A recent review of the entry level 2022 Genesis G70 sports sedan here at inwheeltime.com told you it was a great sports sedan you might not know about – but should.
In addition, you should also know that it’s midsize sibling – the 2022 G80 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige – is worth serious consideration as a premium sedan with a sporty flair.
Already a very nice and capable midsize premium sedan, Genesis added a few more sporty tweaks to the G80 AWD 3.5T for 2022 – renaming it the G80 3.5T Sport.
2022 G80 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige as Tested
Hyundai loaned us a 2022 G80 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige luxury sedan earlier this Spring for a week-long test drive.
Long, low and sleek, our G80 AWD Sport Prestige came in a Siberian Ice exterior with an Obsidian Black interior, featuring red piping and Carbon Fiber accents.
The MSRP for our G80 3.5T AWD Sport (only available in AWD) was $63,700.
To make it a Sport Prestige, Genesis fitted it out with the Prestige Package (w/Summer Tires) for $6,800.
Including delivery, our 2022 G80 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige arrived in our garage for $71,595,
Starting with the Prestige Package upgrades, let’s take a look.
Prestige Package
The Prestige Package featured additional premium elements for the already well equipped G80.
Giving it sportier flair and more premium amenities were: Nappa Leather Seating Surfaces, Microfiber Headliner and Door Pillars, Carbon Fiber Accents, Remote Smart Parking Assist, Forward Attention Warning, Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (rear), Heads-Up Display, 12.3-inch 3D Digital Instrument Cluster, Active Noise Control -Road, 20-inch Sport Wheels mounted with Summer Performance Tires, Rear Wheel Steering and Sport-Tuned Electronically Controlled Suspension w/Road Preview.
Exterior
Standard exterior elements on the 2022 G80 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige included LED Quad Headlights, LED Rear Combination Lamps, Power Panoramic Sunroof w/Power Sunshade, Power Folding Outside Mirrors, and Perimeter Approach Lights.
Notable is the use of dark Glossy Chrome trims flowing from behind the front wheels, along the bottom of the doors, across the sills and sweeping upward to the rear. Similarly, the chrome décor at the top of the trunk stretching full width, mimicking the design of the Genesis emblem.
Interior
Simple, elegant and exceptionally functional would be a good descriptive for the premium interior of our 2022 Genesis G80 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige.
Particularly notable is the stylish use of thin air vents stretching across the dash that splits the functional elements into (what Genesis calls) panoramic above and control below.
Panoramic features include the Heads-Up Display, 12.3-inch Instrument Cluster and 14.5-inch-wide view Infotainment Display. Below the ‘vent’ line are the operating controls including the integrated controller for HVAC and Rotary-Operated Electronic Shift.
Other elements include Heated and Ventilated seating with 16-way Power Driver Seat w/Power Bolster and Cushion Extender and 8-way Power Passenger Seat. Seating surfaces are leather with distinctive chevron accents highlighted by the red accent trims.
OF NOTE: is the Ergo Motion Smart Posture Driver Seat which utilizes seven air cells to optimize the seating configuration for each driving mode.
Other elements include: Sport Aluminum Trim, Leatherette Stitched Instrument Panel, Adjustable Ambient Lighting, Power Rear and Manual Side Sunshades, Power Hands-free Smart Trunk, Power Door Closure, 3-Zone Climate Control w/Rear Seating Controls, Wireless Device Charger and Aluminum Pedals.
Powertrain / Mechanical
The powertrain for the 2022 Genesis AWD 3.5T is a turbocharged V6 producing 375 horsepower with 391 lb.-ft. of torque. It is mated to a very smooth shifting 8-speed automatic transmission w/paddle shifters.
With plenty of power to go, the Drive Mode Select provides several options for the driver to use – COMFORT, SMART, ECO, SPORT, SPORT+ and CUSTOM.
As we have related on many test drives in the past, our favored mode is SPORT in most vehicles we test. With the G80 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige, we found COMFORT the best performing overall our weeklong drive test.
Behind the transmission, a Limited Slip Rear Differential allows 100% power shift to rear wheels with variable distribution to each wheel as needed.
Underneath, the G80 Sport Prestige runs beautifully on its Multi-Link w/coil springs (F/R) managed through its tElectronically Controlled Predictive Adaptive Suspension w/Rear Wheel Steering Technology.
The Rear Wheel Steering Technology allows up to 2-degree rear wheel turning – either direction – that enhances both high and low speed maneuverability. A very neat feature when traveling the many twisting two-lane highways of rural Texas
Running on 20-inch Michelin Pilot 4S Summer tires in lieu of the standard All-Season, our G80 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige proved to be a real ‘road hugger’ (in COMFORT mode) traveling the country roads and highways of Hill Country Texas.
Technology /Infotainment
Key technology features included Premium Navigation w/Turn-by-Turn Directions, Lexicon (by Harman) 14 Channel 21-Speaker Premium Audio, AM/FM/XM/HD Radio, SiriusXM Real-Time Traffic Display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and more.
Convenience technology elements included Genesis Digital Key, Proximity Door Keys, Push Button Start, Dual Front and Rear USB Ports, 360 Degree Surround View Camera and Display, Rearview Camera w/dynamic Guidelines and a Front Camera for input to the Predictive Adaptive Ride Control Suspension
Safety
The 2022 Genesis sedans, including the G80, are rated an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ which says pretty much all you need to know.
Features and elements include: Rain-Sensing Wipers, Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist w/Junction Turning, Highway Driving Assist, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Lane Keeping and Lane Following Assist, Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Assist and Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert, Surround View Monitor and Blind Spot View Monitor and more.
Warranty
The Genesis warranty coverage for the G-series sedans is very comprehensive and includes:
- Limited Warranty 5 years / 60,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty 10 years / 100,000 miles
- Complimentary Maintenance 3 years / 36,000 miles
Plus, you get 3-year 36,000-mile Complimentary Maintenance and 3-year Complimentary Connected Services.
Genesis G80 Lineup
The 2022 Genesis G80 is available in three trim levels. The 2.5T comes in both RWD (MSRP $48,250) and AWD (MSRP $51,480). The 3.5T (Sport) is AWD only MSRP $63,700.
Learn more about all of the 2022 Genesis G80 models here: https://www.genesis.com/us/en/2022/genesis-g80
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KEY DATA: 2022 Genesis G80 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige
- Model: G80 Sport
- Trim: Prestige
- Class: Luxury Midsize Sedan
- Seating: Five
- MSRP: $63,700
- As Tested: $71,595
- Powertrain: 3.5L Twin-Turbo V6
- Horsepower: 375 @ 5,800 rpm
- Torque: 391lb.-ft. @1,300 rpm
- Transmission: 8-speed Automatic w/Paddle Shifters
- Drive Modes: ECO/COMFORT/SPORT/SPORT+/CUSTOM
- Drive System: AWD
- Acceleration: 0-60 mph 4.7-seconds
- Top Speed: 155 mph
- Suspension: Electronically Controlled Multi-Link (F&R)
- Steering: Variable Ratio Electric Power Steering
- Brakes Brembo Ventilated Disc (F) / Solid Disc (R)
- Wheels: 20-inch Alloy Sport Wheels
- Tires: 225/40ZR20(F) / 275/35ZR20 (R) Performance Tires
- Fuel Economy: 17/26 mpg City/Highway 20 mpg Combined
- Fuel Tank: 19.3 Gallons
- Range: 500 Miles Highway
Source: Genesis Press Materials and Writer Drive Test
