Hyundai is serious about its luxury brand. The flagship, the Genesis GV80, has to prove its superior category status as a towing vehicle. We tested it
Genesis does quite well in the US: In 2021, the brand sold almost 50,000 cars there and was able to triple its market share. There is still a long way to go in Europe but, little by little, it is making its space.
Apart from the three electric cars that are expected shortly, the SUVs in particular should change something about it, like the Genesis GV80. It fits into the category of the BMW X5, Mercedes GLE, Audi Q7 or Volvo XC90, and stands up to them with good arguments.
Engine and behavior
It has a specially developed inline-six diesel engine with a displacement of three liters under the hood, which not only sounds strikingly similar to BMW’s inline-six in the X5 30d, but is also mated to an eight-speed automatic converter. and a semi-permanent four-wheel drive based on rear-wheel drive.
The performance rating, coupled to a 2.0-ton test trailer, is between the Ram 5.7 Hemi and the Audi Q8 50 TDI. It starts with the corresponding power on steep slopes. The automatic transmission always shifts sensibly, without forcing the diesel into unnecessarily high revs.
However, on the highway at a towed speed of 85 km/h, it rarely gives you eighth gear, and the engine rumbles at a leisurely 1,250 rpm. Measured consumption is reasonable, though not anything to write home about: 15.14 litres/100 km in the grueling first mountainous part, 13.74 litres/100 km in the second with lots of constant driving.
In general, the behavior admits little reproach: the sway caused by the added load disappears immediately, because the ESP is always awake. However, on rough roads, one is surprised at how much the trailer moves in the heavy GV80. It feels similar to the current Audi A6 allroad: the trailer hitch attachment vibrates at a minimum.
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The fact that a large SUV is predestined to tow a trailer appears to have been incorporated relatively late in the development process. In this class of vehicle, one expects a well-integrated folding trailer hitch. The Genesis, on the other hand, only has a detachable one; and its socket is hidden under the car and very difficult to access.
Factors to decide the purchase
If you can get by with a somewhat quirky-behaving 6,000-pound trailer load (it’s all a matter of getting used to), you’ll get a pleasantly efficient and comfortable ‘tractor’ with the Genesis. He still needs to refine some details.
conclusion
The best
Comfort, finishes, technology
Worst
With a trailer it goes well, but you have to get used to their reactions
