Rain pattered exterior as I relaxed right into a lower-back therapeutic massage, rolling from my lumbar down towards my hips. My companion had already chosen temper lighting to intensify the setting and was now fidgeting with an array of calming scents earlier than activating the aroma diffuser.
It was an odd expertise, contemplating I used to be driving and sitting subsequent to an entire stranger. My passenger, Jesús Cortez, and I had solely a handful of hours to expertise all that the 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe needed to provide — and that included the consolation accoutrements.
Hitting Genesis dealerships this month, the GV80 Coupe enhances the model’s GV80 SUV with a sportier package deal. It’s extra focused to singles, {couples}, and empty-nesters looking for an elevated driving expertise.
In brief: With a base value barely below $80,000, the GV80 Coupe marks a daring place for Genesis, placing it over base mannequin rivals like Audi’s Q8, BMW’s X6, and Mercedes’ EQE. In and out, Genesis combines aggressive efficiency with refined accents, making the GV80 Coupe succesful, comfy, and engaging. However and not using a definitive wow issue, this sporty “CUV” (coupe-utility automobile) marks a really formidable swing on the massive names in luxurious.
2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe Evaluation
Exterior: The Genesis Look
The GV80 Coupe continues to construct on the tenets of the Genesis model. Its visage is extraordinarily eye-catching, with twin parallel LED headlamps, matching shark-gill fender accents, and hallmark dual-layered G-Matrix grille all giving it the “Genesis look.”
Following the contours of the physique towards the rounded rear clip, two units of dual taillights superbly resolve the front-to-back aesthetic, with the slight, built-in spoiler flare including a remaining sporty contact.
Whereas the efficiency and luxury options packed into the automobile rival any in its class, Genesis could most stand out from its competitors in its aesthetic. The Korean model makes distinctive use of traces. Whereas the bodily attraction of any automobile is a matter of style — some people love the unmistakable “face” of a BMW, whereas others benefit from the bulbous curves of an Audi — Genesis clearly stands out with its traces. The attention naturally strikes over the automobile, directed by the shapes and curves inside each particular person piece of the automobile.
Aesthetically, the automobile is a rousing success.
The GV80 Coupe can even include an unique new coloration: Bering Blue, a metallic blue-gray “impressed by the Bering Sea,” in line with Genesis. Mauna Pink, not new, can even be unique on the 2025 GV80 Coupe. Seven different exterior colours can even be on provide, together with Seville Silver, Vik Black, Utuni White, Alta White, Makalu Grey Matte, Capri Blue, and Storr Inexperienced.
Inside: Sporty Luxurious
The inside additionally carries a few iconic calling playing cards of the Genesis model. At the start, the crystal gear selector sits on the middle console above a drive mode selector. And, stretching from the steering wheel all the way in which to the sting of the middle sprint is the sprawling 27-inch OLED instrument cluster and touchscreen navigation display screen.
The GV80 Coupe has two trim choices — 3.5T and three.5T e-SC (extra on these under) — and every comes with its personal inside trim accents. The bottom mannequin 3.5T has wooden trim, whereas the more-equipped e-SC has carbon fiber trim.
I examined the e-SC with carbon fiber and located the general feel and look missing, particularly for a luxurious auto. That is extra a matter of style than operate, however a carbon fiber weave, although fascinating, appears inert, chilly, and missing spirit. For a luxurious really feel, I a lot want wooden trim — however I’m possible within the minority right here.
Nappa leather-based covers entrance and rear seats in 4 coloration choices, three of that are unique to the Coupe. Obsidian black with grey stitching is already in line for Genesis, however for 2025, Coupe homeowners may also select from Ultramarine blue with orange sew, Smoky Inexperienced/Beige, and Obsidian Black/Sevilla Pink.
2025 GV80 Coupe Passenger Expertise
I began my journey within the passenger seat whereas Cortez took the wheel. Sitting within the GV80 Coupe instantly appears like an elevated, if not lavish, expertise. It doesn’t current absolutely the top of luxurious, but it surely definitely appears like a business-class improve. Each driver and passenger get pleasure from four-way lumbar adjustment, although Genesis’ Ergo-Movement therapeutic massage operate advantages the motive force solely.
I’m 6’3″ and was joyful to not fall into the seat. The Coupe stands 67.3 inches excessive with a minimal floor clearance of 8.1 inches, so I used to be in a position to step into and out of the automobile with out my “old-man grunt.” Inside, the seats enable greater than sufficient room for somebody my top, or perhaps a few inches taller, to stretch out comfortably.
The identical couldn’t be mentioned of the second-row seats. If somebody my top had been in entrance, I’d begin to really feel the pinch within the again. The Coupe is certainly tailor-made to a front-seat driving expertise.
As a passenger, you may management just a few of the experiential extras. Contained in the glove compartment sits the diffuser. The GV80 comes with just a few important oil scents, and you may insert as much as two. The impact is refined however perceptible. It’s not as overpowering as a dangling Christmas tree, nor as cheesy.
From the infotainment controls, you may as well set the cabin’s temper lighting. From calm to energetic, the setting modifications the LED lighting coloration and depth across the instrument panels, in addition to sprint and door accents.
First Drive Impressions
After I hopped into the enjoyable seat, rain was pouring in south Minneapolis. We departed a gushing Minnehaha Falls and set off for St. Paul alongside the Mississippi River. Within the cockpit, the motive force can select between a rear-facing digicam view or flip to a real rearview mirror. The digicam takes some getting used to, however even within the rain, I discovered it a clearer view of the street and site visitors behind.
Alongside the freeway, the going was easy. I particularly appreciated the blind-spot digicam supplementing my rain-streaked home windows. We exited close to downtown St. Paul, an space non-Minnesotans may not know is notorious for its less-than-ideal roads. Damaged concrete potholes, raised manhole covers, and some stretches of cobblestone add harsh texture to the capital metropolis’s driving expertise.
The GV80 Coupe touts an electronically managed suspension that makes use of front-facing cameras to foretell street circumstances forward, and regulate accordingly. Whereas the impact is computerized and imperceptible to the motive force, my journey by way of tough streets was comfy and easy. A pothole remains to be a pothole, however no bumps felt painfully tough.
For me, probably the most noteworthy impression to the GV80 driving expertise was the drive mode (and brake mode) choice choices. Each trims provide Consolation, Eco, Sport, and Customized modes, which fluctuate energy output, gasoline mileage, and journey high quality.
However the true kick comes within the e-SC trim and its unique Sport+ drive mode. This mode tunes sportier suspension and unlocks most torque. It additionally allows launch management — though with moist streets, I didn’t drop the hammer. Nevertheless, I gave it the beans on a stretch of two-lane freeway and felt the acceleration press me into the seat. It’s not a real sports activities automobile sensation, however there’s loads of kick to indicate off what you pay for ($85,750 for the e-SC).
Powertrain, Efficiency
Each trims run off a 3.5L twin-turbo V6, however the e-SC provides an electrical supercharger. This pushes the premium trim from 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque to 409 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed computerized transmission is commonplace throughout each trims, however each have paddle shifters if you happen to need some further management (and enjoyable).
The bottom mannequin GV80 Coupe rolls on 20-inch aluminum wheels, whereas the e-SC boasts 22-inch.
Most specs keep constant throughout each trims — 30.3 cubic toes of cargo house, comfort options, connectivity, and so on. — aside from a slight mpg edge for the e-SC: 20 mixed versus the bottom mannequin’s 19.
2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe: Good Purchase?
The execution within the GV80 Coupe is stable. It affords a bevy of options you gained’t discover in a sub-luxury car, and it stays not less than aggressive with the tech and efficiency of rivals within the class. It’s not less than price a check drive if you happen to’re available in the market for sport-luxury SUV within the $75K-90K class.
Finally, although, Genesis is leaning closely on a particular look and a barely extra sporty — and fewer luxurious — expertise with the Coupe. The inside is sharp and comfy, however not overflowing with consolation or ostentation. On the street, the Coupe affords up a satisfying mixture of agility and luxury, with out going too excessive in both path.
The place it may finally win is for folk who need a well-equipped, elevated driving expertise in a splendidly designed package deal that tends to catch second glances from fellow drivers. The temper lighting, aromatherapy, and therapeutic massage are simply the sprinkles on high.
