Genesis GV80 Coupe Review – MORE SPORT, LESS UTILITY

Genesis GV80 Coupe Review

MORE SPORT, LESS UTILITY

The 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe merges the brand’s signature luxury with sleeker, sportier proportions, targeting buyers seeking head-turning design without sacrificing practicality.

A bargain in its niche, the GV80 Coupe is a compelling option for those who prefer traditional powertrains—or who balk at an EV’s window sticker premium. 

Competing against the BMW X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe and Porsche Cayenne Coupe, the GV80 Coupe distinguishes itself with a lower starting price and a stronger standard feature set. Car and Driver notes that it “delivers near-Porsche levels of refinement without the Stuttgart price tag.”

Starting at $79,345, the GV80 Coupe undercuts the Cayenne Coupe ($89,400) and X6 ($84,195). The mid-tier Prestige trim ($85,990) adds luxuries like massaging seats and suede headliner—features that cost $7,000 more in the Audi Q8. 

Sexy lines

The GV80 Coupe retains Genesis’s quad-light signature and crest grille but adopts a fastback roofline, reducing drag to 0.29 Cd—competitive with the Audi Q8. Unlike the X6’s aggressive angles, the Genesis emphasizes fluidity, with Motor Trend praising its “elegant taper, avoiding the awkwardness of some coupe-SUV hybrids.” 

Functional upgrades include standard rear-wheel steering (a rarity in the class) and an available solar-panel roof to supplement battery charging. 

Lush interior

The cabin blends organic materials (e.g., recycled wool upholstery, polished aluminum) with intuitive layouts. 

With 42.3 inches of rear legroom, it trails the Cayenne Coupe by 1.2 inches but outperforms the X6. Storage niches are everywhere, including a center console large enough for a tablet. An optional 27-inch OLED display spans the dashboard, though physical controls remain for climate settings—a welcome contrast to the Q8’s all-touch interface. 

Genesis’s latest infotainment system supports swipe gestures, voice commands, and over-the-air updates. Standard features include augmented-reality navigation and a 21-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. 

Driver-assistance tech is comprehensive, with highway assist capable of hands-free lane changes – a feature Porsche reserves for higher trims. 

Thermo-acoustic glass and generous sound-deadening keep the cabin as quiet as a graveyard on a windless night.

Front seats are 18-way adjustable with posture correction. Rear-seat passengers get generous padding and 10.2-inch touchscreens to keep them occupied.

Two powertrains

Genesis offers a battery-electric version in the station-wagon like GV80, but not the sportier, performance-oriented coupe. Rather, locomotion comes from either a 375-hp gas engine or the same engine augmented by a 48-volt supercharger, which improves fuel economy by 7% and boosts output to 409 hp. 

A buttery-smooth 10-speed transmission demonstrates Genesis’ engineering maturity.

The GV80 Coupe comes with adaptive dampers tuned for comfort. A scanning system watches 1.5-seconds ahead and adjusts for road imperfections. The car nicely blends a gentle ride with responsive handling.

Safety first

Standard safety tech includes blind-spot view projection (which displays video in the instrument cluster) and intersection collision avoidance. The GV80 Coupe earns a 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. Consumer Reports noted its “superb crash-avoidance systems” outperform the GLE Coupe’s. 

Pros

• Class-leading warranty (10-year powertrain coverage). 
• Spacious rear seats for a coupe-like SUV. 
• Competitive range and charging speed. 

Cons

• Less brand cachet than Porsche or BMW. 
• Cargo space (18.7 cu ft) lags the Q8’s 21.7 cu ft. 

Bottom line

The GV80 Coupe excels as a value-driven alternative to German rivals, offering comparable tech and refinement at a lower price. It is ideal for buyers who prioritize design and innovation over badge prestige. For those considering the X6 or GLE Coupe, test-driving the Genesis is essential—it may render the premium for a German badge harder to justify.