2024 Genesis GV80 Review: Luxurious Usurper

Genesis continues to impress with its range of luxury vehicles at affordable prices, built using expertise garnered from its parent brand, Hyundai. The Genesis GV80 was the first SUV produced by the automaker, and in its latest iteration, it more than meets the expectations of shoppers who normally browse the German catalogs for the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, Audi Q7, or BMW X5. With its four-cylinder engine, the GV80 is more powerful than its base-level rivals, while the more potent 375-horsepower turbo V6 keeps up with the top-tier trims. In every regard other than status, it is their equal, and it may not be long before that changes, too. With a GV80 Coupe on the horizon for the USA, the current GV80 is only getting more appealing as time goes by.

New for 2024

The new Genesis GV80 SUV receives minor updates that include standard Wi-Fi hotspot capability, and the Prestige Signature trim returns. Several exterior colors have been discontinued for the year. Lastly, the Advanced Package no longer adds a compact spare tire, but rather a tire repair kit. A facelifted model is in the cards for 2025.

2024 Genesis GV80 Price: Which One to Buy

For a premium vehicle, the price of the 2024 Genesis GV80 is actually quite reasonable, starting at $57,450 for the 2.5T. If you want the more potent V6 engine, you'll be looking at the 3.5T, which has an MSRP of $64,600. However, both of these trims can be upgraded with the Advanced Package, adding $6,5000 to the bill for the 2.5T or $7,350 for the 3.5T. The Prestige subtrim adds $18,250 to the 2.5T and $19.750 to the 3.5T. The latter model also gets a Prestige Matte option, which adds $21,250 to the price. Returning for 2024 is the 3.5T Prestige Signature, which includes the Prestige Package as standard and sells for $81,500. None of these figures account for the reasonable $1,195 destination charge.

Interior and Features

A combination of lavish materials and economy-minded design principles create a cabin that looks amazing and feels naturally comfortable.

No matter how powerful or pretty a car is, if the interior isn't up to par, premium shoppers won't give it a second look. In the case of the GV80, a third and fourth look are probable. That's just how well-appointed it is. You'll struggle to find any cheap materials, and anywhere you are likely to place your hands is coated in something pleasing to the touch. In keeping with this focus on comfort, all the controls are laid out in a simple and ergonomic manner, though the touchscreen embedded in the dashboard may feel a little alien to those who are used to having it lower down - the infotainment setup in the GV80 isn't as easily reached. It's easy enough to operate, though. Upgrading to the uppermost trim gets you a snazzy 3D digital display.

Space

The Genesis GV80 is one of the many midsize SUVs that offer buyers the option of a five- or seven-seater configuration. Unfortunately, as is often the case, the latter feels forced and leaves very little room for full-size adults in the third row while eating up far too much of the cargo space - it's also limited to one trim. Luckily, even when you squeeze in an extra row, the first two offer more than enough interior space for passengers of any size. Naturally, comfort is a given with plush and supportive seats, with those in the front being power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated as standard. Getting inside is easy thanks to the step-in height and raised roof, and finding a suitable driving position is a simple matter. Visibility is quite good, and any blind spots are covered by the driver aids.

Cargo

Sticking with the five-seat configuration leaves you with an ample 34.9 cubic feet of cargo space, which is perfectly on par with what direct segment rivals supply. But if you really want the extra seats, you'll have to settle for just 11.6 cubes. Luckily, the third row folds down easily to get you the standard figure, while folding the second row expands the total area to 84 cu-ft.

For small items, the cabin offers several solutions, including a pair of cupholders in the front hidden beneath a folding lid just ahead of another covered bin, a spacious cubby under the armrest, a standard glove compartment, and more than adequate door pockets. The second row gets another pair of cupholders found within the fold-down armrest.

Materials and Colors

Leatherette is the default upholstery inside the GV80, with interior colors differing depending on how you paint the exterior. These include Black or Urban Ground/Beige with Olive Ash trim, and Black/Beige with Metallic trim. Upgrading to the Advanced Package replaces the upholstery with leather, Ultramarine Blue/Dune with Olive Ash being added to the palette. Even plusher Nappa leather coats the seats when you opt for the Prestige Package, while the exclusive Prestige Matte Package installs a suede headliner.

Features and Infotainment

To compete with high-end luxury rivals, the Genesis SUV comes with a long list of standard features, often more so than you'd get for free from other brands. All models have the Standard Package by default, which gets you 12-way power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, a digital key, push-button start, an eight-inch digital gauge cluster, and a wireless device charger. The infotainment is controlled through a 14.5-inch HD touchscreen that includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, SiriusXM, and HD Radio, paired with a 12-speaker sound system. If you want more, the Advanced Package adds ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a 21-speaker Lexicon sound system. The final package is the Prestige, which upgrades to a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, and tri-zone climate control. The Prestige Signature is its own trim completely on models with the 3.5T engine, and sees a pair of heated and ventilated captain's chairs installed in the second row, along with an extra wireless device charger.

Performance

With quick and confident acceleration and an extremely comfortable ride, the GV80 is the epitome of what a luxury cruiser should be.

As standard, the Genesis GV80 comes with a 2.5-liter turbo-four engine that makes 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. This is on par with what other luxury automakers bring to the table in their entry-level trims, and it is enough to move the large SUV with moderate gusto. However, the available 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375 hp and 391 lb-ft is where the fun is. Both powertrains come paired with a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission that sends outputs to an all-wheel drivetrain only.

Despite our inference, the GV80 is not a high-performance or thrilling driver. Rather, it is a relaxed cruiser that never struggles to deliver power on demand, with quick straight-line acceleration. The Genesis GV80 can get from 0-60 mph in around 5.5 seconds with the V8, or a slower mid-six-second range with the four-cylinder, and reaches a top speed of 149 mph. The driving experience is unsurprisingly effortless, with light steering and a very plush suspension. AWD gives you confidence no matter the weather, but it doesn't acquit the SUV with real off-road capabilities. However, it can tow a respectable 6,000 pounds.

Fuel Efficiency

Most luxury cars aren't too concerned with their gas mileage, and the Genesis GV80's mpg returns reflect that. The base four-cylinder engine manages just 20/24/22 mpg across the city/high/way/combined cycles, while the V6 returns 18/23/20 mpg. This is well below what BMW and Mercedes rivals offer. Unfortunately, the Genesis also has the lowest fuel capacity of 21.1 gallons, so it can only travel for a maximum range of 464 miles in its most efficient configuration.

Safety

Equipped with loads of advanced driver assists as standard, the GV80 earns top marks from safety organizations.

The most recent safety review of the Genesis GV80 from the NHTSA rated it at five stars out of five overall. As for the IIHS, it awarded the SUV a Top Safety Pick+ award last year and scored it Good in each of the categories it tested, aside from headlights, which received Acceptable.

Standard safety features include an impressive ten airbags, ABS, and stability control. The driver assists comprise a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, highway driving assist, lane-keep assist, lane following assist, forward collision avoidance, and a driver attention system. Move up the available trim packages unlocks a surround-view camera, remote parking assist, rear collision mitigation, and parking collision warning.

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Reliability

Its affiliation with Hyundai stands it in good stead, so it makes sense that the Genesis GV80 boasts a reliability score of 82 out of 100 from J.D. Power. This reputation is backed up by no recalls issued for the current year and only one for 2023, the reason being the possibility of seat belt pretensioners exploding.

Also inherited from its parent company, the 2024 Genesis GV80 has a great warranty that covers five years/60,000 miles of general repairs and ten years/100,000 miles of coverage for the powertrain. Roadside assistance is provided for the first five years with no mileage limitations.

Warranty

Design

To appeal to consumers in the USA, an SUV needs to be bold, but a luxury car also needs to be sophisticated, which is a difficult balance to strike. Genesis manages just this with the GV80, starting with a very large mesh grille that takes up most of the front fascia. A set of split LED headlights sits astride this, matched by a set of LED brake lights at the rear. Below these sit two large pentagonal exhaust outlets, and almost everything is accented in chrome. That is unless you opt for the Prestige Signature trim, which gets dark chrome accents instead. As standard, 19-inch wheels rest within the large arches, but you can upgrade to 20- or 22-inch variants as you sort through the available packages.

Verdict: Is The 2024 Genesis GV80 A Good SUV?

The 2024 GV80 continues to cement the Genesis brand in the general consumer consciousness as a viable alternative to expensive luxury names like Mercedes-Benz and BMW. It opens up the possibility for buyers on a budget to own something more premium than they ever expected at a reasonable price. But even at a discount, the GV80 comes outfitted with loads of standard features, especially in the driver-assistance department. Inside, Genesis doesn't skimp on quality, but it is the focus on style and reliability that will ensure the brand continues to gain traction and appeal, and we look forward to seeing how it updates this potentially three-row SUV moving forward to keep up with the competition and growing demand.