MINNEAPOLIS — The Genesis GV80 is a decidedly stable automobile that we’ve referred to as out for its compelling design, richly contented inside, first rate energy and helpful tech. It’s a luxurious SUV that provides an fascinating choice to its costlier German rivals. So what’s subsequent? Nicely, following within the footsteps of the Germans, it’s time for Genesis to coupe-ify its flagship SUV. The BMW X5 has its X6 sibling; Audi has its Sportbacks; Porsche and Mercedes have Coupe variations of their midsize SUVs … now Genesis is providing the GV80 Coupe. It too has a sleeker roofline that degrades practicality, however it additionally turns up the warmth with a supercharged engine choice.
First, there are the apparent modifications, and people begin with the roofline from the B-pillar again. The steeper slope extends into an aggressive and dynamically formed roof spoiler. In contrast to the SUV’s extra horizontal spoiler, the Coupe’s dips within the center to create a sporty double-spoiler look. Beneath that’s the aggressively raked liftgate, bisected horizontally by a big, decrease lip spoiler. Its two-line taillights wrap throughout the corners onto the shapely curvature of the decrease liftgate. The Coupe will get much more athletic touches beneath, like a sleeker decrease fascia with distinguished quad exhaust suggestions.
Additional, much less apparent design decisions proceed to set the Coupe aside because the sportier sibling to the extra sensible SUV. Up entrance, it will get its personal model of the Genesis crest grille, with two layers of mesh offering each a three-dimensional impact and additional safety to the internals behind it. The entrance bumper will get a bigger air curtain, flanked by greater air intakes on the fascia’s decrease corners. From the facet, the Coupe’s flush roof rails present a extra slippery silhouette (which helps to dramatize the brand new roofline), whereas unique wheels present additional perspective that the SUV doesn’t get. We particularly appreciated the look of the 22-inch darkish grey matte wheels on our tester, whose distinctive design suggests an virtually crystalline lattice to enhance every of the 5 spokes.
Transferring inside, the GV80 Coupe’s cabin is wealthy and detail-oriented. Our tester’s Nappa leather-based inside had a Coupe-exclusive crimson and black shade scheme, which we appreciated second solely to the out there Ultramarine Blue with orange stitching. Slinking in behind the sporty flat-bottom steering wheel, the intricate carbon-fiber trim stands out for its distinctive diamond-shape weave that provides it an fascinating, virtually holographic sense of depth. The stitching, quilting and textures of the switchgear invite you to the touch them and lean in for a better look. Go forward, lean in — nearer inspection received’t go away you disenchanted.
And such a luscious inside surprisingly downplays what would in any other case be the focus of your entire cockpit, which represents an overhaul for your entire 2025 GV80 line. A large, 27-inch digital OLED show now stretches throughout the sprint, serving as each infotainment and instrument panel. It’s crisp and colourful, placing data the place you want it whereas offering a seamless look. The infotainment is controllable by way of touchscreen, or with a rotary dial on the middle console (which remains to be too comparable in measurement and common location because the rotary gear selector). The local weather controls get their very own, separate contact show, situated additional down on the middle stack beneath a row of menu buttons and real knobs for audio quantity and tuning. This Genesis inside will get it proper, leveraging the digital the place it is sensible, and with out forcing you to hunt via menus for the gadgets you employ probably the most.
Wanting on the GV80 Coupe, it appears protected to imagine that the sloping roofline will need to have a major affect on rear-seat consolation. On paper, nevertheless, the Coupe gives 37.6 inches of headroom, a sacrifice of simply 0.8 inches in comparison with the SUV. Open the rear door, take a look at the ceiling and also you’ll discover Genesis made nice efforts to carve out no matter noggin house it might above the seatback, because the headliner rises right into a cavity behind the sunroof. Sit within the again seat, and also you’ll in all probability discover it fairly snug. This 6-foot-tall creator would haven’t any complaints driving alongside as a rear passenger for lengthy drives. Even higher, heated and ventilated second-row seats are normal within the GV80 Coupe, as are rear local weather controls on the again of the middle console.
The SUV’s third-row choice is expectedly unavailable within the Coupe, however that’s not a lot of a loss. It’s cramped for everybody and solely out there on a single trim degree within the common model.
The GV80 Coupe gives 30.3 cubic ft of quantity with the rear seats up, which is a good quantity lower than the 36.5 cubes out there behind the second row of the SUV, and places it between the BMW X6 (27.4) and Mercedes GLE Coupe (31.6). Whenever you take a look at the precise house, there’s a pretty big footprint, however the angle of the glass impedes on the backmost a part of the cargo space. It appears nice for filling with gadgets like grocery baggage, and we suspect that baggage would stack nicely up towards the rear seats, however we suspect greater baggage or packing containers will battle to suit the additional again you go. The Cayenne Coupe is comparable on this regard.
The GV80 Coupe is accessible with two powertrains. The bottom engine is a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 making 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque — the identical out there on the high of the GV80 SUV line. The opposite model, unavailable within the SUV however borrowed from the G90 sedan, is similar twin-turbo V6 fitted with the Genesis “e-Supercharger.” Powered by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, it fills within the efficiency hole attributable to the turbochargers counting on exhaust fuel to create enhance. The result’s instant response, the elimination of turbo “lag” and much more energy — a complete of 409 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. Curiously sufficient, it additionally provides the GV80 Coupe a slight enhance in gas economic system, offering 18 miles per gallon metropolis, 22 mpg freeway and 20 mpg mixed, in comparison with the bottom engine’s 16/22/19 mpg.
We have been solely capable of pattern the e-Supercharger powertrain, and, boy howdy, it’s a deal with. The appropriate pedal introduces energy easily and instantly due to the e-Supercharger. It pulls onerous in a linear vogue, with a seamless transition from supercharged to turbocharged help, holding acceleration predictable all the way in which to the subsequent clean shift from the eight-speed automated. It’s a superb mix of pace and luxury; you may drive fairly swiftly with out inflicting a nervous passenger to maintain checking the speedometer.
Genesis pipes in engine sound via the audio system, which is controversial however widespread nowadays. Right here’s the factor: It sounds surprisingly good, and we repeatedly praised the stable soundtrack all through the drive, forgetting that it was not all pure. It positive sounds pure — it’s precise powertrain sounds, with no further notes developed by some audio engineer or musician. You’ll be able to flip it off for a quieter cabin expertise, however this was one of many uncommon cases the place the suggestions supplied by the added quantity was truly appreciated. It feels bizarre to say that.
Twist the drive mode selector, and you’ll add much more to the driving expertise. Sport mode unleashes a bit extra of the facility, however the Sport+ mode is the key sauce unique to the E-Supercharger variant. The idle pace rises from 750 to 1,000 rpm, steering heft will increase and the suspension tightens up. The Sport+ transmission logic is especially spectacular, giving a pleasant, hearty blip on downshifts, and holding the tach excessive within the rev vary. It even holds onto gears quite than shifting mechanically in the event you hit the rev limiter in guide mode. It makes hustling down a winding street an addictive enterprise, full with a dollop of managed wheelspin when urging the GV80 Coupe out of a nook.
That sense of management it affords in spirited driving carries over to less-than-ideal street circumstances. Particularly, we encountered heavy rain on and off all through the drive, and by no means caught the automotive out of types. The all-wheel-drive system is able to making use of 50-100% of the facility to the rear (and, thusly, 0-50% to the entrance), however maximizes entrance torque in slippery circumstances. It makes for a pleasantly adaptable expertise based mostly on circumstances and temper.
The journey is geared towards consolation, with out sacrificing an excessive amount of agility or making a numb or floaty sensation. As GV80 SUV’s out there electronically managed suspension is normal on the Coupe, it makes use of a ahead digital camera to proactively adapt the damper to the street floor forward. It gives a clean expertise for the occupants, complementing the inside’s luxuriousness.
GV80 Coupe pricing displays its positioning alongside the very high of the GV80 SUV lineup, in addition to its huge normal options checklist. It begins at $81,300 (together with $1,350 in vacation spot) for the bottom 3.5T AWD. It’s equally geared up to the SUV’s line-topping GV80 3.5T AWD with the Status bundle, however $650 extra. There are not any choices or packages. The identical goes for the three.5T e-Supercharger AWD, which rings in at $87,100 with vacation spot. All these options we’ve talked about all through are included as normal, together with additional adornments like a wonderful driver help suite, head-up show, Bang & Olufsen audio system, digital key, wi-fi cellphone charger, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and rearview digital camera mirror.
Whereas we are likely to draw back from crossover coupes, preferring their extra sensible, full-bodied counterparts, Genesis has a compelling formulation with its GV80 Coupe. It’s a uncommon occasion the place the coupe physique fashion would possibly truly look higher than the SUV it’s based mostly on (although that’s not going to be everyone’s opinion, after all). The provision and exclusivity of the even hotter E-Supercharger powertrain solely makes it extra compelling. So in the event you’re in search of a sportier-looking model of the already compelling GV80, full with a warmer powertrain, and don’t thoughts sacrificing a small quantity of practicality (however not a lot, actually) you’ve now acquired the GV80 Coupe to fulfill your tastes. And don’t neglect to modify it to Sport+ mode. It’s fairly candy.