Genesis G80 vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The Genesis G80 starts from $104,200 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class opens at $76,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz C-Class the more affordable entry point by $27,300.

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 $114,620 and $84,590 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Mercedes-Benz C-Class by roughly $2,990 in fuel alone.

Both the Genesis G80 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Genesis G80 packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. The Genesis G80 adds a 360-degree camera that the Mercedes-Benz C-Class misses.

Both come with modern infotainment systems. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Genesis G80 stands out with Apple CarPlay, heated front seats, ventilated seats and power tailgate that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Genesis G80 uses a 2.5L turbo four-cylinder (T-GDi) producing 224kW and 422Nm of torque, sent through a 8-speed automatic to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class responds with a Petrol making 150kW and 300Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds.

The Genesis G80 has the clear power advantage at 224kW vs 150kW. In the real-world sprint, the Genesis G80 is 1.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Genesis G80 measures 5,005mm long on a 3,010mm wheelbase, 254mm longer than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class at 4,751mm (2,865mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Genesis G80 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 424L in the Genesis G80 and 455L in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, giving the Mercedes-Benz C-Class a 31L advantage.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,565/year for the Genesis G80 and $1,967/year for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. That is a $598 annual difference in favour of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Estimated annual total: $2,565 (Genesis G80) vs $1,967 (Mercedes-Benz C-Class). The Mercedes-Benz C-Class saves you roughly $598 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years (Genesis G80) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz C-Class). Both match on warranty length.