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During the run up to the reveal of this 2021 GV80, I've had one reoccurring thought, how on earth is Genesis going to improve on the already excellent Hyundai palisade?
As it turns out, the upstart luxury brand isn't even going to try.
That's because contrary to earlier reports, the new Vg 80 SUV isn't based on the same platform as Hyundai's hot seller after all, despite sharing that SUVs, mid size and three rows of seats, the Vg 80 is built on the underpinnings of the latest gt sedan.
That means that all this rides on a rear-wheel-drive based chassis.
It also has a different engine lineup comprised of a 2.5 liter turbo four and a twin turbo 3.5 liter V6.
We'll get to those power trains in a minute but first, I wanna focus on the way this thing looks and check out how truly posh it is inside.
It's still going to be a little while before Genesis cough up the key fobs and lets me drive a US spec TV ad.
But until then they have been kind enough to deliver one for us to check out in person.
So let's get tucked in.
Now First things first, based on looks, nobody is going to confuse this Genesis SUV with its Hyundai or Kia relatives.
Or any other luxury SUV this side of a Bentley Bentayga.
With its massive Superman shield grille and narrow double hashmark headlights, the GV 80 looks both expensive and imposing, especially with his prestige models chromie 22 inch wheels, the GV 80 is not subtle Honestly, I don't even think it's particularly handsome.
But the front end manages to simultaneously say I've got power, I've got money and get the hell out of my way.
That's probably the point and even if it's not, it's likely just as well for this model sales prospects.
In any case, that hashmark theme in the headlamps is carried around to the fenders garnishes and around back to the matching taillights.
The gV 80 is a convincingly muscular and upscale looking machine, even if it is a little too ostentatious looking for my tastes.
The real show however is inside, which is both flat out gorgeous and packed with next level tech.
Listen as good as some of the offerings from Genesis have been to this point.
O don't think luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes and Lexus have been particularly nervous about this Korean upstart.
But if those established players aren't worried already, they will be once they take a look inside this cabin.
It is stunning.
While even bass gV 80s deliver a big 14.5 inch infotainment display and heated leatherette seats for around 50 k Stepping up to the mid range advanced model will let you stuff like vintage leather seats, matte finish wood, panoramic moonroof, 21 speaker lexicon surround sound audio and even a shareable digital key.
This 3.5 t all wheel drive prestige model however is the daddy.
Starting at around 70 k you get an active motion driver seat with seven massaging air bladders and quilted Nappa leather.
Plus 360 degree camera coverage, active noise cancellation power soft closed doors and second row seats that feature everything from heating and ventilation to privacy shades and vanity mirrors.
It's just this side of a limousine back there.
Aside from the augmented reality navigation that overlays directional guidance on top of actual road images, The gV 80s coolest feature might be its unique digital 3D instrument cluster that's right ahead of the odd rugby ball shaped airbag.
It's admittedly hard to show on camera, so try to check out the 12.3 inch display in person.
It's an industry first feature from supplier continental, and it's really really trick the way the display has depth and seems to leap out at you on multiple planes.
Above all, what I want to ram home is that this is a beautifully rendered interior with top notch finishes.
And you can even get it in unusual premium colors beyond the predictable choices like black, gray or tan.
While previous big Korean luxury cars like Hyundai's Equus and Kia k 900 have been comfortable and generally good values for the money Their interiors have included asterisks around some of the secondary materials and switch gear.
This DVDs Kevin, it is asterisk free.
Genesis hasn't released all the models key figures just yet, but we do have some power numbers that suggests asterisk free performance.
The 2.5 liter turbo whips up an estimated 300 horsepower and 311 pound feet of torque, which not only smokes the two liter turbo figures from the Audi Q7 and Mercedes GLE.
It even beats the output numbers from the much larger V6 that are found in the Acura MDX and Lexus RX.
The GV 80 up level 3.5 liter twin turbo V six Sounds like it should really move as well with 375 horsepower and 381 pound feet from as little as 1,300 RPM [SOUND]
That is substantially more power than BMWX5 twin turbo I6 As well as the forced induction three liters from Audi's Q7 and the Mercedes GLE 450.
All 3.5 liter GV80s come with all-wheel drive, but extra driven axles are also offered on the 2.5T.
All GV80s get their power down through an eight speed automatic transmission.
And all-wheel drivers come with an electronic limited slip differential.
As far as other limitations go, Well, there's no super high output v 8 option like there is from some rivals at least so far, and we don't know the gV 80s fuel economy metrics, let alone other performance figures.
We're particularly curious to feel how well the new adaptive suspension system works with its road reading camera, but overall, we're just really excited to get behind the wheel.
Before these leather line beasts hit dealers this fall,
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