Words by: Adam Allen
This is the fourth installment of the Carpages series wherein we procure a vehicle and promptly subject it to the rigors of Visitor’s Day at the kiddo’s sleepover camp in Northern Ontario. For those that are unfamiliar with this emotionally charged yet fun day, it is the one time during the summer camp session where parents are invited onto the grounds to tour the camp, see (ostensibly) how their kids are progressing and to meet their councilors and other staff members. The kids see it differently; they reduce their parents to mere junk food mules, often writing home weeks in advance not to correspond but to get their orders in. Our Visitor’s Day exploits in the past have been powered by everything from a Lincoln Corsair (kinda meh) to a Mercedes Benz GT63 (definitely not meh.) This year, we happily accepted the keys to the Genesis GV80 Coupe, a stylish and plush SUV that would fit right in against a backdrop of luxury SUVs commonly found in the makeshift parking lot on the baseball field.
While the AMG Benz was a memorable steed a few years back, it wasn’t perfect for the job at hand. For one thing, it wasn’t exactly what you’d call practical despite a surprisingly commodious rear cargo bay. It didn’t really have the ability to relax on its bingo card, feeling frenetic and wanting to slay apexes when we just wanted to chill and while away the kilometers en route to the site. Its huge rolling stock and scant ground clearance meant it was not thrilled with the short journey up the unpaved and very rustic camp driveway. So yeah, it was fun, but maybe not the ideal tool for the job. We had high hopes for the Genny GV80, which looked especially compelling in what we dubbed Stormtrooper spec thanks to its pearl white paint and blacked out badges and accents.
The journey to the campsite was uneventful, which is exactly the kind of scenario you want as your mind races about the day ahead. Will they be homesick? Did we bring enough junk food? Did we remember to pack the sunscreen AND the bug spray? Pressing matters indeed, but the Genesis allowed us to be neurotic parents without any interruptions. The air conditioning did a commendable job keeping the summer’s sweltering temps at bay, as did the decadent cooling feature of the supple leather thrones.
The Genesis also managed to be incredibly intuitive to interface with. It took a while to figure out how to reset the trip computer, but other than that, all the tech worked harmoniously and with essentially no learning curve. The screen acreage is just enough, and the switchgear is thoughtfully laid out and a pleasure to use. The GV80 encapsulates what a luxury automobile ought to be- a nice place to spend time without calling attention to itself in any way so occupants can sit back and relax. We also need to bear witness to the incredible sound system on board courtesy of Bang and Olufsen. It reproduced our playlists in astonishing clarity and helped take our minds off leaving the youngsters behind when the day wrapped up and Mom and Dad needed to head home.
With the day over and happy memories playing out in our heads, it allowed for a closer look at some of the GV80’s dynamic resume. The ride quality was athletic but plush, a pleasant surprise given the 22” rolling stock. The brake pedal has excellent bite at the top of its travel and makes modulating to a smooth stop a piece of cake. The steering has excellent on center feel and precision, and the 3.5 litre turbo V6 provides the kind of unflappable power needed to execute overtaking maneuvers on rural two lane stretches of tarmac populated by dawdling motorists.
Other than a slight reluctance to dance the two-step on some interesting roads, there is very little about the Genesis experience that will fluster its passengers. The ‘coupe’ styling which is so en vouge these days looks nice but is not as practical or commodious as the non-coupe model. Some of the driver assistance technologies can feel a bit half baked and overbearing- we’re looking at you, Driver Attention Warning- but these are but small blips on the radar and really aren’t significant at all in the grand scheme of things.
Then the subject switches to the matter of the price of admission, and here the Genesis remains compelling as well. From a dollars and cents standpoint, the GV80 dunks hard on the BMW X5, Audi Q5 and positively annihilates the Mercedes Benz GLE. That it is furnished just as nicely and drives with the same amount of steady poise is a bonus. The GV80 as we know it is likely in the twilight stages of its very successful first generation. We can’t wait to see what Genesis has in store for the next one. What will it look like? Will there be a high-performance variant from its nascent Magma brand? No matter what the plan is, we have a feeling that the next decade of Genesis will bring the brand even more into the collective consciousness of an ever-increasing swath of shoppers seeking luxury at a competitive price.
Look, we love us some sports cars and steroidal powered vehicles as evidenced by our choice of vehicle for last year’s trip to see the kiddos. While that Benz was a memorable steed, it felt like too much of a one trick pony because of its high-strung nature- basically the only time its esteemed performance credentials would ever put it at a disadvantage. But for this year, the order of the day called for something comfortable and commodious. Genesis checks both of those boxes emphatically, fulfilling its role adroitly. It truly is, and factoring in all fronts, a luxury SUV that skillfully delivers the goods- even on a hectic and emotional Visitors Day.
2026 Genesis GV80 Coupe Prestige Black - Specifications
- Price as tested: $108,000
- Body Type: 4-door, 5 passenger SUV
- Powertrain Layout: Front engine/all-wheel drive
- Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6, DOHC, 24 valves
- Horsepower: 409 @ 5,800 rpm
- Torque (lb-ft.): 405 @ 1,300 rpm
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- Curb weight: 2,401 kg (5,294 lbs)
- Observed Fuel consumption: 10L/100km (24 mpg)