2022 Genesis GV80

　　

2022 Genesis GV80 Review

byNick YekikianNews Editor

　　Nick Yekikian has worked in the automotive industry since 2019. He has written close to a thousand car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 200 vehicles over the course of his career. Nick is the News Editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Automobile Magazine and Super Street. When Nick isn't zipping around town in his latest used-car find, he's probably making digital art in Photoshop or playing disc golf with friends.

　　The Genesis GV80 debuted last year as the brand's first SUV. Slotting above the similarly new GV70 in both size and price, the GV80 is a proper rival to some well-established competitors, including the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, BMW X5, Lexus RX and Mercedes-Benz GLE. But that doesn't mean it's a case of copy and paste. Genesis' take on the luxury SUV is unique to the South Korean brand and all the better for it.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Genesis GV80 2.5T 4dr SUV w/Prod. End 02/22 (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 w/Prod. End 02/22 (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $50,200 MSRP2.5T 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $50,200 MSRP2.5T 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 02/22 (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $56,100 MSRP2.5T 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $56,100 MSRP3.5T 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 02/22 (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $60,600 MSRP3.5T 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $60,600 MSRP3.5T Advanced + 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $68,000 MSRP3.5T Prestige Signature 4dr SUV AWD w/Prod. End 02/22 (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $77,200 MSRP3.5T Prestige Signature 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $77,200 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　For style, the 2022 GV80 has a big shield-shaped grille flanked by a quad headlight design. Inside are premium materials and standard seating for five people. For the Advanced+ trim Genesis adds a third row for a total of seven seats. But all GV80s go big on technology. There's a large touchscreen along the top of the dash, for instance, plus loads of standard driver assist features. On the higher trim levels you'll also find a trick gauge cluster display with 3D graphics and an info-packed head-up display.

　　The 2022 Genesis GV80 isn't a perfect midsize luxury SUV, but it's undoubtedly a lot closer than you might expect from an upstart luxury automaker. Check out the categories of our Expert Rating to get our test team's 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 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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below