2024 Genesis GV80 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Shop for a 2024 GV80, and you’ll choose between the 2.5T (turbocharged four-cylinder) and 3.5T (twin-turbocharged V6) models. Both engines are offered in Canada with the Advanced trim while the Prestige trim is exclusive to the V6. Prices range from $$76,000 to $92,500. In Canada, Genesis pricing is all-inclusive, no-haggle, and also includes five years of scheduled maintenance, at-home concierge service, and more. Our GV80 3.5T test vehicle arrived in the top-shelf U.S. trim, Prestige Signature, which is not available in Canada. Some details as shown are therefore not available for the Canadian market.

With the Prestige trim, six exterior colours are available, paired with a variety of stylish 22-inch wheel designs. Interior details include diamond-stitched Nappa premium leather, a suede headliner, and metallic-finish accents that ooze luxury. In addition, ambient lighting, a 3D digital instrument cluster, and a wide touchscreen display for the infotainment system underscore the GV80’s flagship Genesis SUV status.

Overall, there is no mistaking a GV80 for anything but a luxury vehicle. But we don’t think the Americans are getting anything exceptional with the Prestige Signature trim and recommend our neighbours opt for the regular Prestige trim, which may partly explain why the former is missing from our market.

In the GV80 2.5T, a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine supplies 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, commendable specs from this size and type of engine. How so? The 2.5T has more power than the larger V6 engines in some of the GV80’s rivals, such as the Acura MDX and Infiniti QX60. Our 3.5T test vehicle had the twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, which produces 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain makes for more satisfying performance but proves thirsty on the road. Natural Resources Canada says it will return 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, but we observed 13.7 L/100 km on our evaluation loop. Both engines pair with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard all-wheel-drive system. Drivers can select from five different driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Custom, and Snow. Every GV80 provides 20.5 centimetres of ground clearance and is capable of towing up to 2,720 kilograms (6,000 pounds) when properly equipped. In addition to its more robust power, the GV80 3.5T includes upgraded front brakes and an adaptive damping suspension.

The GV80 3.5T serves up an unexpectedly rewarding driving experience. Quiet and composed while providing a good sense of the road surface, it is luxurious yet communicative in urban and suburban settings. Swift acceleration makes it easy to merge onto highways and to pass slower traffic, and while you’re more aware of surface irregularities than you might prefer, it has a sporty feel to it. The GV80 was a terrific road-tripper but for one issue related to seat comfort. You’ll find more details on that below.

For mountain road driving, the P265/40R22 all-season tires supply commendable grip. In combination with the adaptive damping suspension, powerful twin-turbo V6, snappy eight-speed automatic transmission, and AWD system, the GV80 proves more athletic than expected. The larger front brakes do a good job of resisting fade after repeated hard use. Only the steering is unremarkable, but it also doesn’t call negative attention to itself.

Speaking of the steering, the wheel in the 2024 GV80 has a two-spoke design that is open on the bottom, making it comfortable to grip during long-distance drives. Plus, the large oval horn pad and airbag cover represents retro done right. In 2025, a more conventional three-spoke steering wheel will replace it, eliminating the old-school luxury vibe and the ability to hold the wheel at the six o’clock position.

In 2024, only the GV80 3.5T Prestige offers a third-row seat. Depending on the trim level, a GV80 will feature real or Nappa leather. Standard features include heated and ventilated front seats, heated outboard rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, triple-zone climate control, and a power hands-free liftgate. Prestige adds ventilation to the rear seats and power-operated side window shades.

All of that sounds promising with regard to comfort. Unfortunately, you sit on the GV80’s seats instead of in them, and the diamond-stitched surfaces feel like bubble wrap under your butt.

On an hours-long trip, the driver’s cushion became so uncomfortable that we had to pull off the highway and get out for a walk. Also, the rear seats don’t power very far back, so while you can recline them for a more relaxing ride, you can’t stretch your legs much.

Though second-row legroom fails to impress, the cabin's storage space is commendable, and cargo space measures 988 litres behind the second row. Fold the back seats down, and a GV80 will swallow up to 2,378 litres of cargo.

If you like traditional analog gauges, get a 2024 Genesis GV80 while you can. Next year, they’ll disappear in favour of a digital instrument display. If you prefer digital, the Prestige trim boasts a 12.3-inch display with a subtle 3D appearance.

All 2024 GV80 models have a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display, but since Genesis mounts it so far away, you’re likely to use the round control dial on the centre console. Make sure not to confuse it with the similarly sized transmission gear selector located next to it.

The standard infotainment package includes a navigation system, SiriusXM satellite radio, and wired versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Genesis Connected Services and wireless smartphone charging are also standard.

Though Apple CarPlay and Android Auto require a USB cable, we had no trouble streaming music from Apple Music or Pandora via Bluetooth. Also, the voice-recognition system is easy to use, so finding points of interest and programming destinations wasn’t any trouble at all. Graphically, the GV80’s infotainment display is pleasing, the user interface is simple and intuitive, and the short but wide display screen doesn’t suffer much glare.

Genesis also equips the GV80 with a digital key system allowing you to use your smartphone to unlock and start the SUV. Prestige trim vehicles have a Lexicon premium sound system, which Genesis will swap out for Bang & Olufsen components in 2025. A head-up display (HUD) is standard in Canada, which is particularly helpful as it shows you when another vehicle is in the GV80’s blind spots, as seen in the photo.

As you would expect, the Genesis GV80 comes with numerous standard and available advanced driving-assistance systems (ADAS) and safety features. Highlights include a camera-based Blind-Spot View Monitor, Remote Smart Parking Assist (autonomous parking capability), and Highway Driving Assist, the Hyundai/Kia/Genesis system that combines adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assist and lane-change assist.

During our long drive, we extensively used Highway Driving Assist (HDA). It works well, though it is less desirable to use in moderate to heavy traffic moving at higher speeds. In that environment, lane-shopping motorists frequently cut into and out of the gap ahead of the GV80, causing occasional excessive braking and surges of power. Taking full control results in a smoother, more predictable drive.

Still, in other situations, such as light or dense, slow-moving traffic, HDA works beautifully. It is a remarkably sophisticated technology and seems ready to make the leap to hands-free driving capability.

Another compelling ADAS is the Blind-Spot View Monitor. Using cameras, the Blind-Spot View Monitor shows what’s in the GV80’s blind spots by displaying a video feed within the 12.3-inch digital instrument panel when you’ve signaled a lane change. That feature, in addition to the HUD showing blind-spot warnings and the standard active blind-spot warning technology, provides a safety net when changing lanes.

Lastly, the GV80 offers a Remote Smart Parking Assist system. Like many such technologies, it can take full control and park the SUV in a parallel or perpendicular parking space. However, it can also perform the task when the driver is standing outside of the Genesis but within close proximity to the SUV. Using a button on the remote key fob, you can command the GV80 to park itself in a parallel or perpendicular space.

While the GV80’s collision-avoidance tech can help you avoid an accident, there is good news if a crash occurs anyway. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the GV80 a Top Safety Pick+ rating in 2024, the highest one possible. Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the GV80 a five-star overall rating. However, in the frontal-impact test, the driver and passenger seating positions each earned a four-star rating.

Genesis packages the GV80 as a rival to the Audi Q7, BMW X5, and Mercedes-Benz GLE. Compared to those European alternatives, the Genesis offers attractive exterior styling, artful interior design, plenty of power, competitive technology, and impressive value.

In addition to saving you money on price, the GV80 boasts complimentary maintenance and connected services, and valet pick-up and drop-off for dealership service. However, especially when equipped with the twin-turbo V6 engine, the GV80 guzzles gas. Typically, in our experience, the powerplants in the German trio are more efficient.

Fortunately, Genesis need not promise a cost-effective ownership experience to compete on equal footing with Audi, BMW, and Mercedes. The 2024 GV80 is, in most ways, worthy of consideration. In 2025, the upcoming changes will improve its competitive edge. Just make sure you give the seats a good, long tryout, because long-distance comfort is easily the most disappointing thing about the Genesis GV80.

Note: Images show a US model.