I recently sent both kids to college and realized that don’t need all the space of my family SUV. But I do like to take road trips and do fun things that require some flexibility with my car. When Genesis introduced a sportback version of it’s popular GV80 SUV, the Genesis GV80 Coupe, I was intrigued: An SUV with the things I like, such as a higher ground clearance, flexible seats and an easy drive, but without the family size. Sounds perfect!
And it looks good. It has a sloped rear roof that makes it look much sportier than its square-backed GV80 sister, and premium details that will make you feel like you are the one who graduated.
The Genesis GV80 Coupe Knows How to Enter a Room: With More Power
The Genesis GV80 Coupe starts with the 375-horsepower twin-turbo V6, which is an upgrade in the GV80. What’s more, there is a more powerful option with the GV80 Coupe: the twin-turbo V6 with an electric motor added. This brings the horsepower to 409. Both trims have all-wheel drive as standard. The base model starts at $79,995 before fees, and the E-Supercharger model starts at just over $85,750 before fees. The GV80 Coupe is available now.
All The Premium Features You Want and Need, Standard
What I love about empty-nesting is that I don’t have to make so many decisions anymore. The Genesis GV80 Coupe is a manifestation of that. It has all the same features of the top-of-the-line GV80 and adds some on top of that standard. There aren’t many things you’ll have to mull over and consider. Granted, the price reflects all those goodies, but still. Decisions made.
A Rear Quarter View That Will Turn Heads
There is a ton of style and panache with the GV80 Coupe. It has the Genesis diamond pattern on the grille, it’s a darker, smokier iteration than the bright chrome on the GV80. The horizontal headlights are dazzling with LED headlights.
It will be no surprise that the biggest difference is the rear end of the car. Though the design starts with the quad-tipped tailpipes, it’s most distinctive because of the spoiler that extends off the roofline. Also, just for the record, coupes don’t usually have wipers on the rear window. That’s because once you start driving, the water flows off the back. The LED taillights are gorgeous, and I would want to drive around with them on all the time.
Inside, the Latest Genesis Tech on a Flat Panel Screen
Inside, the Genesis GV80 Coupe has gorgeous quilted Nappa Leather. The model I drove was finished in an ultramarine blue interior with bright orange details like seatbelts, piping, and stitching. It was dazzling.
The Coupe also has a crystal-encased gear shifter and multimedia knob. The multimedia system has a 27-inch screen that spans the front of the car. It encompasses the driver information system. The look is very cohesive, and while it takes a few tries to get used to how hard you need to press on the screen to activate the features, once you do, it’s fairly easy. And if you’re comfortable with tech, the Genesis GV80 Coupe has a ton of wonderful surprises.
Pick Your Concert-Quality Sound. Really!
The first surprise is the Bang & Olufsen 18-speaker stereo system, with speakers in the doors and throughout the cabin. Not only does this system provide excellent sound, it has a beosonic option. This means you can go into the system and select the type of sound you want the speakers to produce. For example, if you’re listening to an upbeat pop song, you’ll want to select the “bright” option. If you’re listening to jazz, you’ll probably want the speakers to project the “warm” option.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much this enhanced the music I was listening to. Speaking of warm options, the top of the center console warms up when you turn the seat heat on. We live in magical times!
Heated, Vented, Reclining Seats For Everyone
And speaking of seating, all seats are generous in every way. By that, I mean the front driver’s and passenger’s side had heated and ventilated seats and were power-adjustable. The driver’s side also had seat massage. But the rear seats are the real news. Heated. Ventilated. Power adjustable. 25-40 degree reclining slope. Headroom in the second row is reduced a little, but the rear recline helps assuage that.
Another Convenience for Rear Seat Passengers: Move the Front Seat!
I also liked the button on the front passenger seat that moves the seat forward and/or tilts it forward. That way, if you’re in the back seat and need to install a car seat, clean the floor, or retrieve something, it’s so easy to do.
You Can Max Out the Genesis GV80 Coupe Cargo Space with Lots of Gear
Passenger space abounds, as does cargo space. The GV80 Coupe loses about three cubic feet from the SUV version, but Genesis has given the Coupe an electric rear-view mirror so that you can stack your gear up to the roof and still be able to see behind you. That’s a win.
Before I saw the cargo area, I asked if it would hold two golf bags and two pieces of carry-on sized luggage. I was assured there would be more than enough space for that and while I didn’t have a golf bag to test, I am certain there would be plenty of space for your golf-tour dreams.
Drive Modes That Can Keep Up With You
I was most intrigued about the drive of the Genesis GV80 Coupe. I drove the supercharged version and there was absolutely plenty of power (409 horsepower, remember?). It had Sport and Sport Plus modes (in addition to Comfort, Eco, Snow, and a customizable setting), and it was definitely more spirited in those modes. And I would drive in those more often as they felt and sounded better than the other modes.
Drive Modes Allow You to Really Enjoy the Road
The Genesis GV80 Coupe’s comfort mode was, in fact, very comfortable, and I would maybe prefer that for long days in the car. There was great acceleration (remember, I was driving the E-supercharged version), zero turbo lag, and almost no body roll when accelerating into the curves of the road.
The Sport Plus mode amplified the driving experience and responded nicely at high speeds. It definitely was a different vehicle in Sport Plus mode, and I would have a hard time not driving it in that mode a lot of the time. The engine noise that’s piped in is good and I especially loved the car sounds on the downshifts, not to mention the spirited tuning and stiffened suspension and steering.
In Sport Plus, you can even go into launch mode, which I did not have the opportunity to test. I would definitely want to test the Genesis GV80 Coupe for a longer period of time to fine-tune all my driving preferences. But the car is not shy if the driver isn’t, and I think many parents who’ve been frequenting the drop-off lane at school will rejoice at having more performance at their disposal.
The Genesis Mood Curator Lets You Change the Mood in the Room
There is another feature I must cover, and that is the feature that caters to me as a tired, post-homebound kid parent. And that is the Mood Curation feature. Press an icon on the multimedia touchscreen and a series of options pops up along the bottom of the screen.
You can select one of four options: Delight, Care, Comfort, or Vital. Each mode has a different visual setup on the screen, a distinct tune, massage, and scent. You heard me. You get your own little spa day in the GV80—but you can have it every day!
The Genesis GV80 Coupe is a Grown-Up SUV That Still Does All the SUV Things
I would have loved to spend more time in the Genesis GV80 Coupe to further discover all the ways it can cater to my new existence as a mostly empty nester. I can go on road trips, take vacations, and still haul some stuff. It’s not as big as my former family-sized SUV, but it’s not too drastic a change. I feel like I can still do some family duty without having to commit to driving something so large all the time.
What I do know is that if my kids need me, I can get to them very quickly and happily in the 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe.
Disclosure: Genesis provided travel and accommodations for this test of the GV80 Coupe. All impressions are my own.
