2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe First Drive Review: Sportier
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2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe Review: Luxurious, Sporty, and Technologically Advanced

MINNEAPOLIS — The Genesis GV80 has always stood out with its compelling design, richly contented interior, and useful tech. Competing with more expensive German rivals, it offers a luxury SUV experience at a more approachable price. But Genesis isn’t stopping there. They’ve taken a page from the Germans and decided to coupe-ify their flagship SUV.


Sporty Aesthetics and Aggressive Design


The most striking change in the GV80 Coupe is the sleeker roofline from the B-pillar back, creating a dynamic and sporty profile. This roofline extends into an aggressive, double-spoiler look, with the middle section dipping to add to the sporty appearance. The liftgate, with its aggressive rake, features a large lower lip spoiler and distinctive two-line taillights that wrap around the corners, adding to the vehicle’s bold stance.


Enhanced Front and Side Profiles

Up front, the Coupe sports a unique version of the Genesis crest grille with a three-dimensional mesh design that not only looks sophisticated but also offers additional protection. The larger air curtain and prominent air intakes at the corners of the fascia enhance the aggressive look. From the side, the flush roof rails create a more streamlined silhouette, further emphasizing the new roofline. Exclusive wheels, like the 22-inch dark gray matte wheels, add to the Coupe’s unique character. These wheels, with their crystalline lattice design, complement the overall sporty feel.


2025 Genesis Gv80 Coupe Interior: Luxurious Interior and Cutting-Edge Technology


Inside, the GV80 Coupe’s cabin exudes luxury and attention to detail. Our tester’s Nappa leather interior featured a stunning red and black color scheme unique to the Coupe. We also admired the available Ultramarine Blue with orange stitching option. The flat-bottom steering wheel adds a sporty touch, while the intricate carbon-fiber trim with a diamond-shaped weave provides a unique sense of depth and sophistication.

A major highlight is the wide, 27-inch digital OLED display that spans the dashboard, serving both as an infotainment system and instrument panel. This display is crisp and vibrant, offering seamless integration of essential information. The infotainment can be controlled via touchscreen or a rotary dial on the center console, although the proximity of this dial to the rotary gear selector may cause some confusion. The climate controls have their own separate touch display below the main screen, along with physical knobs for audio volume and tuning, balancing digital innovation with practical usability.


Comfortable Rear Seating

The sloping roofline of the GV80 Coupe might suggest compromised rear-seat comfort, but Genesis has managed to maintain impressive headroom. The Coupe offers 37.6 inches of headroom, only 0.8 inches less than the SUV. Genesis cleverly designed the headliner to rise into a cavity behind the sunroof, maximizing noggin space for rear passengers. This thoughtful design means even taller individuals will find the rear seats comfortable for long journeys. Additionally, heated and ventilated second-row seats are standard, along with rear climate controls on the back of the center console, ensuring passenger comfort.


Practical Cargo Space

The GV80 Coupe provides 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats upright. This is somewhat less than the 36.5 cubic feet available in the SUV version but still fairly competitive, slotting between the BMW X6 and the Mercedes GLE Coupe. The cargo area footprint is generous, but the sloping rear glass can limit the space for larger items. It’s ideal for groceries and luggage stacked against the rear seats, though larger boxes may find it challenging to fit towards the back.

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Powerful Performance Options

The GV80 Coupe offers two robust powertrain options. The base model comes with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 producing 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque, the same as the top-tier GV80 SUV. The standout, however, is the version equipped with the twin-turbo V6 and Genesis “e-Supercharger.” This system, borrowed from the G90 sedan, uses a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup to enhance performance, reducing turbo lag and providing immediate power delivery. This setup boosts output to 409 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque while also offering a slight improvement in fuel economy, achieving 18 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg combined.


Driving Experience

We had the chance to test the e-Supercharger powertrain, and it was impressive. The acceleration is smooth and immediate, thanks to the e-Supercharger filling in gaps typically caused by turbo lag. The power delivery remains consistent and predictable, making for a confident driving experience. The eight-speed automatic transmission shifts seamlessly, maintaining a good balance of speed and comfort. Even with spirited driving, passengers are unlikely to feel uneasy.


Enhanced Engine Sound

Genesis has opted to enhance the engine sound through the audio system, a feature that can be controversial. However, in this case, the sound enhancement is well-executed, using actual powertrain noises rather than artificially engineered sounds. This adds to the driving enjoyment without feeling unnatural, though it can be turned off for those who prefer a quieter cabin.

2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe 15 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe Review: Luxurious, Sporty, and Technologically Advanced

Enhanced Driving Modes for a Thrilling Ride

The GV80 Coupe’s drive mode selector allows you to tailor the driving experience to your liking. While Sport mode unleashes additional power, the Sport+ mode—exclusive to the E-Supercharger variant—truly transforms the ride. This mode increases idle speed, adds heft to the steering, and tightens the suspension. The transmission logic in Sport+ is particularly impressive, offering a satisfying blip on downshifts and holding gears at high RPMs, even at the rev limiter in manual mode. This makes navigating winding roads not only enjoyable but also exhilarating, with controlled wheelspin adding to the fun.


All-Weather Confidence

The GV80 Coupe maintains its composure even in adverse weather conditions. During our test drive, heavy rain didn’t faze the vehicle, thanks to its adaptive all-wheel-drive system. This system can distribute 50-100% of the power to the rear wheels or maximize front torque in slippery conditions, providing adaptability and stability regardless of the weather.


Comfort and Agility

The ride quality of the GV80 Coupe is designed for comfort without sacrificing agility. The electronically controlled suspension, standard on the Coupe, uses a forward camera to adjust the dampers based on the road surface ahead, ensuring a smooth ride. This complements the luxurious interior, making every journey comfortable for all occupants.


2025 Genesis Gv80 Coupe Price and Standard Features

Positioned at the top of the GV80 lineup, the Coupe starts at $81,300 for the base 3.5T AWD, and $87,100 for the 3.5T e-Supercharger AWD, including destination fees. Both models come fully loaded, with no additional options or packages needed. Standard features include an excellent driver assist suite, a head-up display, a Bang & Olufsen audio system, a digital key, wireless phone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a rearview camera mirror.

Victor

Victor is an accomplished automotive specialist known for his meticulous curation and publication of articles and news within the automotive sector. With a profound passion for cars and a discerning editorial approach, Victor consistently delivers expert insights and current updates to his audience. His contributions span comprehensive reviews, industry analyses, and the latest automotive innovations, making him an invaluable asset to our team.

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