2021 Genesis G80 gains diesel option

If diesel is dying, Genesis hasn’t gotten the memo.

The 2021 Genesis G80 is the latest model from the Korean luxury brand to receive the option of a diesel engine in Australia, following the new GV80.

It’s priced at $87,900 before on-road costs, or $3000 more than the base 2.5T petrol. Like the 2.5T, it’s rear-wheel drive-only.

It’s on sale from July 2021.

The only diesel BMW 5 Series is the 530d M Sport at $125,900 before on-roads, while Mercedes-Benz doesn’t currently offer a diesel E-Class in Australia.

Rather than using the GV80’s turbo-diesel inline-six, it uses a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine like the upcoming GV70 mid-sized crossover.

It produces 154kW of power at 3800rpm and 442Nm of torque between 1750rpm and 2750rpm and, in a first for Genesis, features a Selective Catalytic Reduction System (SCR).

It’s Euro 5 emissions compliant and uses a claimed 6.6L/100km on the combined cycle.

The AdBlue urea Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) sprayed by the SCR into the exhaust will be refilled as part of complimentary scheduled servicing.

Complimentary servicing is longer than the petrol at five years or 75,000km, instead of five years or 50,000km.

There’s also a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of roadside assistance.

All that distinguishes the diesel from a 2.5T is a different rear bumper with hidden exhaust outlets and chrome accents.

The same range of colours is available: eleven exterior colours, five different interior colours, and the choice of two open-pore real wood trim inserts.

Specification levels are unchanged, with a single well-equipped trim level with an extravagant $13,000 optional Luxury Package.

Matte paint is a $2000 option.

Standard equipment includes:

• 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• DAB+ digital radio
• Satellite navigation
• Leather upholstery
• Real wood trim
• 19-inch alloy wheels in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres
• Power hands-free boot lid
• LED headlights
• Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
• Surround-view camera
• 12-inch head-up display
• 12-way power front seats with driver’s memory and four-way lumbar
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Power tilt-and-telescoping steering column
• Remote start
• Keyless entry and start
• Wireless phone charging
• Dual-zone climate control with rear-seat temperature controls
• 21-speaker, 1050W Lexicon by Harman premium sound system
• 10 airbags, including a front centre side airbag
• Autonomous emergency braking and forward-collision avoidance assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, evasive steering assist, junction turning and junction crossing functions, and lane-change oncoming and side functions
• Blind-spot assist
• Driver-attention warning
• Lane-keep assist
• Lane-following assist
• Rear cross-traffic assist
• Rear occupant alert
• Safe exit warning

The Luxury Package adds:

• Intelligent Front Lighting System with matrix LED headlights
• Soft-close doors
• Quilted Nappa leather upholstery
• Suede headliner and pillars
• Tri-zone climate control
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Smart and Remote Smart Parking Assist
• 18-way power driver’s seat with massaging
• Heated, ventilated and power-adjustable outboard rear seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Power rear sunshade
• Rear-seat entertainment system with dual 9.2-inch touchscreens
• Reverse parking collision avoidance assist.

While the previous-generation G80 was available overseas with a turbo-diesel engine, this option wasn’t available here.

The introduction of the G80 2.2D leaves only the G70 without a diesel option in Australia, though it’s available with one in other markets.

The G80 range will receive an entirely different powertrain option early in 2022, with an all-electric option joining the range.

The Electrified G80 will come as standard with all-wheel drive, using a dual-motor electric drivetrain with 136kW/350Nm e-motors on each axle, making for system outputs of 272kW and 700Nm.

MORE: Genesis G80 news and reviews