The Genesis Brand offers luxury from a South Korean automaker’s perspective providing oodles of upscale amenities with value-oriented bottom line pricing. Well established European and Asian Luxury-minded automakers including BMW, Volvo, Infiniti and Acura also target upscale shoppers, but with pricing above what Genesis generally promotes. Genesis, the relative newcomer, enjoyed making inroads into this exclusive club since its 2016 breakaway debut.
Genesis has the backing the Hyundai Motor Group which includes three South Korean brands: Hyundai, Genesis and Kia. Before Genesis became a standalone brand, the Genesis name represented a full-size, rear-wheel luxury sedan branded as the Hyundai Genesis beginning in 2008.
After debuting three sedans of differing sizes, all with capital G prefix identifiers (representing the Genesis Brand), Genesis then pivoted to a cadre of five-door crossovers, an uber popular choice here in the state since the turn of the millennia. The five-door model utilizes the GV lettered prefix with the V signifying ‘Versatile’ and pairing with the letter G. Suffix numbers represent the size of vehicles, the larger the digit (80 vs. 60 as an example) the bigger the body.
The 2025 model year represents a mid-cycle, largely cosmetic refresh for this week’s tester, the popular midsize GV80 crossover, which features Midwest friendly part-time all-wheel drive standard. This design propels the vehicle forward with a rear-wheel drive bias until detecting slippage, at which time all wheels chime in with up to a 50-50 front-back torque split. The Genesis five-door GV80 debuted in the 2021 model year and our 2025 model is based upon this first-generation platform. The GV80 currently measures in as the brand’s largest crossover. It’s the most popular offering from the Genesis Brand adding new product to its lineup at an impressive clip.
For example, In the 2025 model year, Genesis introduces a brand new GV80 stablemate, the 2025 GV80 ‘Coupe.’ What’s the difference and what’s in a name? First, don’t let the ‘coupe’ designate through anyone for a loop. This Genesis ‘coupe’ employee four side doors (not the traditional two usually required with coupes). Both classify as mid-size crossovers with a liftback door but the new GV80 Coupe incorporates a fastback style, plunging-type roof experience delivering a sportier personality.
This slight-of-hand marketing word play is not new in the European/Asian luxury segment as BMW offers several fastbacked-roof Sport Activity Coupes (or ‘SAC’s’) versions of its X branded crossover segment (X2, X4 and X6) while the remaining X’s (X1, X3, X5, X7) opt for the higher standing, traditional crossover image (which BMW markets as Sport Activity Vehicle or SAV).
The Genesis brand also offers a number of all-electric EVs sprinkled through its lineup. Genesis identifies these with the ‘Electrified’ prefix. Currently, the mid-size GV80 crossover and GV80 crossover coupe do not offer an ‘Electrified’ counterpart, but in the 2023 model year, the compact GV70 crossover began offering an electrified version dubbed the’ Electrified GV70’ alongside the traditional, internal combustion GV 70 crossover.
Our GV80 tester’s exterior brings forth an upmarket presence. In front, the GV80’s striking pentagonal grille now includes a dual mesh, diamond-like crisscrossing weave delivering a three-dimensional effect. The diamond theme reoccurs and returns throughout the vehicle including quilted seat patters, carpet inlays, the cargo area’s floor, dashboard highlights and even the key fob. Above the grille, the Genesis winged medallion serves as a base of the raised hood with creases extending up to the hood. At night, puddle lamps built into side-view mirrors send a logo projection to the pavement below.
Also built into the side mirror housing, blind spot view cameras (standard in the V-6 Advanced and Prestige trims) feeding a live broadcast video of blind spot activities temporarily into the instrument panel. Summon the left turn signal and driver’s side live-action activity gets fed into an IP’s left-side orb. Signal right and passenger side activity gets highlighted. Once the turn or lane change is complete, the orbs return to their respective speedometer/IP functions.
Slot-like MLA (Micro Lens Array) headlamps flanking the diamond-studded, sizeable grille. Each side includes two horizontally curving visor-like slots one atop the other each filled with a dozen or so (a few more than last year) small bejeweled powerfully effective LED bulbs. Amber turn signals build into the slots, doubling as frosted daytime running lights when not commanded. A pair of narrow amber side strips build into front fenders, adding style and function as secondary exterior blinkers.
Lots of chrome-like accents dot our top-line V-6 Prestige tester’s exterior including side window framing and a side door lower striping that narrows and widens.
In back, exhaust tips morph into the body-colored bumper for a smooth, clean appearance. Also onboard, narrow, band-like tandem lighting surround the liftback cargo opening, blinking in red, not amber, when summoned.
Two engine choices team for a total of six GV80 trims, all unchanged from 2024. A 2.5-liter inline turbo four cylinder delivers an impressive 300 horsepower while a 3.5-liter twin turbo V-6 bumps horses up to 375. The four-cylinder’s four trims include 2.5T Standard, 2.5T Select, 2.5T Advanced and 2.5T Prestige. The V-6 rounds out the trim line with 3.5T Advanced and 3.5T Prestige. All mate to a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. Five distinct drive modes (eco, comfort, snow, sport, MY) selectable via a chrome tab between front buckets finely tunes the steering weight, throttle response and suspension firmness.
Our 3.5T two-row Prestige GV80 tester represented the fully-loaded crème-of-the-crop choice starting at $79,300. The only factory option was an uplevel paint hue (Saville Silver, $650) registering a $81,300 bottom line after figuring in the $1,350 destination charge. The lowest priced four-cylinder ‘Standard’ trim level starts at $58,200.
The four-cylinder trims seat up to five riders while the twin turbo six offers a third-row standard in the Advanced trim while the top V-6 Prestige trim offers both a two-row or third-row set up. No matter the cushion count, all-wheel drive comes standard. Genesis does a fine job of segregating engine noise outside the vehicle and under hood thanks in part to front windows with sound insulation and active noise cancellation successes. Our six-cylinder’s engine hum was noticeable simply by its audio absence inside the posh cocoon-like elegance and gentle glide to an electronically controlled suspension.
Both engines recommend premium fuel for optimal performance, although regular 87-octane may be utilized to fill the 21.1-gallon tank. Four-cylinder turbo models average 19 miles per gallon city and 24 mpg highway while the V-6 twin turbo engine delivers 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. Both engines prioritize performance over economy.
All Genesis crossovers build from a uni-body, car-like platform assisting in the smoother, balanced travel rather than a heavier, truck-like body-on-frame design resulting in a harsher experience.
Our V-6 Prestige’s diamond-themed interior included saddle-like brown/tan materials interspersing with black and white accents. Also between front buckets, an updated jewel-like dial electronically selecting reverse, neutral and drive. Park summons by depressing the ‘P’ atop the dial. Ambient underscore lighting the dial changes color depending upon the gear selected.
Anchoring the dash is a huge, flat, 27-inch-wide horizontal uni-screen combining a multi-function right side and a digital instrument panel arching across the upper dash. The multi-function screen activates by finger touches or a rotor dial located in front of the circular gear shift both with unique tactile nuances (although more than one I found myself mistakenly reaching for the transmission dial to update audio selections).
Three small rectangular buttons north of the push-twist dial (back, home, menu) quickly reset the screen. From there, large pictorial/word rectangle icons guide drivers through a dozen or so sub menus including settings, which fine-tunes such requests as lift rear hatch height levels and two different travel speeds.
One appreciated update is the return of small dashboard twist knobs monitoring volume and station selection, replacing a thumb scroll design, although a secondary thumb scroll volume adjuster returns to the three-spoke steering wheel. Between the two dashboard twist knobs, additional quick-hit buttons interacting with the multi-function touch screen including “Map,” “Navigation,” “Radio” and Media” The red hazard push button resides within the row, too.
A separate, rectangular touch sensitive region in the lower central dash acts as HVAC command with dials at each end motivating dual front temperature settings with an artfully illustrated center spot commanding three directions of air flow. Fan speed motivates from up/down push pads elevating/decreasing digital numbers. During our testing through frigid December mornings, gloves were donned to keep hands and digits warm but prevented a sold touch-sensitive connection. When/if that happens, eighter strip off the gloves or update changes through secondary HVAC controls nested within the multi-function screen under ‘settings’ utilizing the bejeweled rotator.
A pair of the smaller, newer USB Type-C ports avail both front and rear passengers. A flat, wireless Smartphone charger comes standard in all GV80 trims in a cove tucked under the rectangular HVAC panel as does Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Smartphone interactivity.
While our tester arrived with two rows of seating rather than the available three, GV80’s mid-size build optimizes comfort within the five-seat format while delivering a good-sized cargo area. Squeezing in a third row benefits only a small subset of humans (both figuratively and literally) because of the roof’s curved top structure. Second-row seatbacks fold down with a 40/20/40 format.
The Genesis Brand continues opening additional stand-alone dealerships to sharpen the buying experience. In the Chicagoland area, three such ‘Premier Showroom’ experiences include Genesis of Algonquin, Genesis of North Aurora and Genesis of Elgin. Genesis products may also be found at participating Hyundai dealerships where both brands share the showroom floor (until additional Genesis buildings arrive). These new digs remain an integral piece of Genesis growth.
Genesis sales in the U.S. reached 68,798 in the 2023 calendar year, a 22 percent increase from the previous 12 months and an all-time high with the mid-size GV80 leading the way as the brands top-seller.
One important aspect Genesis continues sharing with parent company Hyundai, the very successful 10-year 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, one of the longest available within the automotive community.
Also part of the pampered experience; complimentary service valet and maintenance checkup for three years or 36,000 miles. If ever the GV80 crossover needs service, Genesis will arrange for pick up and return at/to your place of residence or work and provide a loaner vehicle for the duration of your GV80’s time away.
All of GV80’s many mid-cycle updates were celebrated at the noted Midwest Automotive Media Association’s (MAMA) annual Spring Road Rally earlier this year at the famed Road America facility. The GV80 earned the coveted ‘MAMA’s favorite luxury vehicle’ honors in Elkhart Lake Wisconsin. This scribe is a founding member and past president of the esteemed MAMA organization.
All this adds up to a mid-size luxury crossover that’s highly appealing and worth serious consideration.
2025 Genesis GV80
Price as tested: $81,300
Engine: 3.5-liter V-6 turbo
Horsepower: 375
Wheelbase: 116.3 inches
Length: 194.5 inches
Height: 67.5 inches
Width: 77.8 inches
Fuel Economy: 16 mpg city/ 22 mpg highway
Powertrain warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles
Assembly: Ulsan, South Korea
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