2025 Genesis GV80 SUV
Genesis needed an SUV. Five years ago, they created the GV80. Since then, the Korean luxury brand banked on its success to help give customers a choice in the mid-size luxury/premium SUV class.
For 2025, the GV80 was one of several models that underwent a mid-cycle refresh. Do the revisions keep it fresh as it was when it was introduced for the 2021 model year?
Compared to its rivals, the GV80 still looks fresh as it did when it debuted. The “shield” grille was reshaped in a new front clip, wearing a new double mesh design. The horizontally split LED headlamp units were retained. The LED daytime running lights double up as turn signals, which continue to a chrome applique on the front fenders. Those two “lines” continue to the rear to the LED taillight units, again split horizontally. The roofline is a semi-fastback design that creates a liftgate that is sculpted along with the rest of the body.
Our Prestige tester set of 22-inch five-spoke alloy wheels to perfectly fit with the rest of the chrome trim in the lower and upper parts of the body. The GV80 continue to stands out from the rest of the crowd.
Patt of the revisions for 2025 was a new 27-inch OLED screen that integrates the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen without any framing to split the two functions. Our tester came with a large head-up display designed to keep your eyes on the road with necessary information. A new three-spoke steering wheel brings the GV80 in line with the rest of the lineup.
The center console was crowned by two “knobs” – a combination scroll control and touch pad for the infotainment system and a rotary transmission controller. Most of the controls have a knurled texture, giving it supreme quality all around.
Seating up front is comfortable and supportive, with plenty of adjustments, including thigh support. Bolstering is good for the seatbacks, wrapped in leather with contrast piping to compliment the interior color. Our two-row model offered optimal space for up to three passengers in the rear seat.
Cargo expansion is achieved through a series of buttons in the rear of the vehicle. Space to the second row is a generous 36.5 cubic feet. With the second row down, you have 71.7 cubic feet space with a near-flat floor.
Powering our tester is a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, putting out 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. This engine channels its power to all four wheels in a rear-drive architecture with an electronic transfer case and an eight-speed automatic transmission. This driveline puts down the power with ease and is quite quick off the mark. In terms of fuel economy, we observed an average of 23.1 MPG.
The ride quality of the Genesis GV80 is quite smooth. On rougher roads, the suspension does a great job absorbing the cracks, potholes and other challenges those surfaces threw at the GV80. Handling is on the softer side, with some roll and lean in Normal drive mode, even through evasive maneuvers. Sport mode improves this a bit, but do not expect flat-out cornering in the GV80.
We actually love the steering wheel, with its “throwback” 1970s design. It is thick enough for our hands to command it, as it makes good work on tight maneuvers. It does feel a bit artificial, yet it also has a solid on-center feel for keeping within the lane. The brakes are solid with good pedal feel. We were certainly amazed on how large the rotors were on our tester, which explains why it did well in stopping tests under normal and panic situations.
Pricing for the 2025 Genesis GV80 starts at $58,700 with a choice of two engines, rear- or all-wheel drive and three trim levels per engine. You can opt for a three-row version, as well. Our Prestige tester with all-wheel drive came with a sticker price of $81,300.
The GV80 continues to play in a highly competitive segment full of luxury md-size SUVs. These competitors include the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Audi Q7, Discovery, Defender 110 and 130, Range Rover Sport, Volvo XC90, Lexus RX and TX, Infiniti Q60, Cadillac XT5 and XT6, Lincoln Aviator, Acura MDX, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
High style is one thing. Executing it to be distinctive without compromise is another. The latter is what makes the 2025 Genesis GV80 a good choice in this highly competitive field. This is an SUV worth considering, indeed!
