2021 Genesis G90
| MSRP | $73,995 |
|---|---|
| Edmunds suggests you pay | $71,306 |
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2021 Genesis G90 Review
- All versions come fully loaded
- Delivers exceptional level of luxury for far less money than competitors
- Refined suspension smooths out the roughest roads
- Lavish rear seat accommodations on V8 models
- Limited driving excitement
- Subpar fuel economy
- Lacks the cachet of European rivals
- New suspension setting tailored for rear passenger comfort
- Infotainment system now capable of over-the-air updates
- Part of the first G90 generation introduced for 2017
Some flagship luxury sedans might treat "value" like a four-letter word, but it's the guiding principle for the 2022 Genesis G90. Pairing the features and interior space of a large sedan with the price of a midsize, the G90 offers luxury buyers tremendous bang for the buck. If the perceived prestige of a German badge isn't terribly important to you, the G90 will provide pretty much everything you want from a large luxury sedan at a fraction of the price.
That isn't to say the G90 is the be-all, end-all of the class, however. Rivals are generally more engaging to drive and offer a greater breadth of customization. While you can get an LED-accented panoramic sunroof on the BMW 7 Series or fragrance that wafts through the air vents in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the G90 really just gives you the choice between two trims and exterior paint. But it's an excellent pick if you want the hallmarks of a large luxury sedan and don't want to pay six figures for the privilege. For a full breakdown of the G90's hits and misses, check out our Expert Rating below.
Our verdict | |
Large luxury sedans usually aren't known for their outstanding value, but the Genesis G90 plays by its own rules. The G90 packs more features than sedans that can cost tens of thousands of dollars more. It's not as sporty or opulent as its pricier competition, but if you just want a cruiser that transports four in supreme comfort, the G90 might be right for you. | |
How does the G90 drive? | |
The V8-powered G90 posts solid performance numbers, but it isn't satisfying to drive in the way its German rivals are. In Edmunds' testing, our rear-wheel-drive G90 test car accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. That's a tad slow for the class, especially considering our car had the more powerful engine. It also doesn't feel all that powerful accelerating on the highway because the transmission can be leisurely to respond when you want a downshift. Steering effort is luxury-light. Genesis dialed out pretty much all road feedback in exchange for more insulated comfort. That's OK in this case since the G90 isn't made to be hustled. It's not as responsive as the German competition, but it isn't terrible either for such a comfort-oriented land yacht. All around, the G90 is an easy-riding car that does what you expect. | |
How comfortable is the G90? | |
As with all large luxury sedans, the G90 is eminently comfortable for four people. The leather is soft and supple, and the cushioning is rich and luxurious. Opting for the V8 also adds power-adjustable outboard rear seats, so even those passengers can adjust their seatback tilt, seat bottom position and lumbar support. The G90's ride is soft and cushy, but not so much that there's bounciness that could lead to your passengers feeling queasy. And still, some sharper bumps do get passed through the cabin, and going over speed bumps causes a porpoising motion that reminds you this is a big, heavy car. The standard tri-zone climate control works well, and all outboard seats have three-level heating and ventilation. The G90 also does an excellent job of isolating occupants from outside noise. | |
How’s the interior? | |
The G90's interior is vast. The door openings are large and easily entered. There's plenty of legroom, headroom and shoulder room for everyone in the outboard seats. The rear middle is the only exception. It's narrower than the other seats, and the rear hump on the floor gets in the way of the middle passenger's legs. Visibility from the driver's seat is good all round, and the standard 360-degree camera makes parking a cinch. The driver's seat is highly configurable and includes adjustments to side bolstering, thigh extension and upper back recline. As for the G90's controls, most are easy to figure out and use. You can interface with the infotainment system through the touchscreen or the controller knob. The on-screen menus are straightforward. | |
How’s the tech? | |
Considering its emphasis on value, it's no surprise the G90 comes with a full suite of safety features. There are clearly marked physical buttons for most of them, so you can turn them on and off easily. Also standard is a 17-speaker audio system. It's not as immersive as the ultra-high-end systems found in some rival sedans, but it sounds clear and punchy. Nobody except hardcore audiophiles will be disappointed. We were slightly let down by the number of power ports. There's only a wireless charging pad up front, plus two USB ports split between front and rear passengers. To get more charging capability, you'll have to use an adapter in one of the G90's three 12-volt outlets spread throughout the cabin. The voice control software is quite good, and the navigation system picked up every curveball we threw at it. | |
How’s the storage? | |
The G90's trunk space, at 15.7 cubic feet, is slightly smaller than average. On the upside, the tall opening makes it easy to load items in. You can also stand behind the bumper for a few seconds to trigger the automatic trunk-opening feature. Storage within the cabin is disappointing. The door pockets are short and narrow, and the bin up front that houses the wireless charging pad is small. Plugging a phone into the USB port there creates a tangled mess of wires. The large door openings and a tremendous amount of rear space make it easy to fit a child safety seat into the back. But the car seat anchor points are kind of buried in the seat cushions, so you'll have to hunt around a bit to find them. | |
How economical is the G90? | |
The EPA estimates that the V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive G90 gets 19 mpg combined (16 city/24 highway). The turbocharged V6 gets just 1 mpg better in every metric. This is more a condemnation of the V6's fuel economy than praise for the V8 since both are thirstier than rivals. Since competitors no longer use naturally aspirated V8s, the closest widely adopted alternative is a turbo V6. For example, the Mercedes S 450 is rated at 22 mpg combined, while the BMW 740i is rated at 24 mpg. | |
Is the G90 a good value? | |
If you've never gotten into the cabin of one of its more expensive German competitors, you probably will find no issue with the G90's interior. Open-pore wood and aluminum accents look great, and high-quality leather covers almost every surface. However, the overall design and breadth of customization are a little underwhelming compared to an S-Class or 7 Series, which feature additional luxury touches such as configurable ambient lighting and exotic trim options. But those features add a lot of cost, and this fully loaded G90 costs about $25,000 less than a similarly equipped rival. The Genesis G90 comes with a great warranty. It offers five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage. Genesis also gives you free maintenance for the first three years/36,000 miles. | |
Wildcard | |
The Genesis G90 isn't the kind of car that you pine away for when you aren't driving it. Performance metrics are average across the board, and while it remains composed around a set of switchbacks, there's no real enjoyment in pushing it hard. Styling elements are cribbed from other manufacturers — the grille looks like it was stolen from an Acura and the headlights are similar to a Volvo's — but they mesh to make the car less anonymous than older G90s. Plus, rear passengers will love the accommodations. | |
Which G90 does Edmunds recommend?
There's not much to decide when getting a G90 other than the engine and exterior color. The V6 is just as quick as the V8, so you're not losing out much by going with the 3.3T Premium. The only reason to get the 5.0 Ultimate is if you want the extra rear seat adjustments and ventilation.
Genesis G90 models
The 2021 Genesis G90 is a large luxury sedan that is offered in two models distinguished by engine type. The G90 3.3T Premium comes with a turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 (365 horsepower, 376 lb-ft of torque), while the 5.0 Ultimate steps up to a 5.0-liter V8 engine (420 hp, 383 lb-ft). Both are paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. Genesis' HTRAC all-wheel-drive system is available as an option.
Save as much as $2,818 with Edmunds
2021 Genesis G90 pricing
in Ashburn, VA
3.3T Premium
3.3L 6cyl Turbo 8A
Edmunds Suggested Price$71,306
3 for sale in 20147
5.0 Ultimate
5.0L 8cyl 8A
Edmunds Suggested Price$74,927
2 for sale in 20147
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Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2021 Genesis G90.
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Most helpful consumer reviews
5/5 stars, IT’S NOT A MERCEDES or A BMW, BUT IT’S DARN CLOSE
abacomike,
3.3T Premium 4dr Sedan (3.3L 6cyl Turbo 8A)
I had a 2017 BMW 740i and a 2018 S Class Mercedes so I now can compare my new Genesis G90 to other luxury sedans of similar size and comfort.
The first noticeable difference is the price: my new 2021 G90 is $40,000 less than a similarly equipped S450 and $30,000 less than a similarly equipped 740i. Next is comfort: the G90 is more comfortable and plusher than the MB or the BMW. Interior: equal to or better than the others! The materials used are exquisite and the interior ambience is warm and inviting - definitely less sporty than the others and more luxurious. Rear seats: more controls for rear passengers to adjust audio and HVAC. Seating is comfortable and legroom about the same as the others. Fit and finish: equal to its competitors with no flaws or gaps in exterior body seams. Power and acceleration: excellent acceleration from a stop or on the highway - the 365 hp V6 twin turbo engine is responsive and smooth in all driving conditions. Quietness and road noise: I have noticed that the G90 is much quieter than any car I have ever driven with almost no discernible outside noise filtering into the cabin. Audio system: best car sound system I have ever experienced - separation and surround sound acoustics are thrilling! Ride and handling: quiet but road feel is lacking because the car is more luxury tuned than sport tuned even though you can choose an array of optional handling settings. The vehicle handles more like a yacht than a sports sedan. Very little road feel - which I don’t mind since I want comfort and ease of handling. BMW and MB entries are stiffer and more responsive. Safety features: loaded with just about every conceivable safety system imaginable - as good as its competitors. Lacks wide angle rear camera but does have the 360 degree view camera.
Now for some less-than-satisfying comparisons. Infotainment system: extremely difficult to master settings and adjustments to features in the car intuitively - it is not as user friendly as its competitors in this segment. I am patient so I don’t get rattled over the fact that after 5 days of ownership I have not mastered everything - but I’m learning.
My Connective Services in the car and from the APP on my phone are not working. This is the equivalent of OnStar, Mercedes Me, BMW Assist, etc. Genesis Consumer Affairs have not returned my calls and seem non-responsive to my inquiries. Having difficult time getting help from dealer’s service department. The major downfall of Genesis is the fact that you are dealing with Hyundai dealers as opposed to BMW of Mercedes where customer satisfaction is essential. Stand-alone Genesis dealerships are few and far between so customer treatment is sub-par compared to other German or Japanese luxury brands. Hopefully they can get my Connectivity System working soon. Have to wait 6 days before they can take me in service.
Other than this minor Connectivity problem, the vehicle is a delight to drive. I do not regret for a moment my decision to go with Genesis. My only concerns are with their lack of sensitivity to their customers who spent $70,000+ on one of their luxury cars.
UPDATE ON OWNERSHIP AFTER 5 WEEKS
After owning and driving the new G90 for 5 weeks (except for 8 days at the dealership’s service department), I remain impressed with the vehicle. Ride, handling, comfort, conveniences, safety technology, performance and power are outstanding. I sat in the rear of the car and my knees were 12” from touching the front seat - huge comfort. In the rear armrest the passenger can adjust temperature, audio and several other systems.
The car is super quiet with no discernible road noise. Safety systems are terrific as is the driver assistance system which steers the car and monitors the following distance for the car in front of you.
As for the Genesis Connect System (concierge contact via the assist button) and the SOS system to notify roadside assistance in the case of a flat tire or accident, these are still not functioning even after 8 days in service. They diagnosed the problem as a need to replace the radio and accompanying headers where all communications systems are controlled and monitored. The replacement is back ordered until May 15th at the earliest. So I will not be able to use those functions until the radio is installed.
The Genesis Corporate representative has been outstanding! He gave me his cell phone number and answers my calls all the time. He has intervened with the dealership on my behalf. The dealership’s service techs and service concierge are TERRIBLE! I have a $75,000 car being serviced by techs who work on Hyundai's. At first, the service manager refused to even sit in my car when I tried to get the communications system working - he blamed the satellite and said it was a waste of time until Genesis fixes the satellite issues. He later apologized after Genesis read him the riot act about giving a customer incorrect info.
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Safety
Our experts’ favorite G90 safety features:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Automatically applies the brakes if it senses an imminent collision.
- Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Warns you if there's a car in your blind spot or if a car is approaching from the side while you're backing up.
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Issues a warning and gently steers you back on course if you start drifting out of your lane.
Genesis G90 vs. the competition
2021 Genesis G90
2021 Genesis G80
Genesis G90 vs. Genesis G80
The Genesis G80 is to midsize sedans what the G90 is to the full-size class. Both vehicles have competitive interior space and features in their respective segments, at a price level much lower than rivals. The G80 is the smaller and less expensive of the two, but it's more fun to drive, and most of the G90's equipment is available on the options sheet.
Genesis G90 vs. Lexus LS 500
Lexus' legendary build quality is on full display, especially if you select the Executive package, which includes glass trim and quilted-fabric door trim. It's an impressive vehicle, but the G90 provides better value. The Lexus is also a little sloppier at handling high-speed curves.
Genesis G90 vs. Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has set the standard for the full-size luxury segment for years, and it shows no sign of slowing down with this year's full redesign. The new S-Class comes with an intoxicating lineup of features, including a three-dimensional instrument panel, a high-tech head-up display, a suspension that leans the body into turns, and an upcoming hands-free driving system. It costs much more than the G90, but uncompromising shoppers might not consider anything else.
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FAQ
Is the Genesis G90 a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2021 G90 both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.9 out of 10. You probably care about Genesis G90 fuel economy, so it's important to know that the G90 gets an EPA-estimated 18 mpg to 20 mpg, depending on the configuration. What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the G90 has 15.7 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Genesis G90. Learn more
What's new in the 2021 Genesis G90?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Genesis G90:
- New suspension setting tailored for rear passenger comfort
- Infotainment system now capable of over-the-air updates
- Part of the first G90 generation introduced for 2017
Is the Genesis G90 reliable?
To determine whether the Genesis G90 is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the G90. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the G90's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2021 Genesis G90 a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2021 Genesis G90 is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2021 G90 and gave it a 7.9 out of 10. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2021 G90 is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2021 Genesis G90?
The least-expensive 2021 Genesis G90 is the 2021 Genesis G90 3.3T Premium 4dr Sedan (3.3L 6cyl Turbo 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $72,950.
Other versions include:
- 3.3T Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (3.3L 6cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $75,450
- 5.0 Ultimate 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 8A) which starts at $76,700
- 5.0 Ultimate 4dr Sedan AWD (5.0L 8cyl 8A) which starts at $79,200
- 3.3T Premium 4dr Sedan (3.3L 6cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $72,950
What are the different models of Genesis G90?
If you're interested in the Genesis G90, the next question is, which G90 model is right for you? G90 variants include 3.3T Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (3.3L 6cyl Turbo 8A), 5.0 Ultimate 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 8A), 5.0 Ultimate 4dr Sedan AWD (5.0L 8cyl 8A), and 3.3T Premium 4dr Sedan (3.3L 6cyl Turbo 8A). For a full list of G90 models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more