The 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe We Tested Is More Than Just a Swoopy Roof

The Genesis GV80 was the automaker’s first-ever SUV, and although it arrived with beautiful styling and an elegant interior, it had a few shortcomings with its ride quality. “It lacks the sophistication associated with a premium marque,” we wrote back in 2020. Well, the 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe is trying to change that. The midsize SUV isn’t only getting a swoopy roof, it has a revamped interior and modern technology that provide the sophistication it was missing.

Taking a page from its flagship sedan, the Genesis G90, the GV80 now has mood curator: a feature that sprays a scent and matches it with serene music to bring a relaxing vibe into the cabin. Along with better ride quality and a new electric supercharger, the GV80 Coupe is staying fresh and modern despite tough competition.

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The Fancy Cabin

Step inside the GV80, and you’ll be impressed by the cabin’s ergonomics, the quilted leather, the clean yet modern design, and touches like carbon-fiber trim and haptic HVAC controls. The outgoing model’s cabin was a pleasant place to spend time, but this upgraded cabin is much nicer, with designers paying attention to detail in the areas that needed it the most, like the center console and single, larger-screen setup.

The one thing that continues to be a bit confusing is the rotary gear knob selector. By placing it right next to the rotary screen control, it’s easy for the driver to grab the screen control when wanting to switch gears and vice versa. Genesis made changes to the design of both knobs, but it was still confusing to us—and that’s coming from the same people who drove a Genesis GV70 for a year, which has a similar setup.

“This interior is a master class in making the driver feel special,” Buyer’s Guide director Zach Gale said. “Daring dark blue with red stitching color scheme from the same company that offered another SUV in purple and green, with matte and gloss options.”

Besides the cabin design, the GV80 upped its tech game. A new single-piece 27-inch screen takes over half of the vehicle’s dashboard, acting as both the infotainment screen and driver’s display. Although the setup looks and is fancy, the area between the infotainment side and the instrument cluster is not used, showing a blank space. But this new screen is an improvement, and with a new menu setup, we found it easy to navigate between menus.

Another new display, located below the air vents on the center console, houses all the HVAC controls, which are soft buttons with haptic feedback. There are knobs for temperature control on each side of the screen, but fan speed and other functions are now controlled only via the screen. We like the clean, spacious look between the soft buttons, but we found ourselves taking our eyes off the road to do simple functions like lowering the fan speed. Besides the temperature knobs, Genesis kept a volume and tuning knob, which we’re thankful for.

The coupe roofline takes away 6.2 cubic feet of space from the cargo area over the regular GV80, but rear passengers still have enough room to ride comfortably. Genesis kept large windows in the rear, providing good visibility for those sitting in back, and although headroom is 0.8 inch less than it is the regular GV80, average-sized adults won’t have any issues.

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e-Supercharged

The GV80 Coupe is available with the 3.5-liter V-6 twin-turbo engine, though our tester was equipped with the optional e-Supercharger, increasing the power to 409 hp and 405 lb-ft from 375 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque (391 lb-ft for 2025). Despite the small bump, the GV80 Coupe’s performance saw an improvement in our instrumented testing numbers, getting from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, a 0.8-second gain compared to a 2021 GV80 3.5-liter V-6 we tested. On the quarter mile, the e-Supercharged Coupe crossed the line in 13.8 seconds at 101.1 mph, better than the 14.4 seconds at 98.8 mph from the regular GV80.

Coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the powertrain feels quite powerful and quick, and it has plenty of low-end torque that responds to gas pedal taps with immediacy. On the freeway, the GV80 feels refined, settled, and quiet; passing slower-moving vehicles is a smooth task. The brakes have a gentle bite and feel comfort-oriented rather than sporty. On tight switchbacks with Sport mode engaged, we liked the roar from the engine, though we also felt decent amounts of body roll.

Despite the performance improvements, the GV80 Coupe delivers a luxury experience rather than a sporty ride. On the highway, it’s quiet and serene, and on the twisty roads it’s composed. While the added horsepower is a welcome addition, we shouldn’t confuse this GV80 for a BMW X6 M Competition, or even the X6 M60i. Both models compete in the same segment, but Genesis has tailored its SUV more toward comfort, making the whole experience feel special for its luxury and premium features. The X5, on the other hand, has a sportier ride and more power.

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To Go Coupe or Not

The good news for everyone considering a 2025 Genesis GV80 is now there's the choice of buying a coupe. Although both models get the same kind of interior upgrades, the Coupe gets the swoopy roofline that’s more attractive and sportier looking. However, if space is a priority, the regular GV80 is the one to get, as cargo space is the Coupe’s only compromise.

With a price tag approaching $90,000, the Genesis GV80 Coupe feels every bit like a six-figure luxury SUV, though it reflects the growing costs in today's market. Starting at just over $80,000, it’s easy for the price to rise as you add options. However, when stacked against a similarly equipped BMW X6, the GV80 Coupe offers a compelling advantage in both value and style, standing out in its class.

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