It's been eight and a half years since Hyundai established Genesis as an independent brand that produces plenty of luxury and comfortable cars.
The Genesis GV80 and GV80 Coupe 2025 are among the luxury cars produced by a subsidiary of the Hyundai Motor Group, which aims through this company to provide luxury cars that provide a lot of luxury and comfort. Therefore, the Car Cops website test-drove the coupe and the regular 2025 model after updating them on him.
In this report, we provide you with the full details and test results of the elegant 2025 GV80 and GV80 coupe cars, model year 2025, and how the performance, cabin, and other details were.
2025 Genesis GV80 and GV80 Coupe
It's been eight and a half years since Hyundai established Genesis as an independent brand, and during this time, the company has released some very impressive cars.
These include the G70 sports sedan, which impressed the automotive press when it debuted in 2018 and was named North American Car of the Year in 2019. It also offers a variety of other excellent options.
For example, there are the G80 and G90 luxury sedans, the unique battery-electric GV60, and the GV70, the brand's best-selling model.
Then there's the GV80, the latest Genesis model that Car Cops tested. This model has been on sale since 2020 and recently underwent its first mid-life facelift, which included several exterior and interior changes.
and this time, there's also a new GV80 coupe, which follows in the footsteps of the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe.
Driving the Genesis GV80 and GV80
- Is the brand's updated rival to the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE as impressive as its other models?
- In order to determine this, the two cars were driven over 2,000 km (1,200 mi) in various GV80 SUVs and GV80 Coupes to find out.
- Genesis has operated as an independent brand in Australia since 2017 and has sold just over 4,000 cars.
- That's not a lot, and it shows how difficult it is to break into the local market in Australia, despite how diverse the models are. The GV80 sits at the top of the domestic lineup.
- The GV80 is available in three versions in the local market. These include six- and seven-seat versions of the standard SUV, as well as the new GV80 Coupé, available as a five-seater.
- And this time, there's also a new GV80 coupe, which follows in the footsteps of the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe.
Driving the Genesis GV80 and GV80
Is the brand's updated rival to the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE as impressive as its other models?
In order to determine this, the two cars were driven over 2,000 km (1,200 mi) in various GV80 SUVs and GV80 Coupes to find out.
Genesis has operated as an independent brand in Australia since 2017 and has sold just over 4,000 cars.
That's not a lot, and it shows how difficult it is to break into the local market in Australia, despite how diverse the models are. The GV80 sits at the top of the domestic lineup.
The GV80 is available in three versions in the local market. These include six- and seven-seat versions of the standard SUV, as well as the new GV80 Coupé, available as a five-seater.
2025 Genesis GV80 and GV80 Coupe engine
- Interestingly, all versions include Hyundai Motor Group's 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged T-GDi V8 engine as standard.
- The engine produces an impressive 279 kW (374 hp) and 530 Nm (391 lb-ft) of torque and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, with power delivered via a rear-wheel-biased all-wheel drive system.
Updated engine for the Genesis GV80 and GV80 Coupe
- Ahead of the 2025 refresh, Genesis offers the GV80 with a 3.0-liter turbocharged engine and a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine alongside the flagship V6.
- While diesel accounts for 33% of sales and the 2.5-liter engine accounts for 24% of total GV80 sales, both engines have been discontinued in 2025.
- Genesis claims this is because a V6 engine better suits the character of a large, luxurious SUV like this. They believe the GV80 coupe will make up for the lost sales of these two engines.
Prices for Genesis GV80 and GV80 Coupe options
The lack of these two engines also means that the GV80 is much more expensive than before. The old 2.5-litre model started at $60,200 before on-road costs, but the cheapest seven-seat version now costs $85,000.
Prices rise to US$87,000 for the six-seat car and US$89,000 for the coupe.
All versions now include the previously optional Luxury Package, but the equivalent 2025 GV80 costs 8% more than last year's model.
The lack of these two engines also means that the GV80 is much more expensive than before. The old 2.5-litre model started at $60,200 before on-road costs, but the cheapest seven-seat version now costs $85,000.
Family time but make it luxe. The new 2025 Genesis GV80 SUV, arriving soon.#GV80 #GenesisUSA pic.twitter.com/2Z5NoQmf1K
— Genesis USA (@GenesisUSA) May 3, 2024
Genesis GV80 and GV80 Coupe: swimming in luxury
- The cabin of the Genesis GV80 and GV80 Coupe contains the most significant upgrades made for the 2025 model year.
- The separate instrument cluster and infotainment displays are gone, replaced by a 27-inch OLED screen.
- There's also an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, fingerprint recognition, a digital rearview mirror, a new center console, and a three-spoke steering wheel that replaces the ugly two-spoke design of the outgoing model.
- There is also a new storage compartment under the HVAC screen. It comes with a wireless smartphone charging pad and a UV lamp that can be turned on to remove surface bacteria from your phone.
Comfort inside the cabin
- The seats provide excellent support, and the massage feature is a giveaway. The editor also liked the heated armrests in the center console, but they can only be operated through the heated seats, so you can't have one without the other, and there's also a perfume dispenser.
- The second row, like the front seats, is very comfortable, and passengers sitting at the back enjoy many amenities as well.
- These seats include heating and ventilation, a dedicated climate control zone, and push-button window shades.
- The third row is too cramped for adults. Genesis, on the other hand, installed separate climate controls for the rear seat. It is also convenient that the second and third-row seats can be folded up or down at the touch of a button.
Co-driver in my Genesis
- The 2025 GV80 is also the first Genesis model to include Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist 2 feature.
- It has an automatic lane change feature, so you can simply switch the indicator and the car will move to the next lane. The lane-keeping and radar cruise control systems are also excellent, and I was able to drive for hours on end on the highway without using the throttle, brakes, or steering.
- The only minor annoyance was that the driver attention monitoring system was a bit intrusive for my editor, as it beeped every time I looked away from straight ahead for more than a few seconds. Fortunately, it is easily disabled.
- It's also easy to turn off the annoying speed limit alarm, which sounds every time 1 km/h exceeds the posted speed limit.
2025 Genesis GV80 Test Drive: Easy Performance
For the first half of the first day of testing the GV80, the seven-seat SUV was driven from close to Melbourne's CBD to Sorrento, a popular beachside town.
During the trip, they spent long periods on the highway as well as the opportunity to drive along some fun turns, which were perfect for testing the dynamics of the large SUV.
Car Cops' editor had never driven a GV80 before and was immediately impressed by how smooth and quiet the big V6 was.
But he's driven plenty of Kia Stinger and Genesis G70s with the older 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6, and he expected the newer, slightly more powerful GV80 to sound similar. But he found it looked less cantankerous and more refined, making it perfect for this car.
Genesis GV80 acceleration
Genesis claims the GV80 can reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in about 5.6 seconds. That's a solid number, and one the editor was able to match during testing.
However, given that this car weighs around 2.2 tonnes, it doesn't feel particularly quick, even with Sport mode engaged.
Instead, it delivers a smooth, powerful rush up to the legal speed limit, all with minimal noise. There is a synthetic engine note that could be pumped into the cabin, but he decided not to do so.
The GV80 is the ideal companion for long highway drives. After spending more than 20 hours driving, including a 14-hour motorway trip from Victoria to New South Wales and back, the editor has never felt tired.
Genesis GV80 Coupe 2025
The 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe is an all-new addition to the range, positioned as a slightly sportier version of the standard model.
However, Genesis hasn't made any mechanical changes to it, so it feels the same to drive as an SUV.
New driving mode for the 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe
The most significant changes include the addition of the Sport + driving mode and new flexible brakes that allow you to adjust the sensitivity of the brake pedal.
Like an SUV, the GV80 Coupe handles great on the open road but is also fun to drive at low speeds in the suburbs.
Turn on Sport + mode and take it into some corners, and it handles its weight very well. However, our editor wasn't as comfortable throwing it into sharp turns as he was in the Kia EV9 GT-Line he recently drove.
Finally, the GV80 is not a vehicle that feels comfortable being driven at excessive speeds. It's a vehicle that thrives in everyday life, whether in stop-and-go traffic or while driving in the city or on the highway.
Disadvantages of Genesis GV80
One drawback of Genesis' decision to ditch the 3.0-liter diesel and 2.5-liter turbocharged engines is that the GV80 's standard V6 is quite thirsty.
If you drive it, you'll get more than 14.0 l/100 km (16.8 US mpg), which is significantly higher than the 11.7 l/100 km (20.1 US mpg) on the combined cycle.
During two seven-hour stints with the cruise control set to 110 km/h (~68 mph), the best average was 9.6 l/100 km (24.5 US mpg).
That's not bad, but European brands sell larger SUVs with more efficient engines.
Final verdict on the Genesis GV80 and GV80 Coupe
The Genesis GV80 looks as plush and luxurious as you'd expect and is just as rounded as the rest of the range. They are cars that offer extraordinary comfort and refinement while also attracting a lot of attention.
The price increase means it only undercuts established European rivals like the base BMW X5 xDrive40i, which starts at ($90,785), and the Mercedes-Benz GLE range, which starts at ($94,706).
However, there is still skepticism about the decision to ditch the 3.0-litre diesel engine and the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, especially since Mercedes and BMW sell their GLE and X5 models with efficient diesel engines.