Why Lease The GV80?
by: Alex BradleyAlex Bradley is a skilled writer and digital content specialist focusing on automotive and sports. He has a degree in Multimedia Journalism and previously worked for The Northern Quota as Head Sports Editor.
Genesis GV80 Review 2023
The Genesis GV80 is a midsize SUV that's holding its own in the incredibly competitive luxury SUV market. The GV80 comes with a recognisable exterior, a smooth driving experience, and a refined exterior.
Rivals to the GV80 include the BMW X5, Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLE, and Land Rover Discovery.
Our Genesis GV80 review covers:
Genesis GV80 Key Features
- Large and imposing front grille
- Luxurious interior with a great range of modern tech
- 735-litre boot
- One 2.5-litre petrol engine is available
- Four trims: Premium, Luxury, Luxury Plus, and Sport
Genesis GV80 Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Excellent interior
- Modern technology
- Good looks
Cons:
- Lacklustre on-the-road performance
- Only one petrol engine
- Third-row seats cramped for adults
Design, Practicality and Boot Space
If you're stopped at a red light and a GV80 pulls up next to you, you'd expect a James Bond-like figure to be driving; the exterior just exudes luxury. The G-matrix front grille makes for an imposing road presence, and it's complemented by split front headlights and strong lines down the side.
Moving inside, the GV80 has plenty of room to accommodate a family. Two adults in the front have plenty of leg and headroom, and the second row has enough space to accommodate two adults or three children. An optional seven-seat model adds two seats, but I'd keep these for children as head and legroom is quite tight.
Boot space comes in at 735 litres in the standard GV80, which is much more than in the Mercedes-Benz GLE. If you've chosen the seven-seat configuration, boot space massively decreases, but you can fold the rear seats flat to achieve the same space as the five-seater.
Interior and Trims
The cabin of the GV80 matches its exterior looks. A leatherette trim is fitted across most of the cabin as standard, and you can also add wood or aluminium to give it an even more executive feel. The only downside is that a few cheap plastics are around the steering wheel, making it fall short of the BMW X5 and Audi Q7.
On the dashboard, you get an enormous 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, sat-nav, and Genesis Connected Services. The screen is a landscape which displays loads of info but means you have to stretch to get to the far side. Luckily, you can control it through a controller between the middle seats.
Behind the wheel, you get an 8-inch digital driver display which shows all the required info and adapts according to the driving mode selected. Upgrade to the Luxury Plus trim, and it becomes a 12.3-inch 3D screen with head-up display capabilities.
Four trim levels are available: Premium, Luxury, Luxury Plus, and Sport.
Premium comes standard with 20-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, electrically folding and heated mirrors, a leatherette dashboard, a leather steering wheel, electric and heated front seats, two-zone climate control, smart key and button start, lane keep assist, smart cruise control, forward collision assist, and intelligent speed limit assist.
Luxury adds to this with 22-inch alloy wheels, a heated steering wheel, quilting for the seats, heated seats front and rear, three-zone climate control, and a premium interior air filter.
Luxury Plus has LED headlights with adaptive driving beam, two-zone leather steering wheel, ergo motion front seats, touch power seat adjustment, a Lexicon audio system, a head-up display, and an electric rear side curtain.
Sport completes the trims with 22-inch black alloy wheels, a dark chrome exterior garnish, an aluminium interior garnish, and leather seat covers.
Power and Performance
Just one engine is available in the GV80; it's a 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol with all-wheel drive paired to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It has a power output of 300hp, a top speed of 147mph, and accelerates from 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds. Unfortunately, fuel economy isn't that great, returning a combined 25.3mpg.
The engine is sharp and returns good performance but falls short of the faster Audi Q7 and BMW X5.
Although the engine looks good on paper, you have to rev it quite hard to reach maximum performance. This draws away from the GV80's luxury feel as it causes some engine noise which could be awkward for your passengers.
Once you reach motorway speeds, the GV80 can seem a bit bouncy if there are breaks in the road, but all in all, it's an okay ride. On twister roads, it begins to roll through corners, and the handling can seem a bit disconnected from the wheels, but even so, it's still more agile than the Land Rover Discovery.
The GV80 also comes with Road Preview Technology, which is a camera that scans the open road and prepares the suspension to deal with potholes, bumps, and obstacles. Although this sounds great, it doesn't work well and has little impact.
If you want a more engaging drive, look towards the GV80's German rivals.
Leasing vs Buying
Prices for the new Genesis GV80 start from £57,500.00 OTR* or to lease from £678.25 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the Genesis GV80? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.