Genesis GV80 2024 review

The GV80’s range now consists of just one powertrain with three variants - two SUVs and the new SUV Coupe.

The GV80 is also now a lot more expensive than before, but Genesis says customers almost always opted for expensive options like the Luxury Pack which is now standard.

The traditional seven-seat GV80 starts from $130,000 before on-road costs, with a standard second row of three seats, plus two in the back.

Stepping up from that, the six-seater starts from $136,000, before on-road costs, and has two captains chairs in the second row instead, meaning more room for one fewer person, and a nice little centre console.

Finally, the new body style in the range, the Coupe, loses the third row thanks to its sloping roofline, and comes only with a three-seat second row. It’s also the most expensive variant at $136,000.

Strangely, for the GV80, less is more when it comes to seats. Each $3000 step up means one less seat.

What links all three is that they’re specified up to the eyeballs. There are next to no optional creature comforts in the updated GV80 because they’re already on-board.

Plenty of leather upholstery, heated and cooled massage seats with plenty of electric adjustment capability, a heated steering wheel which is also electrically adjustable, an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, wireless phone charging and even the centre armrest is heated.

And of course, there’s the massive 27-inch OLED screen encompassing the multimedia touchscreen and the driver display, which looks incredibly expensive to replace or fix. That screen is accompanied by a 12-inch head-up display.

The second-row seats are also electrically adjustable, with heating and cooling for both outer passengers, too.

Similarly, there’s a bit of something for everyone once you’re inside the GV80, with plenty of tech blended with traditional style and opulence.

It’s hard not to notice the 27-inch display that encompasses the multimedia and driver displays, so we’ll start with that.

It’s easy to use, features a sleek software skin of the same system used in new Kias and Hyundais (a compliment) and there are enough physical buttons to support it so you don’t need to navigate through numerous sub-menus to find options.

You can change what’s displayed quite easily between the centre and driver display, and below that the climate controls are always on show on a separate control panel. No need to adjust the temperature on a touch screen. Nice!

The space around the front seats is slathered in high-quality materials, those able to be customised to your liking, and everything feels well thought-out and falls nicely to hand.

The seats themselves, including the second row outboard seats in the six-seater, are very adjustable and it’s easy to find a comfortable seating position, especially with good under-thigh support adjustable to your own height.

2025 Genesis GV80 SUV

Even in the second row, if you were to sit behind someone fairly tall, you'd find yourself with a level of comfort Qantas would charge through the nose for.

Individual climate controls and (optional) screens for media mean even a kiddo will find little to complain about.

There’s also a pair of rear seats in the SUV version, which are pretty well equipped and roomy enough as far as third rows are concerned, with some electric adjustment for the seats, but it would be a stretch to call it a luxurious space.

Boot space is fairly generous, the SUV boasting 735 litres with the third row down, or 1097 with the second row also folded down.

The Coupe has a smaller 644L with the second row up, or 1033L with the second row down.

Neither will be great for transporting large bulky items, but can handle plenty of luggage for trips away.

Genesis has limited the engine options in the GV80 to one, doing away with the diesel and offering only the twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre petrol V6, which makes a decent 279kW and 530Nm - unchanged for that engine since the model’s launch in Australia.

The engine makes its peak torque from a relatively low 1300rpm, and is paired with an eight-speed torque converter automatic.

2025 Genesis GV80 SUV

Interestingly, the SUV has a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.6 seconds, but the Coupe (lighter by 20kg at a max of 2325kg) is a tenth slower according to Genesis, with a 5.7-second sprint.

It’s a pretty traditional engine for a large SUV, but not offering any kind of electrification, especially when parent company Hyundai is making strides in that space, means the GV80’s engine feels a little stuck in the past, much to its fuel consumption’s detriment.

It’s a good thing the GV80 has an 80-litre fuel tank because, boy, is it thirsty.

Combined fuel consumption claim for the SUV and Coupe is 11.7L/100km, and on a new product launch it's not always possible to put that figure to the test.

However, Genesis offered us a GV80 to drive home and live with for a few days. After a couple of hundred kilometres of mostly highway driving I managed 12.4L/100km, tested from pump to pump, with the trip computer telling me it was sitting on 12.2L/100km.

If you’re buying a GV80 for long trips, that could be a fairly realistic figure for you, but if you’re going to be driving mostly in the city and suburbs, expect to regularly see figures north of 13.0L/100km.

For a premium brand, it’s pretty hard to beat Genesis’ warranty and servicing offering on paper. 

Why? Because for five years, everything is covered for free. Five years of unlimited kilometre warranty, five years of free scheduled servicing up to 50,000, five years of access to Genesis’ 'Concierge Service' and its courtesy cars, plus 10 years of roadside assistance if you service your car with Genesis.

Servicing intervals are every 10,000km, so you’ll likely even get your full five services free even if you hit 50,000km inside that timeframe.

The roadside service tops out at five years free if you stop servicing your car with Genesis outside its warranty period.

2025 Genesis GV80 SUV