While Genesis will probably never commit to such a comparison with Audi’s A7 Sportback, the fact that the all-new G80 is larger than most mid-size premium sedans and comes with a fastback-like rear end, suggests that it might be ready for a battle against Ingolstadt’s stylish sports sedan.

Before we all cringe at that notion, we should run through the numbers, because this fight may not be as lopsided as some might think initially.

We’ll get into styling, tech, engines and all that, but until then, let’s just get one thing out of the way. These two cars are most certainly not direct rivals. If only for the fact that Genesis will likely keep entry-level pricing for the G80 under $50,000 (the previous-gen model started from $42,550 actually). The A7 Sportback meanwhile is priced from $69,000 in the U.S.

Read: America, The 2021 Audi RS7 Will Give You 591 HP In Return For $114,000

It’s likely that the price gap will decrease once Genesis reveals pricing for the EU-spec diesel G80 model, but probably not by much.

Now, let’s talk aesthetics, because there are quite a few interesting things to point out. For starters, the all-new 2021 Genesis G80 is styled like a fastback, enough so as to make any Audi designer raise an eyebrow. The problem here is that the G80’s trunk still features a traditional 4-door sedan release, which means that it’s not as practical as the Audi’s.

Now, while there’s no point even trying to make a case that Genesis did not take a page from Audi’s body-style book, the two models do differ in their design DNA language. One is trying its best to look elegant with hints of Bentley cues (that would be the G80), whereas the other one looks like it’s begging for Tony Stark’s approval. Take from that what you will.

In terms of size, we reckon most people would just assume that the A7 is bigger since the G80 is an A6/5-series/E-Class rival. However, the Korean sedan is larger than its direct German competitors and surprisingly enough, it’s also larger than the A7 Sportback. Yes, that’s right.

Genesis G80: Length 196.7 in (4,995 mm) / Width 75.8 in (1,925 mm) / Height 57.7 in (1,465 mm)
Audi A7: Length 195.6 in (4,969 mm) / Width 75.1 in (1,908 mm) / Height 55.9 in (1,422 mm)

Pretty unexpected, right? Well, guess what – the G80’s wheelbase is also larger than the A7’s. We’re looking at 118.5 inches (3.010 mm) for the Genesis and 115.2 inches (2,926 mm) for the Audi. Heck, the G80’s wheelbase is even longer than that of the regular, standard wheelbase Audi A8 by roughly 0.4 inches (10 mm) – the A8 LWB measures 3,122mm or 122.9 in.

What this all means in terms of shoulder room, head room, leg room and everything else, is a bit unclear at the moment. We still need to get our hands on the new G80 in order to assess if it’s actually more spacious than the A7. Until then however, we have no choice but to respect the numbers.

Which interior is nicer?

They’re actually both modern, even though the Audi’s does have a more technological vibe to it. As with the exterior lines, the G80’s cabin is elegant and clean, and like the A7’s, it too comes with a total of three displays. The climate control display on the Genesis is however much smaller than the Audi’s, while the 12.3-inch gauge cluster screen may not be a match for the A7’s Virtual Cockpit display, which also measures 12.3-inches. It’s true however that the Audi’s 10.1-inch infotainment system is smaller than the G80’s 14.5-inch one.

Features on the latter include the rotary gear dial, heads-up display, ambient lighting, an upgraded Highway Driving Assist II system, plus a new adaptive cruise control system with machine learning technology.

The A7 meanwhile has things like LED headlights and 8-way adjustable heated seats as standard – as are the 8.8-inch infotainment system and lower 8.6-inch display. On the safety front, the Audi boasts a Pre Sense City system which can detect vehicles and cars and will automatically apply the brakes if needed. The color heads-up display and ambient lighting technology are optional extras.

Safe to say that both cars are loaded, but if you want the best bang for your buck, the G80 will likely offer you that, since top German tech usually means having to tick loads of expensive boxes while configuring your car. Then again, there’s a reason why the A7 is so expensive even in entry-level spec – Audi made sure it had more to offer in terms of goodies than the equivalent A6 for example.

What about performance?

You can only get the A7 Sportback in the U.S. with a turbocharged 3.0-liter TFSI V6 engine, good for 335 HP (340 PS) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. You also get a seven-speed S-tronic gearbox and standard quattro all-wheel drive, leading to a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of 5.2 seconds. However, Audi also offers the S7 (from $83,900) boasting a 444 hp/443 lb-ft of torque 2.9-liter TFSI biturbo V6 that will get you to 60mph in 4.5 seconds.

The Genesis G80 also comes with a V6 of its own, 3.5-liter turbocharged, with 375 HP (380 PS) and 391 lb-ft (530 Nm) of torque. There’s also an entry-level turbocharged 2.5-liter four-pot to consider, with 300 HP (304 PS) and 311 lb-ft (421 Nm) of pulling power. No word on acceleration figures yet, but you can choose between rear- and all-wheel drive.

If you live in Europe, you’ll be able to buy a 2021 Genesis G80 with a 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel too, producing 207 HP (210 PS) and 325 lb-ft (441 Nm) of torque. This unit would match up best with what’s under the hood of the EU-spec A7 Sportback 40 TDI model, which has 201 HP (204 PS) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque.

Is that all there is to it?

Not exactly. There’s more to buying a car than performance figures, looks and comfort. OK, not much more, but there is one other aspect worth considering, namely driving dynamics.

It’s not fair to talk about these types of things before a new car has had “its day in court”, as there’s no way of knowing if the G80 will be able to match or even surpass the A7’s agility in the corners, especially if you get the latter with Audi’s sport-tuned suspension, which cuts the ride height by 0.7 inches (20 mm). One thing the Genesis does have going for it is the fact that it is available with rear-wheel drive that can be more engaging.