IF you are going to launch a new brand into the motoring world then its models need to make a statement and the GV80 - a fully-sized SUV - does just that for newcomer Genesis.

It's big on the outside, big on the inside and very big on appeal with premium-styled fixtures and fittings throughout.

Although the Genesis name has been around for some time elsewhere in the world and it was labelled as the posh arm of Hyundai, the car maker is now a stand-alone manufacturer and this year has launched its first models in the UK.

With the promise of seven new vehicle over 12 months, including three electric cars, Genesis is certainly a company on a mission and if the GV80 is anything to go by, it's exciting times ahead for us all.

The G80 is a fully-sized saloon and the GV80 is the SUV equivalent and, with seven seats, it is big enough to transport a five-a-side footie team, a couple of coaches and all the necessary kit.

The vehicle has plenty of road presence too with a huge G-matrix grille that simply can't be ignored, sweeping light clusters, tinted windows, twin tail pipes and stunning alloy wheels.

Move inside and its impossible not to be wowed by the premium styling and impeccable craftsmanship throughout the cabin. There is a certain quality about this Genesis that is often only experienced in premium marques.

The leather seats offer sublime levels of comfort and all three rows of seats are power-operated for convenience. The front seats are heated and offer a massage function, along with memory settings.

The main focal point is the 14.5-inch dashboard-mounted colour touchscreen and there is a wealth of on-board tech to explore, including full smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch 3D instrument cluster, DAB radio, Bluetooth, a premium Lexicon audio system, a head-up display, plus over-the-air software updates to keep everything up to date.

The GV80 is available in five or seven-seat guise and customers can choose from trim levels called Premium Line or Luxury Line.

We opted for the range topping seven-seater version in Luxury Line powered by a 2.5-litre petrol engine delivering 304ps of power and 422Nm of torque. This results in impressive performance figures with the car completing the 0-62mph sprint in 7.7 seconds and topping out at 147mph.

According to official figures, the GV80 can deliver a combined 31.4mpg with carbon emissions of 220-231g/km.

The driver benefits from an elevated seating position, which in turn results in excellent all-round visibility and the GV80 is more than happy to put in a good shift when it comes to performance.

The acceleration through the eight-speed automatic gearbox is rapid and constant, plus there are steering wheel-mounted paddles for added fun.

It's a car that eats up the motorway miles with ease cruising effortlessly at 70mph, but it can also turn on the style when faced with twisting country lanes. The road holding is assured, but the GV80 feels quite wide as it fires along the narrow country lanes.

There are drive modes that alter the reactions of the car and these are called Eco, Comfort and Sport. In addition, the all-wheel drive GV80 is happy to venture off-road or tackle more challenging driving conditions with terrain modes called Snow, Mud and Sand.

The vehicle has had extensive development on European roads so is well suited to UK motorways and B roads. The ride concentrates more on comfort than dynamism, but at the same time, it's no slouch. And when you are cruising along the motorway there is plenty of semi-autonomous technology to make life simpler. These include lane keep assist, highway drive assist and smart cruise control to automatically stay a safe distance from the car in front.

The boot is generously sized with a capacity ranging from 727 to 2,144 litres and the seats are all power-operated which makes getting into the third row much easier.

And when a break in the countryside is called for, then the GV80 can tow a caravan or trailer weighing up to 2.7 tonnes.

Admittedly, the GV80 with all the trimmings is not exactly cheap. Our test car started life costing £59,600, but after all the options were fitted, the price had crept up to £71,300.