2021 Genesis GV80 Review

　　

2021 Genesis GV80 Review

byBrent RomansSenior Manager, Written Content

　　Brent Romans has worked in the automotive industry since 1996. He has written or edited thousands of expert car reviews and road-tested hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Brent is a senior manager of written content at zzdcar and previously contributed to publications such as Super Street and Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road. His personal car is a 2019 BMW M2 Competition, which he bought for its ideal combination of performance, style and practicality.

　　The 2021 Genesis GV80 is the first SUV from Hyundai's fledgling luxury spinoff. We've known this midsize SUV was coming for a while now. In fact, the only surprise is that it took this long. It's a proper rival to some well-established competitors, including the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, BMW X5, Lexus RX and Mercedes-Benz GLE.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Genesis GV80 2.5T 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$207/mo  for GV80 2.5T

　　GV80 2.5T

　　2.5T 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $48,900 MSRP2.5T 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $54,650 MSRP3.5T 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $59,650 MSRP3.5T Advanced + 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $65,550 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　For style, the GV80 has a big shield-shaped grille that's similar to the one that debuted on the updated 2020 G90 sedan. It's flanked by a new quad headlight design. Whether you like or hate the new look, it's fair to assume you'll be seeing a lot more of it on upcoming Genesis models. Inside, seating for five is standard on most trim levels, with only the Advanced+ model adding a third row for a total of seven seats.

　　All GV80s go big on technology. There's a horizontal 14.5-inch touchscreen along the top of the dash, plus an 8-inch digital gauge cluster display. One cool feature of this display is that it can show nearly three-dimensional navigation prompts. The same sensors that watch your eyes for fatigue and attentive driving can adjust the graphics to make the direction arrows or your adaptive cruise control graphics seem almost 3D. There's also an excellent head-up display that shows speed, navigation and alerts from driver safety aids.

　　The Genesis GV80 isn't a perfect midsize luxury SUV, but it's closer than anything in its price range has a right to be. Check out the categories of our Expert Rating below to get our in-depth evaluation.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the GV80 drive? The GV80 can be outfitted with a four- or six-cylinder engine — both are turbocharged with power figures that look impressive on paper. Our test GV80 came with the larger 3.5-liter V6 engine. In our testing it covered 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds at the zzdcar test track. That's decently quick for a midsize SUV, but most competitors with six-cylinder engines are slightly quicker.

　　Engine aside, the rest of the driving experience isn't all that remarkable. The brakes respond a little abruptly at times, the steering effort is a tad heavy even in its Comfort setting, and although the handling isn't sloppy, most of the German SUVs feel tighter and more composed on a curvy road. If you intend to use the GV80 mainly as a highway cruiser, it'll do great, and none of this other stuff will matter as much.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the GV80? One of the most important aspects for any luxury vehicle is comfort, and the GV80 does this better than many. One of the highlights is excellent ride comfort. All V6-equipped GV80s come with an electronically controlled suspension system that uses a forward-facing camera to read the road surface ahead and make suspension adjustments quickly on the fly.

　　The tri-zone climate control is also a highlight, both for its ease of use and effectiveness. The same goes for the heated and ventilated seats that are standard in all but the base trim. Seat comfort is solid as well, especially with the upgraded seats in the Prestige trim that have additional adjustments. Genesis also does a commendable job insulating its cabins against sound and vibrations, and the GV80 is no exception.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? Some hits and misses here. On one hand, the user interface is different, looks cool, and offers different ways of interacting with the infotainment. But the clickable knurled rotary wheel is somewhat clunky to operate. Not helping matters is the screen's inconsistent menu structure. The combination results in an infotainment system that is unintuitive and often distracting when on the go.

　　The GV80 is comparable in passenger space to the average midsize SUV. One exception: Headroom is a little tighter. Access to the optional third row is better than in most any other vehicle in this segment, but the third row is quite small and best reserved for kids. The step-in height feels a tad higher than average, but the seat height is right at hip level for the average adult, which allows you to slip in pretty easily. Seeing out of the cabin is easy thanks to large windows and strategically placed mirrors. The optional surround-view camera is great and worth getting.

　　

Technology

8.5/10

　　How’s the tech? There are plenty of advanced driver aids, and most of them come standard and function very well. Genesis' smart cruise control with highway driving assist is one of the better systems in the class and even allows for some hands-off operation when conditions permit.

　　The available 21-speaker premium audio system is also quite impressive in the sound quality it delivers, though Genesis seemed to take a step back with the navigation map, forgoing street names on the display in exchange for a cleaner look, something we've recently noted in BMWs too. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone integration is included but isn't wireless yet.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The GV80's cargo area is wide and accessible. The second row has a 40/20/40-split configuration and can fold flat at the touch of a button. Power-folding/unfolding third-row seats are one touch too. However, we noticed in our testing that if you've inadvertently got the second-row seatbacks reclined too far back, the third-row seats will get stuck on them halfway down in their folding cycle.

　　Underfloor storage in the cargo area is limited, but you can store the luggage cover here when it's not in use. Up front, storage for personal effects is better than in the average luxury SUV. But the door pockets are tiny, and plugging your phone in to access Apple CarPlay or Android Auto creates a mess of wires up front. The small bonus storage area underneath the center console can be useful.

　　Planning on hauling stuff? The GV80's 6,000-pound maximum towing when properly equipped is respectable and good enough for small travel trailers and recreational toys. But some rival SUVs have limits of more than 7,000 pounds.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The GV80 with the V6 engine receives an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in combined driving, which is slightly less efficient than competitors with V6 engines. It's also not quite as quick at moving the GV80 down the road as those engines. In zzdcar testing, we saw 20.7 mpg on our 115-mile standardized evaluation route, which indicates the GV80 should meet its fuel economy estimates if driven with a bit of restraint.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the GV80 a good value? While the GV80 lacks a bit of that high-end heft in some of its switchgear and trim, it gets the fundamentals right and offers lots of luxury features for thousands less than the competition. In terms of quality, it looks and feels like it's a level above typical Japanese luxury SUVs but a step behind the Germans.

　　One area Genesis has an indisputable lead is warranty coverage. Its five-year/60,000-mile basic and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage far exceeds anything its competitors offer, and they include three years/36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　The GV80 sports a pretty striking design with a unique elegance. It may not be to everyone's liking, but it does represent a form that is identifiably Genesis and different from other class offerings. Its twin-turbo V6 is peppy, and its ride is incredibly comfortable. But besides being pleasant transportation, the GV80 is rarely exciting.

　　

Which GV80 does zzdcar recommend?

Go with the 3.5 Advanced. You'll appreciate the extra power of the V6 compared to the four-cylinder. It also comes standard with the road-sensing suspension, which we've found works great for enhancing ride comfort. This is also the only trim level that lets you get third-row seating if you want it.

　　

2021 Genesis GV80 models

The 2021 Genesis GV80 takes an all-inclusive spa-day approach to its luxury SUV. There are three main trim levels: Standard, Advanced and Prestige. All are available with either a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (300 hp, 311 lb-ft of torque) or a turbocharged 3.5-liter six-cylinder (375 hp, 391 lb-ft). They are connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 2.5-liter is available in both rear- and all-wheel drive, and the 3.5-liter is AWD-only.

　　2.5T Standard RWD

　　Feature highlights include:

　　19-inch alloy wheels Five-passenger seating Power liftgate Simulated leather upholstery Heated front seats Navigation system 14.5-inch touchscreen 12-speaker sound system Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integrationThe GV80 also comes standard with:

　　Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the GV80 and the car in front) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane keeping assist (steers the GV80 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Blind-spot monitor with assist (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change and can assist in avoiding a collision)2.5T Standard AWD

　　Has the same features as above but with:

　　Panoramic roof Ventilated front seats Manual rear side shades Heated steering wheel Second-row 110-volt AC power outlet Wireless device charger Digital key (allows you to use your phone as the vehicle's key)2.5T Advanced RWD

　　Comes with the Standard AWD's features plus:

　　Lexicon premium audio2.5T Advanced AWD

　　Adds on a few more features, including:

　　20-inch wheels Leather upholstery Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the GV80 and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)2.5T Prestige RWD

　　Going with the Prestige gets you:

　　Features from the 2.5T Advanced AWD Tri-zone climate Upgraded 16-way front seats Heated second-row seats2.5T Prestige AWD

　　Tops the 2.5T lineup with:

　　22-inch wheels Adaptive suspension (can improve the GV80's ride quality and handling capability) Head-up display Road active noise cancellation3.5T Standard

　　Has the same features as the 2.5T Standard AWD but with:

　　20-inch wheels Adaptive suspension3.5T Advanced

　　Gets you the features of the 3.5T Advanced AWD but with:

　　Upgraded 16-way front seats3.5T Advanced+

　　It's the same as the 3.5T Advanced but comes with the power-folding third-row seat.

　　3.5T Prestige

　　Has the same features as the 2.5T Prestige AWD but with:

　　22-inch wheels Upgraded leather seating surfaces Microfiber suede headliner and pillars Power-adjustable second-row seats with ventilation 12.3-inch 3D digital cluster Forward attention warning Power rear side-window shades Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut) Second-row vanity mirrors

　　

2021 GV80 Highlights

Trim: 2.5T3.5T3.5T Advanced +2.5T

　　

Base MSRP	$48,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$207/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	34.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles