Credit score: Kymri Wilt
You’ll Really feel Like Royalty, as a Driver or Passenger. I Did.
Have you ever ever felt like a visitor of honor just by stepping inside your automobile? Whether or not you’re within the driver’s seat, a passenger or stress-free within the second row, whenever you sit down within the 2025 Genesis GV80, you’re served with an elevated expertise of consolation, comfort, and care, as if the automobile itself is your private host and concierge.
The philosophy known as “Son-Nim,” or “honored visitor”, and I actually felt like one as I stepped into the the up to date 2025 Genesis GV80, which is priced from about $58K to $79K. The whole lot made me really feel particular, together with, and particularly, my drive expertise within the 2025 GV80.
Associated: I went to Korea and Found the Soul of Korea’s Automotive Kings
From Newcomer to Honored Host, the Transition of Genesis
Genesis, which emerged in 2015 as the primary Korean luxurious car to enter the US market, first exercised “son-nim” by providing prospects an internet buying concierge and a white-glove gross sales valet to ship a check drive or construct and ship a Genesis mannequin to a purchaser’s dwelling.
In the present day, the thought of hospitality is extra private, with 35 standalone Genesis showrooms throughout the US, and Genesis Home in New York Metropolis, which welcomes visitors to expertise the its distinctly Korean tradition.
The 2025 mannequin boasts some updates, from extra jewel-like headlights to a “temper curator” that encompasses a perfume diffuser hidden within the glove field, to a biometric starter that may you’ll be able to personalize together with your fingerprint, making the Genesis GV80 extra welcoming and pleasant than ever.
Associated: 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 – A Gorgeous Electrical SUV with Stats to Boot
The GV80‘s Engine Choices Deal with You Like a VIP, Too
For me, all the pieces was new, as this was my first expertise in a Genesis. And it was rewarding. Whereas the 2025 mannequin had a makeover (hold studying for extra on that) the 2 out there powertrains stay the identical as within the present 2024 fashions—a 2.5L inline turbo 4 cylinder that generates 300 HP and a 3.5L V-6 Twin Turbo (which we drove) that generates 375 HP. And that’s factor.
My favourite place is all the time the motive force’s seat, and there I felt utterly relaxed driving the GV80 – the dealing with, turning, acceleration, braking, and parking left nothing to be desired. Simply as one may count on with Korean hospitality, the GV80 was attentive and able to gently help with out my having to ask.
Associated: The First Genesis Dealership, Genesis of Lafayette, Louisiana, Is Simply Daring HBO To Make A Collection About It
Delicate New Modifications Elevate the Genesis GV80
What has modified, ever so subtly, are a couple of exterior particulars that visually sign a bespoke, elevated expertise. There’s nothing shallow right here, the outside design parts of the GV80 are deep, wealthy, and purposeful
The primary visible that embodied the spirit of Genesis is the brand new colour added for 2025, Storr Inexperienced. Impressed by the Scottish greens of the Isle of Skye, this distinctive new paint selection is on the market in each shiny and matte finishes. After I noticed it, I used to be actually drawn in by notes of mist-laden moss towards the earthy cliffs, and sensed the contemporary salty air of the Hebrides. I seen delicate modifications in colour because the sky shifted from gray and overcast to crisp and sunny, identical to the Scottish panorama. I received’t deny that for a second, the colour made my mouth water for an aged single malt whiskey.
Associated: 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe First Drive: The Excellent Technique to Fly From Your Empty Nest
The entire colours that Genesis chosen are impressed by journey locations and evoke nostalgia or wanderlust – Capri Blue of the Mediterranean island, Uyani White of the Bolivian Salt flats. Naturally, your entire palette resonates with the traveler’s spirit and had me wistful to re-visit or uncover stunning far-flung locations.
On each paint colour the outside particulars are beautiful; the double mesh grille provides a daring contact of sophistication, with bigger air vents and distinctive micro lens array of headlamps. The Genesis badge now rests flush within the hood as a result of magnificence doesn’t have to be show-y. The rear design accentuates width, with a cleverly hidden muffler disguised as a “V” formed design factor. And the 22” wheels (on the Status trim we drove) are eye-catching, each whereas parked and in movement.
“Son-nim” Inside The Gv80, The place Each Seat Is a Seat Of Honor
After I arrived for my check drive I used to be transferred to the venue in a very stunning and distinctively luxurious GV80. My first expertise within the 2025 mannequin was that of a backseat passenger. The motive force may have taken me wherever, clear throughout Texas for all I cared. I used to be delightfully snug in a automobile that actually handled me as an honored visitor once I sat down, and the motive force didn’t need to elevate a finger. Spacious legroom? Verify. A spot for my water bottle? Verify. A USB port to cost my cellphone? Verify. A sunshade for my passenger window? Verify. How a couple of fold-down self-importance mirror for passengers within the second row? Verify.
With the push of a button I perfected the angle of my seat again recline so I that might benefit from the view by means of the panoramic sunroof, and even go to sleep if I so desired. Alas, simply as I used to be about to float into slumber, we’d arrived. That brief drive was only a palette-teaser, an hors-douevre served at the start of a full course Michelin-starred meal that’s the drive expertise contained in the cabin of the Genesis GV80.
When my drive accomplice and I set off for our drive expertise the next morning, I rode within the passenger’s seat for the primary portion, once more feeling like I had taken the seat of honor. Like the motive force, I additionally had a heated/ventilated energy seat with 4-way lumbar help, and particular person local weather controls at my fingertips.
As we meandered the one lane highways outdoors of Fort Price, rapidly my drive accomplice swerved barely and commenced apologizing profusely for not seeing the enormous potholes within the highway…what potholes? We rolled proper over them and felt nay a lot as a slight rumble. I used to be having fun with the passenger view out the window – had she not mentioned something, I’d have been none the wiser. We agreed we may calm down about highway circumstances and easily permit the GV80’s Son-Nim hospitality deal with us to a pleasing and cozy journey, wherever the highway took us.
Driving: The Genesis GV80’s Good Cruise Management Displays True Hospitality
As good because the passenger’s seat is, there’s no place I’m happier than within the driver’s seat. With the 12” head up show, being in command was easy.
This was most obvious and appreciated once I examined out my belief points with the Genesis adaptive cruise management system, significantly Freeway Driving Help, which is their palms free driving system. I might usually reserve cruise management for straight freeway driving, however we had been driving on winding rural highways. Utilizing the capabilities on the steering wheel, that are simple to provoke by thumb, I reached a snug pace and engaged adaptive cruise management.
The system additionally has pace restrict help, which displays the pace restrict on the highway. Lane observe and lane hold help learn the highway and stored me in my lane, even on a single lane freeway, and even on a curving freeway. I may relaxation my legs and calm down my palms whereas the GV80 quietly took over and hosted my drive.
Nonetheless, I needed to keep management of the automobile. The Driver and Ahead Consideration Warning system stored me from getting distracted surroundings; all that was required was my consideration on the highway forward, and the GV80 did the remaining. Whereas initially I used to be nervous to relinquish management, I really discovered that my stress was diminished and I may depend on the GV80 to maintain me secure on the highway. After I arrived at our vacation spot, I let the GV80 park itself with Distant Good Parking Help, like a inbuilt valet, as a result of that final little bit of stress is the very last thing I need after a protracted drive.
The Star Attraction Is Not Out The Window, It’s In The Cabin Of The Gv80
The elegant and purposeful expertise enhancements within the 2025 GV80 served to help, slightly than distract from, the drive expertise. Probably the most beautiful design factor boldly takes heart stage sweeping throughout the sprint – a powerful 27-inch widescreen HD show. A digital show rests in entrance of the motive force, with navigation, audio, consolation and settings menu spanning throughout the middle console, demanding consideration and admiration. Not like different manufacturers the place it’s a must to improve for such a surprising centerpiece, this show is normal in each Genesis GV80 mannequin.
Sure, it capabilities as a touchscreen, however that doesn’t imply you’ll be wiping smudgy fingerprints off after each drive. The magic occurs with a complicated crystal-topped dial within the heart console, on the driver’s fingertips, to maneuver by means of the screens, toggle and choose settings. Moreover, there are in-dash push button choices, and a contact sort twin zone local weather management panel, providing you with choices. I rapidly tailored to utilizing the dial and cherished the intuitive ease with which I used to be in a position to scroll by means of the menus.
Temper Curation For These Ever-changing Moods On The Street
The GV80’s attentiveness to emotion and sense is served up in a Temper Curator. 4 completely different temper settings are inbuilt to create an atmosphere within the cabin, with lighting, sound, scent, and even contact!
- Vitalty is energizing with colourful lighting and quick beat music that makes you are feeling able to go;
- Delight was my joyful place, with brilliant tone lights and upbeat music that had me smiling and dancing in my seat;
- For a extra calming ambiance, Care softens the lighting and music, and even provides a delicate therapeutic massage to the motive force, easing away all stress;
- Consolation additionally incorporates therapeutic massage, with stress-free music and lighting, and is nice for going the gap.
I might be remiss to not point out the audio system behind the sound: the Bang & Olufsen premium 18 speaker encompass sound, with intuitive contact base tone management and elegantly designed audio system, lending an much more refined really feel and sound to the cabin of the GV80.
Luxurious is “Commonplace” within the 2025 Genesis GV80
I’ve by no means seen a extra complete listing of inclusions for the usual base mannequin, however that’s in keeping with “Son-Nim” and Genesis anticipating your each want. To share all the usual inclusions right here could be exhaustive, so I’ve picked out my private highlights:
- 27-inch OLED show and navigation System
- All the motive force help: adaptive cruise management, pace restrict help, freeway driving help, ahead collision-avoidance, lane hold and lane observe help, driver consideration warning, ahead consideration warning, blind-spot collision-avoidance help, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance, parking distance warning, secure exit help
- energy entrance seats with 4-way energy lumbar, heated entrance seats, built-in reminiscence system w/ good posture care, energy tilt & telescoping steering wheel
- Temper curator, ambient lighting, Bose premium audio
- 40/20/40 2nd row folding seats and non-obligatory third row
- Fingerprint authentication system (sure! you’ll be able to arrange the system to acknowledge your fingerprint, then use it to begin and drive the automobile)
- Multi-link entrance & worry suspension with self-leveling rear suspension for the standard drive expertise that’s elevated
Trims and Pricing for the 2025 GV80
- The GV80 Commonplace trim begins at $57,800 for the two.5T AWD, and likewise features a full suite of security options, wi-fi Apple Automotive Play and Android Auto, leatherette seating, Temper Curator, digital phone-as-key and 19” wheels
- The Superior mannequin begins at $65,600 (2.5T) and $73,800 (3.5T) abd provides leather-based seating, encompass view mirror, and Bang & Olufsen Premium Audio, panoramic sunroof, energy folding third row is on the market solely on this trim for the three.5T.
- The Status 2.5T mannequin begins at $70,450 provides 22” wheels, 3-zone local weather management, Ergo Movement Seats;
- The Status 3.5T mannequin begins at $79,000 and provides Nappa leather-based seating with heated and ventilated rear seats, and an influence second row.
As a “Son-Nim” Visitor of Honor, the Honor Was Actually Mine
It was as a lot an honor to drive the Genesis GV80 because it was to be the honored visitor within the passenger’s seat or being chauffeured. The elevated surroundings of the exquisitely designed cabin make you are feeling like royalty, and that about says all of it. I’ve tried my finest to place my “Son-Nim” into phrases, however you might simply need to expertise it for your self. Genesis is greater than a model. It’s a tradition, it’s an perspective. And it was an honor to drive.
