Many people didn’t experience the best introduction to the all-new 2021 Genesis GV80 after Tiger Woods’ highly publicized crash. But any automotive expert will tell you that you shouldn’t judge a vehicle’s structural integrity by analyzing a single incident.

We’ve previously only been able to speculate the GV80’s safety acumen based upon its driver-assist features. However, one trusted organization released the first-ever safety ratings for the newest addition to the Genesis family. How did the GV80 luxury midsize SUV fare, and were skeptics right to be worried about a model that has few other drawbacks?

The 2021 Genesis GV80 doesn’t skimp on safety features

Car shoppers are burning to learn how well the GV80 protects its occupants in a crash, But it’s crucial to determine if this family SUV is well-equipped to avoid danger in the first place.

The 2021 GV80 appears to excel in this category. Genesis equipped its newest model with one of the most impressive assortments of standard driver-assistance technologies on the market. 

Standard systems include forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and forward emergency braking. The SUV utilizes these features to alert the motorist of a potential collision. If the driver doesn’t take evasive action, the GV80 will use active measures to avoid a crash or lessen the impact. 

The 2021 Genesis GV80 also makes highway driving safer and easier than ever. Its standard lane-change assist, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring systems provide extra awareness. Meanwhile, adaptive cruise control eases the stressfulness of long drives.

Other standard systems include front/rear parking sensors, front/rear cross-traffic alert, vehicle exit warning, and a driver drowsiness monitor. Genesis also offers a blind-spot camera, head-up display, surround-view parking camera, remote smart parking assist, and reverse automatic emergency braking as available features.

How did the 2021 Genesis GV80 perform in crash tests?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety finally released its evaluation of the newest Genesis model. Thankfully, the independent organization’s findings will come to the delight of any current owner or potential buyers. 

The IIHS gave the GV80 luxury midsize SUV top marks in all six of its crashworthiness categories. Additionally, it deemed the vehicle’s front-crash prevention system to be ‘superior.’ However, the GV80 didn’t come away with a spotless report. The IIHS determined that the model’s headlights were only ‘acceptable.’

Nevertheless, the 2021 Genesis GV80 earned the IIHS’s highest honor of being named a Top Safety Pick +. This puts the all-new luxury SUV in exclusive company, as it’s only one of eight models in its segment to receive this designation.

Genesis’ new luxury SUV made a strong first impression

Genesis gave this all-new model a starting MSRP of just $48,900. With such a positive safety rating and a wealth of driver-assist technologies, the 2021 GV80 is quite the bargain.

We’re still awaiting crash-test data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, we expect the government-backed organization’s data to be generally in line with the IIHS’s results.

This news bodes well for the future of the all-new luxury SUV. Some consumers may have removed the GV80 from their wishlist after witnessing the wreckage from one of golf’s biggest stars. But now, potential 2021 Genesis GV80 buyers can finally make their purchase with confidence, knowing that it’ll protect their loved ones.