Compare the2026 Genesis G80VS 2026 Lexus LS

Both the G80 and LS 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 LS’ 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 LS 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 LS 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 LS doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Genesis G80 achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lexus LS has not been tested.

Both the G80 and the LS 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, all wheel drive, 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 Genesis G80 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” 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 LS has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

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 LS’ 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 LS. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the LS ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

The G80’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the LS’ (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 LS (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

J.D. Power and Associates rated the G80 third among upper midsize premium cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The LS isn’t in the top three in its category.

As tested in Car and Driver the G80 3.5T 3.5 turbo V6 is faster than the Lexus LS:

On the EPA test cycle the G80 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder gets better fuel mileage than the LS 500 AWD (20 city/29 hwy vs. 17 city/27 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the G80’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The LS doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Genesis G80 higher (5 to 6 out of 10) than the Lexus LS (4). This means the G80 produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the LS every 15,000 miles.

The G80’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The LS doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the G80 3.5T’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the LS:

The G80 stops much shorter than the LS:

The G80 Sport Prestige’s 245/40R20 front and 275/35R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the LS’ 45 series tires.

The G80 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the LS; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The G80 handles at .91 G’s, while the LS 500 AWD Heritage Edition pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

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

The Genesis G80 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 800 pounds less than the Lexus LS.

The G80 is 9.4 inches shorter than the LS, making the G80 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Genesis G80 amounts to more than styling. The G80 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is lower than the LS (.3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the G80 get better fuel mileage.

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 LS doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The G80 has 4.3 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more rear headroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the LS.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the G80 Advanced/Sport Prestige/3.5T to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The LS doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

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 LS’ automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Genesis G80, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Lexus LS isn't recommended.

The Genesis G80 outsold the Lexus LS by 85% during 2024.