Driven: 2025 Genesis GV80 Is No Dressed-Up Hyundai

Many Americans still only know Genesis as the former flagship sedan in the Hyundai lineup and have no idea that it’s now a standalone luxury brand. Those that do know often have the mistaken notion that Genesis is just a fancy Hyundai – one that just costs more for no reason. That’s unfortunate, because Genesis is a genuine luxury brand that deserves serious consideration on its own merits. And we’ve driven enough Genesis cars to prove that.

The Genesis GV80 was introduced in 2021 as the brand’s first SUV, and this year, it gets a significant refresh. While the powertrains remain the same, the exterior receives minor enhancements that refine its upscale appeal. The big changes are inside. We spent some time with the GV80 SUV and have a lot to say to those whose opinion is that this is just a dressed-up version of a mainstream SUV.

‘Genesis’ as an exercise for the Hyundai brand isn’t new – it’s not the first time an automaker has decided to go upscale with a separate brand. Honda has Acura; Toyota has Lexus; Nissan has Infiniti. It’s not uncommon. However, there is one major difference this time around. While Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti are far more upscale than their mainstream siblings, they don’t compete with luxury heavy hitters. Genesis does. Products with the Genesis logo actually compete with true premium brands, bringing the fight straight to Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW.

Exterior: A Decidedly Upscale And Sleek Design

The Genesis GV80 was already a beautiful SUV. It wasn’t bold or brash, but looked every inch refined and elegant. This year, a series of small changes enhance that style and give it even more visual appeal. The standout feature of this new design is a double mesh two-line crest grille. It’s intricate and eye-catching without becoming busy. On either side are dual-line headlights that neatly frame that grille. This style is mirrored in its GV80 Coupe sibling, which has the sloping roof that some prefer over the boxier, more traditional shape of the SUV.

It’s not a dramatic departure from the previous version of the GV80, but it is still an improvement. There are also new 20-inch and 22-inch wheels. We’ve always loved the wheels on the Genesis lineup for adding to the design rather than being merely as an afterthought. It’s this kind of attention to detail that makes Genesis and the GV80 such a standout – designers don’t just get the big stuff. They also get the little stuff and that’s the difference between being simply an upscale vehicle and a luxury vehicle.

Seating: Available With A Choice Of Two Rows Or Three

The Genesis GV80 SUV is available with either two rows and seating for five, or three rows and seating for seven. All trims with base engine are two rows only, so if you want the third row, then you must move up to the 3.5T where it’s standard, but with the option for two rows only on the Prestige. We spent our driving time in a two-row, and it’s honestly what we think is the better choice.

This isn’t a huge SUV, although it’s plenty roomy. Two adults will have no problem getting comfortable in that second row, even for longer drives. A third adult would be a squeeze on long trips, but three kids would be perfectly happy. Adding a third row gives you two more seats, but looking at the interior room overall, they’re not going to be spacious. This would be a third row in a pinch and not for anything more than short drives, especially for adults. If you really think you need that extra seating, and you love the GV80, then go for it – but just know it’s not someplace any adult is going to want to sit for terribly long.

The GV80 delivers an incredibly comfortable ride, especially for those up front. The available 16-way power driver’s seat, which includes power side bolsters and cushion extension, was superb. It also features something called Ergo Motion. Activated with the press of a button on the side of the seat cushion, it activates a program that’s sort of like a massage, but specifically designed to reduce road weariness. This seat also includes smart posture assist, which turns on automatically after about an hour and helps ensure proper seating position. Anytime Sport mode is engaged or when you drive at high speeds, there’s also smart posture support. This increases the side bolsters, giving you a little hug to keep you firmly in place. That’s not your average mainstream feature, is it?

Interior: Sustainable But Stunning

The absolute standout feature of the GV80 is the interior. It’s what makes this SUV look and feel like a luxury car from the moment you open the door. It doesn’t matter which trim you go for because the full lineup is nicely appointed. It’s not a matter of whether you want luxury, but of just how much luxury will make you happy.

We drove the 3.5T Prestige which is the top trim in the lineup, and it looks the part. There are quilted Nappa leather seating surfaces that are beautiful to behold, and even lovelier to touch. The headliner and pillars are all microfiber suede and there are unique trim accents. Our tester’s interior was a beautiful combination of Glacier White and Ultramarine Blue, which looks exquisite, but will likely be tough to keep clean if you have small kids.

The interior isn’t just about elegance and style, though, since the materials used inside also focus on sustainability.

The Genesis brand aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. Efforts to apply sustainable ideas not only to manufacturing processes but also to component materials are underway.

-Grace Kim, Genesis Design, North America.

Instead of the standard matte wood finishes, it had patterned white and gray fabric made from basalt stone. It’s part of the “Inspired by Nature” theme that’s a focus of the design team. Recycled materials from wood scraps to plastic are also used in the GV80 SUV. There’s even recycled newspaper transformed into wood and, if you look closely, it still has visible text in the design.

Cargo: Plenty Of Room For The Family’s Luggage

The GV80 offers good cargo room with over 36 cubic feet behind the second row. This is easily enough to manage a family’s luggage for a week’s vacation. If you choose a three-row version of the GV80 then there’s 11.6 cubic feet behind that third row. That’s not going to hold luggage for a large family, so plan accordingly. With no rear passengers, there’s 71.7 cubic feet behind the front seats, so you can load up everything you need for a weekend project, though we can’t imagine throwing bags of mulch into the back of such a beautiful SUV.

The GV80 has more space behind the second-row than both the X5 and GLE-Class SUVs, although when those seats are folded down, it offers slightly less. A final bit of cargo capacity comes from a tow rating of up to 6,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Infotainment: A Single Massive Display Screen

It’s a tricky thing to create an infotainment system that provides all the necessary information while still being a well-integrated part of a vehicle’s design. Initially, multiple separate screens were the preferred solution by most automakers. It seemed like a good idea, but it created a lot of visual clutter. The current trend is toward one display screen that houses both the instrument cluster screen and infotainment screen for a single clean line across the dashboard.

The QV80 now takes this approach with a 27-inch OLED display that stretches from the driver’s side to the far edge of the center console. It keeps everything within easy view of the driver, but still allows the passenger to interact with the infotainment system. It looks great with no breaks in the display, but it’s positioning is odd. It sits on top of the dashboard rather than being more set into the surface, which would make look more integrated.

The system itself is easy to use and includes 2 USB-C ports up front and two in back, navigation, wireless device charging, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a new 1400-watt, 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. This replaces the old Lexicon stereo with a more premium system that delivers better sound quality. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also on the list of features, but for the moment require a cable to connect. Genesis promises that an over-the-air (OTA) update will allow for wireless connectivity toward the end of the year.

Performance: Two Gas Engines, But No Hybrid Or Electric

The engines are unchanged from what was available last year. Base trims of the GV80 get a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. Top trims get a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both are paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive standard across the trim range. What you can’t get is a hybrid or electric option, although they will be coming a few years down the line. If you’re looking for something electrified right now, then there is the GV70 Electrified as an SUV alternative from Genesis.

Those who put a priority on fuel economy will, of course, want to go with the base engine which gets an EPA-estimated 19/24/21 city/highway/combined. If you simply cannot do without the extra horsepower, then fuel economy falls to 16/22/19 mpg. It’s not a dramatic decrease, but depending on how much you drive, it could have a big impact on your wallet if gas prices take a skyward leap.

Drive Impressions: A Luxury Cruiser Perfect For Road Trips

We spent our time with the 3.5T Prestige, which is the top trim with the more powerful V6 engine. It easily gets up to highway speeds without needing a heavy foot on the gas and still has enough power in reserve for passing slower vehicles. Should you choose to engage in more spirited driving, especially by flipping the drive mode selector to Sport, then it becomes wonderfully aggressive while still delivering a composed ride in keeping with its luxury car status. Additional drive modes include Smart, Eco, and Custom, which lets you individually adjust vehicle settings to get exactly the drive you prefer.

The ride is smooth and quiet, even under hard acceleration. You won’t hear any engine noise intruding into the cabin nor will road and wind noise pose a challenge for conversing with those in the back seats. We found ourselves caught in a summer thunderstorm and even then, with the rain pelting down and the thunder booming, the GV80 helped keep the racket under control. This is something expected of luxury cars, and Genesis delivers.

Handling is controlled, so it’s easy and even fun to take winding roads, even though this is an SUV. This is a wonderful vehicle to drive, whether for short trips or longer ones. It makes being stuck in traffic – which thanks to local road construction was a big part of our driving experience – less stressful. The GV80 manages to blend comfort and performance in a truly beautiful package.

Pricing and Verdict: A Value Among Luxury SUVs

The GV80 SUV is currently available in five trims. The base 2.5T is priced at $57,700, excluding the $1,350 destination charge. Stepping up to the 2.5T Select will add $3,900 to your bill. The 2.5T Advanced is $65,600 and the 2.5T Prestige is $70,450 rounding out the trims with the base engine. For more power, the 3.5T Advanced comes in at $73,800 with the top 3.5T Prestige priced at $79.300. It’s luxury car pricing, but it all comes in at under $80,000, which makes it surprisingly affordable within the segment. It’s also worth every penny, in our books.

Mercedes’ GLE SUV starts at around $65k at the entry-point to its range, with the 3.5T-equivalent GLE 450 4Matic priced at $71,350, but once you’ve added the leather upholstery, heated second-row seats, and third-row that comes standard on the 3.5T Advanced, you’re a few thousand dollars over what the Genesis costs as is.

This is what makes Genesis so exceptional. It delivers a luxury car experience from the style to the features to the performance combined with pricing that’s lower than expected. It’s a value within the segment without having to compromise on features or quality. Genesis is far more than just a fancy Hyundai: It’s a true luxury brand, and the new GV80 is a perfect example of what Genesis does so well.

Sources: Genesis, FuelEconomy.gov.