Genesis is poised to move out of the premium market and into the luxury market in earnest, with designs and prices points that compete with the sharpness and cost of German rivals like BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. But, Genesis lacks the engineering prowess and nameplate cache those brands bring to the table.
With its redo of the Genesis flagship SUV, the GV80, the automaker hopes to do that. In addition to new styling and technology, the GV80 now comes in a traditional SUV shape as well as a high-riding hatchback style the company calls the GV80 Coupe (though its four passenger doors prevent it from being traditionally labeled a coupé).
The 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe steals most of its looks from the GV80 SUV. Where it mainly differs is in the grille styling and the sloped roofline. It's all meant to give the GV80 Coupe a level of aesthetic sportiness that the GV80 SUV does not possess.
That mantra of sportiness versus the GV80 SUV carries over into the powertrain. The GV80 Coupe can be gotten with either a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine that puts out 375 horsepower (hp) or a twin-turbocharged and supercharged 3.5-liter V6 that delivers 409 hp. Both power plants are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive drivetrain as standard.
The lower-powered GV80 Coupe starts a hair under $80,000 before destination and delviery fees are added on. The more powerful GV80 Coupe starts about $5,500 above that.
Genesis only had the more powerful variant available for test driving. No matter if it was in city or highway driving, all the power of the SUV wasn't enough to overcome the lag between depressing the accelerator and the responsiveness in the SUV's get-up-and-go mechanisms. It's not as bad as GM's old turbo, but it's somehow worse because Genesis thinks it can play with the big boys.
I mean, look, it's fine. The 409 horsepower is plenty, but that high amount just doesn't make the SUV sporty enough in this day and age. With the advent of electrified powertrains, quickness off the line is measured in milliseconds rather than seconds. Refinement in the delivery of that power is what makes the combination truly desirable. Here, the marketing speech didn't match the model's actual drive experience.
My ambivalence toward the power delivery of the GV80 Coupé is only matched by the level of head shaking that I did when Genesis calmly and thoroughly explained that while the GV80 Coupé is meant to be sporty, it is inefficient and costs about as much as track-ready SUVs from the aforementioned German rivals.
It earns a rating of 18 miles per gallon (mpg) in city driving and 22 mpg in highway driving situations, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The car's rivals, the Audi SQ7 (starts at $90,800) and BMW X7 M60i (starts at $110,900), get about the same. But, they have thirsty turbocharged 4.0- and 4.4-liter V8s under the hood, respectively, and offer at least 500 horsepower each.
A 375-horsepower version of the X7 is available for $83,500 before destination charges and fees are tacked on.
The interior of the GV80 Coupe is plenty stylish, especially with the 27-inch wide infotainment screen/digital instrument cluster duo. There's plenty of space in the front and rear seats, but their comfort leaves much to be desired.
Pair that feeling with a suspension geared toward traditionally sportiness rather than comfort, and you have a ride that is less than supple over anything other than smooth streets, and seats that make even the amply posteriored want to get out after an hour.
For longer stints, there's no hands-free driving technology like what you'll get from other models at the GV80's price point, but the tech that is present works relatively well.
Bob and Anne, imaginary Rust Belt retirees and empty nesters now living in a warmer climate near their grandchildren who can now afford a luxury SUV, can find something that fits their style, comfort and power needs more than the GV80 Coupe.
While the German brands have more brand cache, the Volvo XC90 Recharge is a far more comfortable ride, is more powerful (455 hp) and comes in a plug-in hybrid powertrain format that means most driving can be done in either all-electric or hybrid form.
For a brand that is still trying to give reasons for buyers to shop its lot over the others, the Genesis story isn't furthered much or made more desirable by the GV80 Coupe. Knock $10,000 off the price and mend the powertrain operations, and then there's a real conversation to be had about conquesting customers.
