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What's the difference?
The Genesis Electrified G80 is a large electric sedan that’s managed to slide in under the radar compared to its competition; the Audi e-tron GT, BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE.
In fact, on first glance, many people assumed I was driving some sort of Bentley (it’s the winged badge!) and some were surprised that Genesis was even a brand. Genesis – take note here! Which is unfortunate because this stately-looking beast gives it’s rivals a run for their luxury and handling money.
I’ve been driving it for the last week with my family of three to find out how competitive this sedan is.
The Honda Accord is now in its 11th generation and there was a time when the Accord, and rivals like the Skoda Superb and Toyota Camry were the perfect family cars.
But if you head to a car park, it's obvious they're no longer the choice when it comes to family hauling.
We’re family testing the new Accord, now offered in one highly-specified variant, to see if its new hybrid powertrain and design are worth a look in a world where the SUV is king.
The Genesis Electrified G80 Luxury is feature-laden and comes with fantastic ongoing costs. This thing handles superbly, has enough power to satisfy and the cabin space feels luxurious. It’s a bit smaller in the cabin and boot than its size suggests, so will suit a small family best, but it's a damn fine example of what a luxury EV sedan can be.
My kid didn't want to give this one back and there was a risk of tears with the loss of the screens in the back and the power he had (mwah ha ha).
Will the new Honda Accord e:HEV RS topple the SUV throne? Unlikely, but it proves sedans can still haul the family around in relative comfort and style.
The new Accord drives stupidly well and offers great ongoing ownership costs, even if it's price tag is a little steep. It's hybrid powertrain also offers fantastic efficiency and that's a big win.
With its rounded nose and solid body, this four-door leans more towards the ‘luxury saloon’ aesthetic than a sports car vibe.
However, some elements hint at this car's powerful prowess, such as the turbine-like 19-inch alloys, quad LED lights at the front and rear and the swoopy roofline.
The interior is handsome and the quilted tan Nappa-leather seats are naturally dyed, which is a cool feature. The suede-look headliner and two-tone door trims are all various shades of brown, which I’m not usually a fan of, but it creates an aura of old-world glamour inside.
However, while the chrome accents enhance that effect, the forged wood panels look out of place. They don’t look like wood, more like that rainbow pattern you can get when you mix oil on water.
While it might not be as sexy as the Audi or Beemer, I’d argue it looks statelier and more refined. It drew looks wherever I went and I especially adore the 'Matira Blue' paintwork.
It’s designed to resemble the colour variations found at Matira Beach on Bora-Bora, French Polynesia, and it’s just gorgeous.
The design for the new Accord is powerful with a sexy silhouette that features a rear spoiler, black accents and sporty 18-inch alloy wheels.
The old chunky grille is long gone and at certain angles you almost get a Nissan 200 SX vibe, which is gorgeously retro and a refreshing take for Honda - which has been playing it safe for the last few years.
The interior is simply styled but looks timeless. The dashboard has clean lines and a featured honeycomb mesh that hides the air-vents. It's a feature which might not land with everyone but it adds personality.
The black upholstery looks plush and there are enough soft-touchpoints to make the cabin feel like it deserves a premium tag.
It’s a low car to get in and out of, so I really like the comfort access function, where the seat slides back for easier access.
Once you’re in, you have plenty of head, leg and elbow room in both rows. Although, I did notice the sun visor felt very close to my head from my driving position. And if you sit closer to the wheel, you’ll be ducking your head to even pull it down.
The comfort factors up front cannot be downplayed – this has a sense of luxury from every angle. The seats are beautiful to sit in on a long trip and I especially like the massage function on the driver’s side. You also enjoy heat and ventilation functions plus a heated steering wheel.
Individual storage options are good up front with two cupholders, a drink bottle holder in each door, glove box and a middle console.
There is also a narrow utility tray that has the wireless phone charging pad, two USB-A ports and a 12-volt socket but I was hoping for the faster USB-C ports at this price point.
The rear seats are also well-cushioned but the space is narrower than at the front. The curved C-pillar makes you feel like you’re being tucked in and that makes it more like a four-seater than a five-seater for passenger comfort. This is further highlighted by the cockpit-like controls in the fold-down middle armrest.
These controls are a similar set up to the front multimedia system and are connected to two 9.2-inch touchscreens on the backs of the seats.
Annoyingly, back seaters can also access (and control) the front audio and climate controls. I didn’t find a way to disconnect this access and my six-year old was pleased as punch.
They also control the heat function on the outboard seats and the retractable rear window sun-blind. In the armrest’s middle console, you get a single USB-A port and two 'aux' inputs to hook up a couple of headphone sets.
I loved being able to entertain my son on our road trip but you can’t just hook up a phone and play Netflix or Disney. It has to be a video file on some sort of hard drive.
The multimedia system is simple enough and it uses a combination of touch and a rotary dial to operate.
The 12.0-inch coloured head-up display is clear and the 3D 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is cool but it did take my eyes a bit to get used to it as it can look like a hologram at times.
Surprisingly, this car only features wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The built-in satellite navigation is probably the fiddliest to use out of all of the systems because it flips between three functions – rotary dial, press-buttons and a touchpad but the option of ‘writing’ your address is cool.
The boot is an interesting one as it’s small for this class at 354L. To accommodate the electrics, the shape is stepped and it makes for an awkward space for bigger items like luggage.
I had plenty of room for my bits and groceries, though, and I enjoyed the powered tailgate with proximity opening feature.
Access to the cabin is great thanks to wide door apertures but the Accord is a low car to get in and out of with its 134mm ground clearance. Expect a couple of grunts when parked on a hill!
Both rows offer ample legroom but the front enjoys the best of the headroom. A 183cm (6.0ft) friend was lumped with the middle seat and spent the trip dreadfully hunched over and uncomfortable. Save the middle seat for kidlets.
The electric front seats offer decent comfort for a longer trip but it's disappointing that only the driver’s side gets lumbar support.
The rear row enjoys well-padded seats and amenities, like retractable sunblinds, reading lights, two USB-C ports and directional air vents but it took a while for the back to cool down on hot days which my kid made known. Loudly.
Storage consists of a large glove box and middle console (which can accommodate a small handbag), a sunglasses holder, four cupholders, four drink bottle holders and two map pockets. There is also a dedicated phone tray but a few extra cubbies up front would be welcomed.
The boot offers plenty of space with its 570-litre capacity, which is great for the class, and you can also open up storage options with the ski-port door, if need be. The powered boot release is a handy feature.
The touchscreen multimedia system looks nice but is a pain in the butt to use until you set some time aside to get to know it. It’s just not intuitive but the screen is responsive and it's a bonus that you get the built-in sat nav and Google apps.
The new Accord gets wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but it took a few beats to get the wireless CarPlay to work.
The charging options are good throughout the car with four USB-C ports, two 12-volt sockets and a wireless charging pad to choose from.
There’s only one model for the electric G80, the ‘Luxury’, and it will cost $145,675, before on-road costs.
Worth noting that's around $30K more than the equivalent combustion-only model. And with a price tag like that, it’s in good company with the Mercedes-Benz EQE350 4Matic at $144,900 and BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport at $155,900. However, Audi’s e-tron GT beats them all at $178,875!
Being the only model available and having luxury in its name should indicate how well-specified the G80 is.
For appointments, you’ll enjoy heated and ventilated front seats, electric front seats with memory function for the driver, heated rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel and even a massage function on the driver’s seat (which I was very sad to part with at the end of my week).
It also features soft-close doors, which is a nice touch.
There are some great practical features as well, like a powered tailgate with proximity opening function, laminated front windows that muffle external noise and insulate the interior, solar panels (genius!) and retractable sunblinds on the rear doors and back window.
Other standard features include keyless entry, push-button start, three-zone climate control, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in satellite navigation and a massive 14.5-inch multimedia system.
Back seat passengers also enjoy two 9.2-inch digital touchscreens on the backs of the front seats that hook into the front sound system and allow you to play videos and music.
The model line-up has been streamlined for the new Accord and there’s only one variant available, the e:HEV RS model.
The new Accord is well-specified but misses out on some luxurious extras most of its rivals sport, like heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel and heated rear outboard seats.
Which might all seem superfluous at first but maybe not when you consider the new Accord's $64,900, before on-road costs, price tag sits just shy of the more expensive Skoda Superb top model, which is $65,590, before on-roads.
The next two rivals are more affordable with the Mazda 6 Atenza priced at $52,590 MSRP and the new Toyota Camry SL at $53,990 MSRP.
The standard equipment list for the new Accord includes leather-appointed upholstery, electric front seats, lumbar support for the driver's side and a panoramic sunroof.
There's also keyless entry and start, adaptive LED headlights, a powered tailgate and a host of high-end technology throughout.
That includes a new 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system with satellite navigation and built-in Google apps, wired/wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the Honda app (with over-the-air updates), a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control, a wireless charging pad and a 12-speaker Bose sound system.
The Electrified G80 has a fully electric powertrain and a big lithium-ion battery with an 87.2kWh capacity. There are two electric motors – one on each axle. It’s an all-wheel-drive with a combined power output of 272kW and 700Nm.
Yep, this baby has the goods and it delivers them beautifully on the road. It can go from 0-100km/h in just 4.9 seconds.
Our test vehicle has an electric continuously variable transmission and features a new self-charging hybrid powertrain that couples two electric motors with a 2.0L, four-cylinder petrol engine that combine to produce 135kW of power and 335Nm of torque.
Only being available in one powertrain may limit its audience but the combo delivers decent performance for a sedan of this size.
The G80 has a great driving range of up to 520km, although the top km range I saw was 510km. The official combined cycle power consumption figure is 19.1kWh/100km but my average usage was around 17.2kWh.
That's pretty good considering how much open-road driving I did this week.
The regen braking has four levels, with the highest enabling one-pedal driving. The regen braking feels on the right side of firm and you’ll gain battery percentage going down a mountain.
This has a Type 2 charging port with a CCS DC connector, meaning you can hook it up to a fast charger. It can also accept the speeds from an ultra-fast 350kW charger and you can get from 10 to 80 per cent in just 22 minutes!
If you get on an 11kW charger, you’d expect that time to creep up closer to eight hours.
The Electrified G80 also has a vehicle to load function, so you can charge up devices using the car’s power while on the road.
Another cool feature is a solar panel in the roof for passive battery charging while parked and on the go!
The new hybrid powertrain means lower outputs and the official combined fuel cycle figure is just 4.3L/100km! Which is only beaten by the Toyota Camry's 4.0L/100km.
The on-test figure pops out at 5.1L/100km after doing a some urban stuff but mostly open-road driving. Which is where hybrids tend to be the least efficient, so the fuel usage is excellent.
Based on the official combined (urban/extra-urban) fuel cycle and 48L fuel tank, you should see a theoretical driving range of up to 1116km, which is a little less than the Toyota Camry but still an amazing range for a family car.
That range figure drops to around 940km using our real-world average consumption number.
I have thoroughly enjoyed driving this car. It has heaps of power and even with the firm regen braking, it never feels jolty or jarring. The power distribution is well-balanced.
The handling is superb because it manages to feel both graceful and fun. The steering is tight, which gives a sportier performance than I was expecting.
The adaptive suspension also makes this feel like it’s connected to the road when you hit corners.
The ride comfort is up there with the best and I’ve enjoyed how quiet the cabin is, too. There's very little wind or road noise, even at higher speeds.
No issues with parking because of the top-notch 360-degree view camera system but you feel its 5.0m length when you’re trying to navigate one of those skinny car park ramps.
I like the remote parking feature on the key fob, too. Great for a tight car spot!
Power delivery for the new Accord is pretty punchy and, in most scenarios it’s responsiveness is great. But occasionally, when you’re getting up to speed, there can be a small lag before things kick in.
The Accord handles like a dream and feels firmly planted on the road in corners. Even in high winds, the car feels stable and sure of itself. Delightful.
The cabin is quiet and engine noise is at a minimum most of the time. Around town, the Accord sounds and behaves like an EV. Only once you hit the open road do you get some road noise but it never intrudes on chatting.
It might also be one of the easiest sedans to park and it's got a lot to do with the top-notch 360-degree view camera system and direct steering.
The G80 comes filled to the brim with safety features and like its stablemates, I like the blind-spot view monitor that pops a video feed of your blind spot onto the instrument panel.
I also like the 'Safe Exit Assist' feature (when a passenger opens a door to exit the car and an approaching vehicle is detected arriving from behind the system sounds a warning). Great for the city.
The G80 has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing done in 2021. It also has a whopping 10 airbags, including a front centre airbag and side-chest airbags on both rows (not just the front).
Other features that come standard, are LED daytime running lights, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping aids, lane departure warning, intelligent seat belt reminders, front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree view reversing camera, reversing light guidelines, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitor, and adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality.
The automatic emergency braking has car, pedestrian, and cyclist detection and is operational from 5.0-200km/h.
There are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard seats and three top-tethers, but you wouldn’t bother trying to get three kids back there. This isn’t that sort of family car.
You do have plenty of room, though, if you need to install a 0-4 rearward facing child seat.
The new Honda Accord hasn’t been assessed by ANCAP yet, but it has eight airbags, which includes a knee airbag for the front passenger, but you miss out on a front centre airbag.
Standard active (crash avoidance) safety tech includes blind-spot monitoring, driver attention alert, rear occupant alert, forward collision warning, tyre pressure monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure alert, lane keeping aid, traffic sign recognition, intelligent seatbelt warning, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system as well as front and rear parking sensors.
There are two ISOFIX child seat mounts and three top tethers. The rear seat is wide enough to easily accommodate two big booster seats but you might get lucky with three smaller seats.
With the G80 you’ll enjoy a five-year/unlimited km warranty and an eight-year warranty on the battery. Plus, you get complimentary servicing for up to five years or 75,000km, whichever occurs first.
It's usual to see longer servicing intervals on EVs but hey, free is free.
You can choose to have an at-home wall charger installed or a ChargeFox subscription that gives you free charging for up to five years.
Genesis is leading the market with its customer-first ownership approach. Very few luxury brands include complimentary anything, so this is lovely to see.
The Accord comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, and an eight-year battery warranty, which are now normal terms for the class.
You get a five-year capped priced servicing program and it costs just $199 per service, which is very competitive.
Servicing intervals could get annoying if you put a lot of kays on your car as they're set at every 12-months or 10,000km, whichever occurs first.