Genesis GV80 vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2025 Genesis GV80 was a testament to sophisticated design, offering a choice between two engines and four trims in Canada. The top Prestige trim, featuring a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged engine, stood out with its refined aesthetics. Genesis maintained its signature two horizontal bar headlights, now enhanced with a micro lens array, and a more pronounced grille. The rear design changes were subtle, but the new Storr Green colour added a fresh touch. Inside, the GV80 impressed with quilted Nappa leather seats and unique interior accents, including basalt and recycled newspaper trims. The centre console, with its tactile dials, provided an alternative way to control the infotainment system, though the touchscreen remained the more convenient option.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid embraced a conservative design, reminiscent of the popular RAV4, but on a larger scale. The Platinum Hybrid Max trim, evaluated in Storm Cloud paint, offered a spacious interior with seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. While the interior emphasized function over form, the Platinum trim added a layer of luxury with leather and artificial suede upholstery. The climate system was user-friendly, but the infotainment interface had its quirks, such as a small volume knob and the absence of a tuning knob. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Grand Highlander provided a practical and comfortable environment for families.

The 2025 Genesis GV80 retained its powertrain options, with a standard 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The top trim featured a more powerful twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine, delivering 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. All trims came with standard all-wheel drive, capable of sending up to 100% of torque to the rear wheels. The GV80 offered various driving modes, including Snow and Eco, to adapt to different conditions. While acceleration was satisfying, the vehicle was best suited for cruising rather than sporty driving. The brakes were firm and effective, ensuring confident stops even on rough roads.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max focused on performance with its turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 net horsepower. This setup allowed the Grand Highlander to accelerate swiftly, aided by two electric motors that eliminated turbo lag. The Hybrid Max achieved a combined fuel economy of 8.8 L/100 km, with a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. During testing, it averaged 9.1 L/100 km on a balanced city and highway route. The ride quality was soft and isolating, though undulations in the road could cause some vertical and lateral movement. Handling was secure, but the vehicle felt large on narrow mountain roads.

The 2025 Genesis GV80 offered a well-equipped interior with power-adjustable heated front seats, heated outboard rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The top trim added four-zone climate control and ventilated seats. However, the seats were uncomfortably rigid, making long trips less enjoyable. The second row provided ample legroom, but the third row, available in the Prestige trim, was best suited for children. Cargo space was expected to be similar to the 2024 model's 990 litres, with a towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid excelled in interior space, offering comfortable seating across three rows and over 2,700 litres of maximum cargo space. The Platinum trim featured leather and artificial suede upholstery, with heated and ventilated front and second-row seats. The second-row captain’s chairs allowed easy access to the third row, which was comfortable for adults and tall teens. Cargo space behind the third row was 586 litres, expanding to 2,761 litres with the second row folded. However, the rear doors required ample space to open, posing challenges for parents with small children.

The 2025 Genesis GV80 featured a 27-inch OLED screen combining a digital gauge cluster and infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, though delayed. The infotainment system, while visually appealing, was hindered by complex menus. A programmable favourite button offered a workaround, but it required sacrificing other shortcuts. Standard technology included wireless charging and four USB-C ports, with an optional 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system providing superior sound quality.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel in higher trims. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and various Toyota Connected Services. While user-friendly, the system lacked the ability to display multiple main-menu screens simultaneously. The digital voice assistant responded accurately to commands, enhancing the user experience. The Platinum trim included a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and a JBL premium audio system.

The 2025 Genesis GV80 came equipped with advanced driver aids, including lane keeping assist, forward collision avoidance, and blind-spot monitoring. Upper trims added features like remote smart parking and a 360-degree camera system. The Highway Drive Assist II system, with an attention monitor, worked well but had issues detecting certain sunglasses. The 2024 model received high safety ratings, but the 2025 model had not yet been rated by NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features. Proactive Driving Assist, while standard, was often found irritating and turned off. The safety tech operated accurately, though the lane keep assist occasionally strayed too close to lane markers. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA but fell short of IIHS's Top Safety Pick due to headlight performance and frontal-impact protection.