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Genesis GV80

NACTOY Finalists For 2021 Offer Familiar and Futuristic Choices

December 23, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

The North American Car of the Year (NACTOY) awards is one of the most highly anticipated honors bestowed by auto industry experts. A juried panel of journalists evaluates the many new models available before narrowing their choices to three in each category: car, truck, and utility vehicle.


The NACTOY jurists choose winners for three categories.

Previous Winners; 2021 Finalists

For 2021, we see several familiar models as well as one that not long ago would have been considered futuristic, but this year seems to have arrived right on time. The domestics are well represented, but the usual “foreign” entries guarantee at least one will win.

Last year, the Chevrolet Corvette took honors for the car award, while the Kia Telluride won the SUV category. The top truck award belonged to the Jeep Gladiator.

NACTOY Car of the Year

This year, the car finalists include the Genesis G80, Hyundai Elantra, and the Nissan Sentra. No domestic automaker received final consideration, largely due to manufacturers cutting back on their offerings these past few years.


The Genesis G80 is our pick for Car of the Year honors.

The Corvette won last year because its redesign was so revolutionary and impactful. Our pick among the current entries is the Genesis G80, the current iteration of this luxury marque’s midsize offering.

NACTOY Truck of the Year

Among truck models, the 2021 Ford F-150 has the likely edge as it is the latest generational model for Ford’s best-selling pickup truck. The two other models offered, the Jeep Gladiator Mojave and Ram 1500 TRX are based on current models.


The Ford F-150 is our pick for Truck of the Year honors.

While we think the Ram has the best chance of the two models from Fiat Chrysler, we think the F-150 will garner the award this year. It would be unusual for jurists to overlook an overhauled model in favor of a special trim of an existing model.

NACTOY Utility Vehicle of the Year

The utility vehicle category has grown strong in recent years as consumers flee cars for crossovers primarily. For 2021, the futuristic Ford Mustang Mach E rolls out, a model that shares its name with Ford’s famous pony car and includes several of its design elements. That said, the Mach-E is a pure electric crossover utility vehicle, designed to take on the industry’s leaders, including Tesla.


The Ford Mustang Mach-E is our pick for Utility Vehicle of the Year honors.

The Genesis GV80 is the first SUV from Hyundai’s luxury brand and is poised to lift the brand’s visibility accordingly. The third entry is the Land Rover Defender, which uses the name of the time-honored model, although some would argue that it is far different from previous Defenders. That’s a fair assessment.

Of this trio, we think the Ford Mustang Mach E wins this year’s utility vehicle of the year award.

Jurist Evaluation

The NACTOY jury pool is comprised of 50 jurists from across the United States and Canada. Automakers must get each juror behind the wheel of their vehicles for candidate testing and evaluation. Under normal circumstances, this is a challenge. This year, with a worldwide pandemic raging, those challenges have magnified. Yet, the automakers persisted and the jurists have narrowed their selections accordingly.

The final voting will span three days in early January with the winners announced on January 11, 2021. In earlier years, the announcement coincided with the start of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. But that show has moved to a June setting, although it was canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic.

Also-Ran SUVs

Surprisingly absent from the list of utility vehicle finalists was at least one of GM’s trio of all-new full-size SUVs. The Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, and the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban are all-new. Also new is the popular Nissan Rogue, along with various models from Acura, Cadillac, and Volvo. But in a crowded field of contenders, some models cannot make the final cut. Thus, the list of utility vehicle finalists suggests that each is a strong player in the segment.


See Also — 6 Year-End Car Buying Tips

Photos copyright NACTOY and the respective automakers.

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: FORD F-150, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Genesis G80, Genesis GV80, Hyundai Elantra, Jeep Gladiator Mojave, Land Rover Defender, NACTOY, NISSAN SENTRA, Ram 1500 TRX

About the 2021 Genesis GV80

August 11, 2020 by admin 2 Comments

Genesis gains its first SUV.


The Genesis GV80 breaks new ground for the marque, delivering standard
5-passenger seating with available 7-passenger seating.

Hyundai’s Genesis brand has three sedans to show for it, but we’re still waiting the debut of its first utility vehicle. Fortunately, that wait is nearing an end as this luxury marque intends to release the GV80 SUV this fall.

When the GV80 arrives it will face stiff competition from well-established BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus models. But just as Genesis has shown no hesitancy with rolling out its trio of sedans, the all-new GV80 should find a place in the market.

Here are some important facts about the Genesis GV80:

1. Seoul debut. The GV80 made its global debut in January at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) west of Seoul. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 global pandemic soon followed and forced the cancellation of the New York International Auto Show in April where it would have made its North American debut. Design studios in Korea, Germany, and the United States collaborated on developing the new model.

2. A competitive starting price. Genesis prices the GV80 from $49,925, including a $1,025 destination fee. No competitor starts this low with most models costing from two to tens of thousands of dollars more. Its top price comes in around $72,000 in a segment where $90,000 or more for a fully loaded model is possible.


The 14.5-inch touch-screen display is fetching on all counts.

3. Two gasoline engines, no diesel. In Korea, Genesis showcase a GV80 with a diesel engine. Unfortunately, that engine isn’t destined for America. Instead, the base engine is turbocharged gas 2.5-liter that routes power to the rear wheels utilizing an 8-speed automatic transmission. Also available is a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine. An 8-speed automatic transmission is also standard. Both options feature available all-wheel drive (a $1,850 upgrade). An electronic limited-slip rear differential is included with the top trim. The preliminary performance numbers are as follows: 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque for the standard engine and 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque with the V6.

4. Wheels and suspension. The GV80 rides on standard 20-inch alloy wheels set within all-season radials. You’ll find 22-inch wheels with the top trim. Also available is an adjustable suspension system that supplies a softer ride on the top-trim Prestige.

5. Synthetic or real leather seats. The standard GV80 model comes with imitation leather or real hides. The top-trim Prestige trim (Standard and Advanced are the other two) features leather seats. We like that 12-way and heated front seats are standard. Ventilation and a heated steering wheel are included with the Advanced trim while the Prestige trim adds heated rear seats. Other features include wood trim and velvet suede headliner.

6. Leading-edge tech gear. Technology and luxury go hand in hand. That’s true with most models and the GV80 does not disappoint. Resting on top of the dashboard above the center stack is a huge 14.5-inch split touch-screen display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility, Bluetooth, and a complement of USB ports are just a few of the many tech features present. Among the upgrades are a Lexicon audio system and a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument cluster.


Unique styling elements set the GV80 apart from the Genesis sedans.

7. Loaded with standard driver-assist gear. On the safety front, the GV80 has the features customers want and expect. Every model comes with automatic high beams, active lane control, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Rear automatic emergency braking comes with the Prestige trim only.

More to Follow

Once the GV80 debuts, we’ll see an update to the G80 sedan. In fact, the two share a common platform. Two additional Genesis models are planned, including a second SUV. We also expect that Genesis will get its first electric vehicle, although we’re not certain what body style is planned for this all-electric vehicle.


See Also — Genesis to Separate From Hyundai Showrooms

Photos copyright Genesis Motors. All rights reserved.

Filed Under: New Models Tagged With: BMW, Genesis, Genesis GV80, Hyundai, KOREA, Lexus, luxury, Mercedes-Benz, SUV, turbo

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