Baseball, Hot Dogs, And A Genesis GV80: How To Road Trip In Arizona

Forbes

07-04-2025

Genesis GV80
Kristin Shaw
If you're a baseball fan but have never stepped foot in a major league baseball spring training facility, start making plans for next season. There's something special and magical about the spring training games, and you can find them in the Phoenix, Arizona area as well as several cities across Florida. One thing you're going to need, in either region, is a car to get from stadium to stadium. This year, I piloted a Genesis GV80 for spring break, and it got me and my family to the games in style and plush comfort.
Several years ago, my family and I explored the Grapefruit League and attended eight games in six different ballparks over 13 days. It was quite the baseball gauntlet, especially since the games in Florida are spread out across the state.
In Arizona, the ballparks are all roughly within an hour of each other. That makes it a lot easier to see more fields and more teams.
My favorite home base is the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, located northeast of Phoenix in the posh Scottsdale neighborhood. Sloan Park, home of the Cubs, is only 20 minutes away and even the furthest fields are a pleasant ride from the Princess. This year, my family and I stayed in a Privado suite, one of the well-appointed villas that has its own valet and check-in station. The Privado section looks over one of the meticulously-kept golf courses on the property, framed by gorgeous flowers and rock gardens.
It was an easy walk to the resort's eateries from our villa. I highly recommend La Hacienda for excellent margaritas and tableside guacamole; if you do, do not miss the spectacular flaming coffee for dessert, which combines tequila, coffee, cream, and cinnamon with a show of fire.
The Genesis GV80 is a great match at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, holding its own next to alternative luxury rides driven by other guests. I even spotted a 90s-era Ferrari a visitor had purchased just weeks before (likely at the annual Barrett-Jackson auction nearby).
Car and Driver rates the Genesis GV80 a 10 out of 10, and for good reason. The brand is part of the massive Hyundai Motor Group as the luxury arm of this growing company. Kia is also under the HMG umbrella, cranking out hit after hit like the Telluride and Sorento. Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia have launched creative and beautiful concept cars in past years, with no signs of slowing down. I'm particularly excited about the X convertible concept unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show two years ago. Psst, Genesis, let's see this one in production!
Equipped with two engine options--a 300-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder and or a 375-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6--the Genesis GV80 offers excellent handling around town and on the highway. While the V6 is markedly more thrilling during acceleration, fuel economy takes a hit from 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway with the inline-four to 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway with the larger engine.
The Genesis GV80 SUV is road-trip ready.
Kristin Shaw
Inside the GV80, ambient lighting accentuates wood and metal trim for an elegant feel. A 27-inch display wraps across the dashboard, and the map graphics are crisp and clear. The wireless smartphone charger worked well as long as no other items were placed on top of phone (like earbuds or keys). At nearly 35 cubic feet behind the second row, there was more than enough space for our luggage for a weekend trip; we could have doubled our luggage allotment easily.
I found the upscale Bang & Olufsen audio system to be immersive, with high-quality sound. Need a road trip tune suggestion? Try 'Panama' by Van Halen or for something newer, go with 'Stargazing' by Myles Smith.
Last, but certainly not least, one of my favorite features of the Genesis GV80 is its extensive warranty: 10 years for the powertrain, a 5-year limited warranty, and 3 years of complimentary maintenance. All in all, excellent value starting at around $60,000 for the base model.