GENESIS has been with us in the UK since 2021 and a fair share of its cars have been critically acclaimed.

However, I still find the need to say, for those who don't know, the company is the premium brand brother of Hyundai.

It's luxurious motorway muncher - think BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E-Class - is the G80 which comes in Premium, Luxury Line and Sport trims.

Whichever trim you plump for, the fit and finish is first class and very much a match for its German and other rival.

It doesn't really matter which trim you go for - they are all powered by the same 2.5-litre turbo petrol engine - it's stylish, sumptuous, a lovely thing to drive and a very comfortable place to be.

The G80 comes with a generous level of standard kit. There's LED headlights, power folding mirrors, electrically-adjustable heated front seats, dual zone air-conditioning, front and rear parking sensors and a smart cruise control function on the entry level Premium model.

Upgrade to the Luxury Line trim and you'll get extra features such as larger 20-inch wheels, diamond quilted leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel and a powered tailgate.

The brand's groundbreaking augmented reality navigation system with its huge 14.5-inch touchscreen is also on board. This includes static and moving displays, allowing the front camera to deliver a real-time image.

Thankfully, it's not just a touchscreen but can be operated via a rotary controller on the centre console.

The optional Comfort seat package - a must-have at £2,070 - includes superbly comfortable electrically adjustable Ergo-Motion seats but has added the massage function for the passenger seat, mirroring the driver's seat.

The G80 Luxury Line is available in rear-wheel or all-wheel drive powered by a the same four-cylinder, turbo petrol engine with eight-speed automatic as offered in the Premium and Sport trims of the G80.

Likewise, it produces the same 300bhp, the same 422Nm of torque and the same 0-62mph of six seconds. Top speed is restricted to 155mph.

It also pumps out 193g/km CO2 emissions and officially returns 33.2mpg though you're likely to struggle to reach that.

Like its siblings, the G80 Luxury is certainly quick and there's masses of grip. The gears shift smoothly and everything is nicely hushed when cruising on major roads.

For such a big, heavy car - 1,891kg - it doesn't wallow through corners and its electronically-controlled suspension, which uses front cameras to scan the road ahead, deals with all but the worst potholes, even if the ride can feel at little firm at times.

Despite its size and motorway cruiser credentials it handles better than you'd expect on secondary road. It cn actually be quite fun.

There's lots of space up front and the seats slide quite a way back yet still deliver plenty of kneeroom in the back. Headroom is good too despite the sloping roof.

However, while Genesis claim it's a five-seater, it's much better carrying four in armchair-like comfort.

The boot takes a plentiful 424 litres of luggage.

Euro NCAPawarded the G80 a full five-star rating, with a 91 per cent score for adult safety, 87 per cent for child protection and a reassuring 91 per cent mark for on-board safety assist technology.

So, what you get is a quick, luxurious super comfortable, well-equipped, safe saloon, which is much cheaper than its ubiquitous German rivals. And that's not bad.

£48,870

300bhp, 2,497cc, four-cylinder petrol engine driving the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission

155mph

6 seconds

33.2mpg

43

193g/km

37%

5yrs/unlimited miles

4.5