2021 Genesis GV80 Photos, engines & full specs

2021 Genesis GV80

Hyundai's luxury brand Genesis launched its first SUV in 2020 for the 2021 model year, and it tried to compete with big brands like Cadillac, Volvo, and Mercedes-Benz, to name just a few.

Since Hyundai didn't have vast experience in creating luxury cars, it hired big names from the automotive industry, such as Peter Schreyer or Luc Donckerwolke, as chief creative officer. Previously, he worked for other big European brands like Bentley, Lamborghini, and Audi within the Volkswagen Group. In 2008, the Korean luxury brand took off, and in 2015, it launched its first production vehicle, the G90, a four-door sedan. But that was not enough on a market that asked for more SUVs and crossovers. As a result, in January 2020, the automaker introduced the GV80 based on the Hyundai-Kia M3 rear-wheel-drive platform that was used for other Genesis sedans.

On the exterior, Genesis created a unique design of the front fascia with its quad-lamp design and the big, crest-like grille between them. The bumper featured a smaller, lower air intake adorned by a chicken-wire-style pattern and flanked by a pair of side scoops that diverted the air around the bodywork. From its profile, the GV80 impressed with its sloped-down roof line and the ascending window line that raised behind the rear doors. A pair of fake vents decorated the front fenders, while the sculptured doors created the image of a taller vehicle. At the back, the tailgate featured a raked forward window and a roof spoiler mounted on its upper side. The taillights were extended from the quarter panel onto the tailgate's lower panel.

The leather-wrapped interior expressed a high level of luxury. Genesis offered the car with two rows of seats as standard, while a third row placed in the trunk area was available. Thanks to Luk Donckerwolke's experience with other luxury brands, the GV80 featured diamond-stitched leather on the seats and a wide, wood-trimmed center console that housed the gear selector, two cup holders, and a storage compartment under the center armrest. Inside the instrument cluster, Genesis installed a wide speedometer on the left that also contained the fuel gauge at its bottom and two displays on its right. The one in the middle was for information gathered from the onboard computer, while the right dial showed the image from rear-view cameras installed on the left and right of the vehicle, depending on which direction the driver activated the turn signal. There was enough room in the back for three adult-sized passengers, thanks to the low transmission tunnel. The third row was mostly for kids since it provided very limited legroom and headroom, but it was there if someone needed it.

The Korean automaker offered the GV80 SUV with a choice of two turbocharged engines paired with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission. The base model had a 2.5-liter inline-four powerplant that produced 300 hp (304 PS), while the other option was a 3.5-liter V6 that produced 375 hp (380 PS). For selected markets, Genesis offered a three-liter inline-six turbo-diesel that sent 274 hp (278 PS) to the wheels. All versions were fitted with an all-wheel-drive system.