2021 Lexus ES Series vs. 2020 Genesis G80

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus ES Series 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 Genesis G80 doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The ES Series 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The ES Series offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The G80 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the ES Series and the G80 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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, results indicate that the Lexus ES Series is safer than the Genesis G80:

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

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ December 2019 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Genesis vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in reliability. Genesis is ranked fifth.

As tested in Consumer Reports the ES 350 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the G80 3.8 3.8 DOHC V6:

On the EPA test cycle the ES 300h CVT gets better fuel mileage than the G80 3.8 RWD (43 city/44 hwy vs. 18 city/26 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the ES 350 FWD gets better fuel mileage than the G80 3.8 RWD (22 city/32 hwy vs. 18 city/26 hwy).

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the ES Series Hybrid’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. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The G80 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lexus ES Series uses regular unleaded gasoline. The G80 3.3T Sport requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus ES Series higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Genesis G80 (3 to 5). This means the ES Series produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the G80 every 15,000 miles.

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 Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 950 pounds less than the Genesis G80.

The ES Series 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.

If the windows are left open on the ES Series the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the G80 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

Insurance will cost less for the ES Series owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the ES Series will cost $1950 less than the G80 over a five-year period.

The ES Series will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the ES Series will retain 45.88% to 46.4% of its original price after five years, while the G80 only retains 40.86% to 42.15%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the ES Series is less expensive to operate than the G80 because it costs $181 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the ES Series than the G80, including $75 less for a muffler and $51 less for front brake pads.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Lexus ES Series will be $5160 to $21125 less than for the Genesis G80.

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

The Lexus ES Series outsold the Genesis G80 by over seven to one during 2019.