Body Styles

The Genesis GV80 is a midsize luxury SUV with a sleek, athletic silhouette, bold proportions, and a long wheelbase. It features the brand’s signature Crest Grille, double-line Quad LED headlamps and taillights, and a rising beltline that lends it a muscular yet elegant character. The roofline gently tapers toward a well-sculpted tailgate, giving the SUV a fastback-inspired look without compromising practicality.

The GV80 is available in 5- and 7-passenger configurations, with the third row offered only on select AWD 3.5T trims. The overall aesthetic is contemporary Korean luxury — emphasizing fluidity, simplicity, and premium material expression, distinct from German austerity or American boldness. It blends understated confidence with expressive detailing, making it instantly recognizable but never ostentatious.

Model Name Meaning (Manufacturer)

The name GV80 reflects Genesis’s structured and strategic naming convention, aimed at conveying the vehicle’s segment, type, and position within the brand's expanding luxury lineup. The prefix “GV” stands for Genesis Vehicle, with the “V” specifically denoting a versatile utility vehicle — in other words, an SUV. This distinguishes it from the brand’s sedans, which carry a “G” prefix alone (e.g., G70, G80, G90). The number “80” represents the model’s hierarchical status, placing the GV80 above future or existing lower-tier Genesis SUVs (such as the GV70) and aligning it alongside the G80 sedan, with which it shares a platform and many design cues.

By using this alphanumeric format, Genesis aims to project a premium, globally recognized identity in line with European luxury competitors, while preserving internal consistency and clarity across models. The GV80, as the brand’s first SUV, was also named to signal a significant step forward in Genesis’s evolution — both in terms of product expansion and technological ambition.

In essence, the name GV80 encapsulates luxury utility, status, and design harmony within the Genesis lineup, serving as a flagship SUV that balances performance, elegance, and cutting-edge innovation under a clearly defined naming structure.

Body & Interior Colors and Rims

The Genesis GV80 embodies luxury and sophistication through a carefully curated selection of exterior colors, interior finishes, and wheel designs that mirror its upscale positioning and distinct Korean design philosophy. The body color palette features a mix of classic neutrals and rich, expressive shades that highlight the GV80’s athletic proportions and clean, flowing lines. Timeless finishes like Uyuni White, Savile Silver, and Vik Black offer an understated elegance, while deeper tones such as Cardiff Green, Adriatic Blue, and Makalu Gray bring visual depth and modern luxury. The addition of Matira Blue and Capri Blue in select trims provides a more refined yet emotionally engaging presence on the road. Genesis also offers Matte finishes like Matterhorn White Matte and Makalu Gray Matte on higher trims, enhancing the SUV’s sculptural form with a contemporary edge.

The interior of the GV80 is a standout, blending Korean minimalism with premium craftsmanship. Color combinations are available in a variety of elegant themes such as Obsidian Black, Dune Beige, and Ultramarine Blue, each tailored with rich textures and contrast elements. Higher trims introduce two-tone options like Smoky Green with Dune Beige, Maroon Brown with Obsidian Black, and Urban Brown with Vanilla Beige, creating a cabin that feels curated and bespoke. Materials include Nappa leather upholstery, open-pore wood trim, and aluminum accents, all carefully integrated to produce a serene and tactile interior environment. The dashboard design is horizontal and clean, allowing natural materials to take center stage, while ambient lighting further elevates the visual warmth and atmosphere.

The GV80’s wheels are integral to its commanding yet graceful profile. Standard trims begin with 19-inch alloy wheels in a multi-spoke design, finished in silver to complement the body lines. Moving up, 20-inch wheels are introduced with more intricate, diamond-cut patterns that exude a sense of motion and craftsmanship. The most luxurious variants offer 22-inch alloy wheels, often in G-Matrix designs—a signature Genesis motif inspired by the diffraction of light. These wheels feature machined faces, dark metallic contrasts, and layered textures that elevate the vehicle’s profile without overwhelming its elegant silhouette.

Collectively, the Genesis GV80’s color schemes, interior finishes, and rim options create a holistic expression of modern luxury—rooted in elegance, enriched by detail, and grounded in a uniquely Korean design ethos that emphasizes harmony, precision, and quiet confidence.

Top Expensive Options

• Prestige Package (Nappa Leather, 22" Wheels, 3D Digital Cluster, Massage Seats): $6,500
• Advanced Package (Surround View Monitor, Remote Smart Parking Assist): $2,900
• Lexicon 21-Speaker Premium Surround Audio System: $1,200
• Electronically Controlled Suspension with Road Preview: $1,250
• Panoramic Sunroof with Power Shade: $1,000
• Head-Up Display with Navigation Projection: $900
• Power 3rd-Row Seating with Fold/Unfold Buttons: $500
• Rear Entertainment Package with Dual 14" HD Displays: $1,500
• Remote Smart Park Assist with Smart Key Operation: Standard (Advanced+)
• Ventilated Second-Row Seats with Power Slide & Recline: $700

vs Competitors

The Genesis GV80 enters the fiercely competitive midsize luxury SUV segment with a compelling blend of design, value, and advanced features, positioning itself as a legitimate challenger to long-established European rivals. Its most direct competitors include the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Audi Q7, Volvo XC90, Lexus RX, and, in higher trims, the Range Rover Velar and Acura MDX Type S. Where the GV80 truly differentiates itself is in its price-to-content ratio, offering a rich suite of standard equipment, high-end materials, and striking design at a lower price point than its German peers.

Compared to the BMW X5, the GV80 may not match the same level of athletic chassis tuning or brand cachet, but it delivers a smoother, more comfort-focused ride and a more luxuriously appointed interior in its upper trims. It also features a more intuitive and visually polished infotainment system, with a 14.5-inch widescreen display that integrates seamlessly into the minimalist dashboard. The GV80’s cabin feels more serene and architecturally cohesive, often drawing praise for its materials and design over the X5’s more tech-heavy, busier layout.

Against the Mercedes-Benz GLE, the GV80 holds its own in terms of ride quality and cabin ambience. While the GLE excels in technology and personalization options, the Genesis counters with a more curated, less cluttered interior and a distinctly premium feel, especially in models with the Prestige Package. The GLE’s optional air suspension gives it an edge in ride dynamics, but the GV80’s multi-link setup and optional electronically controlled suspension deliver a well-damped, confident experience—particularly for drivers who prioritize comfort and refinement.

When measured against the Audi Q7, the GV80 offers a more expressive and luxurious interior, though the Q7 edges ahead in terms of driving precision and third-row usability. The Audi's Quattro system and tighter handling make it the better driver’s SUV, but the GV80 responds with quieter road manners and superior materials, especially in trims featuring quilted Nappa leather and natural wood inlays. It’s also worth noting that the GV80’s infotainment and climate controls, while more design-centric, may be slightly less user-friendly than Audi’s dual-screen MMI system.

In comparison to the Volvo XC90, both SUVs emphasize design and luxury, but approach it from different cultural angles. The Volvo offers minimalist Scandinavian warmth and exceptional safety tech, while the GV80 leans into Korean elegance with richer textures, more visual drama, and a broader range of luxury amenities. The GV80 also provides more powerful engine options, particularly its 3.5L twin-turbo V6, which outpaces the XC90’s milder hybrid-assisted engines in performance.

Compared to the Lexus RX, the GV80 feels more spacious, more modern in its design execution, and more upscale in its materials. The RX continues to be a top seller due to reliability and brand loyalty, but the GV80 outclasses it in driver engagement, cabin ambiance, and available features such as road-preview suspension, fingerprint authentication, and rear-wheel drive dynamics.

Finally, when placed against vehicles like the Range Rover Velar, the GV80 delivers nearly equivalent design drama and luxury appointments, while significantly undercutting its price. While the Velar emphasizes design over practicality and may suffer from reliability concerns, the GV80 offers a more holistic luxury experience rooted in thoughtful execution and exceptional craftsmanship.

Overall, the Genesis GV80’s value proposition, distinctive design language, and luxury-first interior allow it to compete credibly—and often favorably—against more established luxury SUVs. It appeals to buyers looking for elegance, substance, and uniqueness, unburdened by brand prestige yet fully confident in delivering a true premium experience.

Fun Fact

The Genesis GV80 was the first SUV ever launched by Genesis, and it debuted Genesis’s new design language and infotainment system. It also made headlines globally as the vehicle in which Tiger Woods survived his 2021 crash, showcasing the SUV’s structural strength and safety systems. Built in Ulsan, South Korea, and designed by Luc Donckerwolke (former Bentley and Lamborghini designer), the GV80 is widely credited with establishing Genesis as a serious luxury contender — not just a value alternative.