2025 Genesis GV80: The SUV That Thinks It's a Bentley (And Might Just Be Right)

Now, we all know Genesis—the car company that rose from the ashes of Hyundai’s budget hatchbacks to become… well, the Korean Bentley. At least, that’s what they’d like you to think. But with the 2025 Genesis GV80, they’re not just whispering about luxury—they’re shouting it from the rooftops, draped in fine leather and polished wood.

At first glance, the GV80 looks like it was designed by a committee who had only one goal: "Make the Germans nervous." And, my word, they’ve done a good job. It’s big, it’s bold, and it has more chrome than Liberace’s dressing room. That enormous grille? It’s large enough to swallow small children. And the headlights? They look like they were lifted from some futuristic concept car that wasn’t supposed to exist for another 50 years.

But it’s not just about looks, is it? Step inside, and you’ll find an interior that’s so luxurious it makes you wonder if they’ve secretly kidnapped a bunch of Rolls-Royce designers. The leather feels as if it was harvested from cows that were given daily massages and read poetry. The seats are adjustable in more ways than you could ever need—unless you’re an octopus—and the dashboard? It’s all touchscreens and digital displays, which, of course, is a complete faff to use while you’re driving.

Still, it’s a nice place to be—until you start it up.

Now, under the bonnet of this behemoth is a turbocharged V6. That sounds exciting, right? Well, yes and no. You see, it’s smooth, it’s refined, and it’s quick enough to get you where you need to go. But it’s about as thrilling as an episode of Antiques Roadshow. Don’t get me wrong, it’ll do 0-60 in a respectable time, and it won’t complain when you push it, but there’s no drama. There’s no growl. It just gets the job done quietly, like a butler who’s too good at his job.

And then there’s the suspension. Genesis has given the GV80 one of those clever adaptive suspensions that scans the road ahead and adjusts accordingly. The result? It rides like a cloud. Well, mostly. Unless, of course, you hit a British pothole, at which point even this Korean tank will let you know you’ve made a mistake. But on smooth roads, it’s a dream—like gliding across freshly ironed silk sheets.

Where it falls apart a bit is when you try to pretend you’re in a sports car. Because despite what the marketing brochures might imply, the GV80 is not, and never will be, a sporty SUV. Throw it into a corner with a bit too much enthusiasm, and it rolls more than a cruise ship in a hurricane. You quickly remember that this is a big, heavy lump of metal. It’ll go round the bend, yes, but not without reminding you that physics is very much still a thing.

But let’s be honest: nobody buys an SUV like this for spirited driving. You buy it for the comfort, the luxury, and the fact that it makes your neighbors think you’ve finally won the lottery. And in that respect, the GV80 excels. The list of gadgets is longer than War and Peace. There’s a heads-up display, massaging seats, heated everything, and enough driver-assistance tech to make you wonder why you even need to be behind the wheel.

And then there’s the price. This is where Genesis really sticks the knife into the Germans. Because while the GV80 looks and feels like it should be parked next to a Bentley Bentayga, it costs about half as much. You’re getting 90% of the luxury for 50% of the price. That’s not just good value; that’s enough to make you wonder why anyone would spend more.

So, what’s the verdict? The 2025 Genesis GV80 is not perfect. It’s not going to set your heart racing or make you feel like a Formula 1 driver. But that’s not the point. It’s an SUV that wraps you in luxury, coddles you with gadgets, and glides over the road like a private jet. It makes you feel like a millionaire without having to rob a bank.