Same here.

 

Finally somebody got some good sense.
Definitely exciting car and replaces the GS as the top midsize luxury competition for Germans.

Genesis needs to invest in either dealer network or online ordering/retail stores a la Tesla. Hopefully their lease programs improve. 50% residuals are hard to swallow.

 

All the reviews thus far show fully specced out versions.

Here's a more typical real world but detailed review from an actual owner in S Korea.

 

They age fast, very fast. Seems like there’s a new Kia out every couple of years. The current genesis already shows it’s age.

 

Do you prefer new G80 to be the - or at least one of the physically largest dimensions in the midsize luxury class, or would you prefer its physical dimensions be more class average like the top selling E Class and 5 Series?

The current ageing G80 has a whopping passenger compartment of 107.7 cu ft + 15.3 cu ft trunk = combined volume of 123 cu ft to be classified as EPA large, while the volume selling 5 Series is perhaps the average midsizer with only a typical EPA midsize classification and only 98.8 cu ft passenger compartment + 18.7 cu ft trunk = combined 117.5 cu ft.

The current top selling E Class has 115.7" wheelbase for 98 cu ft passenger + 13 cu ft trunk = 111 cu ft combined = EPA midsize.

Even a Tesla Model S BEV sedan with battery pack under the floor has only a 116.5" wheelbase, with only 94 cu ft EPA passenger compartment, though Model S's liftback and frunk adds a whopping 26.3 cu ft of trunk space for a "combined volume" of 120.3 cu ft to "just" make it past the 120 cu ft combined volume limit to be classified as an EPA large car.

EPA Classifications:
85-100 cu ft combined is subcompact.
100-110 cu ft combined is compact.
110-120 cu ft combined is midsize.
120+ cu ft combined is large.

Being physically larger than its peers can be great for space and ride comfort, but it can also hamper the performance, efficiency, braking, handling and maneuverability.
.

 

Incredibly ironic comment. The departing G80 alone has more advanced tech inside it than the now dead 4GS. Looks are subjective, but technology is not.

It's funny seeing people dislike improvements and updates while praising complacency and fear of competition. Yes, let's all follow Acura and Infiniti's example and sink into nothingness.

 

You're neglecting that all the European brands sell these same midsize vehicles in a long wheelbase format in places like China, and I believe even in Korea. Many of them buy cars to be chauffeur driven. Genesis skipped that market differentiation and made the G80 have an extended wheelbase to offer the reclining rear seats in their home market that we won't get here in North America. And they aren't the only ones- Volvo only sells its midsize S90 in LWB form, and Infiniti did so a while back with the now-cancelled Q70.

None of these LWB vehicles drive substantially different from their standard counterparts. What hampered the G80's performance in the past was its immense weight. Now that it's shed 300 pounds and gained some extra horsepower, I would expect its handling to be in line with everything else in its class, if not better than some.

 

Oh yes, I know what you mean by the special long wheelbase versions in China; though I have never been to China - just a general interest in motor cars only.

For example, the E Class has been stretched 14 cm, while the 5 Series stretched 13.3 cm.
However, if you are good at dumping cars into tight corners, you will realize that these long wheelbase versions will "fish tail", and once the long WB version spins, it will be very difficult to stop spinning.

Moreover, the current G80 isn't just a long wheelbase - the current G80 is also genuinely wider, and genuinely taller, with a reasonably big trunk to boot.
Current G80 is a huge vehicle.

When pounding over rough roads, the long wheelbase versions compromize torsional rigidity and bending stiffness.
Unfortunately, engineering is a compromize.





Conventional 5 Series:

 

That's only partially true. It's actually lower than before. And if you read that tech article I linked a few posts above, its center of gravity is lower to the ground. Based on wheelbase and width, I've heard some others claim that the G80 is more of a A7/CLS/8-Series Gran Coupe competitor (right down to that sloping roofline) than a standard executive sedan. But the thing is, none of these wider and longer coupe sedans drive worse than their smaller counterparts (at least according to journalists). Not even the goliath 8-Series, which has a slightly longer wheelbase and width than the G80.

 

Okay, so new G80 has been lowered just like Corolla, Camry, 7ES and 5LS etc; so new G80 is likely to be a little smaller inside too.

The sporty 8 Series is even lower than new G80; 8 Series is noticeably smaller inside - for handling/dynamics.
The conventional 7 Series is huge inside.

 

Genesis seems to have found a way around it:

https://tech.hyundaimotorgroup.com/a...n-genesis-g80/

However, that guy in the review Bit linked complained about his lack of headroom, so YMMV.

 

Normally, the bigger and heavier the vehicle, the more the handling is compromized.
I have both 3GS and 4GS, plus 2IS and 3.5IS, and the IS's totally outhandle the GS's.
When pounding over rough roads, both IS's feel stiffer than their GS counterparts on the same platform, though GS's much quieter than IS's.

However, new Corolla, new Camry, new 7ES and new 5LS are bigger and heavier than their predecessors, but certainly handle better, while riding more comfortably than their predecessors too [except for 5LS] - however, this is because all these models have been "lowered", albeit at the cost of interior space.

For example, new Camry is now only 100.4 cu ft passenger with 15.1 cu ft trunk, whereas old 2011-17 calendar year Camry was 102.7 cu ft passenger + 15.4 cu ft trunk.
Likewise, new Corolla is only 88.6 + 13.1 cu ft, while old Corolla sedan was 97.5 + 13 cu ft.

 

I actually think the Genesis vehicles we already have have aged quite well.

 

This new g80 appears to have been incredibly well engineered for comfort and competent handling, and with some very smart tech. I'm amazed it has the ability to see road bumps ahead, like the $8K e-active option from Mercedes.

the rear seat head room is compromised by the swoopy shape though, although in that review i posted, while the guy is only 5'10" he has 4" hair on top

 

the current G80 does feel 'cheaper' inside than my G90 (not surprisingly), but other than that, it's really a GREAT car.

picking up one before it goes out isn't a bad move if one doesn't have to have the latest and greatest, because obviously all the kinks have been worked out and it's still very competitive on features and ability.