Comparison Data
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2023 Genesis Electrified G80 Prestige
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2022 Volvo S90 Recharge T8 AWD Inscription Extended Range
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Engine Displacement
87.2 kWh battery
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2.0L
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Engine Cylinders
Dual motor
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Hybrid I4
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Peak Horsepower
365 hp
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455 hp
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Peak Torque
454 lb-ft
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523 lb-ft
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Fuel Economy
2.2 / 2.6 / 2.4 Le/100 km cty/hwy/cmb
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8.5 / 7.6 / 8.1 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb
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Cargo Space
304L
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382L
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Base Price
$105,000
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$77,950
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A/C Tax
$100
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$100
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Destination Fee
Included
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$2,015
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Price as Tested
$105,100
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$91,315
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Optional Equipment
None
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$11,250 – Climate Package, $1,000; Advanced Package, $2,200; Metallic Paint, $900; Rear Air Suspension, $2,400; B&W Sound System, $3,750; 20" wheels, $1,000
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Midsize sedans may be falling out of fashion, but when it comes to the premium space there’s still plenty of choice.
From the usual suspects like the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class to a hair-on-fire hot rod like the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, the spectrum is covered and then some. There’s even a few electrified options these days, including the 2023 Genesis G80 Electrified and the 2023 Volvo S90 Recharge.
We’ll be the first to admit that these are very different takes on electrification, with the G80 running on nothing but battery power and the S90 using it to augment its gas engine; but both bring with them pros and cons that are worthy of careful consideration. What’s undeniable, however, is the style, performance, and efficiency and they each manage to balance remarkably well.
Styling
Both of these cars originated with gas-only powertrains, and they’re styled as such. Put another way, neither resembles a well-used bar of soap, as so many electric vehicles (EVs) seem to do these days in the name of ultimate aerodynamic efficiency.
Volvo’s S90 sedan has been around for a few years now, but the Scandinavian style is aging beautifully with long, low, and wide proportions. In a rare treat, the Volvo’s grille doesn’t resemble a feeding basking shark the way most modern machines’ gaping maws do.
Genesis has really found its styling stride as of late, with its current lineup wearing a twin-strake light and fender vent design well. The sharply raked roofline of the G80 lends an elegance to its look that’s lacking on a lot of premium machines today. On the gasoline-powered G80, the oversized grille is an attractive criss-cross mesh effect, whereas the Electrified version features a solid piece of plastic with shiny diamonds painted on. It looks pretty good from about 30 paces, but up close it cheapens the overall aesthetic. Similarly, the 19-inch turbine-style wheels don’t fill the wheel wells as prominently as the sportier 20-inch rims do on other G80 models.
The fluid elegance of the current Genesis design language carries over in the G80, electric or otherwise. It’s a successful result with lots of stitched soft-touch panels complemented by plenty of matte-finish wood trim. Of note, the G80’s digital gauge display generates a 3-D visual effect that’s particularly slick and helps to make this feel like the more modern car of the two.
The S90’s interior is no less special, just with an entirely different vibe that’s chunkier and more severe. The surfaces are covered in fine materials here, too, and the caramel-coloured leather in this tester contrasts dramatically against the black dashboard and dark open-pore wood and metal trim work. Not to be outdone by the G80’s 3-D gauges, the S90’s showpiece is its crystal gear selector.
Genesis G80 Electrified: 8/10; Volvo S90 Recharge: 9/10
Comfort
I’ve yet to experience a Swedish car whose seats weren’t sensational, and this S90 is no exception. There’s plenty of adjustability to ensure all occupant shapes can find comfort, and the blend of supple leather, plush cushioning, and firm support is spot-on. The G80’s seats are also wonderfully supportive and adjustable, too, and racking up kilometres in either car should produce no back aches.
The G80’s rear seat offers more headroom, but the legroom available in the back of the S90 is almost limo-like. But then the G80’s ride is wonderfully compliant, and its smaller wheels mean more tire absorption over road irregularities than the Volvo’s big 20-inch alloys can provide – although this tester was optioned with rear air suspension that helped the big Swede smooth out bumps in the road.
One area the Genesis does better than Volvo is noise attenuation. While wind- and road noise is virtually non-existent in both cars, the S90’s gasoline engine noise can become surprisingly intrusive, and not just compared to the silence of the full-electric G80, but because of its coarseness that’s out-of-character for such a primo sedan.
Genesis G80 Electrified: 9/10; Volvo S90 Recharge: 8/10
Practicality
The spacious interiors in both of these cars offer a decent amount of room for up to five occupants. The G80’s trunk is compromised somewhat by its electric hardware, with a sizable bump eating up some cargo space just behind the rear seat. Its 304 L of volume falls well short of the Volvo’s 382 L, but even still, both trunks should swallow enough luggage for a weekend getaway.
The Volvo’s interior lacks the little nooks and cubbies that are handy for life’s necessities. During the test week, the cupholder ended up being used to hold my standard-size phone and sunglasses that wouldn’t fit in the console bin.
With standard all-wheel drive and a set of decent winter tires, both of these cars should manage Canadian winters with ease. The Genesis has a standard heat pump and battery heater to help with wintertime efficiency and range concerns.
Genesis G80 Electrified: 7/10; Volvo S90 Recharge: 7/10
Features
The style and material finishes in both of these cars should be considered part of their features. Beyond that, both are well-equipped with excellent sound systems, onboard navigation, heated and ventilated seating, multi-zone climate control systems, and rear sunshades.
The only notable omission here is the G80’s lack of sunroof, which was ditched to make up for the way the under-floor battery pack reduces headroom. The Volvo, meanwhile, has a large panoramic sunroof.
Genesis G80 Electrified: 8.5/10; Volvo S90 Recharge: 9/10
Safety
Given Volvo’s history, the S90 is well-equipped with passive and active safety features, but Genesis includes its full safety suite, too, so they’re well matched in this regard. Blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping, and front-and-rear crash avoidance assistants are found in each car, along with excellent adaptive LED headlights.
Both cars feature automated driver assistance systems with lane centring and adaptive cruise control that works in stop-and-go traffic, but the Genesis system works better, with smoother steering inputs.
Genesis G80 Electrified: 9/10; Volvo S90 Recharge: 9/10
User Friendliness
Genesis’s interior designers have done a good job making the G80’s controls highly user-friendly. The 14.5-inch widescreen infotainment includes touch functionality, but it can also be controlled using a convenient console knob. Steering wheel switchgear includes toggles, buttons, and scrolls, and while the climate controls require occasional screen taps, it can by and large be left in automatic mode, with temperature changes managed with large dials. The seating position puts all controls within easy reach, and outward visibility is very good.
By comparison, Volvo’s interface allows for a cleaner, simpler dash layout thanks to the inclusion of fewer physical controls, but it means functionality suffers as more features are managed using the vertical touchscreen. Similarly, the twist-to-operate ignition switch and the double-tap requirement of the shifter each take some time to grow accustomed to. With practice, it all works fine, but the Genesis system is simply more intuitive.
Genesis G80 Electrified: 7.5/10; Volvo S90 Recharge: 7/10
Power
While these machines are meant to waft along in a dignified manner, when summoned with a serious jab of the throttle, they can really boogie. The Volvo’s drivetrain is a wildly complex mix of 2.0L turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder gas engine, with a single electric motor juiced by an 18.8-kWh battery. The result is a cumulative 455 hp and impressive 523 lb-ft of torque. For around-town driving, the S90 Recharge is quick, but delivers output in a dignified way, not snapping heads back when pulling away from a stop. But if passing needs to happen in a big hurry, the Volvo delivers with a wallop of thrust that can be enough to catch users, including yours truly, off-guard.
The Genesis G80 Electrified also features more than 500 lb-ft of torque from its dual-motor setup, fed by an 87.3-kWh battery. Despite less horsepower (365 hp in all) and more mass than the Volvo, the Genesis benefits from the sheer immediacy of its electric boost. This means that with modest throttle application acceleration is equally modest, but a heavy boot will snap heads into headrests and the big sedan will rocket with amusing silence toward the horizon.
The Volvo is slightly more exciting if only because its power delivery isn’t quite as digital feeling, and is accompanied by an internal combustion soundtrack, albeit not an overly pleasing one. Even still, short of timed drag races, it’s tough to tell which one accelerates more ferociously.
Genesis G80 Electrified: 9/10; Volvo S90 Recharge: 9/10
Driving Feel
Buyers looking for a luxury sedan that can do double-duty as a sports car ought to look elsewhere. Battery packs are heavy, and even though they’re mounted low in these cars to lower their centres of gravity, the physics behind making a heavier car turn and stop still affects its driving feel.
Even still, while neither of these cars are lightweights, they acquit themselves well enough with good body roll composure when hustled around corners. There’s little steering feel transmitted to the wheel, and while braking is strong, the regenerative nature can make them a bit grabby in both cars.
The Genesis’s shorter wheelbase helps give it a slightly nimbler feel, and a more engaging drive experience overall.
Genesis G80 Electrified: 8/10; Volvo S90 Recharge: 7/10
Fuel Economy
While the serious power is a definite plus to having an electrified powertrain, efficiency reigns supreme. With a combined rating of 2.4 Le/100 km, the G80 Electrified is predictably the more efficient machine since it has no internal combustion engine. The S90 Recharge is rated at 8.1 L/100 km combined, which is impressive for a sedan as large and powerful as this. Plus, owners with modest daily commutes can keep the Volvo in EV mode up to 61 km, earning it a combined rating of 3.4 Le/100 km.
The Genesis can be charged at a DC fast-charger from 10 to 80 per cent in under 22 minutes in optimal conditions. It has a rated range of 454 km, however, during this early winter drive in mild conditions, indicated range never exceeded 400 km, even with a full charge. The Volvo, using its hybrid system, can travel 750 km or more before needing to refuel, so buyers looking to do more highway driving will be better with the S90 Recharge.
Genesis G80 Electrified: 9/10; Volvo S90 Recharge: 8.5/10
Value
With a starting price of $77,950 before freight and tax, the 2023 Volvo S90 Recharge strikes as a very good deal, but there are some pretty rudimentary features that cost extra, like a heated steering wheel, power trunk, and surround-view camera display. Even still, loaded up with more than $10,000 in options, this tester still rang in well under $100,000 for what’s a genuinely luxurious car.
The 2023 Genesis G80 Electrified comes only one way: Prestige trim with all the fixings. Taking a luxurious sedan and reworking it with a complex electrified system is a costly endeavour, it seems, since this EV version rings in at $105,000. That’s $20,000 more than the next costliest G80, but $30,000 less than a basic Tesla Model S, which is roughly the size of the Electrified G80, but has significantly greater power, range, and cargo capacity. The Mercedes EQS 580 and BMW i7 both start at notably higher price points, as does the Porsche Taycan, which also offers far less interior space than the Genesis. What all this means is that while expensive for a G80, the Electrified version represents a solid value against other premium, midsize electric sedans.
Genesis G80 Electrified: 7/10; Volvo S90 Recharge: 7/10
Verdict
Although relatively similar in size, equipment, and cost, these two differ in more ways than their modes of propulsion. They take distinctly different approaches to what a premium electrified sedan should be, with the 2023 Volvo S90 Recharge presenting as a more classic looking – and feeling – luxury car. But the 2023 Genesis G80 Electrified offers a more contemporary look, feel, and driving experience. While each of these machines will surely appeal to certain automotive needs, the all-electric G80 is such an exceptional offering in the class, undercutting other full EVs by such a great margin, that it wins us over here.
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