Car Reviews
The Genesis GV80 – BLENDED. FAMILY.
The Genesis GV80
BLENDED. FAMILY.
The Genesis GV80’s appealing blend of style, technology and performance – at a price point below competitors from Germany and Japan – makes it a clever play for affluent customers seeking the finer things in life.
Dynamic exterior styling complemented by a sporty, high-tech interior and a luxury feel allow the GV80 fit in nicely with the country club set.
Inside, the cabin is a testament to meticulous craftsmanship. Plush leather, elegant matte wood accents, and high-resolution displays create an atmosphere of modern luxury. Genesis matches the attention to detail shown by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Lexus. The seats are wide and well-supported. Where the driver’s right knee might contact the center console, there is padding.
The GV80’s “Driver-Centric UI” layout optimizes ergonomics, and features like Digital Key 2 allow convenient vehicle access via smartphone.
State-of-the-art crash avoidance technology comes standard. Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance all work flawlessly.
The driving experience is rewarding. Our press GV80 came with the optional 375-hp turbocharged V6 mated to a smooth eight-speed automatic that shifts almost imperceptibly. A mild hybrid system does not improve fuel economy but is used to provide instant torque to minimize turbo lag.
A turbocharged 300-hp four-cylinder comes standard and includes the same hybrid system, but a luxury car should feel like it has power to spare, and the V6 supplies that.
The cabin is well insulated from noise, vibration, and harshness. In this market niche, handling should be superior, and it is in the GV80. On winding roads the SUV feels well-planted. Nicely weighted steering and minimal body roll add to a taut handling feel.
Despite its premium nature, Genesis offers attractive pricing. The lineup consists of four trims: Standard, Select, Advanced, and Prestige, priced from $61,000 to $76,000. The base model comes generously equipped with features like a 14.5-inch touchscreen, navigation, and leather upholstery. At the same time, upper trims offer luxury items such as soft-close doors, premium audio, and massaging seats.
What is not to like? For starters, there is lackluster fuel economy. At an EPA-estimated 16 mpg for an optional 3.5-L twin-turbo V6, the GV80 is dead last among its 14 most popular competitors.
Fuel economy is one reason Consumer Reports ranks the GV80 11th in the class. Reliability is another. Readers have complained of a host of little issues. All are covered under warranty, but buyers in this price range do not have the spare time for dealer visits.
The magazine also degrades Genesis because it is the crown jewel in the Kia/Hyundai family which has a dreadful – and enormously expensive – recent past with internal combustion engines. The GV80 is the subject of a recall because it tends to fail and interrupt the charging of the 12-volt battery, which powers everything from turn signals and headlights to brakes and steering.
Buyers of $70,000 cars can probably afford the gas, but a penny wasted is a penny wasted. One could opt for a Lexus RX or BMW X5 plug-in hybrid for a few dollars more. Plug in overnight, and both allow drivers to cover more than 30 miles a day without using gasoline.
When that is used up, their hybrid-gas systems seamlessly kick in. The BMW delivers 50% better fuel economy, and the Lexus RX gas-electric hybrid more than doubles the GV80s.
More importantly, the Lexus and BMW hybrids combine the gas and electric power to produce head-snapping power. The Genesis would look like a Conestoga wagon in a drag race of the three.
Bottom line: We always enjoy a Genesis visit, but we found ourselves peeling off $20 bills at the gas pump more than we like. Add the reliability issues, and there is concern that resale value might drop off more quickly than competitors.
