Genesis GV70 vs Genesis GV80

What's the difference?

The GV70 was already a pretty good thing, and aside from some small annoyances in the new safety tech, the update has made it a better car to drive.

It’s quieter, packs a few more features in, and still looks stylish and stands out on the road.

Even with its price increasing, its value is hard to deny, especially when it comes to post-purchase ownership.

It’s hard to say if the update will entice more customers away from rivals, but the GV70 continues to earn its place as Genesis’ most popular model.

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.

If you’re familiar with the GV70 the design changes aren’t going to seem revolutionary, but they do add a bit of subtle distinction.

For example, new 'Micro-Lens Array' headlights come in a slimmer design. Plus they bring more function, like a welcome light sequence.

They flank a tweaked grille with a 'dual weave’ mesh, plus the bumper has been altered for a low, wide look.

Even the Genesis logo is a bit different, now as a flat imprint.

There are new wheel designs, sizing of course depending on variant, as well as whether some of the trim comes in dark chrome or not.

At the back, the exhaust mufflers are hidden behind a redesigned bumper (unless you’ve got a Signature Sport) and there’s a new rear spoiler with lighting that complements the new tail-lights.

Inside, the styling hasn’t changed massively, either. 

There are some updated materials and new trim garnishes, but the biggest updates are more functional than visual.

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.

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.

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.

Of course, it’s hard not to spot the giant 27-inch integrated multimedia and driver display unit, its OLED screen similar to other plush models in the Genesis and Hyundai range.

While the move to make more functions screen-based rather than using physical buttons can be a little annoying, the system here is still easy to use and there’s a climate control panel, so not too much messing around in menus. 

There’s a bunch of other stuff carried over from before, like the huge sunroof and the fact the front seats are heated and ventilated. And they’re proper leather.

From the wireless phone charger to the ambient lighting, the interior is stacked with bits and features that aim to make the cabin feel extra comfy.

The storage and space feels well thought out, there are plenty of places to put things and you don’t feel cramped, even in the second row.

Behind that, there’s a 542-litre boot which is in the same ballpark as the X3, NX and GLC.

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!

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

While the GV70 is now all-wheel drive only, two engine options remain. 

All three variants can be had with a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that makes 224kW and 422Nm, driving all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

It carries over from before the update, as does the twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 which makes 279kW and 530Nm and uses the same transmission.

The V6 isn’t available in the base Advanced grade, and while its outputs aren’t sky-high compared to the four-cylinder, it has a much thicker peak-torque band.

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.

Genesis claims the GV70 will sip 10.3 litres per 100km of driving in four-cylinder guise, or 11.3L for the V6, both tested under the standard combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle.

The GV70 needs at least 95 RON fuel but is E10 compatible, and has a 66-litre fuel tank.

During the launch drive, we didn’t get a chance to properly test fuel consumption but noted the trip computer for the four-cylinder showed 12.1L/100km since its last reset 1400km prior.

With that figure, you could expect to travel about 540km in the four-pot (likely a little less in the V6) before needing to refuel, though theoretically there’s 640km of range in the tank for the four, and 580 in the V6.

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.

On the road, the updates might not be immediately obvious depending on which GV70 variant you’re in.

While it was already a capable and comfortable thing, I can’t recall having noticed in the past specifically how quiet the GV70 is when moving, and that’s something the update seems to have improved.

Even on some of the rougher roads, the active sound cancelling and physical noise and vibration improvements are certainly noticeable.

As before, the 3.5-litre V6 is a sturdy unit. It doesn’t feel like it’s working too hard but gets things moving quickly enough that it doesn’t feel lazy, either.

Cars fitted with the V6 also get slightly better suspension, adding to the quiet nature of the cabin and providing a refined ride that Genesis should be proud of.

The four-cylinder needs a little more encouragement, but it’s no slouch, either, even if it doesn’t sound quite as nice or come with the same upgraded suspension.

Dynamically, the GV70 feels a little bit muted, but no less capable because of it. Steering is light and a little numb, but that’s okay, it’s not really trying to be a sports car.

In sharp, twisty roads, the GV70 will let you get away with slightly more than you expect, but once you start approaching the limit will gently let you know you’re headed for danger if you push too much further.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Genesis has a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty which is about standard for the industry, and relatively good for a premium brand.

It gets better, though.

The brand offers a generous five-year or 50,000km complimentary scheduled servicing plan with 12-month or 10,000km intervals.

And there’s more.

Genesis offers 10 years of free roadside assist if you service your car with Genesis (it’s five years otherwise), and there’s five years of Genesis’ concierge and courtesy vehicle program.

Not needing to pay for anything for at least five years is a slam-dunk when it comes to ownership prospects.

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.