One of the oldest luxury SUV nameplates is the BMW X5, and it’s only getting more and more popular as time goes on. But since that time, there have been many new options to enter the market including choices like this Genesis GV80. It’s only been a few years since its introduction, but it has already made some inroads even before the heavy refresh it just received for 2025. So, who wins in a 2025 BMW X5 vs. 2025 Genesis GV80 battle? Let’s find out right now!
Pricing and Equipment
We always start off our comparisons by talking about the pricing and equipment, so let’s dive in.
Beginning with BMW X5, we have the xDrive40i model, which is the mainstream version most people pick. It starts at a little under $70 grand, and after optioning it with most of the available features, we come to a hair over $80,000 all in.
MSRP (X5 xDrive40i): $68,000 | Options: $10,950 | Destination: $1,175 | Total: $80,125
Moving to the Genesis, you might expect a much lower price but that’s not the case. Its top trim with an equivalent 6-cylinder powertrain is also right at the $80,000 price point, all in.
MSRP (GV80 3.5TT Prestige): $79,950 | Options: $650 | Destination: $1,350 | Total: $81,300
By the way, if you want to get the best price from local dealerships and access to invoice pricing info for these two models or any vehicle, we have a tool on our website to do just that.
Exterior Design
Starting with their exterior designs, it’s clear both have gone with the classy and expensive design route. Unlike some recent BMW products, the X5 has thus far kept its traditional kidney grilles, finished in silver as equipped. Genesis also has quite a bit of bling with its chrome “crest” grille, and flanking the sides, both models have fancy lighting with their newest lighting signatures. Both have premium projector LEDs and no fog lamps, but only X5 includes adaptive abilities.
Now heading to the sides, both have premium RWD proportions and come in at almost the exact same length. They also both are rocking nice-looking 21- and 22-inch alloys in the BMW and Genesis respectively, but that’s not enough of a difference to get a point.
Length: 194.2 in (X5) |194.5-in (GV80)
In the back, once again they have clean and elegant designs. We don’t grade personal styling preferences but features and specs-wise there are some differences. They have exposed wipers and full LED lighting, but the BMW can tow about 18% more at 7,200 lbs. vs. 6,000 in the Genesis.
X5: 7,200 lbs | GV80: 6,000 lbs
Additional Features
Now heading on to some of the other features, both have heated, power-folding, auto-dimming mirrors with blind spot monitoring, and they also come equipped with all the latest safety systems. That will even include things like highway assistants, but the BMW goes a step further with hands-free highway driving under 85MPH as well as the new ability to automatically change lanes by merely looking at the side mirrors.
Finally, when it comes to warranties, Genesis pulls ahead. It has much longer powertrain and basic warranty’s and both include 3 years of complementary maintenance.
But we’re just warming up here, so now it’s time to head to the more important interiors!
Interior Design
So, walking up to the vehicles, both of course have smart entry and high-quality key fobs. They also have remote start built in, but only Genesis allows you to pull in and out of parking spots unmanned.
And once we open the doors and view the interiors, you’ll be surprised by the sheer luxury and the new technology. But before we get into all those details, let’s talk about the seating. You might be surprised to learn that the BMW’s beautiful Silverstone quilted seats are made from faux leather, while the Genesis goes for an expensive real Nappa leather finished in unique green and tan colors.
For adjustments, BMW has the advantage at a whopping 20-way power vs. 16 in the GV80.
Along with all those adjustments both have 3-person memory, heating and ventilation, and Genesis includes massaging at this price point.
Now that we’ve climbed inside, we can discuss the major point of cabin materials, and unsurprisingly, both these two use top-notch selections throughout. They have leather on the door trim, upper dash, and premium trim selections like open-pore wood and a unique stone-derived white trim in the Genesis. Both make you feel spoiled. Neither has a significant advantage over the other, besides for the suede headliner on the Genesis which awards it a half point.
But tech is also an area that both luxury SUVs have focused on so let’s zero in on the gauge cluster. They are both fully adjustable digital setups with impressive graphics, and if you don’t want to look at them, both also include advanced head-up displays.
And coming back to the steering wheels, both are power adjusting, heated, have leather airbag covers, and even heated armrests for the top models.
Storage and Technology
Okay, so next up, let’s dig into the major area of interior storage. They seem like they were designed by the same person, because we have almost identical layouts and wireless phone charging pads up front. The Genesis can fit 12 donuts vs. 10 in the BMW in our signature donut volume test so it’ll get a slight half-point advantage.
The similarities continue since both have lovely glass shifters, and when in reverse, both are equipped with 360-degree camera systems. They also have the fan-favorite 3D spin ability.
Now let’s go ahead and check out the audio systems. Overall, both sound great but the new Bang and Olufsen system in the Genesis this year has top-tier audio quality and even metal speaker grilles.
X5: 464-watt, 16-speaker Harmon Kardon Premium Audio
GV80: 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen Premium audio
But as we move to the climate controls, this is where we start to finally find a few differences. Both have mostly digital ways to adjust the climate, but the BMW has an extra zone of adjustment, and the Genesis has physical temperature dials.
It also includes a built-in fragrance system after the new car smell wears off.
Now let’s focus on the infotainment systems, since they play a large role in interior functions. Genesis gets a big upgrade for 2025, and it now surpasses the also-upgraded X5. The BMW’s display comes in at 14.9 inches for its main display, but the Genesis has the gauge cluster and main display integrated into one single screen. That means it’s a solid 27-inches of continuous real estate, which not only looks more impressive but also includes OLED technology which means the graphics and resolution are some of the finest in any vehicle at any price point.
Both are running their brand’s latest software respectively, and overall performance is top notch. Navigation systems, voice assistants and detailed ambient lighting settings are built in, plus both also have wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Finally, the last things to mention up front are the auto-dimming mirrors, which is also a camera on the Genesis, and large panoramic sunroofs. The BMW’s has lights in it to make for a cool look at night.
Rear Seats and Cargo
Now even though these are not usually 3-row crossovers, you still want to have nicely appointed rear seats for whoever might find themselves back there. And both these two deliver.
They are both offered with a 3rd row, but on a limited basis.
The first criteria is space, and the X5 has about 6% more headroom, and the legroom measures are roughly the same.
- X5: Legroom: 37.4-inches | Headroom: 40.8-inches
- GV80: Legroom: 38.7-inches | Headroom: 38.4-inches
Now for luxury features, we’ll largely see the tides turn in the GV80’s favor. First of all, it has power adjusting second row seats which aren’t available on X5, and in addition to vents and heated rear seats, it also includes ventilated rear seats.
Additionally, it has more power connections with a household outlet instead of just USBs. While both have rear sunshades, only the Genesis is power deploying.
Next, let’s check out the cargo areas where both have ample space. Ironically enough, cargo volume behind the second row is actually identical to each other, and with the seats folded down, Genesis takes the lead by about 15%.
X5: Behind 2rd row: 33.9 cu.ft | 72.3 cu.ft seats all seats folded MAX
GV80: Behind 2nd row: 33.9 cu.ft | MAX: 84.0 cu.ft
Both have handles or buttons to fold the seats 40/20/40 split and neither have spare tires.
But driving a vehicle is of course important, so let’s go ahead and take this fight to the streets!
Powertrains
German automakers are notorious for trying to match each other tit-for-tat, and Genesis, while Korean, also wanted to take on that challenge. The BMW starts off with a 3.0L Turbo I-6 and mild hybrid system to produce 375 hp. Not to be left behind, the GV80 is also rocking a 6-cylinder, but a 3.5L Twin-Turbo V-6 unit instead. All told, it results in the exact same 375 horsepower. When accelerating, though, the X5 is about second faster to 60 MPH still, probably because BMW is notorious for understating their performance figures.
- GV80 3.5TT: 3.5L Twin-Turbo V-6: 375 hp | 391 lb.ft | 0-60 MPH: 5.7s (C&D)
- X5 40i: 3.0L Turbo I-6 w/ Mild Hybrid: 375 hp | 383 lb.ft | 0-60: 4.8s (C&D)
Transmission-wise, both have 8-speed automatics and standard AWD. But since these two are luxury SUVs, overall refinement is quite important. Now despite the two being almost identical on paper, the BMW does have an heir of refinement when it comes to NVH from its legendary B58 powertrain, which is somewhat missing from the GV80.
Test Drive and Fuel Economy
Let’s also talk about ride quality since here is where they start to differ a little bit more. While both have adaptive dampers, the BMW’s ride is significantly better than GV80 which lets in some sharp intrusions with its 22s on the outside. The BMW can even further option on an air suspension as well.
Now as far as other driving dynamics, the typical German athleticism pulls ahead. Even though comfort is still the primary mission, the X5 comes across as a bit sharper in handling response, steering and exhibits less body roll.
But luxury vehicles also need to be quiet, which is why here at Car Confections, we always get a sound level reading for every vehicle we test out. Both models deliver library-quiet cabins at highway speed and are some of the best models we have ever tested. These even beat most luxury electric vehicles, coming in under 50 decibels.
X5: 49.8 dB @ 55 MPH
GV80: 49.9 db @ 55 MPH
Finally, let’s talk efficiency. Only the X5 includes a mild hybrid system, which is very helpful in smoothing out the auto start/stop system. The GV80 does without this, causing the climate system to reduce performance when the auto start/stop is engaged.
The mild hybrid is also likely to contribute to the fuel economy difference we see here. Despite both models having 6-cylinders, the X5 pulls ahead by a significant margin. It comes in at 25 MPG combined vs. 19 in the Genesis, which will add up over thousands of miles on premium fuel.
GV80: 16/22/19 MPG
X5: 23/27/25 MPG
Resale and Reliability
In our reviews and comparisons, we are also adding in reliability and resale information to give you a better picture of the overall value beyond just the original MSRP.
Beginning with reliability, we developed the Combined Reliability Index, which takes into account several studies from trustworthy sources, and combines them in a way that gives a more realistic picture. Here, they are very similar. Genesis ranks at 2 slots above the industry average for reliability, meanwhile BMW is at exactly the industry average for reliability.
We also put Mason’s economics degree to work to develop a detailed Predicted Resale Value tool. After 5 years and 60,000 miles, both are well below the industry average with Genesis coming in at a predicted resale value of 42.08% and BMW closely trailing it at 41.19%.
Resale is obviously important because it determines how much money you get back, but we can’t forget about the price difference at the original purchase. The GV80 costs $1,175 more than the X5.
And finally, I want to mention that BMW has a nationwide network of well-established dealerships while Genesis is in the process of opening their own dedicated stores. As of August 2024, the count is 56 dedicated Genesis dealerships in the U.S. We have one in our local area, and it is beautiful and very luxurious, but in many regions, you would still purchase and service your Genesis at a Hyundai dealership. If that matters to you, check your area.
I want to emphasize that if money, reliability or resale value matter less to you personally, feel free to disregard these points. And if you’d like to check out all our data about reliability and resale values, as well as learn about our methodology, make sure to head to www.carconfections.com/resale and www.carconfections.com/reliability. Buying a car is a big decision, and this is a great place to compare all the makes you might be cross-shopping.
2025 BMW X5 vs. 2025 Genesis GV80 Winner!
So that’s it for this comparison between two of the very best luxury SUVs you can buy! But let’s recap a little bit and discuss who should be your personal winner.
X5:
- Powertrain advantages (better refinement, fuel economy)
- Driving experience (dynamics, ride quality)
- Advanced safety (hands-free highway driving; eye lane change)
GV80:
- Rear seat features (vented, power adjusting, power sunshades, power outlet)
- Technology (more “wow” factor, rear camera mirror)
- Warranty (longer basic and powertrain)
Now we want to know your opinions, so make sure to head to the comment section and let us know which one you would pick!
Thanks for joining us for another Car Confections Comparison! We’ll catch you next time as we sample the latest automotive delicacies!
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