Rain pattered outside as I relaxed into a lower-back massage, rolling from my lumbar down toward my hips. My companion had already selected mood lighting to accentuate the environment and was now fiddling with an array of calming scents before activating the aroma diffuser.
It was an odd experience, considering I was driving and sitting next to a complete stranger. My passenger, Jesús Cortez, and I had only a handful of hours to experience all that the 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe had to offer — and that included the comfort accoutrements.
Hitting Genesis dealerships this month, the GV80 Coupe complements the brand’s GV80 SUV with a sportier package. It’s more targeted to singles, couples, and empty-nesters seeking an elevated driving experience.
In short: With a base price barely under $80,000, the GV80 Coupe marks a bold position for Genesis, putting it over base model competitors like Audi’s Q8, BMW’s X6, and Mercedes’ EQE. Inside and out, Genesis combines aggressive performance with refined accents, making the GV80 Coupe capable, comfortable, and attractive. But without a definitive wow factor, this sporty “CUV” (coupe-utility vehicle) marks a very ambitious swing at the big names in luxury.
2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe Review
Exterior: The Genesis Look
The GV80 Coupe continues to build on the tenets of the Genesis brand. Its visage is extremely eye-catching, with dual parallel LED headlamps, matching shark-gill fender accents, and hallmark dual-layered G-Matrix grille all giving it the “Genesis look.”
Following the contours of the body toward the rounded rear clip, two sets of twin taillights beautifully resolve the front-to-back aesthetic, with the slight, integrated spoiler flare adding a final sporty touch.
While the performance and comfort features packed into the car rival any in its category, Genesis may most stand out from its competition in its aesthetic. The Korean brand makes exceptional use of lines. While the physical appeal of any car is a matter of taste — some folks love the unmistakable “face” of a BMW, while others enjoy the bulbous curves of an Audi — Genesis clearly stands out with its lines. The eye naturally moves over the car, directed by the shapes and curves within every individual piece of the vehicle.
Aesthetically, the car is a rousing success.
The GV80 Coupe will also come with an exclusive new color: Bering Blue, a metallic blue-gray “inspired by the Bering Sea,” according to Genesis. Mauna Red, not new, will also be exclusive on the 2025 GV80 Coupe. Seven other exterior colors will also be on offer, including Seville Silver, Vik Black, Utuni White, Alta White, Makalu Gray Matte, Capri Blue, and Storr Green.
Interior: Sporty Luxury
The interior also carries a couple of iconic calling cards of the Genesis brand. First and foremost, the crystal gear selector sits on the center console above a drive mode selector. And, stretching from the steering wheel all the way to the edge of the center dash is the sprawling 27-inch OLED instrument cluster and touchscreen navigation screen.
The GV80 Coupe has two trim options — 3.5T and 3.5T e-SC (more on these below) — and each comes with its own interior trim accents. The base model 3.5T has wood trim, while the more-equipped e-SC has carbon fiber trim.
I tested the e-SC with carbon fiber and found the overall look and feel lacking, especially for a luxury auto. This is more a matter of taste than function, but a carbon fiber weave, though interesting, looks inert, cold, and lacking spirit. For a luxury feel, I much prefer wood trim — but I’m likely in the minority here.
Nappa leather covers front and rear seats in four color options, three of which are exclusive to the Coupe. Obsidian black with gray stitching is already in line for Genesis, but for 2025, Coupe owners can also choose from Ultramarine blue with orange stitch, Smoky Green/Beige, and Obsidian Black/Sevilla Red.
2025 GV80 Coupe Passenger Experience
I started my journey in the passenger seat while Cortez took the wheel. Sitting in the GV80 Coupe immediately feels like an elevated, if not lavish, experience. It does not present the absolute height of luxury, but it certainly feels like a business-class upgrade. Both driver and passenger enjoy four-way lumbar adjustment, though Genesis’ Ergo-Motion massage function benefits the driver only.
I’m 6’3″ and was happy to not fall into the seat. The Coupe stands 67.3 inches high with a minimum ground clearance of 8.1 inches, so I was able to step into and out of the vehicle without my “old-man grunt.” Inside, the seats allow more than enough room for someone my height, or even a few inches taller, to stretch out comfortably.
The same could not be said of the second-row seats. If someone my height were in front, I’d start to feel the pinch in the back. The Coupe is definitely tailored to a front-seat driving experience.
As a passenger, you can control a few of the experiential extras. Inside the glove compartment sits the diffuser. The GV80 comes with a few essential oil scents, and you can insert up to two. The effect is subtle but perceptible. It’s not as overpowering as a dangling Christmas tree, nor as tacky.
From the infotainment controls, you can also set the cabin’s mood lighting. From calm to energetic, the setting changes the LED lighting color and intensity around the instrument panels, as well as dash and door accents.
First Drive Impressions
When I hopped into the fun seat, rain was pouring in south Minneapolis. We departed a gushing Minnehaha Falls and set off for St. Paul along the Mississippi River. In the cockpit, the driver can choose between a rear-facing camera view or flip to a true rearview mirror. The camera takes some getting used to, but even in the rain, I found it a clearer view of the road and traffic behind.
Along the highway, the going was smooth. I especially appreciated the blind-spot camera supplementing my rain-streaked windows. We exited near downtown St. Paul, an area non-Minnesotans might not know is infamous for its less-than-ideal roads. Broken concrete potholes, raised manhole covers, and a few stretches of cobblestone add harsh texture to the capital city’s driving experience.
The GV80 Coupe touts an electronically controlled suspension that uses front-facing cameras to predict road conditions ahead, and adjust accordingly. While the effect is automatic and imperceptible to the driver, my ride through rough streets was comfortable and smooth. A pothole is still a pothole, but no bumps felt painfully rough.
For me, the most noteworthy impact to the GV80 driving experience was the drive mode (and brake mode) selection options. Both trims offer Comfort, Eco, Sport, and Custom modes, which vary power output, fuel mileage, and ride quality.
But the real kick comes in the e-SC trim and its exclusive Sport+ drive mode. This mode tunes sportier suspension and unlocks maximum torque. It also enables launch control — although with wet streets, I didn’t drop the hammer. However, I gave it the beans on a stretch of two-lane highway and felt the acceleration press me into the seat. It’s not a true sports car sensation, but there’s plenty of kick to show off what you pay for ($85,750 for the e-SC).
Powertrain, Performance
Both trims run off a 3.5L twin-turbo V6, but the e-SC adds an electric supercharger. This pushes the premium trim from 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque to 409 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard across both trims, but both have paddle shifters if you desire some extra control (and fun).
The base model GV80 Coupe rolls on 20-inch aluminum wheels, while the e-SC boasts 22-inch.
Most specs stay consistent across both trims — 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space, convenience features, connectivity, etc. — except for a slight mpg edge for the e-SC: 20 combined versus the base model’s 19.
2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe: Good Buy?
The execution in the GV80 Coupe is solid. It offers a bevy of features you won’t find in a sub-luxury automobile, and it stays at least competitive with the tech and performance of competitors in the category. It is at least worth a test drive if you’re in the market for sport-luxury SUV in the $75K-90K category.
Ultimately, though, Genesis is leaning heavily on a distinctive look and a slightly more sporty — and less luxurious — experience with the Coupe. The interior is sharp and comfortable, but not overflowing with comfort or ostentation. On the road, the Coupe offers up a satisfying mix of agility and comfort, without going too high in either direction.
Where it can ultimately win is for folks who want a well-equipped, elevated driving experience in a wonderfully designed package that tends to catch second glances from fellow drivers. The mood lighting, aromatherapy, and massage are just the sprinkles on top.
