Overview
The Genesis GV80’s attention-capturing design makes a statement even when it’s parked. A former 10Best award winner, this sophisticated SUV delivers luxury with one extra that its rivals at Porsche and BMW simply don’t offer: a marvelously sweet starting price. A 2.5-liter, 304-hp turbocharged four-cylinder is standard, but can only be had with two rows of seats. The far more exciting 380-hp twin-turbo V-6 enables adding a third row and the ability to hold up to seven passengers. All GV80s use an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. The GV80s innards are plush indeed, starting with heated-and-cooled seats for front and rear passengers, and going as far as heated armrests and a ride that’s near silent even at highway speeds.
What’s New for 2025?
The Genesis GV80 gets updated for 2025 with some meaningful and new equipment. For starters, the twin-turbocharged V-6 gains five horsepower, now producing 380 ponies and 390 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged inline-four returns for 2024 with slightly more oomph, now producing 304 horsepower for base-level GV80s. A sportier GV80 Coupe also joins the lineup as a 2025 model year addition, but we review that separately. The GV80 wears a new grille and what the company calls Micro Lens Array headlamps from the G90 sedan, though their different design does take a moment or two to spot. There are new wheel designs, featuring a 20-inch multi-spoke unit and a 22-inch option. Storr Green, which is offered in glossy or matte, is a new color for 2025. On the inside, the GV80’s gauge cluster and infotainment display are now jointly presented on a massive 27.0-inch wide touchscreen. Genesis adds three new interior shades for 2025: Earth Brown, Bordeaux Brown, and Glacier white.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
All GV80s come bearing plentiful standard features including navigation, a 27.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, heated front seats, wireless charging, and a power liftgate. There is no poor choice here. We’re big fans of the extra power provided by the twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6, which costs approximately $8000 over the base 2.5T model. We’d also opt for the Prestige trim that upgrades to nappa leather seating, adjustable rear seats with heated and cooled cushions, and 22-inch wheels.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
This mid-size luxury crossover has the same underpinnings as the G80 sedan and comes standard with all-wheel drive. The engine choices start with a 304-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder and escalate to a 380-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6. We’ve previously hustled a turbo-four to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds on our test track. The V-6 twin-turbo model cut that time to a brisk 5.3 seconds. The latest changes add only a smidge of power to both engines, so we expect virtually no change to the 2025 G80’s performance. Nor do we anticipate any changes to the GV80’s impressive ride-and-handling. Without a doubt, Genesis’ efforts to make a large three-row feel athletic in corners are a success. Even at highway cruising speeds across tattered Michigan roadways it delivers a wonderfully quiet ride. Buyers seeking more thrills could consider a Porsche Cayenne or an Audi SQ8, however.
Towing and Payload Capacity
The Genesis GV80 has a maximum towing capacity of 6000 pounds, which beats the Volvo XC90’s 5000-pound rating, but rivals such as the BMW X5 can an additional 600 pounds—or more.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA hasn’t published its findings for the GV80’s updated powertrains yet. Previously, with a few less ponies, the EPA estimated four-cylinder GV80 models delivered 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway; going with the V-6 reduced those to 18 mpg and 23 mpg respectively. We haven’t had the chance to put the updated GV80 through our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, but the previous GV80 with the turbo four over-delivered by a touch, returning 25 mpg highway. For more information about the GV80’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Photos don’t do justice to how rich and elegant the GV80’s interior is. Even the lower trims are finished with classy touches like burled wood trim, metal accents, and integrated ambient lighting. The wide-spanning display set into the dash keeps matters upscale but uncluttered. The front seats are comfortable, supportive, and available with a massage function that feels legitimately relaxing. A standard three-across bench seat in the second row allows for up to five passengers; a third row of seats is an optional feature, but space back there is limited and should be considered a place solely for kids. We fit 13 carry-on suitcases behind the second row and the GV80 swallowed a total of 28 with the second row folded flat.
Infotainment and Connectivity
A slim 27.0-inch display stretches across the GV80’s tailored dashboard. For rear passengers, Genesis also offers a 14.6-inch rear-seat display. Every GV80 also comes with wireless charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot that can accept five devices, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and three years of complimentary Genesis Connected Services.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
A full suite of driver-assistance features is standard, including a semi-autonomous driving mode, which learns how the owner drives and mimics that person’s driving style while in use. For more information about the GV80’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Among its rivals, the GV80 offers one of the best standard warranty packages with its extensive powertrain coverage. The BMW X5 and the Volvo XC90 offer the same amount of complimentary maintenance, but neither the class nor the Land Rover Range Rover Sport offers such a policy.
- Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for three years or 36,000 miles
Specifications
Specifications
2021 Genesis GV80 2.5T AWD
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE AS TESTED
$64,825 (base price: $55,675)
ENGINE TYPE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port and direct fuel injection
Displacement
152 in3, 2497 cm3
Power
300 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque
311 lb-ft @ 1650 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): multilink/multilink; Brakes (F/R): 15.0-in vented disc/14.2-in vented disc; Tires: Michelin Primacy Tour A/S, 265/40R-22 106W M+S GOE
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 116.3 in
Length: 194.7 in
Width: 77.8 in
Height: 67.5 in
Passenger volume: 108 ft3
Cargo volume: 34 ft3
Curb weight: 4814 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.1 sec
100 mph: 16.0 sec
130 mph: 34.3 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 7.0 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.4 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 4.5 sec
1/4 mile: 14.6 sec @ 96 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 163 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.86 g
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 16 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 25 mpg
Highway range: 520 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 22/21/25 mpg
