DecodedCars2021 Genesis GV80
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2021 models.
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Body styles
- 4dr SUV AWD, 4dr SUV RWD
- Engines
- 2.5L 4-cyl turbo, 3.5L 6-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 23 combined · 21 city / 25 hwy
- Length
- 194.9 in
- Curb weight
- 4,707–5,104 lb
- NHTSA rating
- ★★★★★
- Recalls
- 5 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.
Watch out for
- Below-average fuel economyBest version gets 23 MPG combined, 13% below the 2021 small SUV average of 26.4 MPG.
- Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 29 similar 2021 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2021 Genesis GV80 is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (2.5L 4-cyl turbo and 3.5L 6-cyl turbo) and rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 195 inches long and 78 inches wide on a 117-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 5,104 lb (4dr SUV AWD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 23 MPG combined (21 city / 25 highway), 13% worse than the 2021 small SUV average of 26.4 MPG, for an estimated $3,550 a year in fuel.
In NHTSA crash testing it earned the top 5-star overall rating.
It has 5 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the electrical system.
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr SUV AWD | 194.9 in | 77.6 in | 67.3 in | 116.5 in | 65.7 / 66.5 in | 5,104 lb | 51/49 |
| 4dr SUV RWD | 194.9 in | 77.6 in | 67.3 in | 116.5 in | 65.7 / 66.5 in | 4,707 lb | 49/51 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GV80 RWD | 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 / 25 / 23 | -13% | $3,550 | 394 |
| GV80 AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 25 / 22 | +17% | $3,750 | 401 |
| GV80 AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 23 / 20 | +6% | $4,100 | 448 |
5/10EPA fuel economy score (best version)
5/10EPA greenhouse gas score
Spend $5,750Fuel over 5 years vs. average new car
26.4 MPG2021 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD average
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2021 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Driver / passenger | Side | Side pole | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Genesis GV80 SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 4★ / 4★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 15.5% |
| 2021 Genesis GV80 SUV RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 4★ / 4★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 16.9% |
StandardElectronic stability control
StandardForward collision warning
StandardLane departure warning
Similar 2021 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Genesis GV80 (this car) | 23 MPG | ★★★★★ | 5 |
| 2021 Tesla Model Y | 326 mi | Not rated | 23 |
| 2021 Porsche Cayenne | 21 MPG | Not rated | 7 |
| 2021 BMW X5 | 23 MPG | ★★★★★ | 12 |
| 2021 Land Rover Defender | 19 MPG | Not rated | 9 |
| 2021 BMW X3 | 27 MPG | ★★★★★ | 10 |
| 2021 Lexus RX | 30 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
Recalls (5)
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings · Apr 10, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V229000 · 94,760 vehicles
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Genesis) is recalling certain Genesis 2022-2026 GV70, 2023-2025 G90, 2021-2025 G80, and GV80 vehicles. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail.
- Risk
- A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning July 20, 2026. Owners may contact Genesis customer service at 844-340-9741. Genesis' number for this recall is 033G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 11, 2026.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump · Sep 11, 2023
NHTSA campaign 23V630000 · 19,272 vehicles
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Genesis G80, GV80, and 2022 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The fuel pump may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
- Risk
- A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 016G.
Seat Belts › Front · Feb 16, 2023
NHTSA campaign 23V094000 · 65,517 vehicles
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Genesis GV80, 2021-2023 Genesis G80, 2022-2023 Genesis GV70, and 2023 Genesis GV60 vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
- Risk
- An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioners with a cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 14, 2023. For GV60 owners, Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 14, 2023. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 012G. This recall supersedes and expands recall number 21V-796. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 21V-796 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Seat Belts › Pretensioner · Oct 13, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V796000 · 978 vehicles
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Elantra, Elantra HEV, Venue, Genesis GV80 and 2022 Genesis GV70 vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment.
- Risk
- An exploding seat belt pretensioner could project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 211 and 009G. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall numbers 22V-354 for Elantra and Elantra HEV vehicles, 22V-458 for Venue vehicles, and 23V-094 for Genesis vehicles. Elantra, Elantra HEV, Venue, and Genesis vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedies completed.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings · Mar 24, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V208000 · 147 vehicles
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Genesis G80 and GV80 vehicles equipped with 2.5-litre turbo engines. The fuel tube connecting the high pressure fuel pump to the fuel rail may not seal properly, which could allow fuel to leak.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Fix
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel tube, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 008G.
Not every 2021 Genesis GV80 is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
61Complaints to NHTSA since 2015
5Involved a crash
1Involved a fire
3Injuries reported
17,500 miTypical mileage at failure
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2021 Genesis GV80 buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 5 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Electrical System — 13 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
- Exterior Lighting — 13 owner reports. Check all exterior lights, wipers and the windshield for cracks.
- Fuel/Propulsion System — 11 owner reports. Smell for fuel around the car and in the cabin, check that it starts easily when warm, and look at the oil dipstick for a fuel smell or rising level.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 17,500 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2021 Genesis GV80. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other GV80 years
Compare all years →Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Genesis. How we calculate this →