Genesis Will Release First SUV January 2020
The 2021 Genesis GV80 is the first SUV that Genesis will manufacture. It’s taken years of development to finally reach showroom floors. You’re excused if you didn’t know Genesis as a stand-alone luxury brand under the Hyundai tent. That’s because it sold only 21,000 vehicles in total for 2019.
In these times any vehicle manufacturer expecting to exist must have an SUV in its lineup. This one is a crossover based on the Genesis G80 sedan. It and the G90 are the largest sedans that Genesis makes.
The GV80 is a midsize crossover competing with the BMW X5, Mercedes GLE, and more
So, the all-new luxury GV80 inches closer to production and will debut later this month. It’s expected in dealership showrooms in Fall 2021 in the US. It will be available in South Korea right after its January debut. The price will be around $48,000. It is meant to compete in the midsize SUV segment. That category includes BMW X5, Mercedes GLE, Lexus RX, and Jaguar F-Pace.
Though Hyundai has released images of the outside of the GV80 what we know about what’s underneath has been limited. The five-passenger SUV will have a number of powertrain options. A 3.8-liter V6 engine is the base. The 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 will be optional, producing 380 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. Also, a 5.0-liter V8 is said to be available, too.
Optional all-wheel-drive and versatile seating options help to tailor buyer needs
The GV80 will come standard with rear-wheel-drive. An all-wheel-drive system will be an option. Seating for four is standard, with an optional three-across rear seat allowing for five occupants. Three-row seating will also be optional, making the seating arrangement versatile for the new owner.
Flanking the Genesis signature “crest” grille are stacked split light slots. These visually carry through to the side and rear taillights. From what we’ve been told we will be seeing this design on other Genesis models into the future.
We are relieved to see knobs rather than touchscreen controls
Inside you can see actual knobs and rotary controls. That’s a welcome departure from touchscreen features requiring the driver to take his eyes off of the road. The transmission shifter is also a rotary knob. In addition, there is a drive mode selector that we would expect in a vehicle for this segment.
The GV80 will probably be a harbinger of what to expect from Genesis models going forward. Any new safety tech will probably show up on the GV80 first. Alternative propulsion is another. We expect to see a PHEV or straight hybrid version within a year or so after the initial launch.
If Hyundai’s other offerings are any indication the GV80 will be a great value with lots of options. Once more is available we will bring that to you.
