Genesis GV80 is a large SUV from Hyundai’s sub-brand marque that specialises in
upmarket vehicles. It’s been on sale for several years and has just been updated with
revised safety, comfort and convenience features.
There is a big variety of models together with quite a few optional extras. Our test GV80
had two individual second-row seats with power-slide function, wing-type headrests and a
one-touch rest mode
STYLING
It’s a great looking car with an oversized grille in a honeycomb pattern. Dual horizontal
lights are stacked one above the other. That stacked look is duplicated at the rear. The
lower window line is quite high to give the limo look to what is after all an SUV not a sedan.
The rear window upper area has a sort of airfoil look that was admired by all we showed it
too during our week’s road test review.
Genesis GV80 is offered with a choice of 10 exterior colours. There are seven gloss
shades, and in Luxury Package models a further three matte colours. There are matte-
chrome exterior trims and a chromed grille.
INTERIOR
The Luxury Package GV80 we tested versions had 18-way power adjustment and Ergo-
motion functionality for the driver and the front passenger seats.
The six-seater we drove had individual second-row and third-row seats and dual 9.2-inch
entertainment touchscreens.
The seats in the rearmost position are nice and wide but legroom means they are really
suited to children under the age of about 12. Adults may be able to squeeze in there if you
need to carry six large people but they’re not going to be very happy…
Dual 9.2-inch HD rear seat entertainment touchscreens, with dual headphone jacks, make
the GV80 almost limo like back there. Though it doesn’t have the same stretch out space
as you get in a full limousine.
Unlock buttons have been added to the rear doors, which were previously lock-only.
The glass roof shade screen looks to be able to suppress the summer heat from getting
into the cabin excessively. We tested the GV80 in winter, which even here on the Gold
Coast where we are based seemed to keep the heat out. This may give us a good excuse
to borrow another test car when summer arrives as we really did enjoy our test…
INFOTAINMENT
The screen is far too wide and not nearly tall enough to fit in what is happening ahead
when you’re using it for satellite navigation. OK, so it looks great, but what’s the point of
that when it’s a triumph of style over common sense?
It’s a fair stretch for the driver’s hand to the screen so there’s a danger of them not
touching the correct part of the screen while they are driving (not that you would do that of
course…)
On the plus side the GV80’s screen is bright and almost has the sort of definition you get
on a high-quality TV.
The sound from the radio is very good though as still happens far too often in just about
every vehicle we have road tested the DAB+ function cuts out if it’s blocked by tree-lined
roads and in cuttings. Apparently, this is difficult to overcome, but it really is time someone
made this happen.
GV90’s second-row armrest has wireless (Qi standard) smartphone charger, storage
space and controls, including a Genesis Integrated Controller.
There are twin 9.2-inch HD Rear Seat Entertainment touchscreens, with dual headphone
jacks.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
The Genesis GV80 we tested has a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 with a power peak of
279kW. The torque of 530Nm is spread all the way from 1300 to 4500rpm.
Other engines offered are a 3.0-litre inline six cylinder with 204kW but with a very high
588Nm.
The entry level Genesis engine is a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol with 224kW and
422Nm. That power plant may be all that most drivers want so it’s worth test driving one to
try it for performance.
Most have an eight-speed automatic and on-demand four-wheel drive, however the four-
cylinder in its most basic guise is rear-driven. The latter may be fine for many owners,
though if you really want to hammer it hard the AWD system is probably the better option.
SAFETY
Genesis GV80 has a five-star ANCAP safety based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in
2021. However, the rating only applies to two of the four available models, the 2.5T AWD
and the 3.0D AWD.
It has 10 airbags including a front-centre airbag.
Standard features include Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist
detection; Junction Assist; Forward Collision Warning; Evasive Steering Assist; Blind Spot
Monitoring; Rear View Monitor; Rear Cross-Traffic Assist; Driver Inattention Warning; Lane
Following Assist; Lane-keep Assist; and Safe Exit Assist.
DRIVING
The 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 has plenty of grunt and the torque of 530Nm is spread all
the way from 1300 to 4500rpm. It’s great to drive thanks to being in the peak torque band
virtually all the time.
There’s more turbo lag than we like in normal driving but when you drive it hard the
computer seems to get the message that you want plenty of performance and adjusts the
lag to make it even better.
Fuel consumption during our 356 kilometres of road testing on motorways, suburban roads
and in the hilly areas behind our base on the Gold Coast was surprisingly low. Overall, we
used just under 10 litres per hundred kilometres. If you do constantly hammer it along
consumption does jump a fair bit – but this isn’t a sports machine so who drives like that?
This is a large SUV that’s aimed more at occupant comfort than at going off-road. As such
its handling is on the soft side but competent enough in the way it holds the road on twisty
roads. If you do hustle it along it will understeer a little but certainly not to the extent that it
spoils the fun. Back off the throttle and it feels happy to putter along, which will probably sit
those in the passenger areas of the GV80.
RATINGS
Looks: 9/10
Performance: 8/10
Safety: 7/10 (see text on Safety to explain this lowish rating)
Thirst: 8/10
Practicality: 8/10
Comfort: 9/10
Tech: 8/10
Value: 8/10
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
GV80 2.5T five-seat RWD: $92,200
GV80 2.5T seven-seat AWD: $97,200
GV80 3.0D seven-seat AWD: $105,200
GV80 3.5T seven-seat AWD: $109,700
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your
local Genesis dealer for drive-away prices.
SPECIFICATIONS (Genesis GV80 3.5T AWD five-door wagon)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 3.470 litres
Configuration: V6 twin-turbo
Maximum Power: 279 kW @ 5800 rpm
Maximum Torque: 530 Nm @ 1300 rpm
Fuel Type: Premium unleaded
Combined Fuel Cycle (ADR 81/02): 11.7 L/100km
CO2 Emissions: 273 g/km
DRIVELINE:
Eight-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4945 mm
Wheelbase: 2955 mm
Width: 1975 mm
Height: 1715 mm
Turning Circle: 12.0 metres
Kerb Mass: 2248 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 80 litres
BRAKES:
Front: Ventilated disc
Rear: Ventilated disc
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Five years / unlimited kilometres
