It’s uncommon for an automaker to do every little thing proper, however Genesis is in that place proper now. From the G70 sport sedan to the G90 flagship and every little thing in between, each automobile Genesis makes is stellar. That continues with the 2025 GV80. Lately refreshed, Genesis’ greatest SUV enters its fourth mannequin yr with small impactful tweaks however no main adjustments, as a result of why mess with a successful formulation?
Full disclosure: Genesis loaned me the GV80 on a whim with a full tank of gasoline. It dealt with Costco runs and college journeys in lovely, quiet luxurious.
In the event you’re wanting luxurious with a presence, the GV80 is the best way to go. Certain, badge snobs will cry over the truth that it doesn’t have a German emblem on the hood, however at this level, I believe we’re a bit previous having to elucidate the winged Genesis badge to individuals — although should you’re on the lookout for a “finances” Bentley Bentayga, this actually is the SUV for you. Simply Genesis gross sales over the previous couple of years exhibits how properly acquired the model has been. Genesis’ gross sales have elevated yearly since 2018, when it offered just below 10,000 automobiles within the U.S, to just about 69,000 vehicles being offered in 2023. Genesis is aware of it has an excellent factor going, that’s why the updates to the GV80 are delicate.
You’ll need to squint to see the distinction, however the GV80’s entrance fascia has been tweaked for the 2025 mannequin. There’s a brand new grille that Genesis calls the Two-Line Crest, with double the variety of interconnecting lattices making up the mesh sample. Beneath which can be bigger air intakes together with a wider fake skid plate that ought to have been left off the design, but additionally someway works. On the rear, the deletion of exhaust shops cleans up the rear design.
Whereas the GV80’s design is refreshed, its powertrains are carryover. The GV80 is powered by both a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-4 with 300 horsepower or a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 with 375 hp, the latter of which is what powered my tester. Prospects who go for the new-for-2025 GV80 Coupe can get that V6 with an electrical supercharger added on for a complete of 409 hp, nevertheless it’s not provided on the usual SUV. My GV80 was a Status AWD trim, which meant it was loaded. Pricing for this trim begins at $80,650 together with vacation spot. The one choice on my tester was its glorious matte Storr Inexperienced exterior paint for $1,500, bringing the full to $82,150.
Getting behind the wheel of GV80 you’ll rapidly discover it’s a massive automobile. The GV80 measures simply over 194.5 inches lengthy, 77.8 inches huge and 67.5 inches tall, making it about the identical size as a Mercedes-Benz GLE and barely shorter in top than a BMW X5. That’s all emphasised by the massive 22-inch wheels that come on the Status trim. You actually really feel the GV80’s 5,148-pound heft when driving, and it’s under no circumstances a sporty SUV. Don’t go on the lookout for again roads to deal with on this factor.
Physique lean will rapidly remind you that you must decelerate earlier than issues get dangerous. That isn’t to say it’s as dangerous as a luxo boat from the Nineteen Eighties or ‘90s, nevertheless it’s sufficient to make you come to your senses and decelerate. The dual-turbo V6 pulls strongly, although, and regardless of the GV80’s dimension and weight, the powertrain has no hassle getting the SUV in control; impartial testing exhibits the GV80 with the twin-turbo V6 can hit 60 mph in just below six seconds. And with almost non-existent turbo lag, passing and merging are a breeze.
The GV80 is finest skilled when calmly cruising alongside so you possibly can benefit from the serene, tranquil inside. Nearly no outdoors noise seeps its method into the cabin. It’s truthfully one of many quietest vehicles I’ve been in outdoors of a Bentley because of Genesis’ lively noise management. The system is de facto advanced however basically, microphones positioned in every seat actively hear and cancel outdoors noise earlier than it reaches passengers in milliseconds. The result’s an inside that Automobile and Driver says is one decibel quieter than a Bentley Bentayga. Much more tech is used to present the GV80 a buttery easy trip. A expertise referred to as Street Preview makes use of the automobile’s entrance digital camera to scan the street forward and modify the suspension accordingly. It actually helps reduce the hit you are feeling from going over issues like potholes and velocity bumps.
It’s additionally simply plain lovely inside. Genesis’ designers appear to be impressed by house interiors and trendy artwork. Each floor, shade, texture and angle is attractive and prime quality. The inside of my tester was completed within the Earth Brown Smoky Inexperienced shade mixture, which used a beautiful inexperienced on the higher half of the doorways, the dashboard, the outer rim of the steering wheel and the decrease half of the middle console, whereas every little thing else is a heat shade of brown. This consists of the Nappa leather-based seats and the microfiber suede headliner. It was topped off by an equally lovely gentle coloured matte wooden end that wouldn’t look misplaced in a house.
The spotlight of the inside is the large 27-inch OLED instrument cluster, which is new within the GV80 for 2025. Whereas different automakers have been releasing comparable curved shows, they’re not one complete seamless display screen; there’s normally some sort of clean or false house between the screens. Not so within the GV80. The show is actually one massive seamless unit.
Genesis is forgoing what different automakers are doing by burying all controls into the display screen. There are precise bodily knobs and buttons for the audio and local weather features. Properly, they’re not buttons per se as they’re haptic, however nonetheless, it’s good to have them be anyplace else however in a rattling menu.
My tester was additionally loaded to the hilt with options. Within the Status trim you get issues like a Bang & Olufsen audio system, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, three-zone local weather management, soft-close doorways, a head-up show, and heated and cooled entrance and rear seats with energy changes for the second row. It even has a temper curator that lets you calm down with totally different themes that play sounds, present photographs and alter the colour of the inside lighting. Talking of which, the ambient inside lighting of the GV80 is among the coziest I’ve skilled, particularly at evening.
The GV80 isn’t with out faults. One in all them is the gasoline mileage. A twin-turbo V6 and a 5,000-plus-pound curb weight means this factor is thirsty. Its EPA scores of 16 mpg metropolis, 22 mpg freeway and 19 mpg mixed are V8-like; I averaged one lower than its mixed score at 18 mpg throughout my time with the GV80. What’s wild is that these gas economic system numbers aren’t far off of a Bentley Bentayga. Regardless of the GV80 being down two cylinders and 167 hp to the Bentayga’s twin-turbo V8, EPA scores are simply off of the Bentley: simply two mpg higher within the metropolis, one mpg higher on the freeway and and three mpg higher mixed. A scarcity of a much bigger engine or hybrid choice may flip some consumers off as properly, particularly given the truth that the GV80 performs in a section the place each can be found elsewhere.
A scarcity of a third-row seat can also be an issue. For some purpose Genesis relegates the GV80’s obtainable third row to the Superior trim, which sits one rung down from the Status. The dearth of this third row does liberate cargo house, because it has 36.5 cubic ft behind the second row and 71.7 cubic ft with each rows folded. That shrinks to only 11.6 cubic ft when geared up with the third row.
So is the GV80 actually nearly as good as a Bentley? Sure and no. As our personal Erin Marquis identified, the 2 SUVs take completely totally different approaches to luxurious. Nothing can beat the Bentayga’s opulence as a result of it’s a Bentley, in fact. And with its $200,000+ price ticket, the Bentley’s presence speaks for itself. That doesn’t imply you must rely out the GV80. Regardless of being on a cheaper price and status degree, the GV80 is superb and ought to be the envy of each one who drives a German or Japanese luxurious automobile. Its sensible mixture of luxurious, efficiency, consolation and high quality matches or beats what its opponents are doing, for much less cash and with a superb guarantee on prime of that. For being a fledgling model in a stacked section, it’s wild that the GV80 actually is that this good, and as time goes on, Genesis will in all probability make it even higher.
