Compare the2025 Genesis G80VS 2024 Lexus ES

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

Safety

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The G80’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The ES doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the G80 and ES 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 ES’ 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.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the G80 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The ES doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 ES doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The G80 has standard Anti-Whiplash Front Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Anti-Whiplash Front Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The ES doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the G80 has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist with automatic braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Rear Cross-Traffic Braking costs extra on the ES.

Both the G80 and the ES 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 Genesis G80 is safer than the Lexus ES:

	G80	ES
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	137	319
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.8 inches
Neck Compression	43 lbs.	62 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	28/23 lbs.	473/518 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the G80 is safer than the ES:

	G80	ES
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD

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 Lexus ES:

	G80	ES
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	94	300
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	242 lbs.	541 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	198	326
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	36 G’s

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Genesis G80 is safer than the ES:

	G80	ES
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	135	403
Neck Tension	245 lbs.	312 lbs.
Neck Compression	-89 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.94 in	1.54 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.38 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	892 lbs.	1026 lbs.
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	34	197
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	134 lbs.
Neck Compression	-89 lbs.	22 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	1.02 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	379 lbs.	1205 lbs.

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 ES was last only a “Top Safety Pick” in 2023 but no longer qualifies.

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 ES’ 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the G80 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lexus covers the ES. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the ES ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

The G80’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the ES’ (7 vs. 6 years).

Genesis pays for scheduled maintenance on the G80 for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the ES (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the G80 has a standard 850-amp battery. The ES’ 603-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The battery on the G80 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the G80’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The ES’ battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the G80 first among upper midsize premium cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The ES isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

The G80 has more powerful engines than the ES:

	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.
ES 250 AWD 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	203 HP	184 lbs.-ft.
ES 300h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	215 HP
ES 350 3.5 DOHC V6	302 HP	267 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the G80 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the ES 300h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid:

	G80	ES
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	7.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.3 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.2 MPH	90.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Regardless of its engine, the G80’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the ES Hybrid, and doesn’t offer a disable button.

The G80 3.5T’s standard fuel tank has 6.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the ES Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (19.3 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The G80 2.5T’s standard fuel tank has 6 gallons more fuel capacity than the ES’ standard fuel tank (21.9 vs. 15.9 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the G80’s brake rotors are larger than those on the ES:

	G80 2.5T	G80 3.5T	ES
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	14.2 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.8 inches	13.6 inches	11.1 inches

The G80 3.5T’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the ES are solid, not vented.

The G80 stops much shorter than the ES:

	G80	ES
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	140 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the G80 has larger standard tires than the ES (245/50R18 vs. 215/55R17). The G80 Advanced/Sport/2.5T Sport Prestige’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the ES (F:245/45R19 & R:275/40R19 vs. 235/45R18).

The G80 2.5T Standard’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the ES’ standard 55 series tires. The G80 Sport Prestige’s 275/35R20 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the ES F Sport’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the G80 2.5T Standard has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the ES. The G80 Sport Prestige’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the ES F Sport.

Suspension and Handling

The G80 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The ES’ suspension doesn’t offer rear gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the G80’s wheelbase is 5.5 inches longer than on the ES (118.5 inches vs. 113 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the G80 is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the ES.

The G80’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the ES’ (57.4% to 42.6%). This gives the G80 more stable handling and braking.

The G80 handles at .87 G’s, while the ES 300h pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The G80 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.5 seconds quicker than the ES 300h (25.9 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the G80 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The ES doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The G80 has 3.6 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom and 2.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the ES.

Cargo Capacity

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the G80’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the ES’ useful trunk space.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the G80 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the ES. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

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. An easy entry system costs extra on the ES.

The G80’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The ES’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

The G80 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the ES. The G80 also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the ES.

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 ES.

The G80 Sport Prestige/3.5T has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the ES.

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 ES doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

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

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