2021 Genesis GV80 Price Will Make You Say, ‘BMW and Mercedes Who?’
The 2021 GV80, Genesis’ first (and much-needed) SUV, was always expected to be priced lower than its German luxury rivals, as the Korean automaker’s excellent sedans have all been bargains compared to their competition. With a just-announced starting price of $49,925 (including a $1,025 destination fee), the GV80 will not only cost less than $50,000 to start but also thousands of dollars less than a base model of either the Mercedes-Benz GLE350 or BMW X5.
Related: 2021 Genesis GV80 Video: Not Just Some Spiffed-Up Hyundai Palisade
The entry-level GV80 is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which drives the rear wheels. Four-cylinder GV80 models are available in three trim levels: Standard, Advanced and Prestige, and can have either rear- or all-wheel drive. Upgrading to the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 adds standard all-wheel drive and a choice of four trim levels: Standard, Advanced, Advanced Plus and Prestige.
The pricing breaks down as follows (all prices include the $1,025 destination fee):
- GV80 2.5T RWD Standard: $49,925
- GV80 2.5T RWD Advanced: $53,825
- GV80 2.5T RWD Prestige: $58,075
- GV80 2.5T AWD Standard: $55,675
- GV80 2.5T AWD Advanced: $60,025
- GV80 2.5T AWD Prestige: $64,425
- GV80 3.5T AWD Standard: $60,175
- GV80 3.5T AWD Advanced: $65,375
- GV80 3.5T AWD Advanced Plus: $66,075
- GV80 3.5T AWD Prestige: $71,975
For comparison, a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 starts at more than $54,000 before destination fees, and the 2020 BMW X5 starts at nearly $59,000 before destination fees. Even the 2020 Lincoln Aviator is priced above $51,000 to start.
Standard features include advanced safety technology like adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keep assist and lane-centering steering, driver attention monitor, front and rear parking sensors, blind spot collision avoidance assist and rear collision avoidance assist. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard, and both will appear on the standard 14.5-inch horizontal multimedia display.
Adding AWD to the four-cylinder Standard model adds other standard features like a digital key, heated steering wheel and wireless device charging. Those features also are standard on RWD Advanced and Prestige models, the latter of which also adds things like a smart parking assist feature, leather seating, a 360-degree camera and blind spot monitor. An AWD Prestige model with the four-cylinder is the lowest trim level available with Genesis’ electronically controlled suspension that uses a camera and sensors to automatically adjust the suspension stiffness to anticipated road surface conditions.
Twin-turbo V-6 models come standard with all-wheel drive and the electronically controlled suspension, as well as larger front brakes and 20-inch wheels (RWD models have 19-inch wheels as standard with 20-inchers added to Advanced and Prestige models). Leather seating is added to the V-6 Advanced model, as are things like a head-up display, surround view camera and blind spot monitor. Moving up to the Advanced Plus trim adds a power-folding third row of seats, giving the GV80 room for seven (though the GV80 we’ve seen thus far hardly had room for children in the third row). The range-topping V-6 Prestige AWD model adds luxury features like Nappa leather upholstery, 22-inch wheels, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and Genesis’ active road noise cancellation system.
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Depending on how it drives — and we have no idea about that, yet — the GV80 could be one hell of a bargain for those who can get over any badge-related snobbery and opt for an SUV from this Hyundai-owned luxury brand.
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