2025 Genesis GV80 luxury SUV review
Category
🤖
TechTranscript
00:00No, it's not a Bentley.
00:02Be prepared to say that a lot if you're considering a Genesis GV80 because, well, this luxury
00:07SUV from South Korea clearly draws its inspiration from somewhere in the higher echelons of this
00:14environment.
00:15But hey, I think that it does have its own part to play and some really, really interesting
00:20features and maybe some bits that could be better.
00:22Stay tuned, I'll tell you all about it in this review.
00:24If you've already liked and subscribed, thanks very much, let's get to it.
00:31Genesis has streamlined the model range for the GV80 this time around with this updated
00:38version and that means there's no 2.5 litre petrol turbo anymore and there's no diesel
00:43either, which is a shame, I bloody love that diesel engine.
00:46Instead, we're just left with this meagre twin turbo petrol V6, which is an absolute
00:53cracker, but we'll get to that later.
00:55Look, it does come with 3 different versions of the GV80 available.
01:00So the entry level one is the SUV and it comes as standard with 7 seats and it's about $130,000
01:08before on-road costs, which represents something like $10,000 more than it used to be.
01:14There's heaps of extra equipment that's been added across the range but it does seem to
01:18be, well, still pretty competitive in the luxury SUV segment for a large 7-seater.
01:25And there's also a 6-seat version if that's what you prefer, so it gets captain's chairs
01:29in the second row to make it a bit more of a premium experience for those backseat riders.
01:34You still get those extra two seats in the boot though and it's an SUV as well rather
01:39than the coupe.
01:40And this one here is the coupe, it's the most expensive version, about $136,000 and it gets
01:47a slightly less practical body.
01:48I don't know why people pay more for less but they do, maybe it's just for the look
01:53and if you like the look that's totally fine, I'm not so sure that I do.
01:56But the coupe version does get a few extra features or different features compared to
02:01the SUVs.
02:02It gets different 22-inch alloy wheels, 22s on the other grades as well.
02:07It also gets a flat bottom steering wheel where the other ones have a round wheel.
02:12And there's also some other features on the inside like contrast stitching and contrast
02:16seatbelts as well, just to name a few of the differentiators for the coupe model.
02:22The standard equipment list across the entire range is extensive.
02:27Some of the highlights include full LED lighting all around the car, you get a glass roof in
02:32all versions of this vehicle and there's also the things you would expect like keyless entry
02:37and push button start.
02:39You've got beautiful leather trim on the inside, there's a few different colour interior options
02:44as well.
02:45There's a 27-inch OLED display in front of the driver that spans across to, well, two
02:51thirds of the dashboard essentially, and that also incorporates your infotainment stuff.
02:56But weirdly, no wireless Apple CarPlay, you still have to plug in, which is so strange
03:01in such a high-tech looking cabin.
03:04And it also has the luxury features that you would expect.
03:06Look, I'll tell you a little bit more about them when we get into the car, but just know
03:09that it feels like the money that you're paying for it, so what else could you spend your
03:14money on?
03:16Okay, so if you've got $130,000 and you want a luxury SUV, there are plenty, like plenty
03:24of options out there that you could be looking at.
03:26The first one I would recommend you go and have a look at though is the Volkswagen Touareg-R.
03:31I drove it recently, it's a plug-in hybrid with proper performance credentials.
03:36It's ridiculously quick, super duper fun to drive and also super luxurious on the inside
03:42as well.
03:43Now, it's just under $130,000 and while it doesn't have the coupe styling of this car,
03:49it does have a 5-seat layout with a big boot and plenty of really nice features on the
03:53inside as well, so it could be the best alternative to this if you're into the idea of a plug-in
03:58hybrid.
03:59If not, there's also the R-Line diesel V6 version which is really, really good too.
04:03Now, if you are looking for something with 7 seats, I would recommend you go and have
04:08a look at the Volvo XC90.
04:10It is getting a little bit old now, but it does have heaps of space and luxury on its
04:17side.
04:18And look, there is a plug-in hybrid version if that's what you're into, and if not, there
04:22are also a couple of other versions available in that line-up before it goes fully electric
04:27at the end of 2024, so if you do want an XC90, I recommend you go and take a look at one
04:32quickly.
04:34It is a large SUV with plenty of street presence, obviously, but I'm not so sure that I like
04:43the look of the coupe model.
04:46It is a little bit longer and it does have a slightly lower roofline than the SUV, but
04:51to me the SUV just looks so baller.
04:53This one, not as much.
04:55All versions come with 22-inch wheels, this being the coupe version it gets a slightly
04:59different wheel design, and obviously at the back there might be a little price to
05:03pay in terms of the boot space available to you.
05:07It gets a slightly different rear spoiler, and maybe crucially for some people, no rear
05:11wiper, which could be really, really annoying.
05:14But let's have a look in the boot, see what we're playing with, and you can see for yourself
05:20that there is a decent amount of space in this coupe model.
05:24I'll put the figure on your screen now so you can see what the number is, and I just
05:29want to show you also, this cargo cover has a really nice action to it, so you can fold
05:34it back out of the way if you want to, and you can also remove it of course.
05:38Now, in the boot area, in terms of amenities, you've got a light on this side and a little
05:44cargo hook there.
05:46You've also got another light and cargo hook on that side, but no shopping bag hooks, which
05:51is a little bit strange, but that's just how it is.
05:55Maybe people who buy this car don't need to take shopping home with them.
05:59So you've got a 12-volt port here, you've also got these little trigger switches for
06:04the back seats, so you just press the button and the seats electronically fold down, which
06:09to me seems like overkill, I don't know, you tell me.
06:13First aid kit down here, and underneath this carpet mat in the boot, you will also find
06:19a tyre repair kit.
06:20There is no spare wheel in this car, which maybe isn't ideal for everyone, especially
06:26considering you're riding on 22-inch rims with low-profile tyres.
06:30Now, under there, I don't know what's under there, but I'd like to open it.
06:34Now, let me put this back down.
06:36Of course, these seats also come back up if you press those buttons, and I'm going to
06:40also put the SUV practicality specs on your screen, so the amount of cargo capacity for
06:48the SUV model, so you can see for yourself the difference, and it is a little bit of
06:52a difference, but personally I think the difference really comes down to the styling and what
06:56you prefer.
06:57And personally, like I said, I think I'd go for the SUV one, just because I like the look
07:02of it more.
07:06Talk about upping the ante a little bit, this really does have a different vibe to the model
07:11it replaces, and obviously this is the high-grade coupe model, which does get the contrast
07:18stitching, and there are a few different colour combos if orange on greyish green doesn't
07:24really suit your tastes, but I really, really like it.
07:27I think that it does have so much more character than some of the other vehicles in this segment,
07:32which maybe are a bit more sedate in terms of the interior design, but the big talking
07:38point obviously is this, this massive 27-inch OLED display.
07:43The whole idea here is that it's a seamless integration between driver info screen and
07:49your multimedia system, and I think they've done a really nice job of this.
07:53Look, I don't think that it's perfect, because you still have to plug your phone in for Apple
08:00CarPlay, which to me, when you can do this, why can't you do the wireless thing?
08:06It just seems so strange, and even stranger, there is a wireless phone charger in here
08:10which even has a UVC light, so you can press the button and close it up, that'll basically
08:17UV clean your phone for you, because your phone's grotty.
08:21Now it won't be as grotty.
08:23Now something else that you might find will get a bit grotty is this touchscreen here
08:28for the climate control settings, so you've got your seat heating and cooling buttons
08:34and also your fan controls are here.
08:36It's all on a screen though, so apart from the temperature dials which are set aside,
08:43it's easy to get used to, it's just like, why a screen?
08:46Why couldn't it just be buttons?
08:48Buttons are good.
08:49And there's a dial for your tuning and your volume too, so at least you've got some dials,
08:54right?
08:55Now speaking of dials, there's a couple more dials down here, and I criticised, well, every
09:01Genesis that come before it, including this one, for having two rotary controllers for
09:08two very different things.
09:09So this one is for your media screen interaction and it does this, and this one is your gear
09:15selector.
09:16And the number of times that I accidentally hit that when I'm trying to go into reverse,
09:20there's another dial here, in fact.
09:22Your drive terrain and drive mode controller, so you've got drive modes and you've also
09:27got a terrain mode system if you want to go off-roading.
09:31I don't think I'd be going too far off the beaten track with these 22s, but hey, everyone's
09:36different.
09:37Look, in here you've got a covered centre console bin, but it's very small, like, this
09:41is my fist, look, it only goes up to there, so it's only like that deep.
09:47That was a bad illustration.
09:48And you've also got the usual sort of things that you get in high-end models from Hyundai
09:52and Kia group.
09:53You get this electric adjustment trigger system here, so you can push this seat forward if
09:59you want to put someone a bit more comfortably in the back seat.
10:03And you've also got decent storage in terms of your cup holders up here with ambient lights.
10:08There's cup holders or bottle holders in the doors as well.
10:11And it does feel really quite spesh in here.
10:14I love, absolutely love the fact that it doesn't have a dark headliner.
10:17It just makes it feel more premium, in my opinion.
10:20And another thing, you've got a digital camera rear vision system as well.
10:25So if you do find that, well, you've got a mirror full of faces in the back, then you
10:31can just flick the switch and it gives you a view out over the top of the car.
10:36So it's from a camera mounted on the roof of the car, and it means that you don't have
10:40to worry about not being able to see out the back window.
10:43Right, let's see if the back seat experience is any good.
10:47It's the coupe model, so does it have enough space?
10:49Well, you can see for yourself, I'm 182 centimetres or six foot tall.
10:53I've got a fair amount of headroom back here.
10:55It doesn't rake down like some of the other coupe style SUVs that make, well, it uncomfortable
11:01for someone my size to sit in the back.
11:04But look, it does have a decent amount of space here.
11:07I've got plenty of legroom, a decent amount of footroom as well.
11:11Like I said, headroom's good.
11:12You could fit three adults across the back if you needed to.
11:15There's a small transmission tunnel intrusion, but it's not too bad.
11:19And hey, if you want to, you can slide these seats forward.
11:22There are electric toggles on the side, so you can squish yourself up and tickle the
11:28earlobes of the driver if you want.
11:32Don't do that.
11:33Okay, so there's also some really nice amenities in the back of this car.
11:36Just let me slide back into my position.
11:38You've got map pockets on the seat backs.
11:41There's also directional air vents here, and a climate control system for the back too.
11:45So it's three-zone climate, and you can set the temperature back here.
11:49You've got heated and cooled outboard seats as well.
11:53And there's also a pair of USB-C ports down here, and a 12-volt, and bottle holders in
11:58the doors, and a flip-down armrest with some cup holders, and a little storage tray as
12:03well.
12:04So yes, it's all pretty clever, I reckon, when it comes to the cabin storage and solutions
12:11and comfort levels in the back.
12:13If you need it, because the tint is pretty good, you've got these shades that you can
12:18pull up to shade people in the back if you need to.
12:22So I like it.
12:24It's not impractical at all.
12:27There used to be a few different options available for you in the GV80 range, but now just one.
12:34It's a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 engine, and it's got heaps of power and torque.
12:41You'll see the numbers on your screen now.
12:43It comes as standard with an 8-speed automatic transmission and a rear-biased all-wheel drive
12:48system which can send some torque to the front if it needs to, if you need all-wheel drive
12:53traction.
12:54Now, it's also got pretty decent towing capacity, just over 2700 kilos for the brake towing
12:59capacity, 750 for unbraked.
13:02But just keep in mind that the maximum tow ball down weight is a little bit lower than
13:07the 10% ratio which you might be hoping for if you're planning to go towing with this
13:11vehicle.
13:12And speaking of weights, it's kind of hefty this thing, and it feels a little bit chunky
13:16on the road.
13:17So let's go for a drive, see what it's like.
13:23There are elements of this drive experience which I like, and there's bits that I'm not
13:27as convinced by.
13:29So let's talk about the stuff that maybe isn't quite ticking my box.
13:34It might tick your box, sorry if that sounds weird.
13:37But I do think that maybe the suspension, even though it has this clever technology
13:42with a camera that reads the road ahead, it's pretty good in some situations, though I do
13:49find that you can still feel the little lumps and bumps in the road surface at lower speeds
13:54in particular if the system doesn't pick up on a bump that's coming up.
13:59You've got 22-inch wheels with low-profile tyres, you feel that bump.
14:04In most situations, though, it does seem to be okay, but for me it just feels like
14:09there's a sort of imbalance between what the front suspension does and what the rear suspension
14:14does.
14:15The front seems pretty tied down, and it does aid the steering feel and the responsiveness
14:22at the front end when you are changing directions and stuff like that, but the rear, when you
14:26go over a bump, it just feels a little bit clumsy, a little bit bouncy and wallowy and
14:32not quite as controlled as an all-wheel drive SUV that weighs more than 2.2 tonnes probably
14:39should feel in my opinion.
14:41And look, you might find that it's not that big of a deal.
14:44If you're not the sort of person who goes out for a Sunday drive just for the hell of
14:48it, then it could be perfectly fine for you.
14:50If you live urban and that's all you really do, hey, yeah, it'll probably be pretty good
14:55in most situations for you.
14:57But yeah, for me, I just wish that it had a slightly more appealing tune to the way
15:04that it's all set up in terms of the suspension and so forth, and it isn't tuned for Australia
15:09or anything like that either.
15:11So I just want to see if putting it into Sport Plus mode or Sport mode does make a difference
15:16to the suspension.
15:17It firms things up, there's no doubt about that, and the, well, yeah, this is one of
15:22the things I like, this engine, it's an absolute corker, but it does have a slightly more tied
15:27down feel to it in one of the Sport Drive modes, but look, I still don't think it's
15:34quite as well-tuned a car in terms of the chassis and the dynamics of it as something
15:41like that Volkswagen Touareg R which I mentioned earlier on.
15:45You'll probably get your kicks out of this engine because it's a twin-turbo V6 petrol
15:51and it's, like, fast.
15:54Far out is it, fast.
15:57This is an absolute weapon of a machine.
16:00So I would say it does live up to the performance factor from the engine perspective, transmission's
16:06really clever as well, it holds gears when it should in Sport mode or just in one of
16:11the normal modes as well, and it also allows you to explore the potential of this powertrain
16:17as well.
16:18And like I mentioned, it does have all-wheel drive, but it's a rear-biased system, so it
16:22does feel like it kind of slingshots you out of corners a little bit too, and I don't think
16:26that it's a disappointing drive experience, it's just that maybe in the normal driving
16:31modes it might not quite be as tied down as I would like, and that's the key here, it
16:38just doesn't quite nail it for me, it might nail it for you.
16:44So let's talk about fuel consumption, okay, because, well, the official combined cycle
16:49number is high, you'll see it on your screen now, I mean, it's a twin-turbo petrol V6,
16:55this car is not light, it's no surprise that it's on the high side, but it certainly makes
17:00the existing engines that have been axed, well, missed, I have to say.
17:06And there's no EV version and there's no plug-in hybrid version, so it is falling a little
17:11bit short in terms of the efficiency factor, and if you're wondering what I've seen in
17:16terms of efficiency, you'll see my number on your screen, and that was across a mix
17:20of driving, some spirited and a lot of just the normal stuff that you'll probably do as
17:25well, and yeah, high as well.
17:30Not an efficient car, I would say.
17:35You know what's weird?
17:36The GV80 did have a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, but it doesn't anymore because, well, they
17:41axed the two versions that came with it, so the diesel had it, the four-cylinder petrol
17:46had it, this V6 petrol didn't have it, and so it doesn't have a 5-star rating officially.
17:51Does it matter?
17:52I don't think it does, because it's got all the same stuff, including autonomous emergency
17:56braking with pedestrian and cyclist and junction detection.
17:59There's lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control, which can combine into a traffic
18:04jam assist feature, so it can do lane-centring and stopping and going for you in traffic
18:09jams, which is really, really handy and takes the, I guess, drudgery out of the day-to-day.
18:14There's also a blind spot camera system, so it shows up a view of your blind spot on the
18:19screen inside, there's rear cross-traffic alert as well, a surround view camera system
18:24as standard, parking sensors all around the car, and it's also got other elements like
18:29safe exit assist and a rear occupant alert too.
18:32Now, it's also got plenty of airbags.
18:35There's dual front, there's driver's knee, front centre, rear side, front side, and full-length
18:42curtain coverage.
18:43So that's like $8,000 or something like that?
18:46Anyway, plenty of airbags, it's pretty safe I reckon.
18:51There's a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty for the Genesis range, and that includes also
18:565 years of free servicing.
18:59Now, the service intervals are every 12 months and 10,000km, so it is a little bit more needy
19:04in terms of maintenance requirements, but it's free, so don't complain.
19:08Now, there's also 5 years of free roadside assistance included, and if you do service
19:13with the Genesis network, that extends out to 10 years as well.
19:17And speaking of servicing, there are some perks.
19:20If you live within a certain distance from one of the metro cities, they can pick up
19:24and return your car for you for free as well.
19:28Pretty nice experience by the sound of things.
19:30This is an impressive luxury SUV, there is no doubt about it.
19:33There are some things that maybe could be better, but I think that for what it is here
19:38to offer, an alternative to some of those mainstream brands, it does that, and it does
19:42that convincingly.
19:43So, would you choose one of these?
19:45If you were going to pick one, which version would it be?
19:48For me, the 7-seat SUV just makes the most sense, but I'd love to know your thoughts.
19:52Let me know in the comments section below, and if you haven't already, please like and
19:55subscribe.
19:56I'll see you in the next one.
20:00Transcribed by https://otter.ai