2023 Genesis GV80 3.5T Prestige Review

In Canada, the 2023 Genesis GV80 is offered in four trims. The previous year’s base “Select” trim has been dropped; now, the base trim is the Advanced trim, one trim higher than the base last year. The GV80 2.5T Advanced AWD has a price of $76,000. The next trim is the 3.5T Advanced AWD which has a price of $83,000; the 3.5T Prestige AWD is priced at $90,500. There’s also a new separate trim, the GV80 3.5T Prestige 3-Row, which is priced at $92,500. The 3rd-row used to be standard on the Prestige trim.

Our review car was the 3.5T Prestige, priced at $90,500 plus $1,700 for Makalu grey matte paint. Prices have increased by about $5,000 over the comparable 2022 model year GV80s. These are not cheap cars, but you save $10,000 – $15,000 over German rivals.

The beautiful thing about the price of Genesis vehicles is they don’t nickel and dime you for every option, like the Germans. Genesis has made it really simple, pick the trim you want, pick the exterior color and interior material (if more than one option is available), pick a couple of accessories, and pick an extended protection plan, and you’re set. The price also includes Freight & PDI; you just pay local sales tax on top of the price.

Genesis GV80 Engines

The 2023 Genesis GV80 is offered with two engine choices, a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, and a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6. The 2.5T produces 300 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque between 1,650 – 4,000 rpm (on premium fuel). The 3.5T produces 375 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 391 pound-feet of torque between 1,300 – 4,500 rpm. Power is sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission on both engines.

According to Genesis, the 2.5T equipped GV80 should consume 11.3/9.5/10.5 liters/100 kilometers in city/highway/combined driving. The 3.5T equipped GV80 should consume 12.9/10.4/11.8 L/100 km.

Driving the 2022 Genesis GV80 3.5T

In my review of the GV80 2.5T from a couple of years ago, I was extremely surprised and impressed with the power produced by the 2.5T 4-cylinder engine. The twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 is even more impressive and downright fast, like really fast. 375 HP and 391 lb.-ft of torque are impressive numbers, but I was still surprised by how fast the GV80 felt, and I mostly left it in Eco mode; I didn’t even feel the need to go into the Sport mode.

Speaking of modes, the GV80 comes with Comfort, Smart, Eco, Sport, and Custom modes for on-road driving. It also comes with off-road or “Terrain” modes, which include Snow, Mud, and Sand. I highly doubt anyone will take their GV80 off-roading, but the snow mode should be handy in Canadian winters.

The GV80 is easy to drive in the city, and highway driving and passing is a breeze. Just put your foot down, and you’re doing illegal speeds in no time; the cabin is so quiet you don’t even realize how fast you’re going. The transmission shifts gears smoothly, it’s not some super quick-shifting transmission, but this is not a sports car. The suspension is soft but not floaty; it perfectly suits the GV80’s personality of relaxed driving. And just like the G80 Prestige, the GV80 Prestige comes with “Preview-ECS,” which is an electronically controlled suspension that uses a front camera sensor and navigation data to automatically adjust the suspension damping.

The Genesis GV80 3.5T is rated at a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. However, the 2.5T is also rated at 6,000 pounds. I would’ve expected the smaller engine to have lower capacity, but the 3.5T would have a much easier time towing that much weight.

2023 Genesis GV80 Styling

Styling is subjective; two people can look at the same design, and one loves it, the other hates it. I liked the way the 2023 Genesis GV80 looks. Some people say it looks like a Bentley Bentayga. There is some resemblance, but they’re both SUVs with large front grills; SUVs tend to look alike. I wouldn’t say it looks like a Bentayga, but more like something that Bentley would produce, which is a good thing.

I think the styling on the GV80 looks fresh, and the giant grill suits the bigger body style. And I wasn’t the only one liking the GV80; it’s a head-turner. Everywhere I went, people were staring at it, and to my surprise, there were a lot of young people that were checking it out. The matte grey paint gave the GV80 quite a menacing look; I don’t know if I’d personally get it because of the extra care needed to deal with the matte paint.

The front features a giant grill that may look big in pictures, but it perfectly suits the GV80. The front features sleek twin lights; they are carried onto the side of the vehicle with twin side markers and continue to the rear with twin taillights. All of these lights are LED and come standard on all trims.

The shape of the rest of the vehicle is athletic and is the typical two-box SUV design. There are hints of chromes throughout the exterior. The rear features twin tailpipes with the same pentagonal/diamond shape as the front grill. Overall, I think the GV80’s design looks really good, and this is a vehicle I would be proud to own.

Interior & Features

The GV80 Prestige trim comes with Nappa leather, which comes in various colors depending on the exterior color. The headliner is upgraded to microfiber suede instead of cloth. This trim also comes with a 16-way power driver seat (as opposed to a 12-way on the Advanced trim) and comes with “Ergo Motion” seats, which is kind of like a massage feature but not quite a massage feature. This feature gives a lighter version of a car massage; Genesis calls it stretches rather than massage. There are three different types of these stretches: Pelvic Stretching, Lumbar Stretching, and Whole Body Stretching. The Prestige trim also uses real open-pore wood instead of aluminum inserts.

Like the G80 sedan, the GV80 Prestige has a 3D 12.3” digital gauge cluster. The 3D digital cluster is impressive, giving the 2D gauges real depth that looks like analog gauges. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really show in pictures; you’ll have to see it in person to truly appreciate it.

Like many other higher-end Hyundai (and Genesis) products, the Prestige trim comes with Remote Smart Park Assist, which is a useful feature for getting in and out of tight spots without the worry of dinging the wall or other cars near you. Parking spots and garages are quite large in North America, but sometimes you actually use this feature.

The GV80 Prestige comes with soft-close doors, but it doesn’t come with lock/unlock sensors on the rear doors. Even a lot of non-luxury vehicles have the ability to be locked/unlocked from all four doors, so I would expect it in a luxury SUV that costs over $90,000+. However, unlike the G80 Prestige, the GV80 does come with power rear window shades, which is something I complained about on the G80 sedan.

Like the previous Genesis vehicles we reviewed, the interior of the GV80 has a clean layout and features all the latest tech and gadgetry we’ve come to expect from modern cars. At the center of the interior is a 14.5” widescreen touchscreen that displays the standard navigation, radio/media information, and front, rear, and side cameras’ output. The graphics on this screen are crisp, and it’s very responsive. It is a touchscreen, but it’s set quite far and isn’t easy to reach. I’ve noticed some manufacturers are doing this; I’m presuming to stop you from touching the screen and taking your eyes off the road and hands off the steering wheel. Instead of touching the screen, you can use the large circular touchpad to control the pointer on the screen. This touchpad can be used to write letters/numbers to add addresses to the navigation system. I’ve never been a fan of writing letters/numbers, as I always mess it up, and that’s when I’m parked; I think it’s impossible to use it while you’re driving. Your next alternative is using voice commands to insert an address.

The interior is extremely quiet, as you’d expect in a luxury vehicle, and it’s really comfortable. The seats are supportive and have heating and cooling, perfect for long journeys. The second-row seats are as comfortable as the front seats and offer more than enough leg and headroom. As I mentioned above, the third-row seats are better left for children.

Below is a list of some of the convenience, tech, and safety equipment our GV80 Prestige came with.

• Full LED Headlights        
• Automatic Headlights
• High Beam Assist            
• LED Daytime Running Lights      
• LED Taillights    
• LED Outside Mirror Turn Signal Indicators           
• Power-Folding Mirrors
• Auto-dimming Side Mirrors        
• Panoramic Sunroof with Tinted Glass
• Acoustic Laminated Glass (Noise Reducing)
• 16-way Power Driver Seat
• 12-way Power Passenger Seat
• Front Passenger Seat Walk-in Device
• Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
• Heated and Ventilated Rear Seats
• 40/20/40 Split Folding Rear Seats
• Rear Center Folding Armrest with Dual Cup Holders
• Lexicon premium audio system with 21 High speakers
• Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
• 4 USB slots
• Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System     
• Fully Automatic 3 Zone Climate Control
• Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go     
• Wireless Charging Pad  
• Proximity Key with Push-Button Start    
• Rearview Camera with Parking Guidelines          
• Surround View Monitor
• Blind Spot View Monitor
• Heads-up Display          
• Power Hands-free Smart Liftgate w/ Auto Open
• Remote Smart Park Assist    
• Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)    
• Electronic Stability Control System (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS)       
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Brake Assist (included with ESC)
• Hillstart Assist Control (HAC)     
• Parking Distance Warning (4 sensors in front and rear)  
• Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA)        
• Parking Collision Avoidance-Assist Rear (All trims except Select)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
• Lane Following Assist (LFA)        
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist        
• Driver Attention Warning (DAW)             
• Forward Attention Warning (All trims except Select)      
• 10 Airbags

Final Thoughts

For my personal usage, I prefer sedans over SUVs. However, I have been a big fan of the Genesis GV80s. Genesis has done an amazing job creating a luxury SUV that looks good, has a lot of power, and is ultra-luxurious. For more information on the GV80 and other Genesis vehicles, please visit genesis.ca.

2023 Genesis GV80 3.5T Prestige Review Photo Gallery