When you think of luxury sedans, you might think of a Mercedes E-Class of some sort. You probably do not think of the Genesis G80, but perhaps you should. The G80 is a new contender for the luxury sedan class, but it came to steal the spotlight from some of the usual suspects.

Is the Genesis G80 a luxury option?

The 2021 Genesis G80 is definitely ready to go up against some of the more established brands on the market. According to Kelley Blue Book, It has a starting MSRP of $47,700. It has an EPA estimated 23 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on the highway. The G80 gets 375 hp from the 3.5L twin-turbo V6. All-wheel-drive is an option.

It has many safety and technology features standard like USB outlets, ambient lighting, and available wireless charging. The G80 also has Smart Cruise Control with machine learning. Additionally, it has Surround View Monitor to help park and move your new vehicle.

The G80 also has Remote Start Parking Assist. That means your G80 can literally parallel park for you even if you can’t do it. The sedan also has an intelligent drive mode. This includes various modes such as comfort, smart, eco, sport, and custom modes to adjust your suspension and throttle response.

While Genesis has only just entered this segment, the brand brought a solid contender. Some drivers might not be into the German engineering the Mercedes offers and would prefer the Korean-designed option.

Genesis has a five-year, 60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Don’t count out the Mercedes E-Class

The Mercedes E-Class doesn’t really need an introduction. It is everything it has always been: luxurious, quiet, easy to drive. The cabin is elegantly designed and roomy. You know what you are getting.

The 2021 E 450 4MATIC has a 3.0L turbocharged inline-six with electric EQ Boost that gets 362 hp. The MSRP is $62,000 and it gets from 0-60 in 4.9 seconds. If you wanted to E 53, the MSRP of that is $73,900.

Mercedes technology has some cool features, including Car-to-X communication, MB emergency call service, attention assist, and others. The brand does offer PARKTRONIC with active parking assist, but it doesn’t come standard.

The Mercedes-Benz warranty is four years, 50,000-mile for the basic warranty, and four years, 50,000-miles for the powertrain.

Fairly equal luxury sedans

The good news is that Mercedes will likely always be there. If you are looking for a little excitement and something new, the Genesis brand might be a good switch.

The Mercedes E-Class has a variety of options. Unfortunately, most of the options only go up in price. The E 350 is a solid option if the 450 is out of your budget. The AMG options are very enjoyable to drive if you are into that.

If you can’t (or don’t want to) shell out the cash for the Mercedes, the G80 is a safe pick. It is comfortable, big enough without being too big, fun to drive, and fairly luxurious. It definitely has the better warranty of the two, which is pretty important.

So if you aren’t interested in the Mercedes everyone else has, try the Genesis brand. You might be surprised how much you like it.