Genesis GV80 3.0 Diesel: Epitome of Charm and Taste

Genesis is striking out on its own, stepping out from under the shadow of her big daddy, Hyundai. Once, little more than a posh model of the big Korean, Genesis was spun off as a sub-brand, as Toyota did with LEXUS. Genesis has a stable 5 models, with another arriving in a few months.

Ti put thing into proportion, Genesis sold 80 cars in January, 50 more than Jaguar. To be fair, Land Rover sold a further 339 cars, so things aren’t quite as they seem.

GV80 has 4 models, a 2.5L RWD, 2.5L AWD, a 3.0L straight 6 turbo diesel AWD, and finally, a 3.5L petrol turbo V6 AWD. Seating is 5, 6, or 7 seats depending on model and option pack chosen.

There is a slew of drive modes for tarmac and off-road. There is a mode for every mood and condition.

Get the full specifications list HERE: Genesis_GV80_Spec-Table_July_2021

Outside:

The striking GV80 metalwork cuts a modern figure on the road. Twin level lights front and back give you a full LED experience. And, although they’re fully automatic, there is no Matrix option.

Wheels across the brand have intricate lattice embellishment to reflect the massive shield grille, and its crisscross façade. GV80 has massive 22” standard rims, making the large and impressive profile even large and more impressive.

There is a certain masculinity about an SUV this big, but this one is tempered with a softness that is somehow mysterious and alluring.

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Inside:

The doors unlock as you approach, beckoning you in.

Once inside GV80, there is delicious feast of overt luxury. As you become familiar, you realise it actually premium veneer over a quality technological installation. As pretty as it is, it is all business.

This is the first time I’d experienced a Genesis without the Luxury pack and my first question was: Will the lack of Luxury Pack leave me feel wanting.

The $10,500 Luxury pack brings things such a fully digital dash, and for $13,500 individual second-row seats with a fully featured, fixed centre armrest and dual 9.2-inch HD entertainment touchscreens..

Without the luxury packs, you may think the cabin might feel lacking in some way, but not a bit of it. The rear seats are positively capacious. They wrap the occupants in a way as to makes them feel special. There are a couple of power outlets back there, but the real luxury is the amount space afforded by excellent desig.

The front seats have heating and cooling, but that’s hardly news in a posh SUV. It is the little touches like open-pore wood trim, and the gorgeous crystal gear dial that make travelling in GV80, an event. Intricately faceted metal highlights adorn switches and knobs, but is it real, or is it just clever theatre?

Finally, the HUD augments the digital dash.

Get the full specifications list HERE: Genesis_GV80_Spec-Table_July_2021

The Drive:

After experiencing other Genesis engine options, I didn’t think I could be more impressed. This stonking straight six oil burner kicks some serious butt. The V6 turbo petrol may have more power, but the undeniable grunt of a diesel trumps a petrol every time. Despite the power, acceleration feels brisk, yet stately (6.8 seconds 0-100).

The gear dial takes a little to get used to. Switch gear has a resistance to them that removes that cheap flimsy feeling. It means that you need to give the gear dial an extra shove, just to be sure you have chosen the desired direction.

Once under way, GV80 feels heavier than the similarly sized Hyundai SantFe, but it comes with a more regal ride. It rather makes one want to wave one’s hand at an adoring public lining your route.

Everything feels so wonderfully deluxe.

Sports mode asks more of the suspension than it is reasonable to expect. Enthusiastic corners see the old girl lurching more than you’d like, but steering and brakes are as spot-on as if they’d been nicked from a hot hatch.

There is no fancy remote parking, as that comes with the option packs, but you do get a 360^o camera. Like al technology, it isn’t perfect. You still need to listen to the sensors, and check around you regularly.

Highways are a joy, where GV80 rules the open road with panache. Auto steering, and other driver aids, assist during the journey. More importantly, the stress and strain of a commute is completely removed, no matter how long it might be. Comfort mode transforms the big SUV into a comfortable, long-distance tourer, capable of swallowing road trips without complaint. In fact, you might even find yourself preferring to drive rather than fly, and why not. It gives you something classy to use when you arrive.

VG80 wasn’t perfect, with a distant whine at some speeds.

The rest of the time, it glided quietly along. Unlike most diesel engines, when pushed, this one sounds like a throaty V6 sports car rather than an escapee from a barn.

The weekend Away:

The usual suspects clambered into the GV80 for the 2 hour trip north. For a change, the boys seemed content with being driven.

Casper:

I like the Genesis a lot. It’s not been on my radar until now, and had I spotted one on the road, I doubt I’d have known what it was. I love the comfort, but whether or not it could tempt me from a Range Rover is another question.

Max:

GV80 is a nice-looking thing. The engine is a belter, and the AWD is as sure-footed as you’d hope for. We didn’t go far off-road, but it lapped the mud up and that gets full marks from me. Gay buyers love a badge, and I’m not sure we are all that familiar with this badge. Will people really switch from a BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Range Rover, or Audi?

Ethan:

GV80 will appeal to an older crowd. It is lovely to drive and does nothing wrong, but it is not aimed at someone in their early 20’s.

Alan:

It is a peach in every way.

GV80 isn’t super-fast, but 6.8 seconds to 100 is enough to give most big cars a run for their money. You couldn’t ask for a more comfortable ride, and while some SUVs may handle better, few are as good a value for money proposition.

Conclusion:

Genesis GV80 deserves more consideration. Whether it can win a battle of badges, only the buyer can say. From a writer’s point of view, it delivers on every promise. It is frugal, well appointed, well made, and most importantly, reliable.

Get the full specifications list HERE: Genesis_GV80_Spec-Table_July_2021

Price: $105,000