Before, the Southern Highlands was a 90-minute drive from Sydney, the Governor of NSW would set off for his summer retreat, "Hillview," situated between Moss Vale and Sutton Forest, in a purpose-built railway carriage. In more recent times, the Governor's rides have included Holden Caprices, Bentleys, and a ceremonial Rolls-Royce Phantom VI.

Hillview is still there and has been adopted by the King's Foundation for preservation well into the future. It's a stunning location, dripping with regal pomp and history.

Today's Governor gets about in a Genesis G80 saloon and has been doing so for a few years. It glides about the CBD bearing St Edward's Crown as the official Standard for the Governor of NSW. Princess Anne used a G80 during her recent visit to Australia too.

Now there's a 'Black' version of the G80, and it's basically the same whip as the King's representative on Macquarie St gets about in, with the 'gangster' options dialled up for private buyers - full executive spec with a bit of underworld swagger.

It’s aimed squarely at those who like the idea of an S‑Class, 7 Series or A8, but don’t feel like dropping $200-$300K plus and waiting six months or more for it to arrive. On paper, the Genesis G80 Black gives you big German luxury, “gangster spec” black styling and a silky smooth 3.5‑litre twin‑turbo V6 for around the money of a mid‑spec large SUV.

So, what’s it like to live with in the real world - in city traffic, in the wet, and commuting to and from the Southern Highlands?

Design & Exterior

The regular G80 is already a handsome thing; the G80 Black looks like it’s turned up for a serious meeting.

Key exterior touches on the G80 Black include:

  • Black 20‑inch alloy wheels & black brake callipers
  • G‑Matrix black radiator grille
  • Dark‑tinted chrome body accents
  • Distinctive Genesis lettering

In the metal, it has proper presence. The long bonnet and almost five-metre length give it that classic big‑sedan profile, and the quad headlights and LED tail-lights look expensive rather than try‑hard.

It’s not subtle in this spec - especially in black-on-black - but it is tasteful. Think more “Korean S‑Class after dark” than mid-life-crisis‑racer. The 20‑inch wheels fill the guards nicely; they’re wrapped in serious rubber to help put the power down to all four wheels, and sharpen the steering.

Practical bits:

  • Length: about 5.0 m
  • Width: 1,925 mm
  • Height: 1,465 mm

It’ll fit in a standard Aussie garage and most city car parks; you need to be mindful of that long nose and tail when you’re nosing into tight spots. Don't worry too much, the 360° camera has your back - as do the wing mirror cameras that give you great blind-spot and cyclist visibility.

Interior & Technology

Open the door, and you immediately understand why our Governor has a G80 in the official fleet.

Cabin Feel

  • Beautifully diamond-stitched Nappa leather upholstery is standard.
  • Fit and finish is right up there with the Europeans - soft-touch surfaces, tasteful use of metal and open‑pore‑style trims.
  • I love the feel of the jewel-like gear selector. I also love that there's a separate controller for the Apple CarPlay / Android Auto screen.
  • The rear seat is genuinely spacious, with generous legroom and loads of headroom for adults. The middle-seat armrest houses a controller for all of the key features in the G80 Black. Genuine back-seat driving.

Boot space sits at 424L, enough for a couple of large suitcases plus soft bags or a set of golf clubs. Not wagon-big, but perfectly adequate for a family road trip or airport runs.

Another lovely feature I got to use a few times during our week with the G80 Black is the cabin Drying Air Conditioner, which runs for 10 minutes when you turn the car off. A brilliant feature when the car is left in the sun. An even more brilliant feature when you return home after being caught in the rain and the here's moisture in the cabin. This feature takes care of that effortlessly and I'm sure will prolong many of the interior materials.

Tech Highlight: The Big Screen

Front and centre is a 27‑inch integrated OLED display stretching across the dash. It combines the instrument cluster and infotainment into one seamless unit, giving you:

  • Crisp mapping and media
  • Customisable digital dials
  • A clean, minimal look without going full tablet‑on‑dash

Other tech goodies include:

  • Wireless smartphone charging
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Bang & Olufsen 18‑speaker audio - powerful, clean and genuinely premium
  • Three‑zone climate control (rear passengers get independent control)
  • Heated and ventilated front seats, plus heated and ventilated outboard rear seats
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Ergo Motion front seats that subtly adjust support on longer drives

It’s a very easy car to live with. The touchscreen is responsive (if you can reach it), the graphics are clear, and the mix of physical controls and touch-sensitive panels is mostly well judged. You don’t need a PhD to change the HVAC temperature or radio station. These controls are exactly where they should be.

Performance & Driving Experience

The G80 range kicks off with a 2.5‑litre turbo four‑cylinder, but the G80 Black pairs the blackout treatment with the proper engine: the 3.5‑litre twin‑turbo V6. Given how much motorway cruising I do, a diesel or a PHEV might be a good addition to the range in the future.

Speaking of motorways, the G80 Black comes with my least favourite feature - active cruise control (ACC) with radar-guidance, with lane and steering assistance. I'm regularly met with confused facial expressions when I voice my disdain for these features. In my defence, ACC means you're limited to moving at the speed of the slowest car on the road when you use it. ACC  - especially in EVs - is very bad for fuel consumption as well. Thankfully, a long-press of the ACC button on the beautifully proportioned steering wheel gives you old-school cruise control without any of the 'active' aids. The Limit button also lets you enjoy a more engaged driving experience at speed.

Engine & Specs

In Australian spec, the 3.5T V6 delivers:

  • 279 kW
  • 530 Nm
  • All‑wheel drive
  • Eight‑speed automatic transmission

The 0-100km/h time is irrelevant. It’s not a shouty sports sedan; it’s more a big, refined shove of torque that keeps building. The V6 is genuinely silky smooth, with a muted growl when you lean on it and almost complete silence when you’re cruising.

The 8‑speed auto is well calibrated:

  • Smooth shifts in Comfort
  • More eager to hold gears in Sport (but why would you bother)
  • No awkward hunting between ratios on hills

Ride & Handling

The 3.5T (and Black) picks up Road Preview Electronic Control Suspension, which uses cameras and sensors to prepare the suspension for upcoming bumps. In practice, that means:

  • Comfort mode: plush, controlled, ideal for commuting and highway work
  • Sport mode: firms things up, tightens body control and adds weight to the steering

On typical Aussie B‑roads, the G80 Black feels composed rather than floaty. The AWD system gives you surefooted traction out of tighter corners, and the chassis feels happier being driven briskly than you’d expect from a big sedan. Get it on the gravel roads and the all-wheel drive system pays its dues, although there can be a little torque-steer on tighter, winding roads.

Noise levels are very low, helped by Active Road‑Noise Cancelling. At 110 km/h the cabin is whisper‑quiet - more G650 aircraft than G80 saloon.

Real‑world consumption

I did a load of driving in the G80 Black. For the week we travelled over 820km and achieved a fuel consumption figure of 8.4 L/100km (28MPG in the old money). Nothing to write home about, but would be a lot worse.

Final Thoughts

I first drove the Genesis G80 back in 2022. It was the Electric version, and I don't think I've driven anything so quiet and effortless since. The G80 Black isn't trying to be something that it's not. The pricing is in the middle of the G80 range at $125,200 (plus on-road costs). For that money, you are getting far better value for money than the equivalent 5 Series or E-Class - that's for sure. The other upside is that you'll always win the "find another" competition with your mates.

The G80 Black is unique for a reason - it's superbly built, beautifully styled, and if you're looking for a daily cruiser, there are far worse (and more expensive) choices you could make.