Genesis G80 Electrified review

It’s a road test trope to nominate Audi as architect of the best car interiors. Well, Genesis is here to raze the traditional hierarchy.

The G80’s cabin is superbly screwed together, thoughtfully conceived, and delivers the perfect blend of digital and analogue. The doors shut with a very premium, beautifully damped thunk (soft close doors are of course an optional extra as part of the second row comfort pack), admitting you to a cabin as well appointed and thoughtfully conceived as a particularly tasteful boutique hotel and spa.

There is wood and leather but it’s core to the car not appliqué. The lids on the centre console storage areas – which now compromises an anti-bacterial steriliser system, because of course – have the finest action of any car we’ve ever driven.

Options are limited but include Nappa leather, while spec the Comfort Pack you get a pair of massage seats, finished in quilted leather and so orthopedically advanced that they get the German back health association’s seal of approval. You don’t have to be staring down the barrel of impending middle age to appreciate this stuff.

What about the tech?

As part of the G80’s facelift, the driver and infotainment displays have been merged into one massive 27in unit that stretches across the dashboard. 

Fortunately, Genesis has used common sense here. The central screen is navigated directly by touch or via a rotary touchpad in an easy and intuitive manner. Its graphics and illumination are spot on, the haptics of the controller a textbook example of how to do it. Augmented reality uses real life, real time footage from the front facing camera to show the route ahead on the sat nav in stunningly rendered detail. The drive controller is another rotary job, also smooth in action.

Look closely and you’ll spot a further screen below, which combines touch with physical switchgear. Takes a little bit of time to figure out initially, but well done Genesis for not incorporating it into the main screen itself.

Is it practical though?

Oh, yes. At least, if you're a passenger and want to be sitting comfortably. The G80 Electrified is now exclusively available in extended wheelbase specification, offering even more space for backseat riders, of which it wasn’t already short.

The big drawback is the boot however, which measures only 354 litres due to the battery cells stuffed beneath the floor. That's significantly smaller than every single one of its rivals... and it’s a slightly awkward shape too.

So while you might be comfortable getting to your destination, you'll be less so when you get there and realise your swimming trucks were in the suitcase you had to leave at home.