When I first slipped behind the wheel of the 2025 Genesis GV80 3.5T e-SC AWD Coupe, I couldn’t help but mutter something I never thought I’d say: “Hyundai has done it again.” Yes, Genesis is technically Hyundai’s premium brand—think Lexus is to Toyota, Acura is to Honda, Infiniti is to Nissan. On the domestic side, it’s Cadillac to Chevrolet, Lincoln to Ford. Except in this case, Genesis seems to have skipped a few steps and gone straight to rattling the champagne glasses in Germany’s boardrooms.
And I have to give Hyundai/Genesis a massive shout-out because this GV80 Coupe isn’t just a try-hard copy of the big boys. It’s the real deal. It oozes luxury appointments, looks over the top in a good way, and has an interior that makes you feel like you accidentally drove into the French Riviera instead of your local Costco. Better yet, it drives every bit as nice—or dare I say nicer—than the competition. Subjective? Sure. But when you’re piloting a $100K luxury SUV (sorry—Coupe), the differences become less about horsepower and more about the intangible stuff: refinement, ride quality, how smug you feel at a stoplight. On that scale, the GV80 Coupe nails it.
Oh, and did I say SUV? My bad. This isn’t the GV80 SUV; this is the GV80 Coupe. And trust me, Genesis really wants you to know that. More on the whole “Coupe” thing later.
Price Tag Shock Therapy
The GV80 Coupe comes in one trim only: the 3.5T e-SC AWD. The price? $104,500 before freight, PDI, air tax, dealer fees, and your therapist’s bill after you realize you’ve crossed into federal luxury tax territory. That’s a boatload of dough no matter how you slice it, and the Canadian government will happily tack on its slice with the luxury tax. Consider it the country’s way of patting you on the back and saying, “Congrats on making it—now pay up.”
So why would you fork over more than six figures for this instead of one of the usual suspects from Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz? Glad you asked.
OLED Overload
The single biggest “wow” feature is the 27-inch OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display that stretches across the dash like a Vegas billboard. Forget your friend’s puny 12-inch screen in their German SUV—this thing is two feet of integrated brilliance. The left side is your digital gauge cluster, complete with the usual suspects—speedometer, tach, fuel range, plus optional navigation right where you want it. The centre and right sections handle infotainment, climate control, media, and connected car apps.
The best part? It’s one continuous screen, not a Frankenstein mash-up of two or three displays hiding under a single pane of glass. Genesis clearly wanted a clean, modern aesthetic, and they nailed it.
Now, confession time: like most men over 35, 45, and 55, I don’t read manuals. After poking at the screen like a toddler with an iPad, I finally resorted to YouTube to figure out all the tricks. And yes, there are a lot of tricks. But once you’re set up, the OLED feels like a defining feature—one that will make rival buyers jealous and probably push a few over the edge to choose Genesis.
Why “Coupe”?
This is where things get fun. The GV80 Coupe costs roughly $10,000 more than the top-trim GV80 SUV. What do you get for your ten grand? A slightly sportier vibe, a sloping rear roofline, and the privilege of paying more luxury tax. That’s it. But let’s not pick on Genesis, because Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have been running this “Coupe SUV” playbook for years.
The trend started with the BMW X6, which basically invented the idea that slapping a coupe-like roofline on an SUV makes it sexier—and more expensive. Mercedes-Benz followed with the GLE Coupe, and Audi jumped in with the Q8. Now, these sloped-roof SUVs are everywhere, and buyers seem happy to pony up extra cash for the sportier silhouette.
Genesis clearly wanted a seat at that table, and honestly, they earned it. Park the GV80 Coupe next to an X6 or GLE Coupe, and it absolutely belongs in the conversation. In fact, I’d argue it makes a stronger design statement, especially in person. The proportions are aggressive, the lines are sleek, and it pulls off the whole “sporty SUV” thing without looking forced.
And by the way, has anyone thought about what this means for actual coupes? You know, the two-door cars that the word originally described? BMW, Audi, and Mercedes still sell them, but their SUV “coupes” outsell the two-door models by a landslide. Maybe it’s time the Germans rebrand their true coupes as “hardtops,” like Chevy used to call the Corvette coupe that wasn’t a convertible. Hey, I’m just trying to help the marketing departments.
Drive Time
Looks and tech are only half the story, though. Behind the wheel, the GV80 Coupe impresses even more. The 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 with electric supercharger cranks out smooth, effortless power. Acceleration is brisk without being brash—this isn’t a sports car, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s about confidence and refinement.
At city speeds, the suspension soaks up bumps like you’re gliding on memory foam. On the highway, the GV80 Coupe feels planted and serene, even at speeds that would make your insurance broker sweat. Push it on a twisty road, and it holds its line with surprising poise for something this size. Robust handling? Absolutely. Sports-car sharp? No. But that’s not the point. The GV80 Coupe delivers the exact balance luxury buyers want; smooth comfort with just enough athleticism to justify the “Coupe” badge.
And for those of us who grew up blasting 80s alternative, it’s the kind of vehicle where you can crank The Cure or Depeche Mode, hit cruise control, and feel like you’ve officially “made it.”
When all is said and done……
The 2025 Genesis GV80 3.5T e-SC AWD Coupe is Genesis’s statement piece. At $104,500, it’s not cheap, and yes, the federal luxury tax stings. But what you get in return is a vehicle that competes head-on with the Germans—and in some ways outshines them. The OLED dash is a game-changer, the styling is bold, and the driving experience is everything a six-figure luxury SUV should be.
If you’re shopping BMW X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, or Audi Q8, do yourself a favour and test-drive the GV80 Coupe. You might just find yourself asking why you’d pay more for a badge when Genesis is serving up this much luxury, style, and performance.
And hey, at the very least, you’ll get bragging rights that your “Hyundai” just smoked a German at its own game.
James Matthews is the President, General Manager and Co-Founder of LeaseBusters. James launched LeaseBusters in 1990 and is considered one of Canada’s leading experts on new vehicle leases, lease-take-overs and vehicle lease (re)marketing. James can be reached directly at jmatthews at leasebusters.com
