GenesisGV80

　　

2024 Genesis GV80 Review

byJared GallCorrespondent

　　Jared Gall started his career in the auto industry in 2001 with an internship at Car and Driver. He has written and edited many thousands of car reviews, technological deep-dives, industry analyses, and personality profiles. He is a correspondent at zzdcar and still has the 1969 Chevrolet C20 he dragged out of his parents' barn and drove until Car and Driver started giving him cars to evaluate.

　　, rating written byJared GallDirector, Vehicle Testing

　　Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at zzdcar, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.

　　Maybe we're being swayed by the 2024 GV80's resemblance to the Bentley Bentayga. Or maybe it's the fact that most upscale brands' hottest sellers right now — heck, every brand's hottest sellers right now — are SUVs. But the Genesis GV80 strikes us as the young brand's most completely realized luxury product yet.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Genesis GV80 2.5T 4dr SUV AWD (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

　　$217/mo  for GV80 2.5T

　　GV80 2.5T

　　2.5T 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $57,700 MSRP3.5T 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $64,850 MSRP3.5T Prestige Signature 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $81,750 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　The impression left by the British silhouette would be easy to shake if the GV80's interior didn't back it up so completely. Soft leather, satin-finish metallic trim, burled wood, and adjustable ambient lighting make for a truly upscale feel regardless of price point. Given Genesis is a subsidiary of Hyundai-Kia, the GV80's price point is several thousand dollars lower than that of any competitor. Yet the feature content rivals any established luxury brand, with available self-parking, ventilated seats front and rear, two-tone leather — the list goes on as long as any other brand's.

　　The GV80 exemplifies all of the astounding strides Genesis has made since transitioning from a single questionable Lexus clone into a full-line brand. Dig deep into the how in our Expert Rating below.

　　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 of insulating its cabins against sound and vibrations, and the GV80 is no exception.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below