Luxury automakers are taking the auto market by storm in what looks like a long-lasting revolution, and Hyundai Motor joined the movement by introducing its Genesis lineup in 2015. Genesis Motor’s way of bursting into the luxury SUV sector was the introduction of the GV80 in 2020, a vehicle that made a bold statement in the market.
The 2023 GV80 combines bold styling with outstanding performance and high-tech safety features. To get some of the standard features of the GV80 in another SUV, you will have to pay a few extra thousand. With buyers realizing that they can get luxury, power, and modern technology for fewer dollars, we expect luxury SUVs with pricing at the lower end of the class to challenge the big names on the market. In the meantime, here’s what Global SUV thinks you should know about the 2023 Genesis GV80.
The GV80 Is Stunning And Athletic
The GV80’s stately design is one of its impressive features. At the front, Quad Lamps flank the oversized grille. The lighting technology is wrapped in a stylish, two-line design that continues around the sides of the SUV, housing the door handles and creating a waistline. Thanks to the same lighting design and the roofline ending in a roof spoiler, the rear profile of the Genesis GV80 is equally eye-catching.
With 194.7 inches from nose to tail and 77.8 inches from left to right, the 2023 Genesis GV80 falls in the mid-size luxury SUV market segment. As expected, the 5-seater SUV offers more room than most compact SUVs, enough for a seven-seat configuration. The SUV’s signature design element is the G-Matrix pattern, appearing on the headlamps, tail lamps, Crest Grille, and wheels. Generally, the GV80 appears athletic, and its voluptuous shape is part of what makes it a premium SUV.
But It Looks Like Another Guy On The Block
Seeing the oversized grille and other design cues, many gearheads believe that the GV80 has taken some design inspiration from the world-renowned Bentayga, but they may be right. Luc Donckerwolke, present head designer for Genesis, was the design director at Volkwagen Group when it first introduced the Bentley Bentayga. Whether that explains the similarity in looks or not, the GV80 is stunning, and the Bentayga’s design cues look good on it.
Turbocharged To Impress
While the GV80 looks classy and luxurious, it is rugged enough to ace different terrains. Genesis offers two engine options, each with an 8-speed automatic transmission to breathe power to all 4 wheels. The standard 2.5-liter turbocharged inline 4 cylinder delivers 300hp and 311 lb. ft of torque. However, for better performance, the buyer can opt for the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, which delivers 375hp and 391 lb. ft of torque. With a turbo engine, the GV80 does not need a V8 before impressing on the road. And it is fuel-efficient, with 20 miles per gallon in the city and 24 on the highway.
The GV80 has five drive modes (Comfort, Snow, Eco, Sport, Custom), all adjusting transmission and suspension to match the demands of different driving conditions. The standard AWD can challenge most terrains, but an Electronic Limited-Slip Differential that automatically distributes power to the left and right rear wheels depending on the terrain is also available. What’s more? The mid-size SUV can control suspension electronically by using one of the forward-facing cameras to identify differences in upcoming road surfaces, thereby minimizing shock and impact.
Loaded, Yet Simple, Interior
Genesis combined adjustable ambient lighting with a tastefully finished interior to create a different environment in the cabin of the GV80. While a lot is going on inside, Genesis made the leather-lined cabin appear minimalistic. We can’t help but notice the burled-wood trim, perforated inserts on the door panels, metal accents, etc. A 12.3″ digital instrument cluster sits behind the steering wheel, providing clear images of gauges. However, the most attractive element in the cabin seems to be the slim-shaped 14.5″ HD touchscreen with a floating design. It is the infotainment system and can be activated by voice or hand gestures.
The GV80’s interior has everything it needs to offer comfort and luxury. The cabin is spacious enough for an optional third row, and the seats are comfortable. For a better mood and expansive views, a panoramic sunroof is available.
The GV80 Puts You In Safe Hands
Safety is one of the most significant selling points of the GV80, and SUV lived up to the hype when it saved the famous golfer Tiger Wood’s life. With modern safety technology, the SUV tracks your eye movements and alerts you when you are distracted. Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, keep the car at the center of the lane, while Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist avoids running into slowing vehicles and pedestrians ahead.
Integrating external cameras with other programs, the vehicle monitors blind spots, avoids rear collisions, and monitors oncoming traffic to keep you safe when exiting the car. While there are many safety features, what is thought to have saved Tiger Wood’s life, which is also worth mentioning, were the 10 airbags in the front and rear seats.
Pricing and Competition
The 2023 GV80 has three different powertrain options, with the 2.5T I4 AWD starting at $55,500, the 3.5T V6 AWD at $62,700, and the 3.5T V6 AWD Advanced+ starting at $70,600. The only difference between the last two powertrains is the 7-seat, 3rd-row seating. As a result, we believe the 2023 GV80 can challenge rivals like the 2023 Audi Q7 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE.
Starting at $58,695, the base trim of the 2023 Audi Q7 costs about $3700 more than the 2.5T GV80. While the Q7 offers a commendable driving experience, the standard engine delivers 261hp, which is 39hp less than what the standard GV80 delivers. The GV80 also beats the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE in performance and engine specs, with the latter boasting only 254 hp and 273lb-ft of torque. However, the GV80 costs about $600 less. Compared to the dramatic 2023 Cadillac Lyriq, the GV80 costs about $4000 less, but the Caddy offers more power and, if it counts, an impressive light show.
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To Sum It Up
The 2023 Genesis GV80 offers most of what buyers want from a luxury SUV except a German badge on the grille. If that is not a dealbreaker, buyers might want to save a few extra bucks by going for it. And by the way, the 2023 Genesis GV80 creates an impression that the Genesis brand will stop at nothing to challenge the established luxury automakers. We are here for all the drama and overtaking.
Gabriel Olakunori
Gabriel likes to argue (blindly) that SUVs are a part of nature, but he seems to have a point whenever you walk in the snow, through the bone-dry desert, splendid park-like boulevard, plains, and rocky roads. He has over five years of experience writing across a broad spectrum of topics, with quite a number in the automotive industry. If he is not at the desk w̶r̶i̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ having fun, he is at the wheel d̶r̶i̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ having fun. Both activities take him to the same destination: Utopia. He loves SUVs simply because they are all-inclusive, but he cannot turn down an offer to drive or write about any vehicle.
