The Genesis GV80 SUV has cultivated a quiet but firm following since its debut but there's a new variant on offer - the coupe.
Offered in one highly-specified grade level for our market, the GV80 3.5T Luxury AWD Coupe proves to be a fierce competitor with luxury and handling for it's European rivals - the BMW X6, Range Rover Velar and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe.
However, the price point is starting to creep a little closer to its rivals, which might not be to everyone's fancy.
I've been family testing the GV80 for a week to see if it gets the seal of approval from my little family of three, read on to find out how it went.
Genesis GV80 2024: 3.5T AWD LUX Coupe
| Engine Type | Twin Turbo V6, 3.5L |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Premium Unleaded Petrol |
| Fuel Efficiency | 11.9L/100km (combined) |
| Seating | 6 |
| Price From | $126,060 - $144,870 |
Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 10/10
10 / 10
The GV80 line-up has seen a model facelift for 2025 and the flagship’s powerful V6 engine now comes standard for all models. There's new tech and some design tweaks, too.
That means the price points are starting to creep a lot closer to their Euro rivals as the 3.5T Luxury AWD Coupe is priced from $136,000, before on-road costs.
However, despite only being offered in one variant for our market, the coupe is is ridiculously well-specified and you don't have to add luxury/enhancement packs at additional costs as you do on some of this car's rivals (I'm looking at you Range Rover).
In comparison, the closest rival, the BMW X6 xDrive40 MHEV, sits at $144,900 MSRP, and then the Range Rover Velar Autobiography comes in at $156,430 MSRP before the most expensive rival, the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4Matic Coupe, at $159,900 MSRP.
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When I start talking about the GV80 Coupe's standard features I lose breath trying to list them all and you're about to learn why.
For comfort and luxury the Coupe is offered with crystal accents on its dials, Nappa leather upholstery, suede trims, a heated steering wheel and a panoramic sunroof.
The front seats are powered and feature a two-position memory function, lumbar- and side-bolster adjustments, extendable under-thigh supports, heat and ventilation functions... and a massage function.
Rear outboard seats are also powered and can be slide backwards/forwards and recline. They feature heat and ventilation functions as well.
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Practical features include a powered tailgate with a proximity opening feature, retractable sun blinds (rear row), tri-zone climate control, keyless entry, push-button start, remote start and parking assist (via key fob), carwash and valet mode, and new for 2025, a biometrics system (fingerprint access for vehicle start and profile selection).
Technology includes a new 27-inch OLED screen that houses the multimedia system and instrument cluster, customisable ambient lighting, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air updates, satellite navigation, 12-inch coloured head-up display, digital rear view mirror, four USB-C ports, three 12-volt sockets, a wireless charging pad, Bluetooth connectivity and digital radio.
Phew... told ya there's a lot. Oh, and an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. There. Done.
Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 10/10
10 / 10
At first glance, there’s not a lot that separates the external styling of the Coupe and SUV, at least in the front.
The biggest difference is obviously in the rear and it's here Coupe's design shines. The SUV sibling looks nice but is a little boxy at the rear and features a dicky-looking window. The Coupe's rear is pinched but it’s rather softly done compared to some rivals.
It manages to look sleek and sexy as coupes tend to be without losing any of its large road-side presence.
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The 'Storr Green Matte' paintwork on our test car highlights the high-end feel, as does the huge LED external lights and chrome accents.
Head into the cabin and you'll find design elements which accentuate the width of the car – like the long air vent strip that runs the length of the dashboard, a wide centre console and the huge 27-inch OLED technology screen that houses the media system and instrument cluster. Even the touchscreen control panel for climate and seat functions is big.
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Our test model has a cream-coloured suede headliner and quilted Nappa leather seats that look plush. Contrasting stitching and the seatbelts are a bright red (or dark orange, depending on who you ask) and the panoramic sunroof adds a bright and cheery element.
The ambient lighting surrounds a lot of the features, like the cupholders and the crystal rotary dials. In fact, when you pop the car into reverse, the light changes from whatever it was to red, which is neat.
As far as luxury cars go, this totally looks the part and while design is very subjective, I love how this looks inside and out. Let us know what you think of it in the comments.
Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 9/10
9 / 10
With all of its features offering comfort and luxury, practicality is pretty high for the GV80 Coupe.
The cabin feels almost cavernous up front for my 168cm height. As mentioned, the seats are very comfortable and there is a stretching function that briefly comes on during a longer journey to ease any fatigue in your lumbar.
The rear row is almost as large as the front and there's a limo-like quality to the legroom that taller individuals will enjoy. The headroom is good for the outboard seats but a taller adult will be hunched when sat in the middle. Keep that for a kid!
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Amenities in this row are excellent with the powered outboard seats that feature heat and cooling functions, directional air-vents, climate control and retractable sun-blinds (my son's favourites).
The individual storage is a little less than you might expect for such a large car, especially up front, as all options are on the shallow/small side.
There is a middle console (think of it as a tray), glove box, two cupholders, two drink bottle holders and a phone cubby that can be closed to keep things looking neat.
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The rear row sees two map pockets, two cupholders and a storage cubby in the fold-down armrest, as well as some shallow bin storage.
Technology looks stellar, is easy to use and found throughout.
You're spoiled for choice when it comes to charging as there are four USB-C ports, three 12-volt sockets and a wireless charging pad to choose from.
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And new for 2025 is the UV-C feature, which sterilises whatever you place inside the middle console. Handy for anyone who wants to disinfect small items, like a phone, keys or wallet.
The multimedia system takes a while to get used to as the tech has been updated but once you do, it’s an easy system. You can access the media system via the touchscreen or the rotary dial. Climate control and seat functions are accessed via the large control panel that sits underneath, which is handy for when you're on the go.
The GV80 Coupe has built-in sat nav, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as, a 12-inch colour head-up display.
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Because of the sleek rear shape, the boot space sits at 644L when all seats are in use. It’s large enough for my gear and weekly errands and I like the powered tailgate's proximity feature. As long as you have the key fob, it will open when you stand at the rear. Great for when you have your hands full.
The loading space is level and the rear seat has a 40/20/40 split, which opens up storage options. But underneath the floor, there are heaps of cubbies for extra storage of smaller items and it’s here the tyre mobility and roadside assistance kits are housed.
Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission? 9/10
9 / 10
The GV80 model facelift sees all variants enjoy a powerful 3.5L twin-turbo petrol V6 engine that produces 279kW of power and 530Nm of torque.
The Coupe is an AWD, features an eight-speed auto transmission and can do a 0-100km/h sprint in just 5.7 seconds.
It also has different terrain modes and a braked trailer towing capacity of 2722kg. Whether you’d use this car for that sort of stuff is another matter.
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Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range? 6/10
6 / 10
Aye, here's the rub, as the hefty power comes with a thirsty gullet.
The official combined fuel-cycle consumption figure is a hefty 11.7L/100km and my real-world usage came out at 11.4L/100km after doing a lot of open-road trips this week.
I haven’t held back using the power but it's thirsty compared to its rivals which mostly sport mild-hybrid powertrains.
Based on the large 80L fuel tank and official combined fuel cycle consumption figure this car's theoretical driving range is 684km.
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Driving – What's it like to drive? 8/10
8 / 10
The GV80 Coupe has a deep well of power to dip into and fantastic pick up. The power delivery feels effortless and it’s easy for urban and open-road driving.
The GV80 isn't as dynamic on the road as some of its rivals when it comes to the ‘sporty’ factor and you notice that the most when you hit high winds or tackle a tight turn, as there is some roll, but on the whole it’s a smooth ride. Think of it as more ‘stately’ than sporty.
The cabin is mostly quiet but wind noise can creep in at higher speeds.
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The wide windows and high ride mean the visibility is very good and so is the sound quality from the 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Every school run is a concert!
The GV80 Coupe is large car and will fill out a parking space but it’s not hard to park because the 360-degree view camera system is so good and the projected parking guidelines add assurance in a tight spot.
There is a remote parking assist feature, where you can move the car remotely from your key fob, which is great for those times someone parks a bit too close and there’s not enough door clearance to get in.
Warranty & Safety Rating
Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 9/10
9 / 10
For those concerned with safety, you needn’t worry as the GV80 Coupe has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing done in 2021 and scored highly for its adult and child protection scores at 91 per cent and 88 per cent, respectively.
Standard safety features include rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure alert, lane keeping aid, traffic sign recognition, intelligent seatbelt warning, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, blind-spot view monitor, parking assist pilot, driver attention alert and safe exit warning.
Other features include child occupant alert, leading vehicle departure alert, tyre pressure monitoring, LED DRLs, a 360-degree view camera system and front and rear sensors.
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The GV80 Coupe comes with AEB with forward collision warning, car, pedestrian, cyclist and backover detection which is operational from 5.0–200km/h (up to 85km/h for car detection).
The GV80 features 10-airbags, which is great for the class!
There are ISOFIX mounts on the rear outboard seats plus three top tethers and you might get three seats installed if they’re not too big but two will fit best.
Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 10/10
10 / 10
The GV80 Coupe comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty and complimentary servicing for five-years or 50,000km, whichever occurs first.
There is also complimentary roadside assistance through Assist Australia for five years.
Since this is a turbo, the servicing intervals are a little annoying at every 12 months or 10,000km but it’s rare for a car brand, let alone a luxury one, to offer anything for free. What Genesis offers is a real plus.
Verdict
The Genesis GV80 Coupe is a rare breed – it comes packed to the gills with features, has great ownership benefits and can easily accommodate a large family in comfort.
The fuel economy isn’t great but it looks and acts the part of a true luxury SUV. My husband and son were impressed and enjoyed all of the features it has.
Pricing Guides
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