A Charmed SUV
Before we even consider the Coupe SUV, we must look at the 2025 GV80 SUV. In fact, it’s right here – just as you are looking at it on this website.
A Victory & Reseda review of the 2025 Genesis GV80
What if you want a luxury midsize SUV? What if you want one that stands out in a crowd?
You could wait a little bit until the 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe SUV arrives.
Why do we bring up the GV80 Coupe SUV? Because, it caught your attention. It is the answer to the question “what’s next” for the luxury arm of the Hyundai Motor Group. The response to it upon its unveiling was incredible. The automotive media corps fell in love with it.
Before we even consider the Coupe SUV, we must look at the 2025 GV80 SUV. In fact, it’s right here – just as you are looking at it on this website.
Other than the upcoming Coupe SUV, the 2025 GV80 received several visual revisions. Mostly to add more flair and luxe to the package. Because, a luxury vehicle must be aspirational, enticing, and worth every penny spent on one.
Not that the GV80 had all of that. The 2025 revisions took this mid-size luxury SUV onto another level. The grille not only gets a double bar mesh design, but the front clip received a mild reshaping for better visualization of its identity. This was achieved while retaining the signature double horizontal headlamp units.
Aside from new wheel designs, the GV80 SUV retains a lot of design. It is upright and a nicely angled roofline. This 3.5T Prestige tester gets 22-inch alloy wheels with five sporty spokes. Funny, they don’t look like 22-inch wheels…
At this point, I am trying not to make comparisons with the GV80’s competition. However, the Genesis is designed to stand out in a crowd. An overused statement, but exceptionally true in this case.
The biggest change to found on the 2025 GV80 is the new instrument panel. A thin 27-inch OLED screen integrates both the instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen in a seamless fashion. Once you add smartphone integration or any infotainment function, then the screen splits up with the resolution of the mirrored screen taking up almost half of the panel.
Speaking of infotainment, Bang & Olufsen adds 18 speakers through a 14-channel amplifier with 1,400 watts maximum output. Everything sounded beautiful coming from this audio system.
Also new to the 2025 GV80 is a three-spoke steering wheel that is seen on the latest Genesis models. They also updated a few controls – the knob-type transmission shifter, for one. The Vanilla Beige/Smoky interior color scheme also includes a nicely texture woodgrain trim to create a lovely atmosphere inside of the GV80.
That includes the Vanilla Beige perforated Nappa leather upholstery adorning two rows of seating on this Prestige tester. All outboard seats get electric adjustments, but it is the driver’s seat that gets the full treatment. That includes adjustments to the seatback bolsters, lumbar support, and a cushion extender. If the driver is fatigued, the Ergo Motion system kicks in to help recalibrate their position. In addition, the Driver Attention Warning system will also remind you to keep your eyes on the road.
Second-row passengers have plenty of space for up to three people. If you’re looking for a third row of seats, you may want to look at the 3.5T Advanced model. Believe me, we thought this tester was a third-row model, too.
For cargo space, our two-row Prestige tester offers 36.5 cubic feet with the seatbacks up. Once you fold down those seats, you get up to 71.7 cubic feet.
Underneath the hood of this beautiful silvery GV80 is a 375-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine. It also puts down 391 pound-feet of torque. Power from this smooth operator is transferred through an eight-speed automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels.
We certainly like the performance of this driveline. It does exceptionally well on the highway with smooth power delivery and superb passing ability. The transmission offers quiet shifts with a bit of a burble from the exhaust at throttle. For fuel consumption, we observed an average of 23.1 MPG.
On the road, you will experience the kind of ride quality that you expect from a luxury SUV. It is simply smooth and quiet. We also found the handling a bit soft. Especially, when maneuvering around hazards and getting around curves. It is very well behaved vehicle, dynamically.
The steering system offered tight turns and is quite responsive. On-center feel was fine, with help from the Lane Keeping and Lane Following Assist enabled. The brake pedal feel is on the soft side. However, the system delivered on solid stops in normal, panic, and wet situations.
When selecting your 2025 Genesis GV80 SUV, you choose from the turbocharged four-cylinder or twin-turbo V6 engines. There are three packages for each of these drivelines. Pricing for the entire SUV lineup starts from $58,700. Our 3.5T Prestige SUV tester came with a sticker price of $81,300.
As much as we want to comment further on the upcoming GV80 Coupe SUV – we can’t at this point. Only to say that it’s coming soon-ish.
While you’re waiting for that stylish Coupe SUV, why not give the 2025 Genesis GV80 SUV a very good look. Not because it stands out in a crowd very easily. Not because it has a luxurious cabin with newly added technology.
Plus, that grille texture! What an upgrade!
The point of the genesis GV80 is to give the luxury SUV consumer an elevated offering that is a treat to take for various journeys – whether it is across town or miles-on-end. Just take a deep breath and simply feel this SUV. We believe you’ll be just as chared as we were.
DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by Hyundai Motor America
Photos by Randy Stern and George Torline