Genesis began selling the GV80 Hybrid in South Korea on October 6, the brand’s first hybrid model. A turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors produce a combined 352 PS, which is 347 hp, and Korea’s certified combined rating for the rear-drive, five-seat model on 19-inch wheels is 12 km/L.
That rating converts to about 28 mpg, and it comes from Korea’s test cycle rather than the EPA’s. A Genesis representative told Car and Driver in August that the GV80 Hybrid will come to the United States, with timing and other details to follow “later this year.” Genesis has not published a U.S. price.
Key Takeaways
- Korean sales of the GV80 Hybrid started October 6, 2026, at 76.8 million won.
- System output is 352 PS (347 hp) and 54.0 kgf·m (391 lb-ft), which Genesis puts at about 16% and 26% above the GV80 2.5 Turbo.
- The 28 mpg figure is a conversion of Korea’s 12 km/L rating for the 19-inch, two-wheel-drive, five-seat model. The EPA has not rated the hybrid.
- Car and Driver reported on August 20 that a Genesis representative confirmed U.S. sales, with timing to be shared later this year.
- The 2027 GV80 2.5T starts at $58,850 in the U.S. and is EPA-rated at 22 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive.
- A new seven-speed automatic has no reverse gear. The drive motor spins backward to reverse the vehicle.
- Hyundai Motor says a Genesis extended-range SUV follows in early 2027, targeting more than 640 miles of range.
A 2.5-Liter Turbo, Two Motors and a Seven-Speed
Genesis detailed the powertrain in an August 13 release from Seoul. It is a parallel hybrid: a starter-generator motor, which Genesis calls P1, starts the engine and generates electricity, and a drive motor, P2, handles propulsion and regenerative braking. Genesis rates the P2 motor at 59.1 kW.
Genesis puts the 352 PS and 54.0 kgf·m totals about 16% and 26% above the GV80 2.5 Turbo. Its internal testing has 0 to 100 km/h, or 62 mph, at about 7.1 seconds.
A new seven-speed rear-drive transmission reverses the vehicle by turning the P2 motor in the opposite direction. Genesis says dropping the reverse-gear hardware cut weight and friction from the gearbox.
Its battery is liquid-cooled, a first for a Hyundai Motor Group hybrid, which Genesis says permits higher discharge output than an air-cooled pack. Genesis has not published the capacity. On a cold start the GV80 Hybrid runs on its motor alone up to about 30 km/h, or 19 mph, a setting Genesis describes as intended for underground parking garages.
| Specification | Genesis GV80 Hybrid (Korea) |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder |
| Motors | P1 starter-generator and P2 drive motor (59.1 kW) |
| System output | 352 PS (347 hp) |
| System torque | 54.0 kgf·m (391 lb-ft) |
| Transmission | Seven-speed automatic, motor-driven reverse |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive |
| 0-100 km/h (62 mph) | About 7.1 seconds, Genesis internal testing |
| Combined fuel economy | 12 km/L (about 28 mpg), Korean certification, 19-inch 2WD five-seat |
| Fuel tank | 76 liters (20.1 gallons) |
| Battery | Liquid-cooled; capacity not published |
| Vehicle-to-load output | 3.6 kW |
| Price in Korea | From 76.8 million won |
Korean buyers can order all-wheel drive, which adds a system Genesis calls Hybrid Terrain Performance. The October 6 launch release, published in Korean, also lists a 3.6 kW vehicle-to-load outlet and a Stay Mode that runs climate control and the screens from the high-voltage battery with the engine off, using up to 50% of its charge.
Korea’s 12 km/L Rating Converts to About 28 MPG
Korea’s certified number applies to one configuration: 19-inch wheels, two-wheel drive and five seats. Genesis calls 12 km/L about 29% better than the GV80 2.5 Turbo and, with a 76-liter tank, quotes up to 912 kilometers, or 567 miles, per fill.
In August, before certification, Genesis claimed an improvement of “approximately 25% or more” from internal testing of that same configuration.
The EPA rates the 2027 GV80 2.5T at 22 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive and 21 mpg with all-wheel drive, both on premium gasoline. Car and Driver applied Genesis’ 25% claim to the 22 mpg rating and estimated “somewhere around 27 mpg combined” for the hybrid.
Fueleconomy.gov’s 2027 Genesis listings on October 7 showed the GV80 with rear-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive and as a mild hybrid, a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 with a 48-volt electric supercharger. The 2.5-liter hybrid was not among them.
| Model | Output | Combined fuel economy | Rating source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GV80 Hybrid | 347 hp (352 PS) | About 28 mpg (12 km/L) | Korean certification, 2WD |
| 2027 GV80 2.5T RWD | 300 hp | 22 mpg | EPA |
| 2027 GV80 2.5T AWD | 300 hp | 21 mpg | EPA |
| 2027 GV80 3.5T AWD | 375 hp | 19 mpg | EPA |
| 2026 Lexus RX 350h AWD | 246 hp | 36 mpg | EPA |
| 2026 Lexus RX 500h AWD | 366 hp | 27 mpg | EPA |
76.8 Million Won, 6.95 Million Above the Gas GV80
The GV80 Hybrid’s suggested retail price in Korea is 76.8 million won, quoted at a 5% individual consumption tax rate. The 2027 GV80 launched alongside it at 69.85 million won and the 2027 GV80 Coupe at 82.7 million won, which places the hybrid 6.95 million won, or about 10%, above the gasoline model.
Korea JoongAng Daily converted the hybrid’s price to $57,300 and reported that market estimates had been above 80 million won.
Genesis USA lists the 2027 GV80 2.5T at $58,850 with rear-wheel drive and $61,200 with all-wheel drive before freight. The 3.5T starts at $76,250 in Advanced trim, and the range tops out at $84,100 for the 3.5T Prestige Black.
Genesis Told Car and Driver the Hybrid Is Coming to the U.S.
Neither Genesis release mentions U.S. sales of the hybrid. Car and Driver reported on August 20 that a Genesis representative “confirmed to C/D that the GV80 Hybrid will come to the U.S.,” with further details, including timing, to be shared “later this year.”
Car and Driver added that Genesis had not said whether American buyers will get both rear- and all-wheel drive.
Genesis USA’s consumer site showed only the 2.5T and 3.5T on its 2027 GV80 pages on October 7.
An Extended-Range Genesis SUV Follows in Early 2027
Hyundai Motor’s 2026 CEO Investor Day release, dated August 26, called the GV80 Hybrid “the brand’s first hybrid” and added that “Genesis will add an EREV SUV targeting over 640 miles of range in early 2027.” The release does not name that model. It sets a Genesis target of 350,000 annual sales across more than 40 markets by 2030.
Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the hybrid lineup will extend to the G80 and GV70. Together with the GV80, they are the brand’s three best sellers in the United States, the paper said.
Genesis had earlier pledged to introduce only electric models from 2025, the paper noted. Hyundai Motor’s Investor Day release says a new EV facility in Ulsan will begin production with the Genesis GV90.
Genesis Has Not Announced U.S. Pricing
The GV80 Hybrid went on sale in Korea on October 6 at 76.8 million won, about 10% above the gasoline GV80, with 347 hp and a Korean rating that converts to about 28 mpg. Genesis has confirmed it for the United States through Car and Driver and promised details later this year. The 2027 GV80 2.5T it would sit beside starts at $58,850 and is EPA-rated at 22 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive. The EPA has not rated the hybrid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Genesis GV80 Hybrid coming to the United States?
Yes, according to Car and Driver, which reported on August 20, 2026 that a Genesis representative confirmed the GV80 Hybrid will come to the U.S. Genesis said timing and other details would be shared later this year.
How much horsepower does the Genesis GV80 Hybrid have?
Genesis rates the system at 352 PS, which converts to 347 hp, and 54.0 kgf·m of torque, or 391 lb-ft. Those are Korean-market figures, and Genesis has not published U.S. ratings.
What mpg does the Genesis GV80 Hybrid get?
Korea certified the rear-drive, five-seat model on 19-inch wheels at 12 km/L combined, which converts to about 28 mpg. That is not an EPA rating. Car and Driver estimated around 27 mpg combined on the EPA cycle, based on Genesis’ earlier claim of a 25% improvement.
How much does the Genesis GV80 Hybrid cost?
It starts at 76.8 million won in Korea, 6.95 million won above the gasoline 2027 GV80. Genesis has not announced a U.S. price. The 2027 GV80 2.5T starts at $58,850 in the U.S. before freight.
What engine is in the Genesis GV80 Hybrid?
A turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired with two electric motors in a parallel layout. One motor starts the engine and generates electricity, and the other drives the vehicle and handles regenerative braking.
Is the Genesis GV80 Hybrid a plug-in hybrid?
No. It is a conventional hybrid that charges its battery from the engine and from regenerative braking. Hyundai Motor says a Genesis extended-range electric SUV will follow in early 2027.
Does the Genesis GV80 Hybrid have all-wheel drive?
In Korea it is offered with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and the all-wheel-drive model adds a system called Hybrid Terrain Performance. Genesis has not said which drivetrains will be sold in the U.S.
How fast is the Genesis GV80 Hybrid?
Genesis’ internal testing puts 0 to 100 km/h, or 62 mph, at about 7.1 seconds. The company also says the hybrid resumes acceleration from 100 km/h about 18% faster than the 2.5-liter gasoline turbo.
Will Genesis build other hybrids?
Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the hybrid lineup will extend to the G80 and GV70. Genesis’ August 2026 release said the brand would start with the GV80 Hybrid and did not name other models.
Michael Kahn
Michael Kahn is the writer, photographer, and publisher behind The Weekly Driver. He cares about how cars drive and what they're like to own. He covers automobile industry news, car shows and events, and new car reviews. The reviews come from behind the wheel: day trips that favor back routes, treating a good meal as half the reason to go. He directs and produces the visual media, matching each car to a setting and mood that fit it. When he's not reviewing new cars, Michael races paddleboards, camels, and ostriches, along with the occasional exotic car on the racetrack, and has driven in every state and country visited.
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