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2021 Genesis GV80 Pros and Cons Review: A Seriously Impressive Luxury SUV

2021 Genesis GV80 Pros and Cons Review: A Seriously Impressive Luxury SUV

Pro

  • Original approach to luxury
  • Jaw-dropping interior
  • Incredible value

Con

  • Harsh ride
  • Underpowered 2.5T
  • Unintuitive infotainment system

When we picked the Genesis G70 as our 2019 Car of the Year, we turned a lot of heads from Sindelfingen to Nagoya. “Is it really that good?” were the first whispers, followed by “What do you know about the SUV?”

Well, we now know a lot. The Genesis GV80 comes to the U.S. in two gas-burning configurations: a 300-hp 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four and a 375-hp 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6. The GV80 2.5T is available in rear- and all-wheel drive (AWD) and starts just under $50,000. The higher-performance 3.5T model commands $10,000 more and comes only with AWD. Both engines spin the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission electronically shifted by a lovely jewellike rotary dial mounted on the center console. Similar bejeweled touchpoints can be found throughout the GV80’s stunning interior.

“Just look at that diamond-shaped pattern on the top of the map lights and on the door speaker grilles,” Buyer’s Guide director Zach Gale said. “Another detail, from previous Genesis sedans, are the silver beveled edges everywhere around the cupholders, window switches, and volume and tuning knobs.”

The love Genesis designers imbued on the GV80 drew appreciative murmurs from our judges.

“This shows Genesis is serious about being a luxury automaker,” senior features editor Jonny Lieberman said. “I’m loving the giant oval steering wheel. It reminds me of a Citroën SM.”

Features editor Christian Seabaugh noted the interior makes a great first impression. “Quilted tan leather with blue piping, blue and tan leather door cards, and real wood trim—you can tell Genesis really sweated the small stuff with the GV80,” he said. “I know features like the smart posture seat, which takes your height and inseam measurements to dial in the seating position, feel gimmicky, but luxury is about the little things in life that make you feel good, and man does that make me happy.”

MotorTrend en Español‘s Miguel Cortina was also a fan of the GV80’s interior styling: “The cabin is chic and premium. It’s also not trying to copy anyone; it has its own identity, from the HVAC controls to the modern color combinations. Everything seems elegant.”

Originality, creativity, and playfulness were on display everywhere you look, from the sweep of the needles on the “3-D” digital gauges to the Sounds of Nature audio settings on the 14.5-inch infotainment screen. Not every bell and whistle was pitch perfect—judges took issue with the quirky touchpad/scroll wheel controller, the occasionally wonky lane keep assist, and other unintuitive electronics. But even so, no facet of the GV80 felt unconsidered.

“The second-row seats are just as nice as those up front,” editor-in-chief Mark Rechtin said. “The diamond-pattern crosshatching is more than a pattern; it’s actual indentations. And the rear seats fold fully flat, creating a huge cargo area. This is an immensely practical vehicle.”

The GV80’s smart packaging, thoughtful design, and fanatical attention to detail blew us away in the parking lot. The Lexicon stereo is clear and pure across all types of music. On the road, our judges favored the “delicious snarl” of the 3.5T, despite its jolting stop-start system, over the underpowered and overworked 2.5T. The GV80 really impressed us, but there was one huge miss: the ride.

“On a mainstream subcompact, it’d just be considered bad,” Seabaugh said. “On a $72,000 luxury SUV, it’s atrocious.”

Features editor Scott Evans identified the main issue: “Even in Comfort mode, it rides like other cars’ Sport mode. You can be sporty and still ride well—and it does handle very well. But I feel everything in the road. This doesn’t feel like a luxury car ride.”

Even so, one thing’s clear: the young brand’s first attempt is stronger than those from many luxury veterans. Resume whispering.

2021 Genesis GV80 AWD; Genesis GV80 3.5T AWD
DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD
ENGINE TYPE Turbocharged I-4, alum block/head; Twin-turbo 60-deg V-6, alum block/heads
VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4 valves/cyl
DISPLACEMENT 152.4 cu in/2,497 cc; 211.8 cu in/3,470 cc
COMPRESSION RATIO 10.5:1; 11.0:1
POWER (SAE NET) 300 hp @ 5,800 rpm; 375 hp @ 5,800 rpm
TORQUE (SAE NET) 311 lb-ft @ 1,650 rpm; 383 lb-ft @ 1,300 rpm
REDLINE 6,200 rpm
WEIGHT TO POWER 15.7; 13.3 lb/hp
TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic
AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE/LOW RATIO 4.36:1/2.47:1; 3.91:1/2.91:1
SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR Multilink, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar
STEERING RATIO 14.1:1
TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK 2.5
BRAKES, F; R 14.2-in vented disc; 14.9-in vented disc; 14.2-in vented disc, ABS
WHEELS 8.5 x 19-in; 9.5 x 22-in cast aluminum
TIRES 265/55R19 109W (M+S) Pirelli Scorpion Zero; 265/40R22 106W (M+S) Michelin Primacy Tour A/S
DIMENSIONS
WHEELBASE 116.3 in
TRACK, F/R 65.9/66.5 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 194.7 x 77.8 x 67.5 in
GROUND CLEARANCE 8.1 in
APPRCH/DEPART ANGLE 21.0/21.0 deg
TURNING CIRCLE 39.3 ft
CURB WEIGHT 4,710; 4,980 lb
WEIGHT DIST, F/R 51/49; 52/48%
TOWING CAPACITY 6,000 lb
SEATING CAPACITY 5
HEADROOM, F/M/R 40.2/38.4 in
LEGROOM, F/M/R 41.6/38.7 in
SHOULDER ROOM, F/M/R 60.2/58.2 in
CARGO VOLUME BEH F/M/R 84.0/33.9 cu ft
TEST DATA
ACCELERATION TO MPH
0-30 2.3; 2.2 sec
0-40 3.4; 3.3
0-50 4.7; 4.4
0-60 6.4; 6.0
0-70 8.3; 7.6
0-80 10.7; 9.6
0-90 13.5; 11.9
0-100 16.8; 14.8
PASSING, 45-65 MPH 3.3; 3.0
QUARTER MILE 14.9 sec @ 94.3 mph; 14.4 sec @ 98.8 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 117; 112 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.79; 0.82 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT 27.4 sec @ 0.63 g (avg); 26.9 sec @ 0.65 g (avg)
TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH 1,600; 1,400 rpm
CONSUMER INFO
BASE PRICE $55,675; $60,175
PRICE AS TESTED $56,075; $72,375
STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL Yes/Yes
AIRBAGS 10: Dual front, front center, f/r side, f/r curtain, driver knee
BASIC WARRANTY 5 yrs/60,000 miles
POWERTRAIN WARRANTY 10 yrs/100,000 miles
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 5 yrs/Unlimited miles
FUEL CAPACITY 21.1 gal
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON 21/25/22; 18/23/20 mpg
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 160/135; 187/147 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.86; 0.97 lb/mile
RECOMMENDED FUEL Unleaded premium

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