I can’t help but feel I’m letting the ‘executive’ side of our electrified sedan twin test down slightly. Certainly the location – Tannery Park, a stone’s throw from the Oakville Club – is suitably on-brand. The blissful blue sky and lack of wind is a win-win. And the Genesis Electrified G80 EV I’ve brought with me – the Korean brand’s electric flagship and one of our dramatis personae today – positively drips with executive credibility. I’m even wearing my only two-tone, white collar-and-cuff button-down.
But our comparison hasn’t even started, and already the G80’s cabin is awash with camera lenses, a protein bar wrapper and a crumpled Red Bull can (we’ve been on the go since early morning). The grime around the front left wheel arche will need a chamois leather. And as I emerge from the local Tim’s – my left hand scrabbling for the G80’s smart key, my right awkwardly balancing two coffees and a couple of bagel B.E.L.T.s – I discover the hard way that the G80’s curvaceous roof doesn’t double well as a ledge. Out of the camera case dutifully comes my spare black polo (fortunately there’s only one hole under the armpit) and half an Americano is better than nothing, I suppose.
2023 Genesis G80 Electrified / James Gent, The Charge
M’esteemed colleague Neil Vorano, meanwhile, who’s chauffeuring our other player today – Volvo’s plug-in hybrid S90 Recharge Extended Range – to our location is upholding the managerial side of things nicely. Caught in hellacious traffic, he assures me through one of several dictated messages (can someone grit their teeth through text messages?) he’ll be here in 20 minutes, which in the end turns into a more ‘managerial’ 50 minutes. Plus, in order to avoid strike action, he unsheathes the company credit card a few hours later to buy lunch: “Branzino and a Sauvignon Blanc?” “Look, do you want tomato on your chicken wrap or not?”
Why a Volvo and a Genesis, you may ask? Time was that, if you were in the market for a high-market pseudo-limousine and had $80K to $100K burning a hole in your Hugo Boss, you’d opt for a BMW 7 Series a or Mercedes S-Class. With electrification, though, has come heavy development across engineering, infrastructure and design for every mainstream manufacturer, and to offset that has come heftier MSRPs. Today, if you’re eying a new, all-electric BMW i7 – due in Q3 this year in Canada – you’re looking at the sharp end of $148k, and with the mid-range Mercedes EQS 580, it’s closer to $159K.
But what of Volvo, or Genesis? The former a bastion of safety with a growing reputation for refined Swedish styling, the latter Hyundai’s answer to “athletic elegance” since its arrival as a premium sub-brand in 2015. Might we find a hidden gem of electrified, four-doored excellence for far less than a BMW or Mercedes asking price?
2023 Volvo S90 Recharge / James Gent, The Charge
In terms of styling, we’re certainly off to a good start, for neither the S90 nor the Electrified G80 look out of place alongside the water (which, given that a Mercedes production crew was filming a vignette for its Oakville dealership earlier, speaks volumes). This is particularly impressive given that neither model is ‘new’: the S90 was first introduced for 2017 before its facelift in 2020, while the “first electric Genesis” actually began its rebranded life as Hyundai’s flagship sedan in 2014. Even the 2021 Electrified G80 is an electric offshoot of the second gen, ‘RG3’ G80 Genesis introduced for 2020.
Read more: The Genesis GV60 is both swift and swanky
Not that this is matters of course, for the G80 is an unquestionably handsome sedan, one that has received a few distinct embellishments for its ‘Electrified’ alter-ego. The exhaust tips are no more, of course, the rear bumper has been toned, and the 19-inch ‘turbine’ wheels, as well as aiding aero performance, look sharp. The ‘G-Matrix’ (faux) grille still dominates the front end, but in a neat touch, the EV’s charging door is hidden in the upper right corner. Parallel charging bays may be a little awkward to use, but that design flourish gets a solid thumbs up.
2023 Genesis G80 Electrified / James Gent, The Charge
The S90, meanwhile, is lither and more understated than its rival: the Genesis certainly has the stronger presence of the two. This is Volvo we’re talking about though, and the end result still looks superb. The new concave grille is a tribute to the timeless P1800, the 19-inch, 10-spoke alloys are a striking touch, and the almost Maserati-esque Thor’s Hammer headlamps – nauseating name aside – add a wonderfully aggressive element. A now caffeinated Neil goes as far as to call the S90 “beautiful,” throwing his support firmly behind the Volvo early in the day.
2023 Volvo S90 Recharge / James Gent, The Charge
Our late start means there’s not much time to take in the view, so with our first shots in the bag, and with more-and-more day breakers entering the park – many of whom stop to take pictures of our combatants – we saddle up and beat a hasty retreat to our next location.
It’s just a few minutes down the road, but having spent most of the morning confined to a snail’s pace, Neil is keen to take the long way round.
‘Hasty’ may not be les mot juste for the Genesis, though not because the Electrified G80 lacks grunt. Indeed, the 136 kW front- and rear-mounted electric motors produce a combined 365 hp and 516 lb-ft. That’s 55 hp and a sizeable 206 lb-ft over its ICE forebear, and enough for 0-100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds. Like the S90 Recharge, the Genesis is all-wheel drive only for improved traction (the front wheels can be decoupled when ‘fuel’-saving is required), so off the line and under heavy acceleration, the Electrified G80 is surprisingly brisk.
2023 Genesis G80 Electrified and the 2023 Volvo S90 Recharge / James Gent, The Charge
The sheer weight of the G80 EV, though – all 2,285 kg of it – does affect that suggested athleticism. The initial electric surge is prominent, yes, and the power delivery very smooth thereafter, but a heavy right foot will quickly push the G80 out of its comfort zone. Nicely weighted, the steering feels a little vague and uninterested, the brake pedal and its decent length of travel feels a little spongy, and while the suspension helps hold the road with dignity, it will do so whilst battling noticeable body roll.
2023 Genesis G80 Electrified / James Gent, The Charge
‘Sport’ is one of three driving modes available, and selecting this – estimated 454 km electric range be damned! – will entice a little more interest from the dampers and a hair more weight to the steering. In a game touch, the bolsters of the 16-way ‘Ergo Motion’ seat help ‘lean’ you into the corners too, but that’s as ‘enthusiastic’ as things get. There’s an impressive agility at work for a car of this size but you won’t be overcome by the driving experience.
‘Comfort’ mode then is where the Electrified G80 truly comes into its own. Soften those bolsters and the Ergo Motion seats are absurdly comfortable, while the once passionless road-holding feels wonderfully gooey as the ‘Preview Electronic Control Suspension’ uses front-cameras and sensors to iron out in-coming ruts in the road. The system lacks a little sophistication compared with BMW or Mercedes – once or twice, at highway speeds, some ruts noticeably vibrate through the chassis – but it’s far from a deal-breaker.
2023 Genesis G80 Electrified / James Gent, The Charge
Moreover, the ‘Active Noise Control-Road’ eliminates road roar and any nasally whine from the motors, drowning them out using microphones that emit a ‘phase’ at the other end of the spectrum. An elegant system that works so well, you won’t even notice it. As should be the case with any executive sedan worth its rock salt.
At our second location – also on the water, with neither of our electrified limousines again looking out of place in their distinguished surroundings –as he bounds out, Neil’s praise for the Volvo continues: “This feels a much lighter car than it actually is!”
Read more: Volvo unveils its smallest SUV yet, the all-electric EX30
He’s less enamoured by the cabin, though. Tan is a poor choice for the interior admittedly, but I do take his point. The S90’s cabin design is as cohesive and un-fussy as one would expect from Volvo, with almost all switchgear save the front and rear demist, the hazard warning lights and select radio functions ditched in favour of a 9-inch touchscreen (portrait-mounted so as not to dominate the dash). The vertical inlets in the air vents are a wonderfully artistic addition too, and there’s a gloriously high-end feel to the Nappa Leather and charcoal inlay.
2023 Volvo S90 Recharge / James Gent, The Charge
Neil’s right though. Discerning and ‘Scandinavian’ as it is, it’s not a design that doesn’t scream ‘up market.’
Once again, the Genesis slams its trump cards on the table with a decorous cabin design. Like the S90, the Nappa leather and ‘Forged Wood’ detailing – also bespoke for the Electrified – are made from recycled materials, but while the S90 is minimalist, the G80 cabin combines a landscape 12.3-inch infotainment screen with a separate climate control panel, and very tactile switchgear for ‘Media,’ the Sat Nav, volume controls, ‘Drive’ modes, parking cameras, etc. It’s an abundance that should feel cluttered and excessive, but instead feels fully loaded, aptly for a $90+K executive sedan. This even despite the air vents on the dash, a galling drop in quality and humiliated as they are by those on the S90.
2023 Genesis G80 Electrified / James Gent, The Charge
Unlike the Volvo crystal gear shifter – my animosity for which was voiced in our Volvo XC90 Recharge review – the G80 also features a more refined shift-by-wire rotary dial and a beautifully positioned, individually textured rotary dial for the infotainment system which, to this writer at least, makes navigating the G80 system much easier than the slightly more confusing Volvo system. Even the buttons on the multi-function steering wheel are clearly marked, which proves more fool proof than that on the more subtle Volvo.
2023 Genesis G80 Electrified / James Gent, The Charge
“The Volvo cabin is ‘Swedish,’ which is great, but it’s also trying to be charismatic. In the Genesis, everything just feels and looks more premium. I also prefer the infotainment system in the Genesis much more. Even the superfluous bits: ‘Sounds of Nature’ audio selection I will never use, but I like having it!”
2023 Genesis G80 Electrified / James Gent, The Charge
Admittedly, the Volvo pulls some points back with its 12.3-inch driver display, which is far more intuitive than the identically sized cluster in the Genesis that inundates us with information.
There is, however, one significant issue with the Genesis’ cabin that’s caught both our eyes. Rather than receiving a dedicated platform – something to which Genesis couldn’t commit so early into its dual-electrification strategy – the motors and battery have been shoehorned into the ICE platform. Pillowy as it is, the seating position, even in its lowest setting, is far too high, which disrupts head and shoulder room, front and back, and makes the cabin, for the six-foot-plus Neil and I at least, a little claustrophobic. Rear space is plentiful, yes, but it can’t compete with the S90, which is only 80 mm longer.
Read more: Volvo XC90 Recharge is close to perfection
Discussions continue regarding the regenerative charging of both models (‘iPedal’ on the Genesis is a little indecisive compared with the urgency of Volvo’s ‘One Pedal Drive’) and cargo space (the G80’s 304-litre trunk is dwarfed by the S90’s 436-litre equivalent). Since neither of us remembered to bring a spare memory card though, final shots are completed sooner than expected, and Neil and I dutifully swap keys for the final, meandering drive back to TheCharge HQ. He in the Genesis and I now in the Volvo.
2023 Volvo S90 Recharge / James Gent, The Charge
Straight away, space in the no-compromise S90 Recharge, which was built from the ground-up with a hybrid drivetrain in mind, is appreciable. Rear legroom is cavernous, the driving position is superb, and head and shoulder room in the front is bountiful, aided by the full-length panoramic sunroof that gives even the tan interior a gloriously airy feeling. Something the G80 cabin – sans a sunroof in favour of optional roof-mounted solar panels – cannot.
Granted, the G80’s plush confines are noticeable by their absence as the S90’s (optional, $2,400) rear air suspension is more firmly damped. Calling the ride ‘uncomfortable’ would be preposterous – the 14-way power seats are far too cosseting for that – but it’s certainly less forgiving than the G80’s. Not that this is my main thought as we venture highway-wards.
2023 Volvo S90 Recharge / James Gent, The Charge
With its mid-cycle facelift in 2020 came the ‘S90 Recharge Extended Range,’ which twinned the previous 2.0-litre turbo and supercharged ‘T8’ four-cylinder – down 1 hp to 312 hp, but with more bite in the lower revs – with a larger 18.8 kWh battery that boosted electric range from 34 km to 61 km. Theoretically, with a deft right foot, I could push the S90 to 120 km/h on electric propulsion alone. The balance twixt internal combustion and EV though, for performance and efficiency, is so finely tuned, you’ll rarely need more than ‘Hybrid’ mode.
Perhaps more significant is the new 143 hp electric motor that drives the rear axle. Up from the previous 87 hp, this has hiked combined power and torque to 455 hp and 523 lb-ft – 295 lb-ft from the engine, 228 lb-ft from the electric motor – making the S90 Recharge the most powerful production Volvo roadcar to-date. And good God, does it show!
Read more: First Drive: Genesis Electrified GV70
The immediacy of the acceleration is almost absurd for a four-door limousine that weighs just over 2,109 kg (9.7 kg, or around one car tyre less, than the previous Recharge, just FYI). Power delivery is punchy, and incredibly linear as the S90 eases its way to highway cruising speeds, thanks mostly to that low-end, newly heightened electric torque.
Prodding the four-cylinder alone, there’s a slight hesitancy before that bombast power hits at 2,000 rpm (accompanied by a slightly coarse roar under load that resonates more than it should through the cabin). With the electric motor, the S90 is quickly up on its toes, surging forwards. Either way, Neil in the 90 hp-less Genesis is struggling to pull away.
2023 Volvo S90 Recharge / James Gent, The Charge
“I did at one-point stomp on the gas… the gas(!)… just to see the acceleration.,” he says. “And it was good, but nothing like the Volvo.”
Shortly after that, we’re off the highway entirely. Through the tighter turns, the S90 wafts as you would expect an executive sedan to do, and though power is transferred smoothly, the eight-speed automatic can get a bit dithery when asked to change multiple gears in quick succession. There’s a composure and sure-footedness, though, that stands the Volvo apart. The steering is crisp and direct, and that firmly damped air suspension means the S90 is more surefooted and agile than it has any right to be. It’s hardly BMW 3 Series levels of precision, but you rarely feel the front end ‘floating’ out from underneath you.
As we pull into TheCharge parking lot, there are a few additional points to make, but there’s unanimous decision that Neil articulates:
“As a driver’s car, I much prefer the Volvo, as the Electrified G80 is a much more plush and sedate. But if you’re looking for luxury, premium, definitely go with the Genesis.”
2023 Volvo S90 Recharge / James Gent, The Charge
It’s as close to a ‘decisive’ conclusion as we can get, sadly. The Volvo, after all, is rapid, gorgeous to look at, cleverly packaged and offers surprisingly confident body control, all while providing the hybrid ‘get out of jail free’ card its rival does not. Having said that, the Genesis is the more comfortable and luxuriantly equipped of the two, while at no point did the slowly diminishing range lead to chest pains. Cruise in steady comfort as expected, and 454 km should more than suffice (10 to 80 per cent of charging in under 25 minutes is no real hardship, either).
Neither, though, is without its faults. Though the Electrified G80 weighs ‘only’ 176 kg more than the Volvo, every ounce can be felt as it saunters through the turns, an imprecision not helped by a seating position that’s mounted too high and a cabin that feels more impractically cocooned than it should. Pliable that it is, the Volvo just cannot compete with the comfort of the Genesis, nor in some ways does the cabin design feel grandiose enough for an executive sedan.
Ironically, it’s the most elaborate element of the interior – the crystal-topped sequential gear-shifter (I know, I know, I’m sorry) that, to this particular writer at least, lets the side down poorly. Like a diamond earring worn with a kilt, it’s an embellishment that’s just not necessary, and the ‘two shifts’ required to select either Drive or Reverse is made all the more idiotic when compared with the G80’s simple-yet-effective Crystal (!) Sphere Electronic Shift Lever. Without that, and with a dash more finesse to the cabin design, the S90 Recharge would probably have been our choice.
2023 Volvo S90 Recharge / James Gent, The Charge
There’s also the matter of costs to consider. The Genesis Electrified G80 is only available in full-fat ‘Prestige’ trim, with prices starting from a hefty $105,000. True, in terms of EV running costs, that does narrow the yawning chasm somewhat to the $78,250 starting price for the S90 Recharge Extended Range. Of course we should also point out that the price of our Volvo test model, complete with ‘Climate’ and ‘Advanced’ Package bells and whistles – plus $900 metallic paint, $1K 20-inch alloys and a $3,750 Bowers and Wilkins surround system – gets hiked up to $89,500. There’s still a decent cushion to the $135-$147 BMW/Mercedes EV ‘benchmark,’ but all the same, $90K to $105K is far from an inconsequential amount of money.
Of course, BMW and Mercedes levels of luxury are not what we set out to find today. But for around the $90 to $100K mark, it turns out there are still some hidden electrified gems out there for you.
