The 2021 GV80 comes loaded with standard features, including synthetic leather seats, 12-way power adjustable front seats that are heated, a 14.5-inch touchscreen with smartphone compatibility, 19-inch wheels, puddle lamps, and a dual-zone climate control screen flanked with dials and buttons.
It earns a point for that gear, another point for starting under $50,000, a point for additional equipment up the trim ladder, and a point for Genesis’ excellent 5-year/60,000-mile warranty with 3-year/36,000-mile complimentary scheduled service.
It’s a 9. A simplified infotainment system would net it a perfect 10.
Alas, the infotainment setup is far from perfect. The temptation would be to use the shiny dial in the center console. But which shiny dial? One dial protrudes from the console to change gears with a twist or put into park with a push. The dial above it for infotainment has a similar twist and push function that’s easy to mistake. A warning appears on screen asking if you really want to “park” at 70 mph.
The 14.5-inch stretched display can be divided into one main section for navigation and a smaller section for audio, for example. To negotiate between the split-screen display with the dial takes a while to learn, and longer to master. Genesis may have predicted this and supplemented the push-dial with a touchscreen; there too it falls short, or at least your finger might fall short based on how far away it is from the natural driver’s position. The five different ways to change a radio station—voice, steering wheel controls, touchscreen, dial, then the preferred method of a tuner/volume dial on top of the console—reflect the kitchen sink approach to infotainment.
The dial is best when in “park” to adjust longer term settings, of which there are multitudes, or to easily zoom in on the map.
The instrument cluster features an analog speedometer on the left and a digital center display with tachometer on the right. Even with the larger 12.3-inch all-digital display, the limited vehicle info for trip and active driver assist features feels like a missed opportunity. On the other hand, the available head-up display has excellent clarity and info.
Which GV80 should I buy?
The base Standard model costs $49,925 (including $1,025 destination). Our preferred pick would be the $53,825 Advanced trim that adds a sunroof, wood trim, wireless smartphone charging, cooled seats, and heated steering wheel.
Adding all-wheel drive costs anywhere between $5,750 and $6,350, depending on trim for the turbo-4. That’s three times the cost of competitors but Genesis bundles it with more content. For example, the Standard trim with all-wheel drive gets most of the upgrades of the Advanced trim with rear-wheel drive, and it costs $55,675. Accounting for the additional features, all-wheel drive is only $1,800 more.
Or you could just jump up to the more powerful 3.5-liter turbo V-6 with standard all-wheel drive.
How much is a fully loaded 2021 Genesis GV80?
Step into the 3.5T Prestige for $71,975. It comes with 22-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires, an electronic limited slip rear differential for sharper handling, and active noise cancellation for an even quieter ride. A suede headliner graces the cabin, as do nappa leather seats, a 12.3-inch 3D digital cluster, power shutting doors, a phenomenal 21-speaker Lexicon audio system, and, in back, power rear seats that are cooled. Rear seat riders even get their own vanity mirrors.
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