Genesis GV80 3.0D 2021 Review

The 2021 Genesis GV80 3.0D reviewed here is the third-tier model in a four-model line-up.

All GV80s have leather trim, 12-way power-adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats, a 12.0-inch head-up display, keyless entry, remote engine start, sat-nav and a high-end 21-speaker 1050W Lexicon audio system.

Woodgrain trim, a panoramic glass sunroof, power-operated tailgate, wireless phone charging and a large 14.5-inch high-definition touch-screen infotainment system with handwriting and voice recognition are also standard, as is colour-adjustable interior LED mood lighting and dual-zone automatic climate control.

Over the lesser 2.5T models, the (AWD) 3.0D gets an electronically-controlled limited-slip rear diff and 22-inch alloy wheels (in place of 20”). The 3.0D misses out on the ornamental fancy dual exhaust outlets fitted to the petrol models, instead having a discreet, largely hidden single outlet.

There’s a $10,000 luxury pack available (but not fitted to the test vehicle) that offers a long list of additional features. Highlights include Nappa leather, quilted seats with an 18-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with massage function, a fully digital instrument cluster, three-zone climate control, parking collision avoidance assist and much more.

Matt paint is a $2000 option.

The $103,476 (plus on-road costs) outlay for the 2021 Genesis GV80 3.0D includes a valet service with home delivery and pick-up during servicing (including loan car), as well as free scheduled servicing for five years/75,000km for the 3.0D diesel model here (five years/50,000km for petrol variants).

All Genesis models are covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty along with 24/7 roadside assistance over that time period.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 achieved a five-star ANCAP crash test rating in May this year.

It has an extensive safety armoury that extends to 10 airbags (including driver’s knee airbag and centre front airbag), adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and machine learning functionality, lane keep and follow assist, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians, blind spot collision avoidance assist and a surround-view 3D parking monitor.

The adaptive cruise control worked well on test, with good speed control and response to changing vehicle speed ahead (not always a given with these systems).

The blind spot video monitor feed, which appears in the right side of the instrument cluster when you indicate, doesn’t have the resolution or camera angle to be truly effective in some conditions.

There’s one element of the 2021 Genesis GV80 3.0D that feels very Germanic, and that is its 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine.

It offers a discreet deep-chested, gruff note when you extend it beyond the silken quiet of its low-rpm operation. No rattly diesel noise here.

What is even better is the way it goes – this is a heavy SUV that can hustle, with torque on tap no matter the revs.

The smooth engine and slick eight-speed automatic transmission team up well, somehow by-passing troublesome turbo lag so often the bane of forced-induction vehicles.

The GV80 just gets on with it, although its fuel consumption average on test of 9.0L/100km on an easy run (and 12.8L/100km average in mostly heavy traffic) suggests it isn’t a big step up on competitors for efficiency.

Whether you do lots of kilometres behind the wheel or not, the sumptuous lounge-room feel of the 2021 Genesis GV80 cabin will ease the stress.

The interior fit and finish and materials used really make the GV80 feel like money well spent; soft-touch materials are used almost everywhere to good effect.

If you’re into this sort of thing, you’ll appreciate the small touches too, like the basket-weave design theme shared on pedals and dash controls.

If I was going to be picky about the GV80’s presentation, the hard, grained plastic used on the top crossbar section of the steering wheel seems a bit out of place.

Driver controls are, in the main, simple and straight forward – with a few exceptions…

The centre screen controller is hard to use; it just wasn’t intuitive and I eventually gave up, instead using the touch-screen (which itself is a bit of a reach) or the key menu buttons on the console.

The same with the suspension damper settings/terrain mode button; I was always twisting or pushing it exactly the wrong way when trying to adjust dampers to ‘Sport’, instead selecting terrain ‘Snow’ mode.

The caveat to these complaints is barely a week in the saddle isn’t necessarily enough to become familiar with a vehicle’s control quirks.

There is plenty of space everywhere in the GV80, except adults may find getting in and out of the third row awkward and headroom is also very tight back there.

I rarely mention the car audio performance unless it’s an exception, as everyone has different expectations. Having a teenage son whose bass-loaded rapper music will strain any car audio system, I can report that the GV80’s Lexicon system got a rare thumbs up from him.

You couldn’t have got better low-frequency bass response in an ’80s Chevy Impala lowrider, ’yo.

The lush feel inside the GV80’s cabin is echoed by its suspension; it wafts along in Comfort mode, on roads not blighted with a poor surface, at least.

The super-light steering firms up with speed and the GV80 grips the road well on its Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres.

It is in ride and handling that you would hope that Hyundai’s usually excellent local suspension tuning would bear fruit. But unfortunately, that is not the case here.

While the soft suspension is just right in everyday, easy driving for those who are sick of luxury SUVs thumping and bumping over everything like a sports car, it is not quite as resolved when encountering larger bumps at speed.

After hitting a large bump or undulation the suspension takes a few rebounds before settling, and conversely the sharp-bump compliance is a bit harsh, either thumping over such bumps or getting the big SUV dancing around a little, particularly on rippled, rough surfaces.

Selecting the Sport mode helps settle the suspension more quickly when negotiating large bumps at highway speeds (although on city speed bumps, it still feels very soft), but Sport can make the GV80’s ride even harsher on poor surfaces.

The thin sidewalls on the 22-inch tyres don’t help.

There are some very good elements to the 2021 Genesis GV80: the powertrain is responsive and smooth and the interior comfortable, spacious, well-appointed and well-finished.

Styling is subjective, of course, but for me, the GV80’s design is distinctive, crisp and somehow faintly suggestive of a more expensive, established brand.

However, the GV80’s primary issues include a ride quality that could be more resolved and some of controls that could be more intuitive to use.

How much does the 2021 Genesis GV80 cost?
Price: $103,476 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 204kW/588Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 232g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2021)