Genesis GV80

GV80 key specifications

From fuel-cell concept to the brand's first SUV

Genesis previewed the GV80 at the New York International Auto Show in 2017 with a concept powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The production car, shown in January 2020, kept the long bonnet and the two-line lamps but switched to conventional engines. It went on sale in South Korea first, reached the United States in November 2020 as a 2021 model and entered Europe in 2021, when Genesis launched as a separate brand there.

The GV80 uses the Hyundai-Kia M3 platform for rear-wheel-drive cars, shared in principle with the Genesis saloons. The doors, bonnet and tailgate are aluminium to save weight. The smaller Genesis GV70 followed in late 2020, and the Genesis G80 saloon is the closest relative under the skin.

Genesis GV80 engines and performance

All versions use an eight-speed automatic. The old version of this page gave 249 hp for both the 2.5T and the diesel. The official ratings are 224 kW (304 PS) for the petrol four and 204 kW (278 PS) for the diesel at launch. By our calculation the 3.5T moves about 7.5 kg per kW at its lightest kerb weight of 2,095 kg, against about 9.0 kg per kW for the 2.5T.

On the WLTP cycle in the UK, the diesel was rated at roughly 9 l/100 km (about 32 mpg in British gallons) and the 2.5T petrol at about 11 l/100 km (about 26 mpg). Our fuel cost calculator turns those figures into a yearly budget.

Chassis, cabin and technology

The front suspension uses double wishbones and the rear a multi-link layout. An optional electronically controlled system reads the road ahead through the front camera and navigation data and adjusts the dampers before the car reaches a bump. The steering is a rack-mounted electric unit.

Inside, the launch car combined a 12.3-inch instrument display with a 14.5-inch central screen and a touch panel for the climate control. The front seats can be fitted with several air cells that change their shape to support the driver on long trips, and the second row is electrically adjustable on higher trims. A third row with two seats was optional; Genesis added a six-seat version with two separate middle-row chairs for 2022. With five seats the boot holds 735 litres. At almost five metres, the GV80 is worth measuring against a home garage with our garage fit tool.

Euro NCAP rating and driver assistance

Euro NCAP gave the GV80 five stars on 26 May 2021, when Genesis launched in Europe. The scores were 91 % for adult occupants, 87 % for children, 66 % for vulnerable road users and 88 % for the safety assistance systems. Ten airbags are standard, including a centre airbag between the front seats, and the GV80 earned full points in the side-impact tests. ANCAP awarded five stars in the same year with very similar figures.

Standard assistance includes forward collision-avoidance with junction turning, blind-spot collision-avoidance and lane keeping. The cruise control can learn the driver's habits for following distance and acceleration, and remote parking lets the car move in and out of tight spaces with the key.

Recalls and the diesel issue

The early diesel caused the GV80's main quality problem. In June 2020 Genesis stopped deliveries of the 3.0 diesel because of engine vibration linked to carbon deposits, and in September 2020 it recalled 8,783 cars for engine stalling. Wikipedia counts eight recalls between the launch and its latest update, four of them involving the engine. Buyers of a used diesel should ask for proof that the recall work has been done.

2023 facelift and GV80 Coupe

Genesis showed the updated GV80 and the new GV80 Coupe on 27 September 2023, and the facelift went on sale in South Korea on 11 October 2023. The changes include:

• new headlamps, grille and wheels, with the length now quoted at 4,940 mm;
• one 27-inch OLED screen that replaces the separate 12.3-inch and 14.5-inch displays;
• two 14.6-inch screens for rear passengers and a Bang & Olufsen sound system in place of Lexicon;
• redesigned climate controls and centre console.

The Coupe has a sloping roof, its own front bumper and grille, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and carbon trim. It can be ordered with the 3.5T e-S/C engine, which adds a 48-volt electric supercharger to the V6 for 305 kW and 549 Nm.

Sales by year

By our calculation South Korea and the United States together took 94 % of all GV80s sold in 2024, so Europe remains a small market for the model.

GV80 against its rivals

The GV80 competes with the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Audi Q7, Volvo XC90 and Lexus RX. At its UK launch in 2021 the GV80 started at 54,000 pounds, about €63,000, which undercut most German rivals with comparable equipment. Genesis also included a five-year care plan with servicing, warranty and roadside assistance. Our published comparison of the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 shows two of its main European rivals side by side.