The first SUV from Hyundai’s premium brand is a compelling 2021 SUV of the Year finalist.

Pro

• Original approach to luxury
• Jaw-dropping interior
• Incredible value

Con

• Harsh ride
• Underpowered 2.5T
• Unintuitive infotainment system

When we picked the Genesis G70 as our 2019 Car of the Year, we turned a lot of heads from Sindelfingen to Nagoya. "Is it really that good?" were the first whispers, followed by "What do you know about the SUV?"

Well, we now know a lot. The Genesis GV80 comes to the U.S. in two gas-burning configurations: a 300-hp 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four and a 375-hp 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6. The GV80 2.5T is available in rear- and all-wheel drive (AWD) and starts just under $50,000. The higher-performance 3.5T model commands $10,000 more and comes only with AWD. Both engines spin the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission electronically shifted by a lovely jewellike rotary dial mounted on the center console. Similar bejeweled touchpoints can be found throughout the GV80's stunning interior.




"Just look at that diamond-shaped pattern on the top of the map lights and on the door speaker grilles," Buyer's Guide director Zach Gale said. "Another detail, from previous Genesis sedans, are the silver beveled edges everywhere around the cupholders, window switches, and volume and tuning *****."

The love Genesis designers imbued on the GV80 drew appreciative murmurs from our judges.

"This shows Genesis is serious about being a luxury automaker," senior features editor Jonny Lieberman said. "I'm loving the giant oval steering wheel. It reminds me of a Citroën SM."

Features editor Christian Seabaugh noted the interior makes a great first impression. "Quilted tan leather with blue piping, blue and tan leather door cards, and real wood trim—you can tell Genesis really sweated the small stuff with the GV80," he said. "I know features like the smart posture seat, which takes your height and inseam measurements to dial in the seating position, feel gimmicky, but luxury is about the little things in life that make you feel good, and man does that make me happy."

MotorTrend en Español's Miguel Cortina was also a fan of the GV80's interior styling: "The cabin is chic and premium. It's also not trying to copy anyone; it has its own identity, from the HVAC controls to the modern color combinations. Everything seems elegant."

Originality, creativity, and playfulness were on display everywhere you look, from the sweep of the needles on the "3-D" digital gauges to the Sounds of Nature audio settings on the 14.5-inch infotainment screen. Not every bell and whistle was pitch perfect—judges took issue with the quirky touchpad/scroll wheel controller, the occasionally wonky lane keep assist, and other unintuitive electronics. But even so, no facet of the GV80 felt unconsidered.




"The second-row seats are just as nice as those up front," editor-in-chief Mark Rechtin said. "The diamond-pattern crosshatching is more than a pattern; it's actual indentations. And the rear seats fold fully flat, creating a huge cargo area. This is an immensely practical vehicle."

The GV80's smart packaging, thoughtful design, and fanatical attention to detail blew us away in the parking lot. The Lexicon stereo is clear and pure across all types of music. On the road, our judges favored the "delicious snarl" of the 3.5T, despite its jolting stop-start system, over the underpowered and overworked 2.5T. The GV80 really impressed us, but there was one huge miss: the ride.

"On a mainstream subcompact, it'd just be considered bad," Seabaugh said. "On a $72,000 luxury SUV, it's atrocious."

Features editor Scott Evans identified the main issue: "Even in Comfort mode, it rides like other cars' Sport mode. You can be sporty and still ride well—and it does handle very well. But I feel everything in the road. This doesn't feel like a luxury car ride."

Even so, one thing's clear: the young brand's first attempt is stronger than those from many luxury veterans. Resume whispering.