Genesis of Freehold is proud to tell you how the new Genesis G80 luxury sedan is taking names and turning heads of the old guard automakers. Combining premium quality and exceptional value, Genesis is breaking the mold of what a sport sedan ought to be and delivering it at a more attractive price. The heralded Car and Driver magazine reccently put the G80 to the test against the updated Mercedes-Benz E450 and its impressive new turbocharged inline six cylinder powerplant. The results surpised C&D's testers...us, not so much.

To see if it could stand up to the competition, Car and Driver tested a 2021 Genesis G80 with a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 engine with rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available on the G80 and comes standard on the E450.

There are no surprises with the E450. Mercedes-Benz has been in the game a long time. Each new E-Class is a subtle modification of the previous edition, providing the consistency that Benz drivers look to and count on to set the standard of its class. Genesis, however, being the new player, knows no boundaries to keep and is free to change the rules, then break them again! The 2021 G80 model is a complete reset from the ground up and the results are making waves.

The first noticable trait is its overall size. The G80 is bigger in every respect with a wheelbase that is 2.8 inches longer than the E450 and front and rear tracks that are 1.3 and 1.5 inches wider respectively. The G80's rear seat is cavernous, approaching the size and scale of what an S-Class typically offers.

While the E450 has a relatively docile stance, the G80 sports an aggressive grille and a regal winged badge logo that draws inspiration from Bentley. The curbside appeal is head and shoulders above.

The current generation E-Class hasn't undergone a redesign since 2016 and it's beginning to show. While the interior is up to Mercedes-Benz's high standards, it simply isn't as fresh as the G80. In an attempted improvement upon the 2020 model's intuitive infotainment controller knob, Benz designers replaced it with a difficult-to-navigate touchpad interface that simply falls flat.

The G80 on the other hand, envelopes driver and passengers in a luxurious cabin appointed with the Prestige Pack's quilted leather and microsuede headliner that come straight out of a six-figure automobile. Every detail is exquisitely crafted from the knurled knobs to the stitching around the windows and shift knob to the sweeping design of the futuristic gauge cluster and massive infotainment display.

Car and Driver's Results

1st Place

Genesis G80

A gorgeous interior with impressive noise isolation comes at an amazing value.

2nd Place

Mercedes-Benz E450

Stale design, long stopping distance, frustrating infotainment touchpad.

Compare 2021 Genesis G80 Specs & Features with Mercedes-Benz E450

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