the seats in leather. It comes with a full color heads-up display and adds a 9.2” touchscreen with DIS navigation and an HD display. The genesis is going to keep you comfortable and safe, no matter what. But the ultimate package is just unbelievably posh. That said, you’re going to pay for posh. It adds $8,950 to the price tag of whatever model you choose to add it to.
5.0L Ultimate RWD
There’s one more option for the Genesis - the 5.0L Ultimate RWD trim. It has a starting MSRP of $54,550 and comes with a much stronger 5.0L V8. that can produce 420 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. This does reduce the gas mileage to a fairly paltry 15 city/23 highway.
This trim is only available with the Ultimate package. But it’s worth noting that since it’s rear-wheel-drive only, it’s cheaper than getting the 3.8L AWD with the Ultimate package. All of the features mentioned above, from the advanced safety features to the enormous sound system, coming in this car by default.
