Simone reviews the all new Genesis GV80, the first-ever SUV from Genesis.

Closely related to Hyundai, Genesis didn’t really have to start from scratch in the SUV development, but the GV80 is a very different beast! Just like its sedan siblings, the GV80 is aimed to battle against revered German counterparts like the Mercedes-Benz GLE or the BMW X5 and that is some tough competition.

Genesis is really coming into its own as a luxury brand. Compared to the German counterparts, the prices of the GV80 have a smaller range and it is not as clearly pitted against specific models as BMW and Mercedes are.

Engine Specifications

G4KIII 2.5T

Engine: G2.5 FR T-GDI
Power: 224 kW @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 422 Nm @ 1650 rpm
Transmission: Electronic controlled 8 Speed Auto 
Fuel Consumption (combined): 9.8L/100km

G4KIII 2.5T AWD

Engine: G2.5 FR T-GDI
Power: 224 kW @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 422 Nm @ 1650 rpm
Transmission: Electronic controlled 8 Speed Auto 
Fuel Consumption (combined): 10.4L/100km

D6JIII

Engine: D3.0 FR VGT
Power: 204 kW @ 3800 rpm
Torque: 588 Nm @ 1500-3000 rpm
Transmission: Electronic controlled 8 Speed Auto 
Fuel Consumption (combined): 8.8L/100km

D6DIII

Engine: G3.5 FR T-GDI
Power: 279 kW @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 530 Nm @ 1300-4500 rpm
Transmission: Electronic controlled 8 Speed Auto 
Fuel Consumption (combined): 11.7L/100km

Those two tend to follow each other, with almost every version and trim having a direct counterpart on the other side. The GV80 is a bit in-between. It starts for more money than the entry-level X5 for example, but it’s more powerful and with better specs. At the very top end, it lacks an offer against the beastly V8 GLE63 AMG, but the top-specced GV80 is about half the price. It’s even significantly cheaper than the top non-AMG offering. You can get into the premium segment and even shop around a bit and still pay significantly less.

Judging by the first look, the Genesis GV80 seems to be more than a viable competitor. However, it’s main appeal from the industry point of view is the notion that this is just the beginning for the GV80.