The Used SUV That Feels Like A $70,000 Luxury Vehicle For Half The Money

8 minutes reading

Friday, 11 Sep 2026 17:00 0 3 autotech

These days, it feels like everything is expensive. Luxury car buyers don’t always necessarily look to pinch pennies. However, there are some that would, of course, like to save some money. As the old adage goes: you don’t get rich by spending all of your money. Luxury cars have always been expensive though, and that doesn’t show any signs of changing.

The $70,000 Concept

Front shot of 2026 Acura ADX parked

Acura

The High-End Car Premise

Front 3/4 shot of 2025 BMW X7 xDrive40i in blue parked

Luxury looks different nowadays. It’s more about what a car can do for you from an automated standpoint than about features like heated and ventilated front seats. A lot of more premium standard SUVs come with luxury offerings like massage chairs and self-driving capabilities. This makes automakers have to up the ante with even more party tricks. Soft-close doors don’t cut it anymore on a BMW X7. Now, it has to come with a wide-screen drop-down touchscreen entertainment center. From an automated standpoint, you can simply say, “Hey BMW, activate theater mode,” and the car automatically pulls the blinds and lowers the screen.

The $35,000 Reality

Thanks to the same website, iSeeCars.com, they have stated that luxury SUVs lose between 48% and 63% of their initial value within the first five years. The overall industry average is around 42%. The reason is that people typically like to trade in these luxury SUVs after the lease is up. They don’t want to deal with all the gizmos and gadgets that end up breaking well after the five-year point. As we noted at the beginning of the article, you’re not going to stay rich if you have to spend $5000 fixing the massage chair in your Mercedes-Benz GLE. Speaking of the GLE, Kelley Blue Book surmises that the fair purchase value of a 2021 GLE costs around $31,510. The current 2026 model has a starting MSRP of $63,600.

The Current Generation Genesis GV80

The current Genesis GV80 is a midsize crossover luxury SUV that shares a platform with the Sedan sibling G80. It came out for the 2021 model year and was a much-needed entry for the relatively newer luxury brand. It’s a tall task to go against venerated, prestigious brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi, but the Genesis GV80 is up for the task. When it came out in 2021, it originally had a MSRP of around $48,000. That same $48,000 price tag has depreciated just as poorly as the rest of the luxury SUV lineup. The same base model, 2.5T Standard, has a current value, according to Kelley Blue Book, of around $27,300, which is already cheaper than the GLE that we just mentioned.

Exterior Design

Rear 3/4 shot of 2024 Genesis GV80 in green posing in countryside

While most luxury SUVs today are going for an ultra-modern, ultra-tech forward cabin and exterior, the Genesis GV80 keeps it relatively simple while focusing on what’s important. The Genesis GV80 actually received a refresh for the 2025 model year but not much changed for the exterior. Hyundai and Kia really rely on a more classic take on modern vehicles, especially when it comes to their luxury cars. Of course, it has dramatic lines like you would expect from a luxury vehicle, but there’s not much unnecessary froufrou, so to speak. It has two horizontal dedicated lines for the daytime running lights and headlamps. The only real outstanding feature is the oversized front grill, which could also be considered a trend.

Interior Quality

This is where Genesis really wins over a lot of buyers. Again, while other brands are focusing on out-of-this-world-looking interiors, Genesis has stuck to its guns. In fact, they even focus more on what you end up touching the most, making it just as luxurious as the quilted leather seats. The biggest change in the 2025 model year was the interior’s overall design. One could argue that the launch year’s interior had more panache and character to it than the now sweeping 27-inch OLED display. It features an old-style two-spoke steering wheel and an entertainment screen that is hidden in the dashboard. All to say, the modern features are there, but they’re put there with care.

Twin-Turbo Power

Close up shot of 2024 Genesis GV80 steering wheel

If you’re looking at the more powerful engine, which is the one we would suggest, then you’re really not going to spend that much more money on it either. Only about 3000 more dollars or $30,400 according to Kelley Blue Book. If you’re going for used luxury, you might as well go for the top of the line, as it’s much more attainable than when it originally came out. The original 3.5T Advanced+ had a starting MSRP of $71,795, which still isn’t all that bad comparatively. Especially for what features you get for that price.

Engine And Driving Dynamics

2025 Genesis GV80 3.5T Prestige Turbocharged V6 Engine

So there are two engines that you get with the Genesis GV80. It’s either a turbocharged 2.5L inline four-cylinder engine that outputs 300 horsepower, That’s already pretty powerful. Even more powerful, though, is the 3.5T, which is a twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 engine that outputs 375 horsepower and an even more impressive 391 pound-feet of total torque. While the standard engine comes with either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, the twin-turbocharged V6 comes with all-wheel drive standard. The GV80 can achieve 60 mph in 5.7 to 6.4 seconds depending on which model you get, according to Car and Driver.

Super Techy Suspension

Side shot of 2024 Genesis GV80 in silver posing in front river and city scene

Probably the most technologically advanced feature on the Genesis GV80 is its road preview suspension system. It uses a front-facing camera to preview what lies ahead on the road and electronically controls the dampers and suspension entirely in order to provide either maximum comfort or the best sport handling capability. It also benefits from a self-leveling capability in the rear suspension if you have rear occupants or cargo.

Knowing Before Buying

low angle front 3/4 shot of White 2024 Genesis GV80 Posing in front of city scene

Of course, no car is perfect, and there are things that you should be on the lookout for with any used or new car before buying it. Any new model is going to have a number of mechanical issues, especially in the launch year. Here are some of the things that you need to be on the lookout for.

What To Watch Out For

Close up shot of 2024 Genesis GV80 taillight and badge

What has been reported already, and is probably the most common complaint, is the noise coming from the rear differential. Customers have noticed a whining noise that comes specifically from the back of the Genesis GV80. This is probably because a pinion nut has come loose in said rear differential. Early models have also been known to have internal cracking in the torque converter that causes it to shudder. Finally, there’s also been some fuel pump issues in the recalls department.

Warranty And Maintenance

Close up shot of 2024 Genesis GV80 interior showing central console and climate control

Thankfully, if you encounter any of these issues with your Genesis GV80, you will still be able to benefit from the 10-year 100,000-mile warranty. Of course, it must not have exceeded 100,000 miles, and it must be a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle for you to take advantage of it. Once you’re out of warranty, the annual cost of maintenance is significantly cheaper than any other luxury car on the road, except for maybe a Lexus. According to RepairPal, you’re only going to be responsible for $524 per year. Edmunds, on the other hand, states that it could be anywhere between $1,500 and $3,500 annually.