2025 Genesis GV80 vs 2026 BMW X3

The Genesis GV80 was introduced in 2021 and has proved itself to be a strong contender as a luxury crossover. Although the powertrain remains the same for 2025, the mid-size SUV gets a redesign both inside and out, adding a bit more sophistication, two new exterior colours and some sumptuous interior materials. We’ll see a sporty GV80 Coupe with a supercharged engine later in 2025, but for now this traditional crossover is the company’s answer to luxury at an affordable price.

Verdict: Genesis improved the technology of the GV80 for 2025 by adding wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the SUV returns poor fuel economy and the seats are far from comfortable. Still, the GV80 undercuts its European counterparts on price and definitely deserves a test drive.

BMW offers the 2026 X3 in two flavours: 30 xDrive and M50. The latter is tuned for performance, but the base X3 30 xDrive is so good that you might be happy trading the M50’s outright speed and sheer capability for significant savings. BMW redesigned this compact luxury crossover in 2025, and the only tweaks for 2026 make the base model look and feel a little more upscale inside.

Verdict: For this review, we evaluated the BMW X3 M50. It was terrific, but with a sticker price more than $15,000 higher than the rewarding X3 30 xDrive, it’s hard to justify the extra money.