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2024 Kia Soul ReviewBMW 5-Series vs Genesis G80
Luxury cruisers the BMW 5-Series and Genesis G80 offer plush rides and potent engines. But which is the better buy?
New School Takes on the Classic Sedan
In an automotive world dominated by ever larger and more extravagant SUVs, the classic full-size luxury sedan can feel like something of a throwback. And yet, for Hyundai’s Genesis brand, the latest version of their G70 and G80 sedans feel refreshingly new school with impressively swanky interiors and energetic powertrains. The BMW 5-Series, while not the most BMW of BMWs available today, delivers on the classic luxury sedan promise of comfort and adequate power. Below we compare the Genesis G80 and BMW 5-Series in detail to determine which is the better value.
Specs
BMW 5-Series
The base 530i starts out with a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder making 248 horsepower and 257 lb.-ft. of torque. Fuel economy comes in at 25 city and 33 highway mpg. The plug-in hybrid version, the 530e, combines the 2.0L with an electric motor for 288 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque and an mpg equivalent of 64 MPGe. The 540i features a 3.0L turbocharged inline-six good for 335 horsepower and 331 lb.-ft. of torque and impressive efficiency at 25/32 mpg.
The M versions of the 5-Series feature tuned and retuned iterations of a 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 and range from the M550i with 523 horsepower to the M Competition with 617 horsepower. Even the most modest version will still hit 0-60 in just over to 4 seconds. Fuel economy predicably drops to 15/24 mpg. Rear-wheel drive comes standard on all 5-Series with optional X-Drive AWD upgrades available. An excellent eight-speed automatic is the 5-Series’s sole transmission.
Genesis G80
The Genesis G80 is a decidedly simpler affair with just two engine options. The base is a 2.5L four-cylinder making 300 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft. of torque. It can hit 60 mph in 5.9 seconds and gets 27 city and 32 highway mpg. The more powerful 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6 produces 375 horsepower and 391 lb.-ft. of torque. Rear-wheel drive versions hit 60 mph in 5 seconds flat with all-wheel drive adding two-tenths of a second to that time. Fuel economy dips significantly to 19 city and 27 highway mpg.
Driving & Performance
While many will assume that the G80 couldn’t hold a candle to the 5-Series in terms of performance, the cars actually match up much more closely. This is largely because the 5-Series isn’t the brand’s performance sedan, not by a long shot. Sure, like Mercedes-Benz’s E-Class, the 5-Series offers plenty of top end engines for those with deep pockets, but athleticism isn’t its primary focus. Rather, the 5-Series (and the G80 for its part) concentrates its efforts on producing a serene highway ride, which it accomplishes ably.
The 5-Series’s four-cylinder is lively enough, but the real sweet spot for value and power is the twin-turbo six-cylinder. The engine sounds great and offers more than ample acceleration while still maintaining more than respectable fuel economy. The 4.4L V8 predicably keeps pace with the rest of the segment’s larger displacement offerings. A 0-60 sprint of just 4.1 seconds is impressive, and the eight-speed automatic is snappy and responsive with the help of column mounted paddle shifters.
And yet, the 5-Series’s handling is far from BMW’s best. Steering is light and responsive but not particularly communicative. You can fly out of corners at speed, but the ultra-composed nature of the 5-Series mutes a lot of the potential thrills.
This emphasis on composure is also present in the Genesis G80. Handling is good but not especially sporty (the smaller G70 perhaps more so) and steering is a pleasant mix of directness and heft. But the G80 easily rivals the 5-Series when it comes to a well-damped, finely tuned suspension. The twin-turbo V6 offers good acceleration but at a cost both to your pocketbook and to fuel economy, which is well behind the equivalent six-cylinder 5-Series. The four-cylinder on the other hand might be one of the best values in the segment, offering more than adequate power along with a pampering ride that equals that of cars with double the asking price.
Comfort & Interior
The 5-Series offers some of the best and worst of BMW interiors. The best in that everything, from the responsive and easily navigable infotainment system to the center stack controls, are easy to use and well thought through. The worst in that the 5-Series itself fails to distinguish itself from the rest of the BMW line-up. Unlike Mercedes, which, in their sedans especially, successfully imbue each tier of their sedan line-up with unique personalities. Aside form minor flushes like quilted seats, there are few distinguishing details between the 3-Series, 5-Series, or 7-Series.
And yet, the 5-Series’s cabin is well-wrought, with loads of high-quality materials and a robust build quality. Character isn’t everything, says the 5-Series. And after a long drive in its exceedingly comfortable seats, you just might agree.
The G80 impresses with its unique styling, great materials, and solid build quality. That the G80 delivers a quiet and comfortable interior to rival BMW and Mercedes at such a low entry price forces buyers to sit up and take notice. If you’re at all an audiophile, the Lexicon premium stereo is worth the upcharge. The infotainment system is another highlight. It features crisp graphics and excellent responsiveness. While it’s nice to have the redundant controls of a touchscreen, a rotary pad, and a touchpad, the interface can take some time to get used to. Like the 5-Series, the G80 features some of the best seats you’ll find in any luxury sedan.
All in all, the G80 and 5-Series cabins stack up well against each other. G80 wins out on style points, but for those that don’t mine the 5-Series’s lack of originality, it’ll serve just was well.
Trims & Features
BMW 5-Series
530i ($54,200) – 12.3-inch digital dash display, 12.3-inche infotainment touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD and satellite radio, Bluetooth, dual-zone climate control, 16-way power front seats, synthetic leather, and rain-sensing wipers. Packages add options like heated rear seats, remote start, WiFi hotspot, and Harman Kardon premium stereo.
Standard safety technology include lane keep assist, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, rear cross traffic alerts, automatic emergency braking, adaptive headlights, and automatic high beams. Higher trims offer additional safety options include evasive steering assist, front cross traffic alerts, traffic jam assist, and parking assist.
530e ($57,200) – Adds plug-in hybrid powertrain.
540i ($59,450) – Features the turbo inline-six as well as options for dynamic damping and adaptive cruise.
M550i ($76,800) – Offers the 4.4L twin-turbo V8, 20-way adjustable front seats and leather upholstery.
M5 ($103,500) – 600 horsepower of the V8, AWD standard, WiFi hotspot, and heated seats.
M5 Competition ($111,100) – Tuned 617 horsepower V8 and adds M Sport exhaust and styling.
Genesis G80
2.5T ($47,700) – Synthetic leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, heated power front seats, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD and satellite radio, Bluetooth, navigation, 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, and hands-free trunk. Packages add options like 19-inch wheels, tri-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, 21-speaker stereo, wireless charging, and real leather upholstery.
Standard safety features include pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, front and rear parking sensors, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, automatic high beams, and forward collision warning. Higher trims offer additional optional safety features include a heads-up display, rear collision warning, remote parking, a 360° camera, and rear seat reminder.
3.5T ($59,100) – Features the twin-turbocharged V6, leather upholstery, 21-speaker Lexicon stereo, ventilated front seats, panoramic sunroof, and wireless charging. Packages add options like a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, 20-inch wheels, an HUD, and a 360° camera.
Conclusions
Our recommendation comes down to price. The four-cylinder version of the Genesis G80 is so refined, quiet, and pleasurable at $48,000 that such a value proposition is nearly irresistible if you’re in the market for a luxury sedan. But, if you can’t live without more horsepower, the turbocharged six-cylinder BMW 5-Series is that classic luxury sedan balance of acceleration and cruising comfort. It costs the same as the G80 3.5T but gets much better gas mileage. Unless you’re a BMW diehard with money to burn, steer clear of the higher end M versions of the 5-Series.
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