Beautiful car but the technology needs to get out of its own way
The best thing about the Genesis GV80 is undoubtedly its appearance. The exterior styling is stunning, and the fit and finish of the interior are second to none. Unfortunately, that's where much of my enthusiasm ends.
Ironically, some of the very features that attracted us to the vehicle have become our biggest frustrations.
The adaptive cruise control and driver-assistance systems are particularly disappointing. When the vehicle detects traffic braking ahead, it often applies the brakes far too aggressively, followed by acceleration that is anything but smooth or refined. It's a jerky, uncomfortable experience that feels completely out of place in a luxury vehicle.
The driver-attention monitoring system is another major annoyance. It's so overly sensitive that I can't even wear certain sunglasses without the system deciding I'm not watching the road, despite looking straight ahead. It then disables the driving-assistance features, making the technology more frustrating than helpful.
Even something as simple as switching between driver profiles is unnecessarily complicated and far from intuitive.
Finally, after more than a year of ownership, I have to say the overall ride quality has been disappointing. I expected a much smoother, more refined driving experience from a vehicle in this price range.
The bottom line: The GV80 looks and feels like a premium luxury vehicle when you're sitting in it, but the actual driving experience doesn't consistently live up to that promise. It's a beautiful vehicle with an exceptional interior, but some of the technology and driving characteristics that should make it a pleasure to own have instead become its biggest shortcomings.