2025 Genesis GV80: Quiet Confidence

SUVs
June 9, 2025
Dan Gunay

The 2025 Genesis GV80 remains a disruptor in the luxury SUV segment, making a bold statement with its high-end refinement, standout design, and cutting-edge technology. As Genesis’s flagshiv SUV, the GV80 returns with a refreshed look, an available ultra-luxury two-row configuration, and updated interior tech that pushes it further into luxury territory. With a focus on comfort, craftsmanship, and value, the GV80 holds its ground against European rivals while offering a distinctively Korean take on modern luxury.

Genesis didn’t reinvent the GV80’s face for 2025 – it refined it with the confidence of a designer who knows they nailed it the first time. The double-line LED DRLs are now slimmer and mroe precisely integrated into the grille, giving the front end a focused, almost hawk-eyed presence. The massive crest grille is still front and center, but now with more polish and less overkill. Even the lower bumper has been cleaned up, suggesting Genesis has entered its “we don’t need to try so hard” era – and honestly, it wears that maturity well.

Down the side, the GV80 still carries the proportions of a proper rear-drive-based luxury SUV. Long hood, elegant beltline, and a strong shoulder that doesn’t need fake muscle to look confident. The new wheel designs, especially the optional 22-inch stunners that we had on our tester, give the GV80 the visual punch it deserves. Genesis also added a new “coupe” variant for 2025 – not that they would ever admit to chasing trends – but the more raked roofline and aggressive stance are unmistakable.

Around back, the design cleanup continues. The dual-bar taillights stretch wider and now look like something out of a concept sketch – crystalline, high-tech- and more jewelry than lighting element. The rear bumper gets a smoother finish, with exhaust outlets tucked in like they are too refined to shout. Genesis even trimmed down the badging, giving the tailgate a cleaner, more expensive look. It’s the kind of design evolution that doesn’t beg for attention but effortlessly gets it anyway – which, let’s be honest, is the most luxurious flex of all.

Step inside the GV80, and it’s immediately clear that Genesis understands what luxury is supposed to feel like — not performative opulence, but real, tactile quality. The redesigned interior ditches the slightly scattered look of the outgoing model in favor of a cleaner, more architectural layout. Front and center is a stunning 27-inch OLED display that stretches across the dash — part gauge cluster, part infotainment, all gorgeous. It’s the kind of screen you’d expect in a six-figure car, not something you cross-shopped with a Lexus. And the tech experience is mostly excellent — except for smartphone integration. You still have to plug in your Android phone to use Android Auto, which feels flat-out unacceptable in 2025.

Material choices are next-level, and not just in the expected touchpoints. Real metal, soft leathers, wood trim that actually feels like wood – not plastic that went to finishing school. The new steering wheel design ditches the weird split-spoke look for something more traditional and upscale, and all the controls have the clicky, high-precision feel that says someone cared. But it’s not all good news: the center console looks like it should offer more storage than it does. It’s sleek, yes – but try to stash a bag of trail mix and suddenly you are out of real estate.

Seating comfort is excellent in the first two rows. The front seats are thrones – wide, supportive, heated, cooled, and adjustable every which way. The second row offers generous legroom and recline, making it genuinely adult-friendly for long hauls. Genesis also offers a bench seat option for the second row, which is quite unique in the luxury segment, but it’s a great asset for someone looking for a 7-seater luxury SUV. The third row offers two seats, but it feels like a last-minute add-on. It’s fine for kids in a pinch, but if you routinely carry six or seven people, you are better off in a KIA Telluride or a full-size SUV.

As for cargo, the GV80 is useful but not class-leading. With all three rows up, trunk space is tight – just 328 litres. Drop the third row and you get a far more usable 991 litres, and folding everything flat opens up nearly 2379 litres. So yes, it’s practical enough for a Costco run or a weekend gateway, but it’s still more luxury cruiser than moving van. And that’s perfectly fine, because the GV80’s cabin feels like the kind of place you linger in, not the kind you treat like a toolbox.

Under the hood, the 2025 GV80 sticks with what it knows: either a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder or a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6. No hybrids, no plug-ins, no fancy new drivetrain tech – just good old-fashioned internal combustion. The real GV80 experience comes with the 3.5T engine with 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque, and it feels legitimately quick for a mid-size luxury SUV. It delivers its power in a smooth and effortless fashion that feels more Bentley-lite than anything in its price range.

The twin-turbo V6 engine is paired with an 8-speed torque converted automatic that knows when to keep quiet and when to hustle. It’s not the transmission that makes you feel anything – and that’s the whole point. It just works, always in the right gear, and never drawing attention to itself. All GV80s come standart with all-wheel-drive in Canada, and Genesis’s system is biased toward the rear, so there is at least a whiff of sportiness when you dig into the throttle. It’s not going to rotate like a BMW X5M Competition, but it’s far more composed than something like a Lexus RX.

As for the and handling, this is where Genesis took a gamble and… didn’t gamble. There is no air suspension, no adaptive dampers, no mode-switching wizardry. Just a well-tuned steel-spring setup that feels -dare we say it- honest. The GV80 rides with a supple, quiet composure that doesn’t need to pretend to be a sports car. Sure, it leans a bit in corners and gets floaty over undulating highways, but it’s consistent, predictable and luxury-first. That simplicity might sound like a limitation, but it’s actually refreshing – Genesis didn’t overthing it, and the result is a ride that just works.

The 2025 GV80 drives like it was tuned by people who actually commute, not by engineers trying to impress Nürburgring lap timers. The steering is light but accurate, body roll is present but progressive, and the chassis feels solid, planted and composed – like it was carved out of billet rather than assembled from parts. It’s a vehicle that doesn’t beg you to drive fast, but makes cruising at any speed feel like an occasion.

The 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 is smooth and well-mannered, with just enough torque to keep things interesting – but it never feels liek it’s itching for a fight. This isn’t an AMG-lite experience. It’s more of a confident whisper than an annoying shout, which can also be considered as “boring” for more performance-oriented buyers. Dip into the throttle and it responds quickly, but not dramatically. It build speed like a luxury yacht pulling away from a dock – calmly, effortlessly, and with zero drama. The exhaust note is practically nonexistent, the shifts are invisible, and the overall vibe is more “first-class lounge” than “performance SUV”.

And it’s not a bad thing. Genesis knows its customer – someone who wants their luxury SUV to be powerful, but not loud about it. The GV80 doesn’t reward aggression; it rewards smooth inputs, relaxed pace, and a good podcast. Even in Sport mode, it never becomes harsh or edgy. If you are coming from a BMW X5 or an Audi Q7, it might feel a little more mellow than you are used to, as it embraces calmness instead of trying to be something it’s not.

The GV80 doesn’t scream for attention — it earns it with quiet confidence and impeccable taste. In a segment crowded with overdesigned, overhyped, and overpriced status symbols, Genesis delivers something rarer: restraint. It’s a luxury SUV for people who care more about how things feel than how they photograph. The 2025 update sharpens the experience without chasing trends, proving Genesis understands that true luxury isn’t loud — it’s deliberate.

That said, a few cracks do show: the lack of meaningful storage space in the center console is a head-scratcher, the third row remains an afterthought, the drive could use a bit more emotional spark, and the continued absence of wireless smartphone integration is a baffling miss in a tech-focused luxury SUV. But if you’re willing to trade a little flash for real substance, the GV80 still stands as one of the smartest buys in the luxury SUV world.

Engine	3.5 litre twin-turbocharged V6
Transmission & Drivetrain	8-speed automatic & all-wheel drive
Max power	375 hp @ 5800 rpm
Max torque	391 lb-ft @ 1300 rpm
0-100 km/h	5.9 sec
Curb Weight	5054 lbs – 2292 kg
Fuel Economy (observed)	18 MPG – 13.1 L/100 km
MSRP (starting at)	$75,150 USD
Website:	www.genesis.com/ca/