It is, unfortunately, the time of year in which we must do battle in crowded parking lots of shopping malls. Christmas shopping is never smooth sailing, but I can assure you it gets a lot choppier in a frustrating car (or, worse, trying to jam massive heavy bags through the doors of a light-rail train). A calming vehicle can make light work of this season's chores.
This week's test vehicle, a 2025 Genesis GV80 3.5T Prestige, should give me the serenity to accept the crowds I cannot change. Genesis has updated the midsize SUV for 2025, giving it more ornate dragonfly-wing headlights and a revised grille, as well as new wheels; the interior gets a new 27-inch gauge cluster/infotainment combination touchscreen that spans two-thirds of the dashboard.
Aside from some other minor updates, GV80 is the same steal of a luxury SUV it's been since its introduction in 2021. My Christmas sleigh, the very top of the GV80 line, gets the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 that makes a healthy 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. This fully-loaded midsize clocks in at $81,300, and that includes quilted Nappa leather seats with (incredibly effective) heating and cooling front and rear, a panoramic sunroof, various scent and massage modes, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, Level 2 driving assistance, wood trim... you get the idea. It is incredibly nice inside, especially in the cream/navy upholstery my test vehicle was spec'ed in.
I have only taken it one place thus far (the Warhammer store; my wife has very specific taste in gifts) but this is already shaping up to be one of my favorite test vehicles in a while. Let me know if you have any questions about it, and I'll do my best to answer either in the comments or the full review.
In the meantime, godspeed at the malls.
What’s Good So Far?
- The GV80 is gorgeous, inside and out. The cabin, despite a reliance on capacitive-touch and screen-based contact, doesn't feel frustrating or cheap. The seats are to die for. I even like the scents!
- Genesis focuses on calm luxury with this model, and it succeeds. Steering and road-feel is comfortably soft without feeling floaty. The motor has power but isn't droning or overly loud, even on highway merges.
What’s Bad So Far?
- Fuel mileage with the 3.5T isn't promising yet; the EPA rates it at 16 city, 22 highway, and Genesis still hasn't released a hybrid.
- Level 2 cruise is... sort of hands-free, but not quite; I'd rather it be one or the other, because it feels less safe on its shaky middle ground.
