The 2025 Genesis GV80 Is a Nice Luxurious Machine That Your Canine Will Love

The 2025 Genesis GV80 3.5T Status AWD succeeds at two essential luxurious automotive directives: it’s supremely comfy and it makes you’re feeling like a baller. I really didn’t like its vibe at first, however per week behind the wheel turned out to be very pleasant. It additionally earned an accolade you may not anticipate: It’s an distinctive canine car.

Genesis’ designers have carried out a pleasant job making a signature look over the previous couple of years. The parallel-line lights, proud grille, and swoopy facet sculpting we’ve come to understand on its sedans ports properly to an SUV physique right here. You gained’t be inclined to make use of this factor off-road, however the GV80 does provide good utility when it comes to cargo carrying. Prime trims may even tow 6,000 kilos, which is sufficient for a lot of small boats or observe automobiles on an aluminum trailer. Inside, you’ll be capable of match a few seated pups simply, or perhaps a decent-sized kennel. However we’ll get to that quickly.

We’ve been evaluating cars for dog-friendliness for nearly two years now. You possibly can carry a canine in nearly something, however I’ve discovered {that a} easy trip, low stance, and excessive ceilings are the largest elements in figuring out the easiest choices for animal consolation. With that context, you gained’t be stunned to learn that the GV80 scores very effectively.

Take a look at Canines

Right now we now have Aus Shep/Golden siblings Bramble and Silas, about 65 and 45 kilos respectively, and Mazie. Mazie’s a normal poodle, and far taller than Bramble however about the identical weight. All three are fairly agile and wiggly however prepared car-riders.

Climbing In and Out

Ingress and egress are tremendous simple with this car. The GV80’s roofline is excessive and its door sills are fairly low. The rear door swings fairly vast, although not exceptionally so. Nonetheless, the car is sort of simple to get out and in of for an animal. An individual with mobility hassle would additionally discover the again seat fairly welcoming for a similar cause. The cargo bay sill isn’t all that top, both. It could be more durable for an older, heavier, or super-small canine to hop up into the again on their very own, however medium-sizers will make the leap no drawback.

The seats are nonetheless a bit of increased from the bottom than they’d be in a sedan, however they’re far more accessible than a big SUV like my old Mitsubishi Montero or a Lexus GX. Prime marks right here.

Purposeful Dimensions

These dimensions are measured by hand representing a sensible determine, not an absolute max or minimal.

• Floor to rear footwell: 20″
• Floor to rear seat: 30″
• Floor to cargo space: 32″
• Seat backside to window sill: 20″

Inside Supplies and Format

The essential structure is your normal two entrance seats divided by a middle console, then a bench, then a giant open cargo space behind that. It’s also possible to spec the GV80 with three rows, however ours was strictly a five-seater.

Many of the GV80’s delicate bits are nice. The seats and steering wheel wrap are good and supple. The floormats are significantly plush. I’m unsure I’ve ever referred to as out an OEM floormat earlier than, however the ones on this automotive are nicer than the rugs in lots of properties. The button controls are simply OK; I don’t love the microwave-style “black airplane with no haptic suggestions” factor. The controls you solely contact often, just like the paddle shifters and principal shift dial, are a bit of mild and cheap-feeling for an $80,000 car, however I wouldn’t name these dealbreakers. Issues like cupholders and storage pocket covers have a particularly mild and dainty really feel to them, however I wouldn’t fairly go as far as to name them fragile.

The second-row seat backs are fairly excessive, so in the event you’ve received an animal within the backseat or within the cargo space, they’re fairly effectively separated from the opposite facet.

Window Entry and Air Stream

The rear home windows don’t roll utterly down into the doorways, however they get low sufficient for many hound snouts to succeed in out for low-speed sniffing. I all the time inform individuals to roll home windows up over about 40 mph, as that’s about the place bugs and rocks and issues begin to actually harm in the event that they hit you within the face.

When the home windows are up, the GV80’s rear air conditioner completely rips. In super-high ambient temps (over 90ºF outdoors) I had Bramble cease panting in a short time with the rear blower on excessive. The fluttering of her fur was one other clear indicator that these followers have been huffing and puffing fairly onerous.

Entrance and rear local weather controls are simply adjusted from the entrance seat, too.

Driving With the Canine—Animal Consolation on the Highway

The GV80 I drove has a sport mode and paddle shifters, however I felt fairly foolish utilizing both. It’s not that the automotive’s incompetent at a brisk tempo, it simply has a halcyon vitality that inherently discourages dashing. You get on this factor and you actually simply need to cruise. And because of a number of glorious insulation, 30 mph and 50 mph and 80 mph all just about really feel the identical.

Mix that driver-calming aura with a really easy trip and comfortable seats and also you’re a automotive stuffed with well-coddled creatures.

Bramble had no drawback curling up and going to sleep nearly instantly after leaving dwelling base on this factor.

Pack Hauling—A number of Canines On Board

This car offers you the flexibleness to separate two animals safely, by placing one within the again seat and one within the cargo space. You would additionally put two medium-sizers within the again subsequent to one another; ours didn’t thoughts sharing the second-row bench. I did discover that with a number of canines within the automotive, one was often pretty fast to place some paws up on the middle console to try to set up a commanding view.

However by and huge, you may carry two and even three decent-sized canines on this simply offered you solely had one human passenger.

Carrying Kennels

The GV80’s excessive roofline and wide-opening rear hatch make kennel-loading completely doable. A very tall one for the biggest breeds would most likely not match, however our medium-sized kennel tucked in sideways, permitting you to run a kennel and the total rear bench seat. Not all automobiles, not even all SUVs, can try this. That’s a testomony to the great allocation of inside area behind this car.

Genesis GV80 Canine-Friendliness Verdict

The GV80 is a robust contender for The Drive‘s Top Dog Car of 2024. It’s received all of it: executive-level rear seat consolation, simple in-and-out to the again door or cargo space, and nice proportions for loading canine cargo. If you need a luxurious SUV and canine or passenger consolation is a serious precedence for you, I’d strongly recommend a GV80 over taller, truck-based rivals just like the Cadillac Escalade, Infiniti QX80, or Lexus GX.

	2025 Genesis GV80 Specs for Canine Homeowners
Base Value (as examined)	$59,050 ($81,300)
Seating Capability (individuals)	5
Seating Capability (canines)	3
EPA Gasoline Financial system	16 mpg metropolis | 22 freeway | 19 mixed
Cargo Quantity	80 cubic ft behind second row | 34.9 cubic ft behind first row
Fast Take	Tremendous comfy cruiser that’s simple for animals to climb into. Excellent posh canine taxi, and it’s good for people too.
Will It Canine Rating	9.5/10

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