Genesis G80 vs BMW i3

The Genesis G80 starts from $132,000 before on-road costs, while the BMW i3 opens at $109,900. 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 $145,200 and $120,890 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 Genesis G80 and BMW i3 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 10 in the Genesis G80 and 6 in the BMW i3. The Genesis G80 adds a 360-degree camera that the BMW i3 misses.

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

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

The Genesis G80 uses a Electric producing 272kW and 700Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.1 seconds.

The BMW i3 responds with a Electric making 250kW and 430Nm, paired to a auto driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.9 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: 94.5kWh (Genesis G80) vs 83kWh (BMW i3), giving WLTP ranges of 570km and 460km. DC fast charging peaks at 350kW (Genesis G80) vs 50kW (BMW i3).

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

Boot space is 334L in the Genesis G80 and 260L in the BMW i3, 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 (Genesis G80) vs 5 years / 999,999km (BMW i3). Both match on warranty length.