2021 Genesis GV80 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

A young brand like Genesis has advantages and disadvantages over mature brands. With half of its models just now entering their second generations of production, a new model like the GV80 is not hampered by a long legacy of design language and expectations. As Genesis’s first SUV, the GV80 is, in some respects, a clean-sheet design. Still, it must tie in with the sedans in the lineup, too, carrying styling cues the brand wants to establish as signature looks.

Mature brands like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Cadillac have a whole catalogue of legacy design features to draw upon when they bring out a new model, as well as a broad lineup of current products to echo and emulate. This legacy can be a burden at times, which gives Genesis an advantage when it comes to innovation.

The GV80 does a good job of walking this tightrope, bringing some of the design flair of the new G80 sedan to its SUV form. The SUV’s two-box design is made elegant by a long hood with a short front overhang and long front-axle-to-dashboard distance, accented by two slit vents on each front fender. A massive trapezoidal grille opening is filled by a diamond mesh, with the Genesis flying “G” cloisonné badge mounted above. Along with the “Quad Lamp” LED headlight array (two lines of lights on each side of the grille), this grille/badge/headlamp arrangement has been developed as the signature Genesis look.

Big wheel arches hover closely over 19-inch, 20-inch, or 22-inch wheels (depending on trim level), all aluminum-alloy wheels. The rear of the GV80 echoes the front with Quad Lamp taillights that wrap around the corners of the vehicle onto the tailgate. Twin trapezoidal tailpipes in the same shape as the grille poke out from the lower rear fascia. Paint and trim quality are both excellent, and panel gaps are all uniform and tight.

Inside, the GV80 is really special. For a vehicle loaded with technology, the dashboard is remarkably sleek and uncluttered, with an emphasis on the horizontal accentuating width and spaciousness. The HVAC vents are tucked beneath a top layer of the dash and are incorporated as a horizontal design element. The centre console and centre stack are integrated into a bridge-like structure, with plenty of storage, two cupholders, and minimal controls and buttons. Thanks to shift-by-wire technology, the traditional gear-selector lever has been replaced by a rotary dial and button. A 14.5-inch high-definition LCD colour widescreen display is mounted at the top-centre of the dash. The cabin is full of authentic materials—real wood, real metal, genuine leather—beautifully finished and fit. It’s a really lovely luxury SUV interior.

The GV80 comes with a choice of two engines: a turbocharged 2.5-litre gasoline-direct-injection-plus-multi-port-injection four-cylinder engine, tuned to produce 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque; and a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 (also both direct injection and multi-port injection) that puts out 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard on all models sold in Canada; rear-wheel drive (RWD) is not offered. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard with each engine and comes with paddle shifters.

The GV80 rides on a 2,955 mm wheelbase, with independent multi-link suspension at each end. 3.5T models come with standard electronically controlled suspension with road preview, which can smooth your ride by using the forward-facing camera to help predict road conditions and pre-load suspension components accordingly. An electronic limited-slip differential is included on the 3.5T Prestige model, handy for off-pavement excursions and extreme weather conditions.

Each model (2.5T and 3.5T) has a unique character, wrapped up in more than just the size and output of its engine and involving the GV80’s packaging. The four-cylinder turbocharged engine's 300 hp is perfectly sufficient for the GV80 2.5T’s weight. It is quick enough and lively enough for most driving situations you’ll encounter but may sound and feel a little thrashy when pushed.

The 3.5T is heavier yet smoother and stronger, and it doesn’t feel or sound like it’s being pushed to its limits even when flogged on public roads. Part of this is pure physics and mechanics—the V6 engine has more power on tap and its layout has a more pleasing sound (to most ears). Part of it is technology, as the 3.5T is equipped with active noise cancellation, which quiets the cabin by emitting sound waves that cancel undesirable noise. Many potential buyers will not notice the difference; others will find the difference between the two engines fundamental.

Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption estimates for the Genesis GV80 2.5T are 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres city/9.5 highway/10.5 combined. The GV80 3.5T is rated at 12.9 L/100 km city/10.4 hwy/11.8 combined.

The GV80 is a complex and sophisticated machine. We had only a few hours behind the wheel to explore, which was just enough time to scratch the surface of its features and capabilities. Just looking at the centre console and centre stack, there’s a confluence of technology, design, and ergonomics, resulting in some cool-looking and cool-feeling controls.

We’ve already mentioned the rotary gear selector. Above that, there’s a circular multimedia controller with a concave design and knurled metal finish. Its outer ring has a dual control capability, both four-way and rotational. The centre pad inside the controller is both a clickable button and a character-recognition pad. The HVAC control panel at the top of the centre console/stack has capacitive touch buttons that give both audible and tactile feedback, with a shortcut function that allows you to swipe to affect fan speed. The panel employs “intelligent masking” to lock out buttons that are not involved in the current function, preventing accidental misuse. If all of this sounds involved... well, it is. But it’s the kind of involvement that will become second-nature to owners after a few days of use, and may prove to be a better interface for many.

The GV80 second row is comfortable and roomy for two adults, three in a pinch. Power second-row rear seats are available, along with power second-row window shades, three-row climate control, and power rear-door closure—all luxury features. A sunroof is standard. A third row of seats is standard on 3.5T models only, increasing passenger capacity to seven, but it's not available on 2.5T trim levels even as an optional extra. The third-row seats have a power-fold function and are split 50/50.

The infotainment system has become the heart of a modern luxury SUV. The GV80 uses the sixth-generation Genesis UX. A four-year-old brand with a sixth-generation interface speaks to how rapidly technology evolves. It uses all of the real estate on its 14.5-inch HD touchscreen with user-configurable split-screen displays. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported. The system is connected to the cloud and receives over-the-air updates. Individual users (drivers) can set up cloud profiles so the system will automatically configure to their liking. An on-board navigation system is standard on all GV80 models.

Android users can access a near-field communication (NFC) digital key function—replacing the key fob with an app in their phone and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) sensors in the vehicle. The GV80 can recognize the driver’s profile, unlock the vehicle, and configure the SUV according to the cloud-stored settings. Owners can also share their NFC key with other Android users. However, Apple doesn’t allow third-party applications to operate BLE on their devices—yet.

The GV80 comes with five years of complimentary Genesis Connected Services, which provides automated collision notification, SOS emergency assistance, monthly vehicle health report, maintenance reminder, enhanced roadside assistance, remote start with climate control, remote door lock/unlock, and destination search and download with send-to-car functionality.

A head-up display is standard on 2.5T Advanced and all 3.5T models. A 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument cluster is standard on the 3.5T AWD Prestige. The system uses an infrared camera to track eye movement and dual-layer LCD screens to display a 3D image to the driver.

The standard audio system comes with nine speakers, but the crowning jewel is a Lexicon Quantum Logic Surround audio system with 21 speakers and 1050 watts of amplification.

The Genesis GV80 has been rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), its highest rating. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives it a five-star rating overall with four-star ratings for frontal and rollover crash tests.

The GV80 comes with 10 airbags, including a front-centre airbag, along with vehicle stability management system, electronic stability control with the traction control system, anti-lock braking, brake assist, and driver assistance and safety features including blind-spot collision avoidance assist with rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, forward collision-avoidance assist with emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-change oncoming, junction-turning, junction-crossing, lane-change side, and evasive steering torque assist. Available features include driver attention warning, blind view monitor, safe-exit assist with power child lock, and more.

The GV80 has adaptive cruise control with machine learning, which gives it the ability to learn each driver’s behaviour behind the wheel in order to tailor cruise-control function based on following distance, reaction speed, and acceleration strength. Highway-driving assist helps maintain following distances and can perform lane changes (initiated by the driver) and adjusts its position within the lane in response to the proximity of other vehicles. When it gets to its destination, the GV80 can use its available Remote Smart Parking Assist to automate perpendicular parking and parallel parking in both forward and reverse—in some cases, with the driver outside of the SUV.

In Canada, every new Genesis vehicle is sold with all-in pricing that includes Genesis At Home services such as delivered test drives, available online purchasing, home delivery and service pick-up, and five years of scheduled maintenance. The 2021 Genesis GV80 comes in a fairly simple range of packages and pricing:

The 2.5T Select is priced at $64,500; Advanced starts at $70,000.

The 3.5T Advanced starts at $80,000; Prestige starts at $85,000.

Genesis is hoping that you’re comparing GV80 with the BMW X5 (starting at $77,500; prices in this section are MSRP before fees), Audi Q7 (starting at $69,200), Mercedes-Benz GLE (starting at $69,900), Lexus RX (starting at $57,250), Acura MDX (starting at $56,405), and Volvo XC90 (starting at $64,750). We’d add other midsize SUVs such as the Cadillac XT6 (starting at $57,998), Land Rover Range Rover Velar (starting at $63,500), Infiniti QX60 (2022 pricing to be announced), and Jaguar F-Pace (starting at $60,350) to this crowded field.

The GV80 comes with a five-year/100,000-kilometre powertrain limited warranty, a five-year/100,000-kilometre new vehicle limited warranty, a five-year/unlimited-kilometre anti-perforation warranty, and five years/unlimited kilometres of roadside assistance. It also comes with five years/100,000 kilometres of complimentary scheduled maintenance and Genesis Connected Services.

The 2021 GV80 marks a very important milestone for Genesis as a brand, the point at which it begins to extend itself from a sedan brand with limited offerings to a full-line brand with both SUVs and sedans on the showroom floor. The GV80 is just the first of a host of Genesis SUVs to come. Shoppers with open minds will find a lot to like about the GV80, from its looks to build quality, from its luxury and convenience to its technology features. While Genesis doesn’t have the history and legacy of its competitors, the GV80 represents a very solid foundation.