This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. The EPA rates 2 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.

Key takeaways

  • The most efficient car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2021 model year is the Tesla Model X Long Range Plus at 105 MPG.
  • EPA estimates this car costs around $5,000 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
  • Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.

Fuel economy at a glance

These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.

When the EPA tests several variants of the same nameplate (for example, a front-wheel-drive version and an all-wheel-drive version), each gets its own rating. The figures shown here are the headline variant, taken as the configuration with the best combined MPG. The trims table further down covers all 2 variants side by side.

Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).

Combined MPG 22 MPG
City MPG 21 MPG
Highway MPG 25 MPG
Annual fuel cost $3,150
Tailpipe CO₂ 401 g/mi
Fuel type Premium

How the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD compares

The 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD returns 22 combined MPG, which is right around the 22.1 MPG class average for cars in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year.

The most efficient car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2021 model year is the Tesla Model X Long Range Plus at 105 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Genesis GV80 AWD alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2021 model year (across all classes) returns 27.9 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2021 model year is on its own page.

2021 Genesis GV80 AWD
22 MPG
Class average, 2021
22.1 MPG
Class best, 2021
105 MPG
Average new car, 2021
27.9 MPG

Trim variants rated for 2021

The EPA rates 2 separate variants of the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD. The differences come from the engine size, transmission type, and drivetrain (front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and so on). The same nameplate can land several MPG apart depending on the configuration you actually buy.

Engine and transmission Drive Combined City Highway Annual cost
2.5L, 4-cyl, turbo, Automatic (S8) All-Wheel Drive 22 MPG 21 MPG 25 MPG $3,150
3.5L, 6-cyl, turbo, Automatic (S8) All-Wheel Drive 20 MPG 18 MPG 23 MPG $3,450

Annual fuel cost across driving patterns

The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.

The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 681.8 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year $1,575
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year $3,150
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year $5,250

Year-over-year MPG for the Genesis GV80 AWD

The EPA has rated the Genesis GV80 AWD across 6 model years, from 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD through 2026 Genesis GV80 AWD. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.

Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 21 MPG.

Year Combined MPG Open year page
2026 21 MPG 2026 Genesis GV80 AWD
2025 21 MPG 2025 Genesis GV80 AWD
2024 22 MPG 2024 Genesis GV80 AWD
2023 22 MPG 2023 Genesis GV80 AWD
2022 22 MPG 2022 Genesis GV80 AWD
2021 22 MPG this page

Compare against other Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD for 2021

If you are cross-shopping the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.

The Tesla Model X Long Range Plus leads this group at 105 MPG, 83 MPG ahead of the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD.

Specifications

The 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD runs a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a automatic (s8), sending power through all-wheel drive.

Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.

Vehicle class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine
2.5L 4-cylinder turbocharged
Transmission
Automatic (S8)
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Fuel type
Premium
Annual petroleum use
13.5 barrels per year
Start-stop system
Yes

Common questions about the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD.

  • Is the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD fuel efficient?
    It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD returns 22 combined MPG, and the average car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year sits at 22.1 MPG.
  • What MPG does the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD get?
    The EPA rates the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD at 22 combined MPG, 21 MPG in city driving, and 25 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is.
  • How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD per year?
    The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,150 for the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade.
  • Does the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD require premium gas?
    Yes. The EPA lists the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump.
  • Has the Genesis GV80 AWD become more fuel efficient over time?
    Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2021 Genesis GV80 AWD, 22 MPG) and most recent (2026 Genesis GV80 AWD, 21 MPG) versions sit in the same range.
  • How much CO₂ does the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD emit?
    Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 401 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 6,015 kilograms of CO₂.
  • What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD?
    City driving returns 21 MPG and highway driving returns 25 MPG, a gap of 4 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns.
  • What engine is in the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD?
    The 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD has a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine (EPA description: SIDI & PFI). Smaller turbocharged engines like this one tend to deliver bigger-engine power on demand while keeping fuel economy closer to a non-turbo version of the same displacement.
  • What transmission and drivetrain does the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD have?
    The 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD comes with a automatic (s8) transmission and all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive variants typically read 1 to 3 MPG lower than the front-wheel-drive equivalent of the same engine, since the extra hardware adds weight and parasitic loss.
  • How does the 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD compare to the best car in its class?
    The most efficient car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2021 model year is the Tesla Model X Long Range Plus at 105 combined MPG. The Genesis GV80 AWD returns 22 MPG, a gap of 83 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.