One look at the impact of the Renault 5 might suggest that Ford’s decision to ditch the Fiesta was premature and short-sighted. Keen not to make the same hasty mistake with a model at the other end of the passenger car segment, Genesis has decided to stick with its luxury – almost limo-like now, thanks to an extended wheelbase – electric saloon, the G80. Coming around the same time as revisions to the rest of the Genesis lineup – we’ve already driven the new Electrified GV70 and the new GV60 is fast-approaching – the Electrified G80 might not do the numbers that the other models in the range will achieve, but it certainly offers plenty of appeal.

The exterior gets a gentle refresh, with new front and rear bumpers, the new-style badge and updated front lights, which retain the company’s ‘two-line’ appearance. Looking from the side, everything from the B-pillar back is new, including bespoke 19-inch alloy wheels as standard.

Step inside and you’ll find more substantial differences over the outgoing model. Up front, there’s now a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, as well as an upgraded level of comfort, with more leather used throughout the cabin. Infotainment-wise, there’s a 27-inch display – or ‘connected car integrated cockpit’, as Genesis refers to it – combining the screens that previously covered information and entertainment separately. It’s all touchscreen, however, a centre console rotary dial remains – and voice recognition is also an option. In the rear, the aforementioned extended wheelbase (up by 130mm) is maximised with increases in legroom and headroom of 83mm and 20mm respectively. To further aid refinement and comfort, there’s triple-glazing onboard and improved sound insulation, as well as active noise cancellation technology. This latter innovation uses four sensors and six microphones around the car’s interior to constantly measure sound levels and emit frequencies in the opposite phase to cancel out the noise while travelling. It certainly does the job, based on our time spent in the new model – experienced from the front as well as the rear seats.

Other items to get a boost (no pun intended) include the battery, which is now a whopping 94.5kWh (up from 87kWh), enabling an increased driving range of 354 miles (was 323 miles). Aided by dual 136kW electric motors front and rear, the all-wheel drive powertrain delivers 370hp and 350Nm of torque. Finishing off the performance numbers, that enables a zero to 62mph sprint in 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 139mph. Being part of the Hyundai family means that the gigantic Genesis benefits from the group’s 800V electrical architecture and charging up to 350kW. With optimal conditions, that means drivers can replenish their Electrified G80 from 10–80% in just 25 minutes. Other powertrain-related items included as standard to help driving maximise efficiency and limit downtime include battery conditioning technology, heat pump and the company’s disconnector actuator system to switch from RWD to AWD for optimal performance in all conditions.

With an emphasis on luxury – and recognition that the experience in the rear is almost as important as being up front – Genesis has gone all out to ensure that all passengers are not left wanting for anything. There’s a 17-speaker Bang and Olufsen audio system with surround sound, the active noise cancellation technology, a UV-C anti-bacterial system, which eliminates 99.9% of bacteria from items within 10 minutes and the ability to control a whole host of features from your smartphone. Fingerprint authentication is standard, as is ‘Tunnel Mode’, which automatically closes windows and activates air recirculation while in enclosed spaces, preventing harmful emissions entering the vehicle. On a related safety note, more than 10 ADAS technologies are featured, including smart cruise control, dynamic torque vectoring control and forward collision avoidance assist.