2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe review: Looks can deceive

2025 Genesis GV80 review by The Road Beat

Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman

Well, I for one didn’t see this coming—but I guess in the age of capturing every market possible, it was also inevitable. Genesis has turned their glorious GV80 SUV into a coupe, following the trend originally established by BMW with their X6. Staying true to course, Genesis’ latest is a coupe in name and design only, eschewing any attempts at a hardcore model by focusing on their strengths—and rightfully so—because I don’t see anyone lining up to buy a $100,000 Genesis SUV with 600 horsepower. Yet, is this sacrilegious in its execution? With such a strong offering already in the GV80—a class leader in luxury and big-SUV dynamics—is there any reason to divert to the GV80 Coupe?

It’s all in the looks

Skipping the crust and biting right into the core: the number one reason drivers will want—or not want—the GV80 Coupe comes down to the looks. It’s tough resting judgment almost entirely on the most subjective category possible, but that’s likely what it’ll come down to in this case.

In my experience, I found it divisive. I didn’t really care for it,—finding the sloped roof awkward from many angles—while some friends thought it looked brilliant. The standard GV80 SUV is a work of classy beauty, and the coupe-ified version trades some of that guaranteed visual success for something bolder. That said, even as someone who isn’t a fan, I can’t deny how striking the shape is—like a hulking mass pumped full of protein and HGH, wearing a suit too tight and ready to burst. It has presence, for better or worse—and that’s a success of its own.

Looks come at a cost

Let’s assume that you do love the looks—because now we need to talk about what you’re giving up: space. By trading a traditional SUV shape for that sloping roofline, not only is rear headroom sacrificed, but the third row of seats is gone entirely. In practical terms, it doesn’t make much sense to have a vehicle this large that somehow only seats five and also compromises on potential cargo capacity. It leaves you with a properly big car that isn’t all that practical (relative to its size). But that’s where niches come in. It’s a fine and small one, but for that small percent of shoppers without kids—or just one—and who want a big car that looks different, that’s where the SUV "coupe" comes into play.

A unique, but thirsty engine

Unlike the recent GV80 I tested, this new Coupe came with Genesis’ e-supercharged and twin-turbocharged V6 engine. And yes, that sentence is correct. While most superchargers are belt-driven (and thus require power to make power—not exactly economical), this engine uses an electrically driven supercharger, which should, in theory, be more efficient. The reason for including a supercharger at all is to fill in the low-end gaps of the turbochargers—when they’re not yet producing boost—thus solving the case of turbo lag.

So, does it work? Yes and no. Turbo lag has almost entirely disappeared, making this twin-turbo V6 one of the most responsive of its kind in any mainstream passenger vehicle short of a McLaren or Ferrari. And oh yes, it’s got proper punch when you press the throttle—whether it’s a gentle squeeze or you hammer your right foot flat to the floor. Take out the stopwatch, and 0–60 MPH takes only 5.2 seconds, with this big Genesis continuing to build pace relentlessly.

The takeaway: it does improve response and power (409 HP here versus 380 without the e-supercharger), but there’s a serious, unexpected toll on fuel economy. After a week of varied driving—none of it particularly hard or abusive—I averaged a paltry 17 MPG, which is even worse than the last 3-row GV80 I tested. Even if the e-supercharger is supposed to be more efficient than a belt-driven one, you wouldn’t know it from the impending gas receipts. And while the engine certainly delivers real-world punch, it doesn’t come close to the performance of the German big three’s super-SUVs with AMG and M badges (admittedly for a lot more money—but still, they exist). It’s a good engine—responsive, smooth, and practical in power delivery—but damn does it drink gasoline like a sailor in port while not even returning all that much in the horsepower games relative to what competitors offer. This isn't 2015 anymore, because 409-horsepower is good, but it's not that impressive in 2025 for a flagship vehicle's powertrain.

Luxury supreme

One aspect that hasn’t changed in its transformation to a coupe is Genesis’ commitment to luxury. Coupe or not, the GV80 remains an absolute superstar on the inside. Even though the price of this once-value-leader has crept well over $80,000, there’s not a nicer interior for the money anywhere in the car world. From the luscious leather swathing vast portions of the cabin, to the real metal switchgear—machined to perfection—and the overall solid feel in motion, it’s a wondrous environment that fully justifies the asking price. And while the GV80 now joins the trend of giant screens—with a 27-inch unit stretching across both the instrument cluster and infotainment—the cabin remains entirely classy. It’s tech-forward without being vulgar or doomed to age badly.

Other highlights include massaging front seats and a delightful heated armrest to match the heated steering wheel and seats. One negative, though, continues to be the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, so you’ll still need to keep a cable handy. Weirdly, other cars in the Hyundai family now feature wireless CarPlay, so I don't know why this expensive and luxury Genesis would forgo that convenience.

Sporty dynamics with and without penalty

No changes were really needed to improve how the GV80 drove; previous versions already offered excellent body control and composure. But in transitioning to a coupe format, there’s an increased emphasis on sportiness—helped mostly by physics and a lower center of gravity. Some punches have been pulled, and some haven’t. I still love the meaty, heavy steering of the GV80, giving you the feel of a machine with real substance—and it pays you back with confidence and road feel. Aided by clever all-wheel drive, the GV80 Coupe has tremendous grip that engineers could only dream of a few short years ago. You can charge down backroads with serious pace here—such is the real-world capability.

However, it’s not dramatically different from the standard GV80. It’s a little sharper and more agile, but only marginally. And if you’re really reaching, the GV80 Coupe has got nothing on a BMW X6 M—a legit 600-horsepower thoroughbred that’s quicker, sharper, and stops better in every scenario. For the civil cruisers, the GV80 is plenty sporty—but that’s relative; There’s still a lot left on the table. I also noticed a harsher ride quality, feeling quite jiggly at low speeds, though it smooths out as you go faster.

An SUV with purpose that does without purpose

I’ve never been the biggest fan of these big SUVs trying to masquerade as coupes, as they trade away the very practicality they were built for in exchange for inherently compromised performance. Because let’s face it: an SUV will never drive as well as a comparable sedan or real coupe. Engineers can fight physics—but they can’t beat it. The GV80 Coupe may be the sportier or "cooler" option in the GV80 lineup, but it doesn’t drive differently enough to make a convincing case on performance alone. The only real reason to pick it is if you love the looks. Rather than being a tool of its own, it ends up as more of a fashion accessory—and a very fashionable one, for those who fall for it.

The GV80 is a wonderful vehicle and the new Coupe version is bolstered by all the same strengths that Genesis has quickly and quietly become known for. Yet it’s also a vehicle that’s purposefully without real purpose, sharing a number of drawbacks that past GV80s did not have. It’s a worse SUV than the normal GV80, and it’ll never be the sports car the "coupe" name implies. For the niche crowd it appeals to, though—you’ll have no regrets. Well, except when maybe at the gas pump or realizing you can't fit as many plants from Green Acres in the back. For a brand typically associated with value, the creeping cost will be a major deterrent in establishing the GV80 Coupe as a presence on the road.

2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe

As-tested price: $87,780

Pros: Tremendous interior; Good dynamics

Cons: Expensive; Thirsty; the standard GV80

Image gallery with basic specifications further below

 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe specifications

 Powertrain and Performance:

• Engine: 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with a 48-volt electric supercharger​

• Horsepower: 409 hp @ 5,800 rpm​

• Torque: 405 lb-ft @ 1,300 rpm​

• Transmission: 8-speed automatic​

• Drive Type: All-wheel drive​

• Fuel Economy: 18 mpg city / 22 mpg highway / 20 mpg combined 

• Road Beat real world economy: 16 MPG

Dimensions:

• Length: 195.5 inches​

• Width: 77.8 inches​

• Height: 67.3 inches​

• Curb Weight: about 5,120 pounds ​

Interior and Features:

• Seating Capacity: 5 passengers​

• Infotainment: 27-inch OLED integrated instrument cluster and navigation touchscreen​

• Audio System: Bang & Olufsen® premium audio system​

• Front Seats: Heated and ventilated​

• Rear Seats: Power heated and ventilated​

• Cargo Volume Behind Second Row: 30.3 cubic feet​

• Cargo Volume with Rear Seats Folded: 62.1 cubic feet

Thank you for reading The Road Beat's 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe review!