Driven: 2024 Genesis GV80 3.5T Prestige Signature
2024 | genesis | reviews | suvs
Genesis makes some of the best luxury vehicles on the road today. The posh and stylish GV80 is currently the brand’s largest SUV, with options for two or three rows of seats. The 3.5T Prestige Signature version has a performance-oriented powertrain, an extravagant interior with high-end materials, and a wide variety of safety and convenience technology.
The GV80 has a sophisticated and distinctive style with a smoothly sculpted body. Genesis' trademark two-line headlights, fender vents, and taillights give it a real sense of movement from front to back. Our test vehicle was painted in Matterhorn White - a smooth and creamy matte white. The paint contrasts nicely with the Prestige Signature's chrome trim and dark-finish 22-inch alloy wheels, both of which add to its presence. If you prefer something a bit more colorful, rich Cardiff Green, Capri Blue, and exclusive Mauna Red paint options are beautiful.
Behind the enormous mesh shield grille, you'll find a 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine that produces 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft. of torque. That potent engine is connected to an all-wheel drivetrain via an 8-speed automatic transmission. Despite this loaded model weighing roughly pounds, it'll accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds. The one trade-off for the powerful engine is fuel economy, which comes in at just 20 MPG combined city/highway. The adaptive suspension provides an incredibly smooth ride, though it's not nearly as stiff and agile as the smaller Genesis GV70, even in Sport mode. Tech features include an intelligent cruise control that can come to a complete stop in traffic and automatically resume. This system works in concert with an excellent lane-centering feature to help make long highway drives a breeze.
Thanks to an active noise cancellation system, the GV80's cabin is tranquil and well insulated from road, engine, and wind noise, and unpleasant vibrations have been banished. The design of the interior hasn't changed since we last drove a GV80 in 2021, but it's still a rich and elegant place to spend your time. The seats, door panels, steering wheel, and parts of the center console are wrapped in elegant Nappa leather. The cabin is devoid of cheap plastics. The premium materials on display include natural ash wood, aluminum, and a lovely suede headliner. In addition to a spacious storage bin in the armrest, the center console has a floating design that provides bonus storage space underneath. There's a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a neat 3D depth effect and a 14.5-inch touchscreen that provides access to multimedia and vehicle controls. These are separate displays for 2024, but Genesis plans to lose the 3D effect and fuse them into a single panel for the 2025 GV80.
The center console also has a wireless phone charger and dual USB charging ports. The 21-speaker Lexicon audio system cranks out big volume with good dynamic range and deep bass. Real metal dials control volume and channel selection for the media system and drive mode. The glass and aluminum gear shift knob is beautiful but can easily be confused with the media system scroll wheel that sits in front of it, especially if you're not looking at them and just going by touch. If the touchscreen were a little closer to the driver, there would be no need for the scroll wheel, so that could be a better solution. Otherwise, we'd like to see Genesis replace the shift knob with a joystick or pushbutton controls to eliminate any chance of confusion.
The quilted leather seats are cushy and comfy and offer tons of adjustability. In addition to recline, distance, and height settings, they have 4-way lumbar support controls, and the driver also gets a power cushion extension for extra thigh support. Both front seats have heat and ventilation, while the driver's seat has a massage feature that's sure to make your other passengers jealous. A Smart Posture mode can automatically adjust seating position based on height, inseam length, and weight. It's a neat feature, but we had to tweak its suggested settings to find the right balance between posture, comfort, and forward visibility. A two-panel panoramic roof helps brighten up the cabin on sunny days.
While there are GV80 models that seat up to seven passengers, the Prestige Signature is a four-seater. This configuration provides the most comfort, luxury, and cargo space. Second-row passengers get plush, power-adjustable captain's chairs with large, wing-type headrests, as well as heat and ventilation. The right rear seat also has a relaxation mode, which moves an unoccupied front passenger seat forward and out of the way, reclining the seat so you can nap. A wide console between the seats includes an armrest, storage bin, wireless charging tray, and cupholders. The back of the front console has dual USB charging ports, a 120-volt AC outlet, and independent climate controls. There are even LED-illuminated mirrors that pop out of the ceiling so you can check your face before a night out on the town.
This two-row configuration provides plenty of room for carrying luggage and other items. Behind the second row of seats, you get 34.9 cubic feet of storage space, which jumps to 84 cubic feet with the seats folded down. Those seats can be dropped and raised with the push of a button mounted on the left rear side of the cargo area. A hands-free power liftgate automatically opens when you approach the back of the vehicle with the key fob in your pocket.
We continue to be delighted with every Genesis vehicle we've driven, and the 2024 GV80 is no exception. It's elegant, quick, and quiet and offers excellent comfort for all passengers. The tricked-out 3.5T Prestige Signature version tested here has a sticker price of $82,695, including freight and handling. Like other Genesis models, you get a 10-year/100,000 limited powertrain warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile limited vehicle warranty, and complimentary scheduled maintenance for three years/36,000 miles. Note that significant interior updates are coming for the 2025 GV80, as well as a sleek new GV80 Coupe model, so you might want to wait until those appear in dealerships before making a purchase decision.
