There are those rare instances in life that you get something that seemingly has a much higher perceived value than its actual price of admission. As such, the luxury arm of Hyundai, Genesis, has proven to be such a case of getting something that’s substantial or worth slightly above its asking price, which is the feeling I get in my new Genesis GV80 3.5T AWD Black Edition review vehicle this week.
Genesis has put themselves on a path to greatness if they chooses to play their hand carefully, as the cards it’s dealt are quite impressive, and many will find themselves hard-pressed to bluff the brand out of holding a premium hand. Genesis didn’t just set out to create a luxury version of a current Hyundai or Kia platform, they went above and beyond for something fresh and truly luxurious in the latest GV80, and the Black Edition helps elevate such a posh uniqueness in the broad spectrum of luxury vehicles.
Having experienced the Genesis GV80 in previous years, I’m pleased to see the brand keeping the midsized luxury SUV fresh with subtle updates that really matter. For starters, the 2025 model year received an update for the infotainment system, incorporating a 27-inch OLED display that combines both the digital driver’s cluster and a center-area touchscreen. The system, as I first experienced in the GV70 last year, is excellent, and I’d put it against any other luxury rival as one that elevates your immersive experience with multiple display options. Other notable changes include some exterior updates for the 2025 model year, and now, for the 2026 model year, Genesis offers the Prestige Black edition of the GV80 as configured for my test vehicle. The new Prestige Black trim level is a nice play on adding dark exterior trim, emblems, and black 22-inch wheels with floating center caps. Yes, Genesis did give the GV80 Black floating center caps like on a Rolls-Royce. Other notable luxury elements include power adjustments for the rear seats, microfiber suede headliner and pillars, color head-up display, soft-close doors, front and rear door acoustic laminated glass, remote smart parking assist (allows you to use your key fob outside of the vehicle to remotely park the vehicle), and a decent-sounding Bang & Olufsen Premium Audio system.
The attention to detail doesn’t stop with all the luxury treats and 22-inch wheels with floating center caps. Inside, there’s a lavish interior with blackened accents throughout, adding a stealth-like appeal to an already plush interior. There’s also a respectable fit and finish, and very limited hard plastics. Genesis even went the distance to make the lower door trim soft touch, something that’s a rarity even in competitive luxury vehicles.
The seats are comfy and have plenty of adjustments. The only drawback here would be the continuous oversight of Genesis not providing the front passenger seat with the massaging/Ergo-Motion functions, which are only reserved for the driver’s seat. However, both front seats and rear outboard seats get heating and ventilation, and the rear door windows have power sunshades. There’s also heating on the center armrest, activated with the front heated seats.
As far as interacting with the Genesis GV80, the controls are well placed, and there’s just a short learning curve to become accustomed to the haptic touch button areas for the climate control system that has two selectable and flow-adjustable fragrances to choose from, so your GV80 not only looks good but smells good, too. However, there’s a set of physical knobs for the volume, station toggle, and both front automatic climate zones. Moreover, almost similar to BMW’s iDrive controller, there’s a central glass knob for controlling the infotainment system, giving you a redundancy of controls if you choose not to reach and touch the screen. Lastly, the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration becomes immersive with the ability to display a mapping app like Waze or Google Maps into the gauge cluster display, which has some interactive graphic displays that change with the time of day. Genesis is almost showing off at this point, and I like it.
Powering the GV80 is left to the return of its 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with 375 horsepower, 391 lb-ft of torque, an 8-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive found in the upper trim levels, which is a decent powertrain. Zero to 60 mph ticks off in 5.7 seconds. Coupled with what seems to be a reworked suspension setup with adaptive dampers, the GV80 remains surefooted most times, with only a taste of unassured movements when it is pushed rather hard through turns with abrupt direction and weight shifts. Otherwise, the GV80 3.5T is a smooth operator with a remarkably quiet and plush ride quality, poised for light off-road terrain when utilizing one of the many terrain drive modes.
The one drawback from the powertrain, in my observation, is that it seems to be somewhat of an unnecessary gas guzzler, with my 200-mile highway trip only getting 21.4 mpg as my best mileage. The GV80 3.5T is EPA rated at 15 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. With its horsepower figure at 375, I would have expected a bit more out of the gas mileage, considering there are many competitors with more power that get much better mileage, especially when you’re recommended to burn premium fuel.
With most new vehicles airing on the side of safety to include a bevy of active safety features, the Genesis GV80 is no different, except for the exception of having the trick blind-spot view monitor that displays a live video feed in the digital gauge cluster of what is in your blind spot upon signaling. There’s also the clever 360-degree camera system and safe exit assist function added into the fray of the many common safety features of lane keeping assist, forward collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, and rear occupant alert.
Driving the Genesis GV80 3.5T Prestige Black makes you feel special, and giving you that feeling is half of the necessary battle of a real luxury vehicle. I’d say Genesis is on the right path to greatness and undercutting the luxury competition if they can get their dealer network to match the poshness of their vehicles, because the pricing is just right at the level of $85,395 for my top-trim (loaded by trim level default) test vehicle.
Malcolm Hogan is the founder and editor of Automotive Addicts, a trusted voice in the automotive media world for over two decades. With 20+ years of hands-on experience covering the industry, Malcolm has built a reputation for delivering honest reviews, sharp insights, and in-depth coverage of everything from new car debuts to high-performance test drives. Passionate about the evolving car culture and staying ahead of the curve, Malcolm continues to lead Automotive Addicts as a go-to destination for enthusiasts and industry insiders alike.
