[Test Drive] "Right Foot Just Assists"... The Ultimate Semi-Autonomous Genesis G80

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Hyundai Motor Company's premium brand Genesis has returned with a full-change model after 7 years. The G80 is the flagship model that marked the beginning of Genesis and set a new standard for Korean-style premium mid-size sedans.

In the premium sedan market, the G80 will compete globally against strong models such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series. To understand the unique strengths of the Korean-style premium sedan in various aspects such as design, powertrain, and advanced safety features, I test drove the car myself on the 31st of last month. The test drive route was an 80km round trip from The-K Hotel in Yangjae-dong, Seoul to a cafe in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

First, looking at the exterior design, the SUV GV80, which was released in January, immediately came to mind. The shield-shaped crest grille and the two-line design quad lamps have now become Genesis's signature design elements. The two-line shaped headlamps and the horseshoe-shaped rounded embossed trunk design at the rear confirmed that a new family look unique to Genesis has been completed.

The interior design exuded simplicity and luxury. The test vehicle was equipped with vanilla beige seats and the eucalyptus interior option, giving a clean and bright impression. The driver's side window was fully glazed without any blocked sections, and the crash pad area with the instrument cluster was set low, creating a more open 'panoramic view.'

The 12.3-inch cluster displays a small icon-shaped G80 vehicle during driving, showing various information related to vehicle operation. The touch-type climate control (air conditioning, etc.), rotary shift dial, and handwriting-based infotainment system give the impression that the new G80 is a vehicle equipped with advanced technology.

The test vehicle was equipped with a 3.5ℓ gasoline turbo engine. Thanks to the engine performance delivering a maximum output of 380 horsepower and a maximum torque of 54.0 kgf·m, the relatively heavy mid-size sedan body was driven lightly. As a premium mid-size sedan, the high level of quietness was also satisfying. Moreover, the G80 applies the Genesis 3rd generation rear-wheel-drive-based platform, reducing the curb weight by about 125kg compared to the previous model. On the other hand, the use of ultra-high-strength steel sheets produced by hot stamping was increased to ensure safety was not compromised.

The most surprising aspect during the test drive was that the G80 demonstrated the pinnacle of advanced safety technologies developed by Genesis so far. Highway Driving Assist II (HDA II) and smart cruise control linked to driving style or navigation significantly reduce driver fatigue.

On the highway, I set the smart cruise control to 100 km/h and started driving. The digital cluster displayed the G80 icon and graphically showed the movements of cars running in adjacent lanes.

The vehicle autonomously recognized the distance to the car ahead and adjusted the speed, excellently detecting even suddenly cutting-in vehicles. To change lanes, the driver only needs to turn on the turn signal for more than one second without manually steering. The vehicle autonomously understands the flow of traffic and slowly changes lanes at an appropriate time. Additionally, linked with navigation, it recognizes the speed limit of the current road and automatically reduces speed when approaching speed cameras or restricted speed zones.

During this test drive, I completed the highway section without pressing the accelerator even once. I set the cruise control function and lightly rested my foot on the brake pedal just in case of an accident. This function worked excellently not only on the highway but also on regular roads at about 30 km/h. The vehicle recognized the distance to the car ahead and automatically reduced speed and stopped at traffic signals.

This test drive of the new G80 was a time to directly experience how far our automotive technology has advanced. It was clear that the dream of autonomous driving humanity has longed for is not far away. I look forward to the day when we can meet a Genesis equipped not with semi-autonomous but fully autonomous driving functions in the near future.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.