10 Things My Family Adored about the 2025 Genesis GV80 3.5T Prestige

If you recoiled at the sight of $81,000, don’t worry—there’s a GV80 for almost every budget. The GV80 I tested was the 3.5T Prestige AWD, so it came with the optional 3.5-liter turbocharged V6. The standard engine is the 2.5-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine.

Obviously, the bigger engine produces more power—375 horsepower versus 300—which is still an impressive number for a four-cylinder engine. Two fewer cylinders bring down the price dramatically, with the starting price for the 2.5 engine being $59,050 versus $75,150 for the 3.5, with all trim levels being all-wheel drive.

The GV80 I drove came with all the options, and the $650 Capri Blue Paint, bringing the price to just over $81,000 with destination and delivery fees.

Do the extra 75 horses and two cylinders justify the additional $16,000? Well, that depends on how often you’ll use the Sport mode and whether or not you’re willing to shave off a few miles per gallon.

In my opinion, the 3.5T engine is fantastically smooth and has a great exhaust note, but if I were buying the GV80, the 2.5T would be plenty powerful enough for daily driving without sacrificing too much pep.

When the Genesis GV80 was delivered to me, around two inches of snow had fallen—even though snow hadn’t been forecasted. I took a picture of my driveway covered in snow and sent it to the driver, saying he might want to turn around and head back to Portland.

He responded by saying he was only eight minutes from my house and that the Genesis handled better than most four-wheel drive cars he’d delivered to journalists.

I was told the GV80 has a rear steering assist that helps get the SUV out of tight spots in case the AWD system detects it’s stuck, and as long as it’s kept in Snow mode, the center differential will electronically lock for better traction. The electronically adjusting suspension will raise the ride height, too, making it more agile.

I was nervous seeing all-season tires on an $81,000 car. However, I was incredibly impressed by how poised it was on the snow and ice in sub-freezing temperatures.

I’m not exaggerating when I say this, it handled better than my Subaru Forester did with dedicated winter tires on it. There were so many times that cars ahead of me would start to lose traction on a large sheet of ice, and the GV80 didn’t skip a beat.

Once I found an empty parking lot, I even tried to get it sideways, and it wouldn’t budge. The large footprint from the wide tires, paired with all-wheel drive, made it too sticky—even on ice. I never once lost traction during the entire week I had it.

The interior of the Genesis GV80 felt great. It was luxurious enough for me to comfortably say it was one of the fanciest interiors I’ve ever experienced, but it wasn’t overwhelming. Everything just worked. The white leather, paired with the navy blue was a match made in heaven for color coordination.

Everything felt so thoughtful. Everything I needed was right where I assumed it would be, the HVAC controls were easy to find, use, and interpret; the media screen was incredibly responsive and rich in color; and if you didn’t want to leave fingerprints on the screen, you can use a faux-chrystal “cursor” to navigate the screen.

I also appreciated how customizable the screens were. You could change the color, brightness, font size, choose a light or dark theme, what information showed up on the HUD—you name it. I was always surprised by the number of settings that could be changed to suit your driving position and style.

Additionally, the sound system was amazing. I utilized the nearly gazillion speakers every chance I could and enjoyed it, even if it was listening to my toddler’s show tunes. Plus, the wireless Android Auto/Apple Car Play made getting in the car and hitting the road quickly a blissful transition.

In the winter, the heated steering wheel was greatly appreciated, as well as the remote feature to warm up the cabin before my girls were placed in—all with the doors locked, so thieves don’t think they can get a free Genesis.

Sitting in the rear seat of the GV80 was obviously designed to be an experience more than it is just a ride. The Genesis GV80 can have heated rear seats, which my daughters would have likely loved if they weren’t in their car seats, personal climate control settings, USB-C charging ports, and tables that fold out from the seats in front of them.

There were even speakers between the front and rear sunroof to utilize the incredible (and in my opinion, non-negotiable) sound system for those in the rear.

Since both of my girls are in car seats, one rear-facing and the other front-facing, they were still able to enjoy a luxurious drive. The added height let them look through the large, tinted windows, and both enjoyed looking at Oregon’s plentiful pine trees through the sunroof.

However, I will note that the Genesis GV80 was one of the most frustrating cars to put car seats in. The lower anchors were hard to find without a dedicated flap or “door” like most modern cars have, so it took me a very long time to get their seats in.

Once they were locked in place, getting them in and out of the car was a breeze thanks to a tall roof but low entrance. The rear seats are electronically adjustable from the outside, which was appreciated when putting my daughter’s front-facing seat in. My girls also loved the electronic sunshades that I can control from my window control panel.

Also, unless you’re keen on keeping the white leather clean, opt for the darker leather. It pained me to see dirt smeared on the seat.

From the outside, the Genesis GV80 doesn’t look as large as it truly is. Just before the Genesis arrived, I’d been testing the Subaru Outback, which narrowly fit in my standard two-car garage. There were maybe three inches between the front bumper and the wall, same with the rear bumper.

Without realizing it at first glance, the GV80 is much bigger than the Outback, so it barely fit in my garage. If you plan on regularly parking it in a garage, be sure to get your tape measurer ready and ensure there’s enough space.

However, with all that length and width comes cargo space, and plenty of it. The GV80 has exceptional space behind the second row and ample legroom for the rear passengers. Since my toddlers didn’t need all that footroom, it made it perfect for my camera bag, purse, and my youngest’s diaper bag.

Both of my kids refuse to be strapped to a stroller, but I could easily fit their double stroller and still have room for my Costco haul.

Groceries were easy to load too, as all you have to do is stand at the back of the locked car with your key in your pocket and wait three seconds. The gate will open for you, and I regularly used that feature with my kids in tow.

Since we’ve established that the Genesis GV80 3.5T AWD Prestige has 375 horsepower, what happens when you switch it into Sport? I was shocked to find that just selecting Sport causes the bolsters to close in on your waist, which is a feature I’ve only seen in high-end cars from BMW, Mercedes, or Porsche.

The car hunkers down as the suspension adjusts, and the transmission shifts later, letting the car squeeze every pony from each gear before shifting. Getting onto the highway, even when the road was wet, was remarkably quick and stable, and it sounded amazing.

Once your stint is over, you can drop it back into Eco mode and feel the seat restore itself to its factory position (which is still a great one, by the way). Then the claws retract, and you have your soft lap cat again.

Additionally, the power is still there in Eco mode. It just doesn’t wind up as quickly, and it takes a little longer to get up to speed.

Eco mode didn’t disappoint when driving around in Bend, Oregon. If you’re not local, everything is close together, and the fastest road has a speed limit of 45 mph until you get to Redmond or La Pine. Therefore, traveling is at low speeds with frequent stops.

Usually, for heavy AWD SUVs, that means poor mileage figures as the engine works harder to keep it moving and starting from a stop. But the Genesis GV80 simply shrugged it off, with an average of 25 mpg during my week of testing.

This may not seem like a lot when you compare it to most modern cars, but you have to remember this was regularly full of gear, children, their car seats, myself, and my husband. Plus, it’s a heavy SUV with a high-output engine.

That’s largely thanks to the electronic AWD system, which splits the power by 80/20, showing preference for the front wheels when the system doesn’t detect the need for a 50/50 split. When put in Snow mode or if it detects a loss in traction, a computer will then split the power evenly to help maintain and regain traction.

The genius of it is that when you’re not in Snow mode, it’s kind of like having two-wheel drive. So, you get better mileage than an AWD drive system that’s permanently split evenly.

Even at the base trim, the Genesis GV80 still comes with a lot of the features that make it such a wonderful car to drive. Other cars that compete with it, like the Porsche Cayenne, with a starting price of $86,695, have similar features—for a lot more. As a reminder, the Genesis GV80 starts at $59,650 for the four-cylinder engine and $75,650 for the six-cylinder engine.

The Porsche’s base engine is a 3.0-liter V6, and it can be configured with a 4.0-liter V8 in the S trim, but for a starting price of $101,600. The fact that the GV80 is considered a competitor to the Cayenne is a huge compliment, but for an important reason: it’s more bang for your buck.

Genesis is still a fairly new company, so it doesn’t have the legacy or the status of Porsche, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it gained traction very soon.

The GV80 also competes with the BMW X5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE, both sporty SUVs with a higher starting price but similarly configured.

From the snowy Oregon mountains to sandy California beaches, dry Nevada deserts, or the lush golf courses of the coast, the Genesis GV80 has the space, features, and amenities that make it suitable for that lifestyle.

Glampers? No problem. It’s AWD and is capable when the going gets tough, and both engine options can reportedly tow up to 6,000 pounds with the right setup. Love snow sports? No sweat; it can be fitted with roof racks to hold equipment, or the seats can be folded to accommodate them.

Family hauler? You got it. Stellar safety ratings, rear passenger occupancy alerts, heated rear seats, powerful rear climate controls, and sunshades that can be popped up or tucked away with the driver’s window controls, and plenty of space for strollers and gear.

Do you like to go fast? The Genesis GV80 loves it—either engine option is tuned to handle it, and the Sport mode is excellent. So, no matter where the road takes you, Genesis has made the GV80 capable of getting you there safely and in style.

I mean, look at it… There’s not a single person who can deny it’s a good-looking car. From the curvy design language to the sloping (and gorgeous) rear end, the unique wheels, grille, and taillights, the Genesis GV80—and any other Genesis for that matter—separates itself from any other car.

It’s easy to point out all the other popular manufacturers, but a Genesis truly stands out from the crowd. For the features at the price point, it’s truly hard to beat.

The phrase, “It’s all that and a bag of chips,” fits the Genesis GV80 like a trusty pair of flattering jeans.