BMW i3 vs Genesis G80

The BMW i3 starts from $109,900 before on-road costs, while the Genesis G80 opens at $132,000. That makes the BMW i3 the more affordable entry point by $22,100.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $120,890 and $145,200 respectively.

Both models qualify for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption, which is a significant advantage for salary-sacrificed novated leases. Depending on your tax bracket, this can save $5,000-$15,000+ per year compared to an equivalent ICE vehicle.

Both the BMW i3 and Genesis G80 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Genesis G80 packs more ADAS features with 7 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 5 in the BMW i3.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the BMW i3 and 10 in the Genesis G80. The Genesis G80 adds a 360-degree camera that the BMW i3 misses.

The BMW i3 features a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the Genesis G80 gets a 27-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW i3 stands out with Harman Kardon audio that you will not find on the Genesis G80. The Genesis G80 counters with ventilated seats, V2L, Bang & Olufsen audio and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BMW i3 uses a Electric producing 250kW and 430Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.9 seconds.

The Genesis G80 responds with a Electric making 272kW and 700Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 5.1 seconds.

The Genesis G80 has the clear power advantage at 272kW vs 250kW. In the real-world sprint, the Genesis G80 is 2.8s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 83kWh (BMW i3) vs 94.5kWh (Genesis G80), giving WLTP ranges of 460km and 570km. DC fast charging peaks at 50kW (BMW i3) vs 350kW (Genesis G80).

The BMW i3 measures 4,709mm long on a 2,851mm wheelbase, 426mm shorter than the Genesis G80 at 5,135mm (3,140mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Genesis G80 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 260L in the BMW i3 and 334L in the Genesis G80, giving the Genesis G80 a 74L advantage.

For towing, the Genesis G80 leads with a 2,000kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 1,250kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (BMW i3) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Genesis G80). Both match on warranty length.