All-new 2021 Genesis G80 or should we call this a mini Bentley?

Due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, Genesis unveiled its all-new 2021 Genesis G80 digitally. This third-generation G80 not only looks like a proper luxury car, it even has technologies you’d find in Maybachs

The G80 was previously known as the Hyundai Genesis until 2017 when the Genesis brand went off as a separate entity focusing solely on luxury vehicles.

The G80 is a front-engine rear-wheel drive executive sedan that goes up against Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Lexus ES, and Volvo S90.

For the latest-generation G80, the designers have given the car a bold, fastback inspired design. It’s certainly not lacking in road presence too, with the large crest grille and Quad Lamps design that somehow is giving us Bentley vibes.

The G80 has the longest wheelbase among its competitors at 3,010 mm – W213 E-Class is 2,939 mm – which translates to ‘class-leading interior space’ as the company claims.

Although the wheelbase is unchanged from the previous generation G80, the platform is extensively revised to feature a lower center of gravity and shaved up to 125 kg of weight.

Genesis has also fitted the G80 with adaptive Electronic Controlled Suspension with a technology they call Road Preview. It works by scanning the road undulations ahead via the front camera and adapt the damping settings to reduce the road impacts. You don’t get this kind of feature an S-Class, only in Maybachs.

There are 3 powertrain options available for the G80 a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol (304 PS/422 Nm), 3.5-litre V6 turbo petrol (380 PS/530 Nm) and a 2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel (210 PS/441 Nm).

Safety is covered with the standard 10 airbags as well as the world’s first AI (artificial intelligence) enabled Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS). The Smart Cruise Control with Machine Learning helps the car to learn the driver’s driving characteristics and adapt how the system accelerates and brakes.

Other technology highlights for the latest G80 include a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports augmented reality navigation, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Genesis Carpay – the latter is a digital payment system (only in South Korea) that allows drivers to make petrol payments via the infotainment screen.

Back in 2015, Sime Darby Motor launched the second-generation Hyundai Genesis (now known as the Genesis G80) to our local market with an eye-watering price of RM 389k for something that bears the Hyundai name.

Despite being one of the most reliable brands in the world, hardly anyone bought the Hyundai Genesis. But what do you think? Would you get this Genesis G80 – given its Bentley-like design, Maybach levels of tech for the price of an E-Class?