Used 2022 Genesis GV80

The Genesis GV80 is a serious contender in the competitive class of midsize luxury SUVs. It’s a well-rounded vehicle that delivers just about everything you could want in a luxury SUV. It’s stylish, the interior is spacious and upscale, and driving the GV80 strikes a satisfying balance of engaging performance and good fuel economy. On top of all of that, it achieves outstanding safety scores, earning the coveted IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.

The GV80 is up against some formidable rivals from all across the luxury car world. Its closest competitors include the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, BMW X5, Volvo XC90, and the more affordable Lexus RX. Among the strengths of the GV80 are its high levels of luxury, safety, and technology — all achieved at a lower price point than its European rivals.

Since the Genesis GV80 was just introduced in 2021, the 2022 model is primarily a carryover. However, it does add a luxurious Prestige Signature trim that provides a rich experience for the second-row passengers. The second row in this trim has 6-way power captain’s chairs, a wireless charging pad, and a one-touch Relax Mode, which puts the seats in an optimal posture for comfort.

Driving the 2022 Genesis GV80 is a pleasant experience. The ride is smooth and quiet, especially if you get the available Road Preview feature. It uses cameras to look at the road surfaces ahead and adjust the suspension to comply with any imperfections.

The base turbocharged inline-4 engine produces 300 horsepower, which is impressive for a base engine in this class. It’s more than enough power to move the GV80 around with authority, plus it returns pretty good fuel economy. Rear-wheel drive is standard with this engine, making for a sporty driving experience that’s still comfy on the highway.

The available 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine is an excellent upgrade if you have an appetite for greater performance. It turns up the heat with 375 horsepower, making acceleration effortless. Additionally, every GV80 equipped with this V6 engine has standard all-wheel drive.

It would be nice to see a more high-performance variant of the GV80 to compete with the likes of the BMW X5 M and the AMG variants of the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. Still, the vast majority of luxury SUV drivers will be satisfied with the two turbocharged engines available.

There are five drive modes, allowing you to tweak how this SUV behaves. Choose from Comfort, Snow, Eco, Sport, and a Custom mode that lets you adjust details like suspension stiffness, shift points, and throttle response.

The interior of the Genesis GV80 is quite opulent, especially in the upper trims. This SUV has a smart and stylish interior design with well-integrated tech features, no matter which configuration you go with. The base trim uses leatherette seating surfaces, which upgrade to genuine leather and luxurious Nappa leather with quilted stitching as you work your way up the model range.

One thing we like about this interior is the choice of unique color options. You have your typical black, beige, and brown color schemes that you’d expect in any luxury SUV. However, an attractive Smokey Green leather option, an available Ultramarine Blue dash, and a couple of different wood interior trims are available for those with more daring tastes.

2-row seating for up to five comes standard, and a third row with two extra seats is optional in the V6-powered GV80. The optional third row is very tight and only suitable for children. It reminds us of the Lexus RXL in the sense that the first two rows of seats are spacious and comfortable, even for taller adults, but the third row is almost useless. If you want a midsize luxury SUV with roomy 3-row seating, consider one of the more family-friendly options like the Cadillac XT6 or Acura MDX.

The cargo space of the Genesis GV80 is about average for this class. Naturally, adding the optional third row of seats results in less cargo room.

The Genesis GV80 is a head-turner. While it may not have the same brand panache as a more established luxury brand like BMW or Porsche, anyone who sees it in traffic or a parking lot will know that it’s a premium SUV. The light signature is unique, the prominent grille is striking, and the body lines are sleek and stylish.

The size of the Genesis GV80 is about average for a midsize luxury SUV. Its dimensions are similar to the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, BMW X5, and Volvo XC90.

REMOTE SMART PARKING ASSIST
With this available feature, this SUV can park itself remotely with a touch of a button on the key fob while you stand outside the vehicle. It’s ideal for getting the GV80 in and out of sight spots.

SUSPENSION WITH ROAD PREVIEW
Not only does the GV80 provide a smooth and comfortable ride with electronically controlled suspension, but it can “read” the road ahead of you to identify imperfections in the pavement and adjust accordingly.

The Genesis GV80 is a well-equipped luxury SUV, even in the base trim. The standard powertrain is a 300-horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. Standard features include 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, leatherette seating, heated and power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a hands-free power liftgate, two USB ports in the front row, and two USB ports in the second row.

The standard infotainment system in the GV80 is a 14.5-inch screen loaded with navigation, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, and HD Radio. A 12-speaker premium audio system also comes standard.

A long list of standard safety features includes automatic high-beams, front and rear parking sensors, Safe Exit Assist, forward-collision avoidance assist, Highway Driving Assist II, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane following assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic assist, and rain-sensing wipers.

The standard 4-cylinder engine is upgradable to a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 with standard all-wheel drive (optional for the 4-cylinder models). Every V6-powered GV80 also comes standard with electronically controlled suspension with road preview.

Climbing up the model range with option packages like the Advanced and Prestige packages adds some pretty desirable features. You can get amenities like a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, Nappa leather seating, a digital gauge cluster, a Lexicon 21-speaker audio system, and much more.

The only trim of the GV80 with 3-row seating is the 3.5T AWD Advanced+ model, which starts at $67,500. That gives the 3-row GV80 a pretty high cost of entry and not a very good value.

There’s a new top trim of the Genesis GV80 for 2022. It’s the 3.5T AWD Prestige Signature model, and it makes the second-row seats a more luxurious place to be. It has 6-way captain’s chairs in the back with a wireless charging pad and a Relax Mode, adjusting the seats for optimal comfort. It also has stylish matte paint, matte chrome trim, and distinct dark finish wheels.

There are two engines available in the Genesis GV80, both of which are impressive. The base engine is a turbocharged inline-4 with 300 horsepower, which is a lot of power for a base engine in this class. The available twin-turbo V6 adds quite a bit of power and torque, making for a more exciting drive.

Rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional in GV80 models equipped with the base engine. Every V6-powered GV80 comes standard with all-wheel drive. Every Genesis GV80 uses an 8-speed automatic transmission with quick and smooth shifts.

All-wheel drive normally comes with a fuel economy penalty, but the 4-cylinder engine in the GV80 impressively has the same city and highway fuel economy ratings when equipped with AWD as it does with RWD. Not surprisingly, upgrading to the V6 engine comes with a tradeoff of better performance but worse fuel economy.

2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4
300 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
311 lb-ft of torque @ 1,650 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/25 mpg

3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6
375 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
391 lb-ft of torque @ 1,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/23 mpg