Genesis GV80 (2020-2026)

A serious Lexus rival that offers great value for money as a luxury SUV – Genesis faces two challenges: the first is becoming known in the market for making genuinely luxurious cars. The second challenge is becoming an aspirational brand that capitalises on buyers who are interested in spending north of $80,000 on a car. A testament to Genesis’s seriousness in creating a luxury product is the GV80 build quality. There is no mistaking this car for a souped-up Hyundai. It takes the best parts of Hyundai’s interiors and dials that up to 11.

From a suede headliner, precise headlight designs, sharp puddle lights, rich Napa leather and seemingly perfectly weighted buttons - it’s all here.

I just wish there was a little bit more metal to compliment the plethora of leather and wood trim in here. Some plastic buttons occasionally distract from this plush interior.

The GV80 range kicks off with a 2.5L turbocharged petrol four cylinder, in a 2WD configuration, for $99,416 drive-away.

This GV80 is the diesel 3.0L AWD Standard trim, asking $113,066 driveaway. To digest this seemingly enormous price, you have to look across to the competition.

Against the likes of an Audi Q7, a BMW X7 or a Mercedes-Benz GLE, you’re getting a lot more features for less.

You won’t look like you’ve bought a cheaper model, instead, combined with its design, 22-inch wheels, sunroof and trim, you certainly come out on top without having to tick expensive options.

Additionally, with the buttery-smooth driving experience, torquey diesel, 21-speaker sound system and plenty of interior space and comfort, I’d say the GV80 is nearly the complete package.

If you really want the cherry on top, you’ll need to spend an additional $10,000 for the Luxury trim of the GV80. That’ll bring you a GV80 with absolutely everything, no option missing, but for a harder-to-stomach $123,566!

Depending on the dealership, some European brands offer these services, however it's not a blanket service. It can vary from dealership to dealership.

With Genesis, during the standard 5 year/Unlimited kilometre warranty, Genesis will pick your car up from your desired location, and swap it for a loan car.

A major strong suit of the GV80 is its noise level, or lack thereof.

Starting with the large 3.0L turbo diesel inline six, it’s so insulated from the cabin that Genesis offers fake engine noise to pipe through the speakers under heavy acceleration.

Exterior exhaust sound is muted and quiet, allowing you to swiftly move away without causing a ruckus. This 21-speaker system is a treat to experience in the GV80. It’s branded as Lexicon, which is simply an upgraded audio system from Harman/Kardon.

I love the fact you have three audio presets that allow you to change the sound profile of the speakers. There’s Stage, Audience and Reference available when using the Genesis’s media player.

The braking experience in the GV80 was a little surreal at first encounter.

The brake pedal offers a feel as if you’re pushing against a sponge cake. That’s not a bad thing, as it is easy to pull this SUV up to a stop. It’s just a far more comfortable and controlled experience compared to your run of the mill brake pedal.

The in-line 3.0L turbo diesel in the GV80 produces 204kW and 588Nm. You can expect a 0-100km/h time in around 6.8 seconds.

The GV80 is swift to respond to acceleration and great at keeping revs nice and low.

There are 8 gears to choose from, and all do a fantastic job at communicating with each other to avoid awkward shifts or even the occasional mis-shift.

22-inch wheels have no right being able to iron out imperfections in the road like these do.

Normally, I’d roll my eyes at wheels this big. Because they're going to make my ride in a comfortable car a juxtaposed one, as they reveal every bump in the road. Add to this fact that these are magnets for curb rash.

I can’t change the second part, but Genesis changed the first part.

Amazingly, you can have your cake and eat it, too.

With the help of front-facing sensors that can prepare the suspension for bumps in the road, the GV80 offers a supple ride, with accurate road feel and a generous amount of comfort. Although, on sharp potholes and speed humps, those 22-inch wheels make themselves known.

The steering feel is a little artificial in its weight, but it compliments the driving experience quite well. The two-spoke design is a little chunky in the hand, but once used to that, the way the GV80 conducts itself in corners and on the straights is everything you’d want in a large SUV.

The GV80 has a minimum boot space of 727L and a maximum boot space of 2144L.

That’s excellent for a family SUV. The only issue is that if you want to constantly use the third row, you dramatically reduce your boot space.

Folding down the third row, you get a boxy, flat-load area, and single-button release to fold the second row. This is excellent and easy to use as a family car.

Additionally, the second row has a 40:20:40 split, with a nifty feature of a folding pin. This allows for easy access to fold the middle seat down and put cargo through that space.

Comfort in the third row is improved compared to other 7 seaters, but limited headspace does make it a little hard to enjoy these seats for extended periods of time as an adult.

The biggest challenge the GV80 suffers isn’t it being competitive, it's the brand growing in recognition.

However if you’re not a brand loyalist, or are exploring what’s on offer in the luxury SUV segment, opt for a Genesis GV80. You won’t only not regret it, but you’ll fall in love with a luxury SUV experience that you’d hope you’d get for the money.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.