Our Rides: The New Standard For Successful People

If you’re a successful person, you want to express your accomplishments and achievements to the world.

You do so by the place of residence. The assets you have. The vehicle you drive.

You know of the phrase: “(insert pronoun here) who has the most toys wins.” But, is that really true?

You do not have to live like you own the state of Minnesota. For those who don’t, there is Genesis.

To recap, Genesis is the luxury brand of the Hyundai Motor Group. We have featured a few of its offerings in this magazine. We loved how much you get for the value that is offered.

Case in point, the 2025 Genesis G80. It is the middle sedan of a three-car lineup (plus three SUVs). It is offered with either two internal combustion engines or a fully electric drive system.

For 2025, the G80 received some updates that give it a softer look and a higher level of technology, all without disturbing the essence of this car.

What is the essence of the G80? It is that balance between sportiness and luxury. It is emphasized both under a sleek skin and a well-executed chassis.

The G80 has quite the lineage. Back in 2008, Hyundai had the great idea to introduce a global luxury sedan (and sporty coupe) with the Genesis name. Little did we know that once the second-generation model arrived, the Korean automaker would spin off Genesis into its own brand.

This third-generation model — now in its mid-cycle refresh —remains relevant in a world full of SUVs.

How?

Looking at it gives you one reason why. Sedans never go out of style. The G80 retains its sleek profile with a new front clip, slightly amended grille and lower fascia. The designers at Genesis did not touch the rest of the exterior, and that’s a good thing. How dare they touch the five-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels with the “square” indentations on each spoke? That truly makes this G80 pop.

One thing a luxury vehicle must do is to stand out in a crowd — even if the crowd is full of the same vehicle. The 2025 Genesis G80 does exactly that.

Then, you open up the door into a sumptuous interior. This Sport Prestige tester wears red leather. That’s exciting, right?

The big update for 2025 is right in front of the driver. A new 27-inch OLED screen that displays both the digital instrument cluster and the infotainment touchscreen. The new screen gives the dashboard a cleaner, more cohesive design. Either screen is customizable with the information and functionality you need.

Also new is a steering wheel with a near-flat bottom. Everything else is practically the same with tactile controls throughout the cabin and onto the center console. You select the transmission through a large knob on the center console.

If there is another notable update on the 2025 G80, it is the switch to Danish audio reproduction brand Bang & Olufsen for its top-of-the-line speaker system. It is a great choice for this car.

The G80 seats up to five in Nappa leather luxury. The seats are patterned after the design of the mesh grille. The front seats are firm but offer plenty of bolstering to lock you in. Adjustments are plentiful, including the bolsters and thigh support. The rear seat room is fine. There is 13.1 cubic feet of trunk space, as well.

As mentioned before, there are three performance options available on the G80. This tester is powered by one of the two gasoline engines available: a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 with 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is connected to the engine, sending power to all four wheels.

While there is a choice of a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a dual-motor electric drive system, the twin-turbo V6 would be my choice. While any of these driveline choices would work well for many types of drivers, I just prefer the smooth acceleration and cruising of the V6. It is simply effortless.

As for fuel consumption, I achieved an average of 21.7 MPG.

The one thing the 2025 G80 that you will appreciate is a choice of drive modes. You have the choice of luxuriating and being mellow in Normal mode. This just neutralizes everything from a softer ride to a compliant steering feel. If you want a bit more excitement, set it into Sport mode. That weighs down the steering and firms up the suspension — but not too much to remove the Prestige from the Sport.

If you want a lot more excitement, then put it into Sport+ mode. While your suspension feel is much firmer and the steering feels more precise, you do lose traction control functionality in the process.

No matter which drive mode you choose, the G80 comes out as an exceptional vehicle to drive. The brakes do a great job of turning strong stops in normal, wet and panic situations. Steering is also precise, with exceptional response from the wheel. It is simply a nice car to drive overall.

Pricing for the 2025 Genesis G80 lineup starts at $57,100. This 3.5T AWD Sport Prestige tester came with a sticker price of $78,280.

When it comes to choosing a luxury car, we all want what is considered the standard of excellence. A measurement that shows that you made the right choice to show how successful you are.

If you are measuring your life’s choices, perhaps you should consider a 2025 Genesis G80. Or, any of the six Genesis models available. You will find an essence of what a new standard should be when you deliver on what successful people want out of life.