Impressively smooth ride quality
Lots of luxury and tech features at an attractive price
Quiet cabin with premium materials
Long warranty coverage
Cons
Base V6 trim is now a lot more expensive
Available third-row seat is pretty small
Subpar fuel economy
What’s new
Subtle exterior detailing tweaks
Instrument cluster and infotainment screen combined into 27-inch display
Restructured trim levels
Part of the first GV80 generation introduced for 2021
Overview
Written by automotive expert Jared Gall
7/17/2024
If you still have a hard time taking Genesis seriously as a luxury brand, the GV80 is your sign to get with the times. This midsize SUV doesn’t just match longstanding luxury brands in feature content; it equals them in feel, fit and finish. The leather is supple, the wood trim feels solid, and the design is striking inside and out. And for 2025, Genesis has spun off an in-vogue coupe model of the GV80, which we review separately. The GV80 feels like a party Genesis is throwing to celebrate its arrival.
Edmunds spotlight: High-tech suspension
Even the most advanced suspensions are usually reactive, meaning the tire rolls over a bump or dip and the spring and damper move accordingly. The GV80’s available Electronically Controlled Suspension with Road Preview, however, is a proactive system. It uses a camera to scan the road ahead, spotting surface irregularities and preparing the suspension at the appropriate wheels. Say you drive over a pothole with the passenger-side tires. The GV80 can individually soften the spring at each corner just before it encounters the pothole, allowing the wheel to glide over it with less of a jolt transmitted to the cabin. It’s a trick bit of tech that is becoming more common on luxury flagships but is still rare at the GV80’s price point.
Competitors to consider
Shoppers looking for a midsize luxury SUV have to sift through an embarrassment of solid choices. The Mercedes-Benz GLE and BMW X5 are among the best all-around entries, while buyers with some financial flexibility looking for something a little more athletic should check out the Porsche Cayenne. For enthusiasts at the rugged end of the spectrum, the Land Rover Defender is available in a bewildering number of configurations, one of which will surely meet your needs and budget.
