Around the World: Genesis GV80
The GV80 is the Genesis brand’s first SUV, as it takes on the European brands. Photos: Genesis USA
Genesis officially launched the GV80, its first sport-utility vehicle from Hyundai’s luxury sub-brand earlier this year, with its second SUV, the GV70 revealed last week.
First seen as a concept vehicle at the 2017 New York auto show, the GV80 is a SUV version of the G80 luxury sedan. The “V” in the GV80 marque represents versatility, says the Sth Korean brand.
The production version was revealed in January, and featured in a super bowl advertisement in the USA.
“GV80 represents the essence of the innovative spirit of Genesis,” said William Lee, Executive Vice President and Global Head of the Genesis Brand. “As we launch GV80, our first luxury flagship SUV, we simultaneously open a new chapter for Genesis.”
The Genesis GV80 has just been launched in Australia, but Hyundai NZ is still evaluating bringing it here.
It will compete in Australia with the BMW X5, Audi Q7, and Mercedes-Benz GLE.
At the entry point is the 2.5T, using a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder turbo petrol engine making 224kW and 442Nm of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic. Then there is the 3.0D AWD diesel engine producing 204kW/588Nm. The top-tier 3.5T AWD uses a new 3.5-litre turbocharged petrol V6 producing 279kW/530Nm.
So, what do global motoring writers think about the luxury SUV?
Top Gear UK
The Genesis GV80, from Sth Korea, is an important player for its parent brand Hyundai.
“Genesis, which is to Hyundai what Lexus is to Toyota, has been talking about doing a big, posh SUV ever since it arrived on the scene in 2015. And now, four and a bit years later, here we have it.
The GV80 might look gargantuan in these pictures, but in reality it’s around the size of a BMW X5. Not small admittedly, but no Rolls-Royce Cullinan or Bentley Bentayga. It’s mostly constructed from steel, but aluminium doors, boot and bonnet mean it only weighs as much as a three-bedroom house, rather than a four.
Luc Donckerwolke, who left Bentley for Genesis, says elements of the GV80’s design will get very familiar indeed. Especially the large ‘Crest’ grille and quad headlights, which Donckerwolke says ‘will become the most recognisable, unique signature of Genesis design’.
The South Koreans love tech, and this being Genesis’ flagship SUV, there’s much to talk about. Augmented reality sat-nav overlays directions on a real-time video feed of the road ahead.
The suspension monitors the road ahead to prepare itself for potholes and speedbumps, and the active cruise control deploys machine learning to learn how you drive, so it can behave in the same way.”
Car Advice Australia
The interior of the GV80 is luxurious with leather seats with cross stitch.
“If you reckon the 2021 Genesis GV80 SUV is an important model for the still relatively young Hyundai flagship brand, you’d be right.
Yes, it showcases the best of what Genesis can do, and for that reason alone it’s a vital new model. It also happens to be a large SUV, though, and Australians tend to like that segment quite a bit.
Therefore, it needs to hit the ground running in [Australia].
Three engines headline the GV80 range, and there are four models to choose from with both RWD and AWD available.
There’s a lot to like across the board there, and potential buyers will face an interesting conundrum choosing between diesel and petrol.
Genesis has lofty aspirations, both internally and outwardly, and on face value alone it’s fair to say the GV80 is one serious step in the right direction. The styling is eye-catching, classy, distinguished and different. That last point might be the most critical. There’s nothing cookie-cutter about the GV80 the way we see it.
Previous Genesis models didn’t step far enough, and perhaps boldly enough, away from their little sibling. That statement needs to be qualified, too, as there’s nothing wrong with Hyundai quality or execution, but the fact the GV80 feels like a unique model is a strong point the way we see it.
Open the door and the quality of the cabin is immediately evident. Beautiful leather trim, lovely detail touches such as the uniformity of the stitching, the contrast between hard and soft-touch surfaces, deep-pile carpet and luxurious-looking controls all suggest a much higher buy-in price than the real price indicates.”
Motor1 USA
The Genesis GV80 will compete with the BMW X5, Audi Q7 and Mercedes GLE.
“People come up with all manner of reasons for buying a luxury car, but there’s one simple fact at the core: They want to be seen. And in the case of mid-size luxury crossovers, the GV80 is worth being seen in. This is a striking car, blessed with a fresh look, crisp lines, eye-catching details, and a colour palette from a team that appreciates esoteric vehicle shades.
The GV80 looks like nothing else in the class, but appreciating the cohesive design and styling takes time. Take the enormous shield-shaped grille and its “G-Matrix” pattern. The contours of the grille itself pop up at the back of the vehicle twin exhausts and its mesh texture ties in neatly with parts of the wheels. In the cabin, you'll see the G-Matrix look on the numerous speaker grilles, too.
Viewed from the front corner, there are other touches, such as the way the front wheel arches almost interrupt the headlights and side grilles. It's easy to imagine that at one point these were two continuous lines. It's a beautiful and unusual element.
On the more conventional side, the GV80 emphasises its rear-drive base with an aggressive character line that surges downwards as it runs from front to back, and then meets with a second line to create a defined haunch. It's a popular trope to complain about the number of crossovers on the road, but if every model looked even half as interesting as the GV80, those complaints would face quick deaths.
The GV80's cabin design is attractive, but it doesn't break the same kind of ground as the exterior. A floating centre console bisects the front third of the cabin and integrates the typical controls (gear selector, an infotainment knob, and a drive mode selector) before surging up to the centre stack.”
Business Insider Australia
The Genesis GV80 gets a new grille thanks to former Bentley designer, Luc Donckerwolke.
USA journalist Kirsten Lee took the Genesis for a test drive.
“The biggest thing you’ll notice from behind the wheel of the GV80 is how quiet it is. Except for bursts of acceleration, you’ll hardly ever hear the engine. Tire and wind noise are nearly nonexistent. This is likely due in part to the GV80’s Road Active Noise Cancellation feature, wherein the speakers emit a frequency that cancels out the sound of whatever’s coming in.
As a final aural feature, there’s also a ‘Sounds of Nature’ menu item you can select, which plays a variety of ambient noises ‘like birds chirping in the woods, a bustling cafe, and a crackling fire’ through the car’s speakers.
The GV80 offers a spacious interior. It’s airy for both front-and rear-passengers and also provides a decent-sized trunk.
Low-speed steering in the GV80 is numb and on the lighter side – meaning that steering the car requires deceptively little effort. It feels overly sensitive without giving the needed feedback.
I like cars to have some weight in their steering; anything with too little resistance doesn’t fill me with as much confidence as I’d like. Especially when I’m navigating something like a large SUV around a parking lot, I want as much feedback as possible.
Happily, the steering feedback gets heavier when you’re travelling at highway speeds. But if you want a fix for the slower stuff, simply putting the car in Sport mode will help add a little weight to the steering.”
