Forget the BMW X5: this SUV does everything better for less

The BMW X5 has been the benchmark for mid-size luxury SUVs for decades. While it’s not as quick and agile as some of the smaller Bimmers, it’s still an attractive package with great handling, BMW nameplate appeal and packed with driver-focused technology. But in recent years a serious rival has emerged from the East: the Genesis GV80.

Genesis is the luxury brand of the Hyundai Motor Corporation, a young brand that was only launched in 2015 and introduced in the US in 2016. But since then, Genesis has been making waves in the luxury segment. It did this by not competing directly with the dominant Europeans, but by defining luxury in its own terms, offering more value, comfort and technology, but less pretentiousness. With the GV80, and especially the 2025 and ’26 models, this approach has resulted in an SUV that not only beats the X5 on price, but also competes favorably in everyday practicality, ownership value and emotional appeal. The Genesis GV80 delivers more for less.

Standard features and technology: GV80 gives more for less

A striking feature of the 2026 GV80 is how loaded the standard features are, and everything that’s included before even looking at the optional extras. The interior is a good place to be and perfectly reflects the perceived value of this car. The interior is luxurious and well designed, with the large, flowing screen on the dashboard defining this car’s driver-focused layout as well as providing the interface for the extensive suite of available technologies.

Standard technology

At the heart of the GV80’s technology is its large 27-inch OLED display, which encompasses both the instrument cluster and the infotainment screen. This high-definition screen can be accessed via both touch and a center-mounted control knob. As expected from a car like this, wireless smartphone charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The sound is provided through a 12-speaker system, with the option of an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen system.

There’s a standard feature called the mood curator, which sounds both over-the-top and fun. This is used to create your ideal atmosphere in the car with adjustable music, lighting, scent and optional massage settings. Fingerprint authentication can access everything from starting the car to activating your personal profile. Connected Genesis services are available for new cars, including a digital key, enhanced roadside assistance, stolen vehicle recovery and in-car services that can pay for fuel or reserve parking at select locations.

Driver assistance well done

Driver assistance and safety technology programs are available in most luxury vehicles, including the BMW X5 and the Genesis GV80, so a point-by-point comparison would be a waste of space. Suffice to say, the GV80 features the proven Hyundai/Kia package of such features, including forward collision avoidance, lane keeping and following, blind spot collision warning, plus an optional camera that projects the blind spot onto the instrument display, rear cross-traffic assist, parking distance warning and rearview camera, and more.

Practical benefits from the real world

The BMW But for most drivers, an SUV with enough power to pass on the highway or climb a steep mountain pass is more than enough.

The Genesis GV80 has two engine options: a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 300 horsepower, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 that produces 375 horsepower. Both options use the excellent eight-speed automatic transmission common to Hyundai and Kia models. Even for a car with the luxurious dimensions of the GV80, these two powertrains are more than sufficient.

By electrically driving the supercharger, turbo lag is reduced, which improves the responsiveness of the powertrain. It works, too, as the big Genesis can sprint from zero to sixty in just over five seconds, which is pretty quick for a car its size.

-Lyndon Conrad Bell, TopSpeed ​​journalist

Comfort, space and functionality

Both the BMW X5 and Genesis GV80 come with five seats as standard, accommodating five adults in luxurious comfort. The GV80 has the option to add two smaller seats behind the rear row, turning the car into a seven-seater for families with children. The Genesis GV80 is slightly more spacious than the X5, with 109 cubic feet of passenger volume versus 106 for the Bimmer. Both cars have 72 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, but the GV80 has 37 compared to the X5’s 34 behind the rear seats.

Ride quality versus sportiness

The ride quality of a car is subjective, and the BMW does offer a sporty ride, albeit a bit difficult for some. The GV80 is generally considered a more relaxed drive, but it does feature drive mode settings including a performance-based Sport, frugal Eco and relaxed Comfort. Drivers can also select terrain settings, including mud, sand or snow.

Property value depends on several factors

The starting prices of both the Genesis GV80 and the BMW X5 are well above the average new car price of $50,000, because both are luxury vehicles and buyers are willing to pay a premium price. But even if you consider the Genesis GV80 to be identical to the X5, the purchase price would factor into value for money.

Starting and maximum price

The Genesis GV80 has seven trim levels, ranging from the 2.5T RWD at $57,700 to the 3.5T AWD Prestige Black at $83,250. The BMW X5 has five trims, ranging from the X5 sDrive 40i at $68,400 to the X5 M60i at $93,600. There’s also the X5 M Competition for $131,000, but that’s well beyond this range.

Guarantees can affect potential long-term prospects

Expensive cars like these can be pricey to repair if something goes wrong, which is why warranties are important. This is built-in peace of mind that adds to the overall property value. The BMW X5 has a decent set of guarantees:

• Limited warranty: four years/50,000 miles

• Powertrain warranty: four years/50,000 miles

• Free scheduled maintenance three years/36,000 miles

The Genesis GV80, as part of the Hyundai/Kia universe, offers a better range of warranties:

• Limited warranty: five years/60,000 miles

• Powertrain warranty: 10 years/160,000 km

• Free maintenance three years/36,000 miles

Appearance and brand identity

Appearance and style are subjective concepts, and that’s a good thing in life and in cars. Both cars reviewed here are great-looking SUVs, but the X5’s shape has evolved incrementally over the years and looks predictable, a bit like last year or a decade ago. The Genesis, on the other hand, has a bold and distinctive look and style, presented in a pleasantly understated manner. While the X5’s massive beavertooth grille has recently been a divisive issue, the GV80 has a more organic-looking grille that flows naturally into the dual LED headlights. This creates a natural curve along the side and roofline of the car, punctuated by twin taillights that mirror the shape of the headlights.

Standing out in a sea of ​​clones

Mid-size luxury SUVs usually look the same, and you often have to see the grille to know if it’s an Audi or a BMW. The Genesis looks and feels different, and while it shares the same basic dimensions as other luxury midsize SUVs, it exudes a stylish elegance and understated poise that’s often missing from the competition.

Sources: Genesis, BMW, KBB