Genesis has shown that it can go head to head with other luxury brands, like Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, but it’s been missing something. While we love the G70, G80 and G90, the bad news is that they are all sedans. Now Genesis is ready to fix that with the introduction of its first SUV, the 2021 GV80.
The three-row GV80 is what the brand has needed from the start and luckily it’s finally here. The GV80 features a large mesh grille, that’s flanked by four headlights, which Luc Donckerwolke, Executive Vice President, Chief Design Officer of Hyundai Motor Group says s a “unique signature of Genesis design.”
Inside the seats are wrapped in quilted leather, a 14.5-inch screen sits on top of the dashboard and a new Road-Noise Active Noise Control system works hard to keep outside noises from coming inside.
The GV80 is based on a new rear-wheel drive platform. In Korea the GV80 will arrive with a six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, but we don’t know what will power it in the U.S. Genesis has only confirmed that it will be available with two gas engines in the U.S. It’s expected that the 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 will be available, but it’s uncertain if the second engine option will be a new 290-hp 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder or the brand’s 5.0-liter V8.
It’s also not known if the GV80 will be offered with both rear- and all-wheel drive versions.
