South Korean carmakers have made Neil Armstong-esque strides in recent years, with both Hyundai and Kia now turning out offerings that are, in many cases, better than their Japanese rivals. Then there’s Genesis, a premium offshoot of Hyundai that has been quietly percolating in the background, gradually honing its game to the extent that its latest products are no longer merely cheap alternatives to models from Lexus and Infiniti. The newly launched GV80 is arguably the most ambitious Genesis vehicle to date. It’s the first SUV from the brand, and its Dh299,000 ($81,415) starting price tag puts it up against not only the Japanese upmarket brands, but also Euro heavyweights such as the Range Rover Velar, Audi Q7, Mercedes GLE and Maserati Levante. Not a small task, in other words. The ingredients are promising, as the GV80’s visually arresting bodywork has hints of the Bentley Bentayga in it, although most will agree it’s a far better-looking wagon than the posh Brit. There’s little chance of the Genesis being mistaken for anything else, thanks in no small part to that massive crest-shaped grille, which is flanked by distinctive two-tier headlights. The profile has a sporty taper to it, while the sharp-edged derriere is also well resolved. Chances are, your neighbour will be impressed when he or she ambles over for a closer look. Downsides? Sadly, anything that’s coated in shiny chrome is, in fact, plastic – and that includes the ginormous grille that’s such a key element in the GV80’s design. However, few are likely to realise this unless they tap it with their fingernail and hear an unimpressive “clack”, rather than a nice metallic “ping”. The cabin appears to have an upmarket ambience, but here, too, the thrifty Genesis bean-counters have ensured that anything that looks like wood or metal … isn’t. The plastic bonanza detracts from the car’s upmarket aspirations and is a tad disappointing in a vehicle that will set you back nearly Dh300,000. That said, the Nappa leather seats are cosseting, whether you’re in the front or back, and there’s acres of sprawling room everywhere. We sampled the range-topping 4WD Royal, which comes with goodies such as bling-tastic 22-inch wheels, a large digitised instrument cluster, 14.5-inch central touchscreen, power-operated tailgate and more safety kit and driver aids than you can poke a stick at. The GV80 doesn’t disappoint once underway, as that 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 serves up ample grunt, although it begins to sound coarse if you mash the throttle and get the revs soaring. However, it’s suitably muted at steady cruising speeds, and there’s not much to fault with the eight-speed auto, which goes about its work smoothly and unobtrusively. Apart from its supple ride, the GV80 feels decently taut and nimble, in spite of its lofty stature (1,715 millimetres) and hefty girth (2,240 kilograms). You can tip it into corners with a decent level of vigour without the big SUV degenerating into a soggy understeering mess. Although the V6 is the only powertrain offered locally in the UAE for now, a less expensive 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo variant – with healthy outputs of 300 horsepower and 421Nm – will be added to the GV80 range in due course. _________________ _________________ There’s a decent level of refinement in the way the GV80 rides and handles. Genesis has incorporated its own version of Mercedes-Benz’s Magic Body Control in the newbie, and this tech uses a front-facing camera to scan the road and pre-emptively adjust the suspension to soak up whatever imperfections lie ahead – be it a pothole or a speed bump. Overall, there’s much to like about the way the GV80 has been packaged and how it drives. The Genesis designers and engineers have got so much right with this car that it’s a pity they don’t go the extra half-mile and incorporate genuine materials throughout the vehicle. Every car incorporates plastic to some degree, but, in an offering with overtly premium aspirations, it’s almost a given that the obvious touch-and-see elements that are presented as wood and metal should be nothing else. As it stands, the GV80 is further evidence of Genesis’s unrelenting pursuit of excellence.
