Compare the2024 Lexus ESVS 2023 Genesis G80

The Lexus ES has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The G80 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The ES has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The G80 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the ES and the G80 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lexus ES is safer than the Genesis G80:

	ES	G80
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	120	202
Neck Injury Risk	24%	28%
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	31 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus ES is safer than the Genesis G80:

	ES	G80
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	85	101
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	160 lbs.	174 lbs.
Hip Force	264 lbs.	290 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
Hip Force	570 lbs.	676 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the ES the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 54 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The G80 has not been fully tested, yet.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Genesis vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Genesis is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Genesis vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Genesis is ranked 12th.

On the EPA test cycle the ES gets better mileage than the G80:

			MPG
ES
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/44 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
G80
	RWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy
		3.5 turbo V6	16 city/25 hwy

The ES can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The G80 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the ES Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The G80 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lexus ES uses regular unleaded gasoline. The G80 2.5T requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The ES 300h has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The G80 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Lexus ES may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 650 pounds less than the Genesis G80.

The ES F Sport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The G80 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The ES has .2 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more rear legroom than the G80.

The ES has a larger trunk than the G80 (13.9 vs. 13.1 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the ES easier. The ES’ trunk lift-over height is 27.4 inches, while the G80’s liftover is 28.8 inches.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Genesis. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 61% lower rating, Genesis is ranked 23rd.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The ES’ headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the G80’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the ES offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The G80 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lexus ES and the Genesis G80, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Lexus ES outsold the Genesis G80 by almost 10 to one during 2022.