Genesis GV80 SUV wins favorable reception in US
Genesis GV80 / Courtesy of Genesis USA
By Baek Byung-yeul
Hyundai Motor Group's luxury brand Genesis is enjoying a favorable reception in the United States with its mid-size GV80 SUV being recognized as a strong candidate to compete with renowned luxury SUVs.
Autotrader, a U.S.-based online market place for car purchases and sales, announced a list of “Best New Cars for 2021” recently to help consumers find their match. The list of 12 new recommended vehicles included four from Hyundai Motor Group. Those models were the Genesis GV80, Hyundai's Santa Fe SUV and Kia's K5 sedan and Sorento SUV.
Autotrader said its Best New Cars for 2021 list names 12 vehicles selected by a team of experts from the online marketplace, who collectively tested and scored new models using a range of criteria.
Each chosen vehicle has unique features specific to different lifestyle needs, including interior comfort, build quality, tech features and driving experience, the website added.
Autotrader recognized the GV80 because the model is “a midsize premium SUV with available three-row seating that starts under $50,000, squarely competing with much more expensive European rivals.” It added: “This imposing, slick, refined, and comfortable SUV may be completely new, but it's already at the top of its class.”
Hyundai Motor Group rolled out the GV80 in the United States in November to vie with luxury SUVs such as the BMW X5, the Mercedes-Benz GLE and the Lexus RX. The GV80 has already attracted explosive popularity in the Korean market since its January 2020 release, with sales surpassing 30,000 vehicles from January to November.
Hyundai Motor Group said the Genesis GV80 has helped its luxury brand increase its presence in the U.S., selling more than 3,000 vehicles from November to January. “Sales of Genesis vehicles have increased significantly as the Genesis GV80 SUV has drawn popularity since its release in late 2020,” the company said.