Sporty but elegant [First Drive]

I have to admit, I’ve never been a fan of the “coo-pay” SUV trend. A coupe has two doors, and an SUV typically does not. As an editor, I’m irked by the blatant disregard of the definition of the word. Plus, by design, these coupe SUVs look like eggs, and are typically not my cup of tea. However, the 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe might just be the vehicle that changes my mind. Maybe.

There’s a lot of good stuff on this sporty SUV, and the GV80 Coupe is chipping away at my grammatical irritations. Let’s start with the design. 

The anti-egg SUV coupe

The designers at Genesis did a great job of making the 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe look sporty. The raked rear roofline does give a coupe-like appearance, and the addition of the rear spoiler evokes images of fast driving down curvy roads. The overall roof line doesn’t bubble up too high, so the profile looks more sleek than egg-like. 

Though the front two-thirds of the vehicle, strongly resemble its SUV sibling with the elegant lines and bold grille. But there are some subtle differences – like the grille design itself. The SUV implements a double-chrome-lined pattern on the weave while the Coupe uses a single line of chrome punctuated by black 3D accents that pop up underneath. The front bumper also has a larger air curtain and more aggressive stance for a sporty look and enhanced performance.

The back, as you’d expect is quite different with its squat rear window, unique fascia and quad-tip exhaust designed into the rear bumper.

Something else that adds to the sport of the GV80 Coupe are the larger standard 20-inch wheels and available 22s. 

2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe driving impressions

Similar to the GV80 SUV, the 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe has a base powertrain of the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 that delivers 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. The Coupe, however, steps up its game with a 48-volt e-supercharger in the upper trim, and this powertrain delivers 409 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque.

It is dee-lightful. Full stop.

This powertrain is essentially effortless. Our drive took us on highways and country roads through Minnesota and Wisconsin, and whether we were driving 70 MPH or 35 MPH, the GV80 Coupe felt powerful and comfortable. 

While I would stop short of calling this two-row SUV nimble, it certainly felt sporty, and I would have no problems weaving in and out of traffic or backing into my tight city garage. 

The tech stuff

As a vehicle that starts at $81,300, including destination, it essentially comes standard with all the tech things. This includes heated-and-ventilated front and rear seats, wireless Apple CarPlay, a Bang and Olufsen sound system, head-up display, Digital Key 2, 360-degree camera, blind-view monitor, rear camera mirror, electronically controlled suspension, three-zone climate control and automatic rear braking. That is a lot of tech stuff.

What’s really cool is Genesis is one of the only automakers that includes remote connected features as standard sans subscription fees. That means you can use remote start from your phone, lock and unlock doors and use your phone as the key (Digital Key 2) without a monthly fee. The caveat: This is only true for first owners. Those buying pre-owned will have to subscribe, and Genesis hasn’t named the fee for that service yet.

The only other real tech goodie you get if you upgrade to the top-tier $87,100 model (in addition to that e-supercharger) is the Sport+ drive mode.

The good stuff

There are a lot of things to like about the 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe – and the overall attention to detail is a big part of that. From the textures to the patterns to the stitching, everything in this new SUV is top-notch and ultra-lux. I found myself frequently running my hands over the soft sueded headliner or squishing the firm but cushy seats with my fingers. Seriously, if you covered up the badge on the wheel, you’d be hard pressed to guess this was anything other than a top-trimmed Mercedes-Benz.

The test vehicle had the new Ultramarine Blue with orange accents – including the seatbelts – and I loved it. The color combo is attractive, and paired with the carbon fiber trim you see in the top-tier model, it gets a chef’s kiss.

I also really liked the 27-inch OLED display that has a continuous screen from the gauge cluster to the infotainment system. I love how the map flows into the cluster and the graphics are classic and will age well. 

Other things to love: the colorful ambient lighting, marriage-saving tri-zone climate controls, heated-and-ventilated seats in all outboard positions, heated (!) front armrests, excellent cup holder placement and the general seat comfort.

The bad stuff

The 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe is an amazingly competent and comfortable vehicle, and I have to admit, I was kind of reaching to find the bad stuff. And, what’s bad for me as a petite driver may be just fine for you. But, here it goes.

I thought the seat bottom was just a tad too long. I find this annoying because there is a power adjustment for the seat that makes the bottom cushion longer or shorter, and I just wanted the seat bottom to contract an extra inch for my petite form. I had a 6-foot, 9-inch colleague who commented that the seat bottom wasn’t quite long enough for him. I’m not sure what the logistics are of adding and subtracting a little from either end, but doing so would accommodate a wider range of drivers.

I often rail against auto stop/start in vehicles. Though it’s getting better in some vehicles, other still have work to do. The GV80 Coupe falls into the latter category. For as smooth as this powertrain is, the stop/start was noticeable and clunky. I’d be hitting the “off” button every time I got in the vehicle.

I’m also not convinced that the Smart Posture Care works well. This is a feature that has you enter in your height, weight and inseam, and then the vehicle will adjust the driver’s seat to how it thinks you should be sitting in the vehicle. When I entered in my deets, it lowered me and scooted me back so that I couldn’t get a firm grip on the wheel, see over the dash or touch the gas pedal comfortably. 

Finally, and I’m definitely reaching here, the rear seat isn’t going to be suitable for tall passengers because of the steep rake of the roof. Also, because of that roofline, you lose 3 cubic feet of cargo volume. Now, Genesis says the likely customer for this vehicle will be either DINKS (dual income, no kids) or empty nesters, so these two things may not matter to the people who are genuinely looking at this vehicle. But, I’d say if you are looking at this vehicle, do intend to have tall passengers occasionally and want to haul bulky items, pay particular attention to these two areas of the vehicle.

The bottom line

OK, I’ll admit it, I’ve been won over by the 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe. It’s a special vehicle, and certainly one I could own. The lux-level amenities are on par with top German luxury brands; the driving dynamics are superb; the powertrain is exceptional; the tech is cool; and yes, I even like the exterior design. 

But, I still kinda wish they hadn’t called it a coupe. 

2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe photo gallery

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