Compare the2024 Genesis G80VS 2024 BMW 3 Series Sedan

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Genesis G80 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Genesis G80 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the G80 and 3 Series Sedan have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The G80 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The 3 Series Sedan’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The G80 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the G80. But it costs extra on the 3 Series Sedan.

The G80’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 3 Series Sedan.

The G80 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the 3 Series Sedan’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the G80 has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist and automatically engage the brakes. BMW charges extra for Cross Traffic Warning on the 3 Series Sedan and the 3 Series Sedan’s Cross Traffic Warning does not include automatic braking.

Both the G80 and the 3 Series Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, 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 Genesis G80 is safer than the BMW 3 Series Sedan:

	G80	3 Series Sedan
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	252
Neck Compression	43 lbs.	74 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	28/23 lbs.	200/338 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 Genesis G80 is safer than the BMW 3 Series Sedan:

	G80	3 Series Sedan
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	101	107
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	174 lbs.	179 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	94	305
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	242 lbs.	532 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	198	270
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	39 G’s

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

The Genesis G80 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The 3 Series Sedan has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Warranty

The G80 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The 3 Series Sedan’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the G80 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than BMW covers the 3 Series Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the 3 Series Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the G80 has a standard 850-amp battery. The 3 Series Sedan’s 720-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the G80 first among upper midsize premium cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The 3 Series Sedan was rated third in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated below average.

Engine

The G80 has more powerful engines than the 3 Series Sedan:

	Horsepower	Torque
G80 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder	300 HP	311 lbs.-ft.
G80 3.5T 3.5 turbo V6	375 HP	391 lbs.-ft.
330i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	255 HP	295 lbs.-ft.
330e 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	288 HP	310 lbs.-ft.
M340i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	382 HP	369 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the G80 3.5T 3.5 turbo V6 is faster than the 330i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

	G80	3 Series Sedan
Zero to 60 MPH	4.9 sec	5.2 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	11.8 sec	13.9 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5.7 sec	6.4 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	2.9 sec	3.2 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	3.6 sec	3.9 sec
Quarter Mile	13.4 sec	13.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	106 MPH	100 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The G80 2.5T’s standard fuel tank has 6.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the 3 Series Sedan 330e’s standard fuel tank (17.2 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The G80 3.5T’s standard fuel tank has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the 3 Series Sedan’s standard fuel tank (19.3 vs. 15.6 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the G80’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the 3 Series Sedan:

	G80 2.5T	G80 3.5T	330i	M340i
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	14.2 inches	13 inches	13.7 inches

The G80 stops shorter than the 3 Series Sedan:

	G80	3 Series Sedan
70 to 0 MPH	160 feet	165 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	128 feet	129 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the G80 has larger standard tires than the 3 Series Sedan (245/50R18 vs. 225/45R18). The G80 Advanced/Sport/2.5T Sport Prestige’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 3 Series Sedan (F:245/45R19 & R:275/40R19 vs. F:225/40R19 & R:255/35R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the G80 3.5T Sport Prestige offers optional 20-inch wheels. The 3 Series Sedan’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the G80’s wheelbase is 6.3 inches longer than on the 3 Series Sedan (118.5 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the G80 is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 3.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 3 Series Sedan.

The G80 handles at .91 G’s, while the 330i xDrive pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The G80 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the 330i xDrive (25.9 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the G80’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the 3 Series Sedan’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the G80 is quieter than the 330i (66 vs. 69 dB).

Passenger Space

The G80 has 2.4 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 3.5 inches more rear legroom and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the 3 Series Sedan.

Ergonomics

The G80’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The G80’s standard Proximity Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Go standard on the 3 Series Sedan only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

Consumer Reports rated the G80’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the 3 Series Sedan’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the G80 Advanced/Sport/Sport Prestige to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the G80 Advanced/Sport/Sport Prestige keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The G80 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the 3 Series Sedan.

The G80 Sport/Sport Prestige has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the 3 Series Sedan.

The G80 Sport Prestige’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The 3 Series Sedan’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Genesis G80 and the BMW 3 Series Sedan, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the G80 second among upper midsize premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The 3 Series Sedan isn’t in the top three in its category.

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