Sure, the Genesis GV80 is the vehicle that may have saved Tiger Woods life when the golf icon crashed a few weeks ago in Southern California. But this fantastic midsize SUV already deserves to be known as so much more than what will turn out to be a footnote to celebrity history.

Because with GV80, Genesis has made an incontrovertible leap into the rarefied category of an all-new premium brand that now has the chops to take on the established giants at the very top of the mainstream of the global auto market. Parent Hyundai has priced GV80 at a mere $50,000 to $60,000 in the United States, but this vehicle has the mettle to take on much-pricier competitors from its position as a highly credible value play.

GV80 has gained a lot of publicity lately because of a long list of advanced safety features that, initial reports suggested, may have played a role in preventing Woods death in that horrific crash especially the obvious advantage of having a plethora of air bags to cushion him. Woods was wearing a seat belt, too.

But whats setting GV80 up for success over the long term are a number of other features as well.

For one thing, the 2019 Motor Trend Car of the Year dazzles the eyes with a unique exterior design that begins with a huge shield-shaped grille, similar to the feature that Genesis debuted on its updated 2020 G90 sedan. A quad headlight design flanks the grille.

Inside, seating for five is standard, with a third row added only in the Advanced+ model. GV80 is sumptuous in the interior, featuring quilted tan leather with blue piping, blue and tan leather door cards and real wood trim. Amenities range from the smart-posture seat that takes the occupants height and inseam measurements to calculate an ideal seating position to the Sounds of Nature audio settings on the 14.5-inch infotainment screen, which offers options including Snowy Village (sounds of boots crunching in the snow) to Warm Fireplace (vague crackling noises).

Power comes from either a 300-horsepower, 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-fur engine or a 375-horsepower, 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6. The former offers an all-wheel-drive option while the latter comes only in AWD. With the six cylinder, the GV80 offers not only Lexus-grade performance but also a reassuring smoothness in its ride.

And when it does come to safety features well, the fact that Woods survived his accident may have been influenced by the presence of practically every digital safeguard humankind could conceive. They include not only 10 airbags but also world-first Smart Cruise Control with Machine Learning; Highway Driving Assist that adapts steering feel and responsiveness based on driver behavior, Road Preview, which allows a front-facing camera to scan the road ahead and identify impediments; and many more, such as Junction Turning, which automatically applies the GV80s brakes if a vehicle is detected in the opposite lane while turning left at an intersection.

In any event, GV80 has staked Genesiss claim to a prominent spot in todays U.S. premium-vehicle market. With more new Genesis models coming out, that claim will only grow.