2017 Genesis G90: What's It Like to Live With?

What do you want to know about?

• Introduction
• Monthly Update for March 2017
• Monthly Update for April 2017
• Monthly Update for May 2017
• Monthly Update for June 2017
• Monthly Update for July 2017
• Monthly Update for August 2017
• Monthly Update for September 2017
• Monthly Update for October 2017
• Monthly Update for November 2017
• Monthly Update for December 2017
• Monthly Update for January 2018
• Wrap-Up

Introduction

What Did We Get?
The names "Genesis" and "G90" probably don't ring a bell. The first one isn't new, but it is being used in a new way. Up until last year, Genesis was the model name for Hyundai's midsize luxury sedan. Now, it's the name for Hyundai's luxury brand. The G90 is the brand's biggest and most expensive model while the sedan formerly known as the Genesis has been renamed the G80.

The G90 is actually a successor to the Equus flagship sedan that was also sold under the Hyundai name prior to last year. In its transition to a Genesis, the G90 received a complete redesign that gave it a handsome new look, a thoroughly upgraded interior and a potent twin-turbo V6 engine. There's also an optional V8 and a choice of either rear- or all-wheel drive.

Being an all-new car from an all-new brand makes the G90 a perfect candidate for our long-term fleet. It should be a solid indicator of how serious the Genesis brand will compete right out of the gate, not to mention how far the car itself has progressed compared to its Hyundai-branded predecessor.

What Options Does It Have?
There aren't many choices to make once you decide on a G90. The primary decision is which engine: the base 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 or the 5.0-liter V8? We went with the V6 since many luxury sedans are moving toward smaller turbocharged engines that are more efficient. The 5.0-liter V8 would work well, but the V6 was more of a question mark.

We chose all-wheel drive since it's becoming as common on luxury cars as turbocharged V6s. All G90s get an eight-speed automatic transmission so at least that decision is made for you.

There are no feature options on the V6-powered G90 mostly because it's already loaded with just about everything you could ever want in a luxury sedan. Put it up against any high-end sedan from any manufacturer and it will compete favorably if not offer more. The only upgrade it doesn't come with is fully adjustable rear seats, which are standard on V8-powered models.

The final price for a G90 with all-wheel drive and the V6 is $71,550, putting it right in line with the Lincoln Continental we added to our fleet in December. The two big sedans even have similar colors, so they're bound to be compared directly throughout the year.

Why We Got It
New automotive brands don't come around very often, and new luxury brands are even rarer. There's a reason for that. Building a brand that buyers are willing to pay a premium for takes time, money and exceptional products. Not many companies are willing to make the investment.

The upside to new brands is the potential for seeing something new and different. The G90 isn't a radical departure from what's available from its competitors in terms of performance, features or technology. But it does throw a wrench in the equation when it comes to price, which undercuts the better-known German flagships by $20K-$30K to start.

Over the next 12 months, we intend to find out if that price is truly a steal or if the G90 is missing the intangible elements that make a car truly luxurious.

Follow its progress on our long-term road test updates for our latest thoughts and impressions of this 2017 Genesis G90.

The manufacturer provided this vehicle for the purpose of evaluation.

Monthly Update for March 2017

Where Did We Drive It?
Our 2017 Genesis G90 had a pretty mild first month as we eased through the break-in period. Mostly, it handled daily commuting duties, with one weekend getaway a hundred-some miles up the California coastline. In that time, we've started to form an impression of the big Genesis, which boils down to "we're mostly impressed, but the twin-turbo V6 isn't anyone's favorite engine."

Now that the engine's broken in, future updates will tell whether liberal application of the go pedal changes our opinion of the engine — or our already-worse-than-EPA-estimate fuel economy.

As we mentioned in the G90's introduction, it's priced in direct competition with our Lincoln Continental. There's some disagreement in the office as to which we'd buy if it was our money on the line, but at least one editor is in the bag for the Genesis (who has two thumbs and is typing this post?).

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
Although we were carefully respecting the G90's break-in period, and were therefore being very gentle with the throttle, the car fell short of its EPA estimates in its first month with us. Over 1,364 miles with the Genesis, we used a little more than 73 gallons of gas, for an average of 18.6 mpg. That's off the EPA combined rating of 20 mpg.

More troubling is that our worst fill came in at 16.7 mpg. Small turbo engines moving big, heavy cars do have a tendency to underperform in real-world situations, but that worst fill was during the break-in period. Only time will tell how the G90 handles life with Edmunds editors behind the wheel.

Average lifetime mpg: 18.6
EPA mpg rating: 20 combined (17 city/24 highway)
Best fill mpg: 20.8
Best range: 366.4 miles
Current odometer: 1,365 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Performance
"I had only driven the V8-powered G90 before this long-termer showed up, so I'm glad we got the twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 to compare. This is a significant new engine for Hyundai — er, Genesis — and I'm afraid there's still some work to be done. I was initially thrown off the scent by the baritone engine note, which masks the expected V6 graininess, but there's no hiding the vibrations beneath your feet at higher rpm. I'm talking from maybe 4,000 on up; meat of the powerband. A car like this should be all refinement, all the time, and the force-fed 3.3 doesn't currently meet that standard. I don't know if it needs fancier motor mounts or what, but I can tell you that Audi, for example, has tamed the V6's inherent thrashiness with its supercharged 3.0-liter unit — so it can be done. Hyundai/Genesis just hasn't done it here. But here's the good news: The G90's 5.0-liter V8 is righteous. Sounds great, revs smoothly and pulls like a champ. I wouldn't bother with the V6 as long as those extra two cylinders can be specified." — Josh Sadlier, Content Strategist

"If you put it in Sport mode, it actually feels tight. I've whipped down a couple freeway on-ramps at speed and it handled them well. The Equus couldn't do that." — Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor

Comfort
"There are so many soft-touch surfaces and luxury appointments in this vehicle. Why is the driver armrest so hard?" — Mike Schmidt, Senior Manager, Vehicle Testing

"The G90 does a very credible S-Class impression at highway speeds. This kind of car needs to have that boss-of-the-road character — wide, weighty, supple, confident, hushed — and Genesis has nailed it here. I took a 7 Series on a similar trip about a month ago and can tell you that the G90 certainly holds its own in such company. Quite the debut for Hyundai's premium brand, wouldn't you say? With the G80 and G90, Genesis has a pair of bona fide luxury barges right out of the gate." — Josh Sadlier

"Lots of stuff to talk about on this car, but here are a couple first impressions. It's dead quiet inside. Everything on the outside is muffled to the point of irrelevance. It makes for a soothing environment no matter what kind of road you're on. The other big thing I noticed is the ride quality. It's far more buttoned-up than the Equus (predecessor to the G90) ever was. It's forgiving but not so soft that it feels like it's going to bounce off the ground over every bump in the road." — Ed Hellwig

"The G90 makes sense to me. It pulls off the luxury trick of making you feel separate from the world. Ensconced in the comfortable driver seat (now my favorite in our LT fleet, handily beating the much more adjustable seats in our Continental) in the whisper-quiet cabin, you exist in your own little world." — Will Kaufman, Associate Automotive Editor

Interior

"The interior has some clear influences from BMW and Lexus … but I wish it didn't. I understand benchmarking brands that produce excellent products, but 'benchmarking' and 'cribbing' are different things. As much as I enjoy spending time in the G90, it feels like Genesis hasn't quite found its own identity yet." — Will Kaufman

"There are certainly a few low-rent materials to be found in the G90's interior, but none of the surfaces I touched bothered me. Instead, what got me was the seams. The one that really stood out for me was on the underside of the shifter. The top of the shifter has a nice leather pad on it, but the underside has a noticeable, and very cheap-feeling, seam where two pieces of plastic meet. I couldn't stop touching that seam, and it kept breaking the car's wonderful illusion of supreme quality." — Will Kaufman

"I'm a sucker for analog clocks in cars, so I was glad to see one in the nouveau-luxury G90. Unfortunately, the chrome-finished numerals and hands look plasticky and cheap in the sunlight — like they belong on a $5 desk clock. Thankfully, when the sun sets and the lights go on, the edge lighting for the G90's clock hides the cheap-looking finish on the hands and highlights the interesting texture of the dial. Giving the numerals and hands a brushed finish would really have classed up a clock that's already mostly a very nice addition to the car." — Will Kaufman

Miscellaneous

"We usually leave styling to the beholder, but I can't help myself in this case. I'm so impressed by how the G90 drives — and so underwhelmed by how it looks. It's weird, because I think the G80 is a beautiful car. Love the proportions; might tweak the headlight design a bit, but that's it. But to my eye, the G90 is soft and ungainly by comparison. To be fair, I don't think BMW did a great job with the new long-wheelbase 7 Series, either. Only Mercedes and perhaps Audi have mastered the art of making stretched sedans look graceful. But since the taut and tidy G80 came first, I expected the G90's styling to be a reason to buy the car. As things stand, it would be a reason to think twice for me." — Josh Sadlier

Monthly Update for April 2017

Where Did We Drive It?

There were a few long weekend drives logged in our 2017 Genesis G90, but the big event for the month involved a drive out to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, one morning and running it through Edmunds' instrumented testing regimen.

The G90 impresses with its road comfort, extremely well equipped cabin and the low-end torque that pours out of its twin-turbo V6 engine, a characteristic that makes us wonder why Genesis bothers offering a V8. But we always want to qualify our driver-seat perceptions with data to see how a car stacks up against its competition.

Unsurprisingly, this Genesis is as quick as it feels, and it holds its own against comparably powered European offerings — it breaks 60 mph from a standstill in under 5.5 seconds. We won't spoil the full results that'll come in a "Performance Tested" post soon.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?

April was a weird fuel economy month for the Genesis — we logged both our two best and two worst tanks since receiving the G90 just a couple months ago. The low-mileage tanks outweigh the frugal tanks, however, which drags the G90's lifetime average down to 17.7 mpg from 18.6 mpg. And this doesn't even include the 10.5-mpg tank we threw out following a taxing performance shakedown of the G90 at the track.

The tank fill that's perhaps most baffling is the one after our 116-mile evaluation loop, which involves a mix of city, mountain and highway driving. After double-checking our fill records, we came back with a tank average of 28.5 mpg. This is significantly higher than the next best tank at 21 mpg, and could've been the result of a short fill.* We're reserving judgment until we have more tanks under our belt.

Average lifetime mpg: 17.7
EPA mpg rating: 20 combined (17 city/24 highway)
Best fill mpg: 28.5*
Best range: 366.4 miles
Current odometer: 2,520 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Performance

"The G90's powertrain takes a few beats to put the power down, especially when you aren't in Sport mode. Languid transmission shifts and turbo boost delays are the prime contributors. But when the stars align and you're in the right gear at the right time, throttle response is responsive while the all-wheel-drive system quickly and seamlessly transfers power to the axle that needs it." — Calvin Kim, road test editor

"The suspension does good work; it's hard to upset this large chassis even driving on rough city streets and expansion-joint filled highways. It maintains composure over large and hard-edged bumps in the road, and keeps the cabin fairly level and the passengers isolated." — Calvin Kim

Comfort

"I love me some power-adjustable rear seats. They are the ultimate example of placing a high priority on passenger comfort. Unfortunately for our G90, we would have had to upgrade to the 5.0-liter V8 to get them. There's no way to get adjustable and ventilated rear seats with the smaller engine. It seems strange that Genesis would tie features to a trim, especially one that also includes an entirely different engine. Kia already figured it out with the K900; it can be equipped with nearly the same level of content regardless of the engine. And, yes, that means you can get adjustable, ventilated rear seats with the V6." — Cameron Rogers, associate editor

MPG
"Comparing fuel economy estimates within the class, one thing I noticed that is absent in our G90 is an auto stop-start function. Although this usually helps boost the city mpg value, I'm typically not a fan of these systems because they usually delay a car's response off the line and make my mechanically sympathetic heart cringe with the high frequencies of restarts. So not having to shut that feature off every time I fire up the engine is a luxury in itself." — Jonathan Elfalan, senior road test editor

Technology-Audio

"Well-executed controls and buttons are important in helping the driver control ancillary systems without getting too distracted, and the G90's are easy to access, well-spaced and clearly labeled for easy location, day or night. It's a small detail, but to be able to get acquainted with a car's systems within the first 30 seconds makes for a pleasant experience." — Calvin Kim

"The flip-lid bin allocated for wireless charging and the USB charge port won't close if you have your phone plugged in, even if it's the smaller iPhone 5. This missed opportunity could've been a slick feature ... shame." — Jonathan Elfalan

Monthly Update for May 2017

Where Did We Drive It?

Our 2017 Genesis G90 earned its keep in May, as we logged nearly 2,900 miles behind the wheel.

Most of those miles were put on when Senior Road Test Editor Jonathan Elfalan took the G90 up to Northern California to attend an event. Over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, yours truly added a few hundred miles on a quick drive to Palm Springs while the rest of the month was mostly commuting.

The G90 continues to impress team Edmunds as we become more accustomed to its personality and powertrain. At the same time, this familiarity also makes it tough to overlook some of the vehicle's quirks and shortcomings.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?

With the long drives the G90 took this May, it would make sense to expect that we reached new heights in the world of mpg. But did we? Here are how the numbers shook out.

New bests: We had our longest range, a 414-mile tank that returned a respectable 21.6 mpg. Our overall mpg for the month pulled in just a hair under the combined EPA estimate of 20 as we came in at 19.7 mpg.

All the miles in May boosted our total mpg to a combined 18.8. Before May, we were at 17.9 mpg.

Average lifetime mpg: 18.8
EPA mpg rating: 20 combined (17 city/24 highway)
Best fill mpg: 28.5
Best range: 414 miles
Current odometer: 5,346 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Technology
"The blind-spot monitoring system has a small flaw, and it involves using the momentary turn signal. When changing lanes, if you tap the turn signal, which then signals three times, it'll pick up a car two lanes over as you begin moving over. I haven't experienced this in other cars unless I've left my turn signal on. In this case, the warning is more startling than useful." — Jonathan Elfalan, senior road test editor

Performance
"Although I'm generally partial to the sound and feel of a V8, I wouldn't blame anybody for skipping it in the G90. The twin-turbo V6 in this car is very impressive. It launches it up to highway speeds in a hurry and delivers plenty of passing power at speed as well. I suppose if there were four adults on board you might notice the engine straining a bit, but even then I'm guessing few would notice. I also like the incredibly smooth power delivery and quick shifts from the transmission. Others have dinged the engine for not feeling smooth at higher engine speeds, but it doesn't bother me much, especially since it downshifts pretty quickly with all those gears at its disposal." — Ed Hellwig, senior editor

Interior
"If I'm going to call out Chevy products for the chrome-look steering wheel decal that reflects blinding rays of light into the driver's eyes, then I owe the Genesis the same courtesy.

"But not only was I blinded by the chrome-look wing decal in the wheel: The satin-finish metal-like buttons on the center console also caught the sun in an unfortunate way. They didn't just force me to squint; the reflected light also meant I couldn't see any of the indicator lights in the controls, rendering them temporarily useless." — Will Kaufman, associate automotive editor

Comfort
"The G90 makes sense to me. It pulls off the luxury trick of making you feel separate from the world. In the comfortable seat (now my favorite in our LT fleet, handily beating the much more adjustable seats in the Continental) and in the whisper-quiet cabin, you exist in your own little world, and it is a very pleasant place.

"Also, almost everything is entirely intuitive. There was a phone-shaped compartment in the console, so I dropped my phone into it … and lo and behold it turned out to have Qi charging. I didn't even mind the clicky gear selector — Park is accessed through a button, which takes away the absolute worst aspect of similar setups in other cars. I had no trouble navigating menus or making the car do what I wanted it to do .... until I parked. The parking brake switch is entirely hidden by the steering wheel from a normal position in the driver's seat." — Will Kaufman

Miscellaneous
"We went to Palm Springs for a quick Memorial holiday weekend getaway and stayed at an old Hollywood glamour hotel called Ingleside Inn. Parked next to the fancy cars of people who came to the hotel for dinner, the G90 looked right at home. Stately, handsome and massive, the G90 belonged. Nothing about this land yacht said 'outsider.'" — Matt Jones, senior consumer advice editor

Monthly Update for June 2017

Where Did We Drive It?
Our long-term 2017 Genesis G90 spent a spell away from Edmunds intergalactic headquarters during the month of June, serving as steed for our esteemed Fresno-based editor. After that it returned to the Los Angeles basin to whisk an editor's parents to Father's Day festivities.

In all, it covered 1,268 miles in June, which is on the lean side — our monthly target for long-term vehicles is closer to 1,700 miles. Certainly the G90 deserved this respite considering its mammoth May mileage of some 2,800 miles.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
Delivering 18.3 mpg during June, it's no surprise the G90's fuel economy didn't measure up to May's freeway-heavy result. It's still shy of its EPA combined rating but well clear of its city number.

We've got four months in the bag, and as fuel economy goes we've seen that that is fairly indicative of its future prospects. Don't expect its future long-term running average fuel economy to deviate far from its current lifetime number.

Average lifetime mpg: 18.7
EPA mpg rating: 20 combined (17 city/24 highway)
Best fill mpg: 28.5
Best range: 414.3 miles
Current odometer: 6,653 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Interior
"Overall, Genesis has done a nice job of having physical buttons for the controls you'll use most frequently and then having everything else available through the display screen. The climate controls in particular are all physical buttons. The layout is logical as well." — Brent Romans, Senior Editor

"I like how Genesis went with a traditional approach in designing the G90's interior. There's nothing flashy here. All-digital gauge clusters are a growing trend, but the G90 sticks with physical gauge cluster instruments that are crisp and easy to read. The same goes for the big central display and array of climate control buttons. The analog clock is another nod to classic design. Everything's solidly put together, too." — Brent Romans

"OK, interior nitpick time. 1) The G90's armrests (both the doors and the center console) are kind of hard. It's odd; you'd think a premium luxury sedan would have more padding here. 2) The steering wheel's shift paddles aren't up to the quality level set by the rest of the interior. They are made of the typical plastic you'd find in a plebeian midsize sedan, and they squeak if you move them around with your fingers. But if that's all I can really complain about regarding the G90's interior, Genesis must otherwise be doing a lot right here." — Brent Romans

Comfort
"Just happened to have the Genesis G90 for Father's Day weekend and couldn't have asked for a better car to transport my 79-year-old dad around in style to the California Science Center and then a beer brunch. He absolutely loved the sedan: its luxuriousness, space and comfort. 'This is a Hyundai?' he kept asking, incredulous. He had given me a Hyundai Excel when I went off to college back in the day and noted how the G90 was a lonnng way from that econocar. For him Cadillac is the ultimate in luxury (he drives and takes pride in his CTS), but he really wants the G90 now." — Caroline Pardilla, senior copy editor

"Have we had the same car three times now? First the 2011 Equus, then the K900, now the G90? I'm certain there are key differences and will be interested to dig in and see specifics later. But they all feel like brothers from the same mother. This G90 is the best of the batch so far. Leaps better interior than the Equus and much better ride than the K900. Always thought the Kia was right on the bubble, but ultimately its ride quality sank it. You just couldn't take it seriously as a luxury alternative when that suspension was so prone to crash and bottom out on big road upsets.

"I don't feel any of that with the G90. Will be interesting to get this thing out on a long highway haul, across a couple of different mountain and/or desert states, and see how it handles some more ripped-up concrete. As it is, with some of the garbage roads here in the Southland, the G90 feels much more dialed in than either the Equus or K900. Maybe Kia was going for more of a sport tune with the K900, but it didn't work. THIS is where the K900 needs to be if it's to be a legit consideration with full-size luxe sedan buyers." — Dan Frio, automotive editor

"A big luxury sedan like this should be at its best on the interstate, and it's true for the G90. It's a superb cruiser because 1) the driver's seat is supportive and very comfortable for hours on end; 2) the suspension ably smoothes out undulations on the road without being too soft or wallowy; 3) there's a minimum of road and wind noise; and 4) it tracks straight and true. You can devour miles on the highway in our G90 like Kobayashi does hot dogs." — Brent Romans

Performance
"The G90 reminds me of the car that I first learned to drive, a 1979 Cadillac Eldorado. It was my grandmother's car, and when I think back on it now, I'm shocked she willingly sat shotgun during the many hours I drove while under a learner's permit.

"The G90's linear power delivery feels just like the Eldo. The Genesis's 3.3-liter turbo six-cylinder couldn't be more distant from the old GM engine, but feels so similar. It's just this long band of torque as you stomp away from a stoplight, then it's just percolating below the surface when you need a quick hit on the highway to pass, merge or antagonize the 7 Series driver next to you.

"I predict this will be one of my favorite cars; it's a born long-haul commuter with an added angle of nostalgia, for me anyway. At 6,400 miles, we're just getting started. I think the G90 will be a universal staff favorite." — Dan Frio

Miscellaneous

"'Must be this tall to ride' with regard to the G90. I'm 5-foot-5, and found that after moving the driver seat to a distance perfect for me from the pedals, it couldn't move any closer. So it seems even with its 22-way adjustability that any driver shorter than me will be out of luck. Sorry, short chauffeurs." — Caroline Pardilla

Monthly Update for July 2017

Where Did We Drive It?
Vegas, baby! We headed out from our home offices in Los Angeles to Sin City two times this month in our 2017 Genesis G90. Ron Montoya went to check out an Evo fighting game tournament, and Cameron Rogers fired up our big luxury sedan for a weekend of rest and relaxation. Smart guys, Ron and Cameron, since I can think of no better car in our fleet right now for driving multiple hours on the highway.

You'll find their comments interspersed among more general observations from the rest of the team this month. Overall, it would seem that our 2017 Genesis is continuing to earn praise as we steam past 9,000 miles on the odometer.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?

Despite our long highway drives, our G90 did not post any new fuel economy bests this month. Then again, the drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is not exactly conducive for conserving fuel. Drivers are more interested in speed and getting to Vegas (or back home) as quickly as possible. Below are our latest totals, but you can also find specific commentary about Cameron's Vegas drive further below.

Average lifetime mpg: 18.8
EPA mpg rating: 20 combined (17 city/24 highway)
Best fill mpg: 28.5
Best range: 413 miles
Current odometer: 9,225 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Performance
"Prior to driving our G90, I didn't think I would like the V6. 'Don't you need a V8 to get the luxury character that Genesis is trying to go for?' Nope. Even though the G90 is a big car, I found the turbocharged V6 to be plenty powerful." — Cavin Kim, road test editor

MPG
"We had the Genesis packed to the gills for our Las Vegas trip: four occupants, luggage and several bags of provisions. I wasn't concerned about setting a fuel economy record considering the full trunk and three additional passengers, so I didn't feel guilty dialing in a high cruising speed and blasting the tri-zone climate control to shield us from the 110-degree exterior temperature. Even so, I kept the adaptive cruise control on most of the time to see if I could hit a decent highway number.

"The G90 achieved 22.7 mpg from our starting point in Brea, California, to Las Vegas, with a few miles of city driving thrown in before we left Sin City. This wasn't far off the EPA's highway rating of 24 mpg. I thought it was reasonable given the above circumstances and the uphill grade. We beat this estimate on the way back, with a respectable 25.9 mpg. Overall fuel economy for my trip was 24.2 mpg." — Cameron Rogers, staff writer

Comfort
"On my trip to Las Vegas, my passengers praised the G90's comfortable ride and tomb-silent cabin. The power-retractable side and rear shades helped keep the backseat occupants cool, as did the tri-zone climate control. They didn't enjoy the ventilated seats that my fiancée and I did, however. You can get them on the G90, but only on the V8-powered model." — Cameron Rogers

"During a recent heat spell, I turned on the ventilated seats in our Genesis G90 to help cool off. But I wasn't impressed with the result. I could hear the slightest hum coming from the seats, but after the initial cooling from the fans, they petered out. In a luxury vehicle, I'd expect more." — Travis Langness, staff writer

"There's an auto recirculation feature in the climate control but I'd hate to see what it takes to trigger it into activating. While I was stuck in traffic (shocker!) I figured I'd give it a whirl and turned off the standard recirc only to get a big whiff of every diesel truck in the vicinity. Not only did diesel stink make it through but so did cigarette smoke, medicinal vapors and everything remotely catalytically challenged. I think I even got a whiff of someone's cologne. Ugh." — Kurt Niebuhr, photo editor

"I took the G90 to Vegas to watch the 2017 Evo fighting game tournament with three friends. We fit three carry-on suitcases, a duffel bag, two backpacks and a fight stick (so that we could have our own tournament) in the trunk. This big luxury sedan took us down the road with confidence. My passengers in the back seat were probably the most comfortable since they had a sunshade to shield them from the 112-degree heat that weekend. Overall, the G90 was a great car both for the chauffeur and the coddled passengers in the back." — Ron Montoya, senior writer

Technology-Audio
"While the G90 was impressive overall, there was one feature that annoyed me to no end. I used adaptive cruise control extensively and its wonky calibration made me yearn for standard cruise control. The G90 was too quick to react to the vehicle in front moving out of my lane. It would downshift and tap into the twin-turbo V6's deep well of thrust, rocketing forward.

"But often there was another car right ahead, and the G90 would hit the brakes when the second car entered its range. We were basically pinned to the seat in one instant and felt the force of the brakes the next. I later learned that not only can you select standard cruise (by holding the set distance button for 2 seconds) but you can also alter the adaptive cruise control reaction settings. Somebody had set the response to Fast, which explained why the car was so quick to snap forward. I subsequently changed it to Normal, but I wish I would have checked these settings beforehand." — Cameron Rogers

"The G90 is a big vehicle, and it has a feature I wish more large vehicles had: a forward-facing camera for parking. In a perfect world, all drivers would be able to accurately estimate the distance between their front bumper and the bumper of the parked vehicle ahead of them, but that's not happening. To see such an inclusion on the Genesis is welcome. And although I think I'm pretty good at parallel parking and usually won't tap the car ahead of me while parking, the forward-facing camera helped me park more quickly than I would have on my own." — Matt Jones, senior writer

"I'm a fan of the G90's default drive mode, called Smart. The mode sits in between Eco and Sport. It aims to strike a balance between the two, or as the company describes it: 'The Smart Shift mode was developed with Genesis proprietary AI technology that detects driving information, analyzes driving patterns and then automatically optimizes the driving mode in real time for a truly adaptive driving experience.' I can't tell if it's truly adapting to what I'm doing, but it has neither the dead pedal feel of Eco nor the darty aggressiveness of Sport." — Ron Montoya

"I give the G90 huge credit for the implementation of its wireless charging pad. The storage compartment just ahead of the shifter is a natural place to set your phone, so the fact that there happens to be a charging pad at the bottom of it is brilliant. That's the way technology should work. On the other hand, I've found that the actual charging technology still needs some improvement. It works, but very slowly. My S7 with no case on it gets extremely hot after about 15 minutes on the pad. Makes me wonder if it's ultimately degrading the battery. Still, it's a nice feature to have for those times when you forget a cord, so I'm glad it's there as an option." — Ed Hellwig, senior editor

Cargo Space
"The G90 proved to be a good choice for my trip to Las Vegas, but some planning was required to make the trip smooth. We were only staying for two nights, but my group of four tends to overpack. I encouraged my passengers to fit their possessions into bags that could be easily manipulated rather than rigid suitcases. The G90 has a large trunk, but max capacity is nowhere near what you'd get in a crossover, where you can stack luggage to the roof if you absolutely need to." — Cameron Rogers

"Has anyone used the hands-free trunk release? You just swipe your foot around underneath the rear bumper, and provided the car is locked and you have the key on your person, the car will beep and then the trunk will open automatically. It works really well on the G90, and you don't have to excessively wave your foot around like you're shooing away an animal." — Calvin Kim

Miscellaneous
"After driving a bunch of compacts recently, it felt great to get into a full-size sedan. Yes, they're harder to park and they do use more fuel, but you can stretch out and enjoy the peace and quiet. The G90 is one of the few cars where I don't mind a little bit of traffic." — Calvin Kim

Monthly Update for August 2017

Where Did We Drive It?
Our long-term 2017 Genesis G90 stayed local in Los Angeles during August, venturing only to Beverly Hills, Los Angeles proper, Orange County and the San Fernando Valley. No long road trips for which this car is presumably well-suited. Nevertheless, it garnered a wide range of impressions with our editors and the general public.

One pleasant surprise this month was learning just how well-suited the Genesis G90 is to pet-hauling duty. That's no joke — it really is ideal for larger, elderly dogs with special needs. In fact, our Genesis was featured in a car-shopping article this month for exactly that reason.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
With all of the city driving during August, the Genesis G90 returned 17.7 mpg this month, which is its second-lowest monthly result yet. Its lifetime average fuel economy felt the blow, dipping 0.2 mpg compared to its running tally one month ago. On the plus side, the G90 is still surpassing the fuel economy of its city rating, and there have been several fills in the low to mid-20s.

Average lifetime mpg: 18.6
EPA mpg rating: 20 combined (17 city/24 highway)
Best fill mpg: 28.5
Best range: 414.3 miles
Current odometer: 10,458 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
The G90 went in for an oil change and tire rotation this month to the tune of $109.55.

Logbook Highlights
Interior

"The Genesis is an ideal car for my elderly, 52-pound dog, Mya. She has a very hard time walking due to joint issues and cancer, so I need to use a ramp to load her into any vehicle. The Genesis' low seat height (compared to, say, any SUV or crossover) keeps the ramp angle shallow so Mya can more easily amble up the ramp. Plus, the big sedan has long rear doors that provide a large aperture, which also eases access. Its retractable sunshades are great for keeping her cool. Oh, and backseat vents! When out of the car, Mya gets around in a stroller. This stroller doesn't pack down much when it's time to schlep it, but the Genesis' huge trunk swallows the stroller and ramp like it was designed for them. I don't think there's a better car for dogs out there!" — Caroline Pardilla, senior copy editor

Comfort
"We're approaching the 10,000-mile mark and, if anything, I'm growing fonder of our G90. In particular, the cushy suspension is refreshing. Hyundai — er, Genesis — understands that a car like this doesn't have to corner like a sport coupe, and that empowered the suspension engineers to dial in a magic-carpet ride. I love the way this thing wafts down the highway. Great sound insulation, too. The road-trip game is strong with this one." — Josh Sadlier, senior manager, content strategy

"Let's talk about climate control. Automatic recirculation, to be precise. One would presume that such a system would automatically switch to recirc mode when it detects nasties in the air. Well, all I can tell you is that the Genesis — when in auto recirc mode — did absolutely nothing to prevent the stench of a particularly foul Lancia Fulvia from entering the cabin. I had to manually switch it to recirc. Which is no big deal, but then what good is having automatic recirc?" — Jason Kavanagh, senior road test engineer

Technology
"The Bluetooth in the G90 has a strange quirk that I haven't seen in any other vehicle I've recently driven. If you're streaming audio and using Waze navigation, you won't hear the voice prompts. It'll just pause the other audio when the voice would be speaking. I even tried it with Google Maps and the same thing happened. The Bluetooth module somehow gets confused with the secondary audio playing over the music." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor

Performance
"Powertrain refinement is one of the few categories in which the G90 can't match the big German cruisers. The V6 vibrates mildly but palpably when you're hard on the throttle; try an Audi supercharged or turbocharged V6 and you'll feel the difference. And the Hyundai-designed eight-speed automatic transmission isn't always buttery smooth. Occasionally it'll bang a shift, and I use 'bang' loosely — what I mean is that certain shift transitions are abrupt and transmit their proceedings to the cabin, whereas the German rivals just edit all of that out. Now, I love the optional 5.0-liter V8 from my brief time with it; I doubt I'd be complaining about refinement there. But the transmission leaves room for improvement either way. Genesis still has a little work to do." — Josh Sadlier

Miscellaneous

"Arrrgh! The transmission selector is, at times, infuriating. Under certain circumstances, it just plain refuses to go into R or D, instead popping itself into Neutral. I tried parallel parking in this thing and it bounced into N about four times in a row before finally staying in R. Then when trying to select D, it again went into N twice. It's enough to make a grown man hurl profanity at an inanimate object." — Jason Kavanagh

"An older man who saw me exiting the G90, pulled up next to me and asked, 'How do you like your car?' After explaining that it wasn't my car, I told him that I was a fan of this G90. It is comfortable, looks good and offers a ton of features for the price. 'I was considering buying one of those,' said the man. This was a strong statement, coming from someone who was driving a late-model 7 Series. I didn't get a chance to ask him why he wouldn't want another BMW, but it got me thinking about Hyundai's decision to change the brand. Would he have given the G90 a second look if it had an 'H' badge on it?" — Ron Montoya

Monthly Update for September 2017

Where Did We Drive It?
For the most part, it was another strong month for our long-term 2017 Genesis G90. We rolled up about 1,300 smooth and quiet miles in September, many of them courtesy of yours truly on a jaunt to the Central Coast. I've come to think of the G90 as one of the long-term fleet's unsung heroes — we don't talk about it much around the office anymore, but it's an awesome car on the open road, providing thoroughly convincing performance and luxury.

The only hiccup this month was a suboptimal service experience, which fleet-master Mike Schmidt reports on in detail below. Otherwise, the G90 continued to impress. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this car to anyone shopping for an executive-class sedan, and I know I'm not alone. Forget about faint praise from the past like "It's pretty good for a Hyundai." This thing is just good, period.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
The big news for September is that I set a new single-tank range record of 488.9 miles, which is about what I'd expect from a car that's designed to pound freeways into submission. Sorry, Lincoln, but I can't resist throwing a little shade at our long-term Continental here — its current best is 419.9 miles, and it's typically closer to 300 miles per tank. I know which one I'd pick for, you know, crossing the continent.

I'll also note that the G90 has proven itself capable of slightly surpassing the EPA's 24 mpg highway estimate on long trips. That's no sure thing in these turbocharged times. I measured 24.5 mpg at the pump on the back end of my Central Coast journey, so it's possible. Alas, our lifetime average is still 1.2 mpg shy of the EPA estimate for combined driving, despite a fair number of road trips at this point.

Average lifetime mpg: 18.8
EPA mpg rating: 20 combined (17 city/24 highway)
Best fill mpg: 28.5
Best range: 434.0 miles
Current odometer: 11,746 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
We took the G90 in for its first scheduled service this month, or rather we tried to do so. It worked out, but not without some hitches and glitches. Check out Mr. Schmidt's extended commentary on the unusual experience below.

Logbook Highlights

Maintenance
"I didn't have much luck scheduling our first G90 service. After 15 minutes of searching for a Genesis dealer near me, I eventually confirmed that the nearest Genesis service center was a Hyundai service center. Based on the Genesis-specific websites I found, this was a bit misleading.

"After 15 minutes on hold, trying to schedule an appointment at my nearest dealership, I hung up feeling frustrated. Another 10 minutes passed before I found the G90 concierge phone number online. I called it next. After 15 more minutes on the line with a very friendly concierge, I had an appointment at the same dealer that put me on indefinite hold originally. Because I wanted to go next-day, I opted against the available valet pickup. That option required 48 hours' notice.

"I arrived at Huntington Beach Hyundai early. A porter walked out, greeted me right away and walked me to the service adviser. He was equally polite, and we got the paperwork started. That's where our experience took a detour from that of the typical G90 owner.

"Genesis offers three years/36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance, which is available from the dealership where you bought the car. Our adviser explained that he would honor the service plan even if we bought our G90 at another Hyundai/Genesis franchise. But since this was a test car, it wasn't in the database. That meant we paid out of pocket.

"It cost $109.55 for the oil, filter and tire rotation. We really can't count this against the car, so we won't. But counting the five-minute drive from my house to the dealership, I devoted a full hour just to making this service happen. That is unacceptable. Perhaps G90 buyers are handed a neat folder at the time of purchase with all of the information I had to search for online. I hope that is the case because this didn't feel like the special experience I expected." — Mike Schmidt, senior manager of vehicle testing operations

"I keep finding new things to admire about the G90. This time it's the stereo. I'm not impressed by the 17-speaker layout or the Lexicon name per se, because every player in the executive game's got credentials like those. What impresses me is the richness of the sound itself, including a rare surround-sound mode that actually enhances the experience (these modes usually sound artificial to me). What's more, the whisper-quiet interior is a perfect place to enjoy it. Just one more reason why the G90 makes me want to plan road trips around it when it comes my way." — Josh Sadlier

Monthly Update for October 2017

Where Did We Drive It?
Our long-term 2017 Genesis G90 went to Fresno, Big Bear Lake, Las Vegas and back to Los Angeles over the course of the last four weeks. And it did all that in the hands of two main drivers: Brent Romans and me. Brent did a good amount of in-town driving around Fresno as well as a few back-and-forth trips to Los Angeles. I had a mix of flat freeway and curvy mountain miles over a Bermuda Triangle-style weekend trip from L.A. to Big Bear to Vegas and back.

All of this driving added nearly 2,500 miles to the G90's odometer, and near the end of the month, it crossed over the 15,000-mile mark, almost two months ahead of schedule. Clearly, this thing is road trip-friendly.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
Despite a number of long road trips, we still haven't surpassed the EPA rating of 20 mpg combined for the G90's lifetime average. We've beaten the 24 mpg highway rating a number of times, just not most of the time. Right now, our lifetime average is stuck at 19.3 mpg, with our best range still an impressive 488.9 miles.

Average lifetime mpg: 19.3
EPA mpg rating: 20 combined (17 city/24 highway)
Best fill mpg: 28.4
Best range: 488.9 miles
Current odometer: 14,922 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
No maintenance or upkeep this month, but we just crossed the 15,000-mile mark so we'll be scheduling a service soon.

Logbook Highlights

Performance
"I'm pleased with our Genesis' turbocharged 3.3-liter V6. While a couple of my co-workers have previously noted a subtle lack of refinement to this powertrain (vibration and gear shifting), I'll reinforce that it is indeed subtle. I have to focus to notice it. Otherwise, this V6 has a satisfying amount of midrange power. Whether you're accelerating up to highway speeds or need a quick burst of speed in the city, just press on the gas and the G90 moves out with authority." — Brent Romans, senior editor

"While I like the G90's highway ride and I'm a big fan of the quiet cabin, taking this thing around pretty much any corner is a lackluster experience at best. It doesn't feel buttoned-down or confident in any way. I'd love for the G90 to feel smooth and capable going down the backside of Big Bear Mountain, but it just felt ungainly and sloshy through the turns. There isn't much natural fun to be had in this big sedan." — Travis Langness, automotive editor

Interior
"I recently had some downtime between a couple of daytime appointments. Rather than go back to the office in the G90 I was driving, I just sat in the back, fired up my laptop and got some work done. As expected, there are acres of room. Just stretch out and relax. The dual-zone rear climate controls are nice to have. I was a little dismayed that our car lacks rear seat adjustments, though. Apparently, only the G90 Ultimate (the V8 model) gets them." — Brent Romans

Comfort
"I drove about 300 miles earlier today in our G90. To back up what some of my co-workers have noted previously, this thing is great for long highway drives. The driver's seat is comfortable for hours at a time, and the suspension ably absorbs bumps and ruts in the road. I also like the driving position and the feel of the steering wheel. It's just what you'd expect from a big luxury sedan." — Brent Romans

Technology-Audio
"Hands-free operation of a trunklid gains a new level of usefulness when the trunklid is power-operated. Just stand at the back of our G90 with the key in your pocket, wait about 3 seconds as the system beeps a few times, then the trunklid automatically opens. Total time from start to finish (when the trunklid is fully open) is about 8 seconds. Two caveats: one, this is undoubtedly slower compared to opening a regular trunk with your hand; and two, you still have to push a button to close the trunklid. But if you've got your hands full of stuff, the G90's automatic opener is pretty cool." — Brent Romans

"I can't remember a car, especially not one that clocked in at over $70K, that had less responsive voice commands than our G90. For three days straight I tried to give it commands, select radio stations and input navigation destinations while on the road, but all of it was a disaster. When it did understand my basic commands to start the prompts, the menus were confusing and impossible to sift through. More than once, I had to pull over, put the car in park and manually type in an address for my destination, which is, quite simply, a deal-breaker." — Travis Langness

"There are some odd popping-like noises coming from our Genesis' rear speakers. I've noticed them recently upon starting up our G90 in the morning. It might have something to do with fall's cooler temperatures. After a few minutes of driving and warming up the cabin, the popping noises go away." — Brent Romans

"It's odd that Genesis decided to fit its flagship G90 with just two USB ports. There's one up front in the lidded center stack cubbyhole and one in the fold-down rear armrest. That about two USBs short of what a car like this should have, by my count. Even if you're driving the car and don't have passengers, there could be times when you want to connect or charge more than one device. We've partially remedied the situation in our G90 by adding a USB charger to the 12-volt power port in the center console. Still, it's an oversight and one that continues on for the 2018 model year G90 as well." — Brent Romans

Miscellaneous
"Though we like our long-term G90 a lot, a potential buyer might be dismayed with Genesis' limited dealer network. I checked Genesis' website. In California, for instance, dedicated Genesis G90 dealers (not just a Hyundai dealership) are only in major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. I'm not surprised since Genesis is just getting started as an independent brand; nonetheless Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes dealers are going to be more common for a lot of folks." — Brent Romans

Monthly Update for November 2017

Where Did We Drive It?
Our 2017 Genesis G90 spent November making our commutes a little less stressful, smoothing out the bumps on about 1,800 miles' worth of L.A. roads. The G90 remains a favorite around the office for its comfortable seats, quiet interior and excellent stereo, but every car has its faults, right? This month we find a few more niggles with the consummate Korean, but we still have plenty of praise.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
We averaged about 18.9 mpg in November, falling short of both the EPA-estimated combined mileage. This result also dragged down our lifetime average a bit, to 19.2 mpg. It's worth pointing out that our lifetime average is within spitting distance of the EPA's 20 mpg combined estimate, which isn't terrible for any car that sees as much heavy traffic as ours does.

Average lifetime mpg: 19.2 mpg
EPA mpg rating: 20 combined (17 city/24 highway)
Best fill mpg: 28.5 mpg
Best range: 488.9 miles
Current odometer: 16,756 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Performance
"I'm frustrated by the fact that the G90 defaults to its Smart drive mode on startup. I have an Individual profile that I like: It keeps the chassis soft and the throttle sharp. The Smart mode will tighten up the suspension if you start driving a little aggressively, and I really don't need to start feeling bumps in the freeway just because I wanted to pass a slow-moving car. If I drove this car every day, I'd be annoyed at having to change drive modes at every startup." — Will Kaufman, associate staff writer

Technology-Audio
"I recently found a stereo I like as much as the G90's: the 23-speaker, 2,400-watt Mark Levinson stereo in the new Lexus LS 500. That's a pricey add-on in a pricey car, and I really couldn't say that it sounded any better to me than the G90's standard Lexicon system. Somewhere a guy with $15,000's worth of tube amps in his basement is screaming bloody murder, I'm sure, but for my money, the G90 is where I want to be when it's time to crank some tunes." — Will Kaufman

Comfort
"'Cold' is a bit subjective. I recently drove our G90 to LAX to catch a flight to Denver, and let's just say there was more cold in one of those places. Still, L.A. was cold by my standards so I cranked up the G90's heated steering wheel and seat and was a bit disappointed. They get warm, but the seat in the GM product I drove in Denver was like sitting on a pizza stone. Maybe the G90 is just more refined than the vulgar American truck. But if you really value a crispy crust — uh, I mean a toasty bottom — the G90 is not my top pick." — Will Kaufman

"When our new BMW 5 Series joined the long-term fleet, I wondered if it might challenge the G90 for seat comfort. I remember we had been fond of the seats in the short-term tester, but those were the Perfect Position seats, and our standard seats are distinctly less perfect. The G90's seats are softer and more supportive, and for me at least they're simply a nicer place in which to spend time than the comparably priced Bavarian's." — Will Kaufman

Interior
"Had the G90 for a few nights in a row, and I came away really impressed by how easy this executive sedan is to live with. There's not much of a learning curve with the electronics, which is remarkable considering the vast range of functions the car provides. Everything just makes sense pretty quickly. Of course, the sheer bulk of the thing can make it a handful in the city, but insofar as it's possible to build a user-friendly luxo-barge, Genesis has pulled it off here with confidence." — Josh Sadlier, senior manager, content strategy

Monthly Update for December 2017

Where Did We Drive It?
Our long-term 2017 Genesis G90 spent the vast majority of December handling our general commuting duties. I made a few trips up to the high desert region of Southern California, but otherwise it was business as usual. The big G90 continues to deliver a comfortable and quiet ride.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
We logged 2,980 miles in December and used 163.6 gallons of premium unleaded. Those figures give it a monthly average of 18.2 mpg, which is well below our lifetime average but close enough to the EPA combined estimate. This little dip wasn't enough to affect our lifetime average, though.

Average lifetime mpg: 19.2
EPA mpg rating: 20 mpg combined (17 city/24 highway)
Best fill mpg: 28.5
Best range: 488.9 miles
Current odometer: 17,902 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights
Comfort
"I've been noticing that car seats have been getting firmer in terms of cushioning. In many ways, it seems like manufacturers are adopting Audi's construction by concentrating more on the shape of the seats rather than masking them with pillowy compliance. Not the Genesis. Nope. This is old-school soft cushioning. Compared to other luxury sedans, it feels like you sink into the seat, almost like an Eames lounge chair. That's neither a good thing nor bad. I suppose it just comes down to what you prefer. These seats are plenty comfortable, for sure." — Mark Takahashi, senior writer

"Multiple-zone climate control is pretty much a standard feature for large sedans like the G90. Its tri-zone system provides separate temperature controls for each of the front seat occupants, while passengers in the back can fight amongst themselves for weather mastery.

"Most cars allow for a single fan speed for those in front. But the G90, like many other top-tier luxury sedans, offers two fan speeds for maximum comfort. It's great for me and my fiancée. I'm always a bit warm, and even when it's cool outside I'll keep the fan at full blast, just below 70 degrees. She likes wafting warm air anytime there's a cloud in the sky. The G90's setup ensures we both get what we want.

"I'm not sure our editors noticed the G90's separate fan speeds in the G90-Continental comparison. If so, the win for the climate portion of the Comfort section might have gone to the Genesis." — Cameron Rogers, staff writer

Technology-Audio
"Here's something that bugged me that is more of a knock against Apple than Hyundai/Genesis. The audio system functioned fine with my iPhone 6S right up until two weeks ago. Now, there's a rather long pause between the time when I skip forward a track. The first couple of seconds of a song also get cut off. My initial guess was that it's down to the whole 'iPhone throttling back for older batteries' thing that was in the news. After upgrading my phone (congrats, Apple, your throttling back worked on me), the problem persists. I'm now thinking it's due to the latest round of iOS updates. #FirstWorldProblems" — Mark Takahashi

Maintenance
"I could take up an immense amount of virtual real estate, screaming into the void about how much I hate electronic shifters in general, but the Genesis G90's is worse than others. There must be a software glitch because I cannot imagine the transmission is behaving the way it's supposed to.

"On multiple occasions, I will reverse out of my driveway and move the shifter to Drive, only to have the transmission revert to Neutral. The car will be completely stopped with my foot planted on the brake. I'll pull the shifter toward me, pause and release. The 'D' light illuminates, I give it some gas, and then VVVVRRRRRRRRR. Wash, rinse, repeat until the barge finally scoots forward. It's to the point where if I see a car half a mile down my street, I'll just wait until it passes in case the transmission decides to VVVVRRRRRRRR itself to a rear-end collision.

The G90 is due for regularly scheduled maintenance, so we'll add this to the to-do list when we bring it in." — Cameron Rogers

Monthly Update for January 2018

Where Did We Drive It?
Our long-term 2017 Genesis G90 kicked 2018 off with a series of road trips. I drove it from L.A. to Las Vegas for CES, and Josh Sadlier made yet another trip up to California's Central Coast. As expected, the G90 delivered the kind of silent luxury we seek on journeys like these. In keeping with its recent history, the Genesis has also remained trouble-free.

What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
We logged 1,921 miles in January and used 96.9 gallons of premium unleaded for an average of 19.8 mpg. That was an improvement on our lifetime average, but not enough to increase it. Best fill and range also remained unchanged.

Average lifetime mpg: 19.2
EPA mpg rating: 20 combined (17 city/24 highway)
Best fill mpg: 28.5
Best range: 488.9 miles
Current odometer: 19,823 miles

Maintenance and Upkeep
None.

Logbook Highlights

Interior
"There's a pretty noticeable creak coming from the driver's seat. Sure, I've packed on a little extra tonnage in my quest for the world's richest and most decadent foods, but I doubt that is the real issue. I hear it groan under acceleration and it sounds like something plastic is ready to surrender. Probably something to have a dealer look at in the future." — Mark Takahashi, senior writer

Technology-Audio
"I thought that maybe my old iPhone 6s was throttling back, which was causing the delayed response when listening to music in the Genesis. Unfortunately, I now think it's due to the latest iOS updates. I bit the bullet and got myself an iPhone X and it suffers from the same slow response. First-world problems, I know, but still, it should work better in this day and age." — Mark Takahashi

Miscellaneous
"It's strange. Automakers universally attempt to appeal to younger demographics (or at least purport to). This approach makes sense because it creates buyers for life (or at least attempts to). The G90 turns that strategy on its head. Save for its mighty engine, there isn't a dynamically inspired bone in the G90's body. It goes all-in on size, silence and comfort. By cultivating these attributes, the G90 is laser-targeted toward older buyers. It's as though Genesis wants to pick up the buyers that Buick and Lincoln are desperate to shed." — Jason Kavanagh, senior road test engineer

"I like that the G90 issues a soft confirmation chime when locking it from the key fob. Sure, it's just a little digital alert, like you might hear from your laptop, but too many cars today tend to issue a blast from the horn, some at a softer volume and some at full throat. Some, like the F-Pace, issue a timid little 'meep' that still makes me laugh. (Someone seems to have overlooked that it tends to undermine the otherwise feral image of that SUV.) In keeping with an image of subtle elegance, the G90 doesn't call attention to itself or the driver, or annoy the neighbors, when sealing itself off. Small detail but appreciated." — Dan Frio, automotive editor

"So I drove the G90 to the Central Coast (3.5 hours from L.A.) and back. Again. Possibly the third time I've done it at this point. What more could you ask for in a road-trip car? Quiet, composed, supple. Plenty swift when you need it to be. Plenty of range — it's easy to get 400-plus miles from a single tank. Copious passenger space front and rear. I don't really have a bad word to say about it, and I've spent more time in the saddle than just about anyone around here. This car banishes any bad memories of the old Hyundai Equus and establishes Genesis as a serious player in the executive-sedan segment." — Josh Sadlier, senior manager, content strategy

Wrap-Up

What We Got
The names might not ring a bell, but the Genesis G90 came around once before. Back then it was called the Hyundai Equus, a flagship luxury sedan that demonstrated the Korean automaker's resolve to play in the same yard as established European, Asian and American luxury brands. The Equus wasn't quite ready for prime time, nor was the comparable K900 from Hyundai sub-brand Kia.

Now half a decade later, Hyundai's newly spun-off luxury division, Genesis, comes with the G90, a more refined successor to the Equus. In its transition from a Hyundai model to full-blown luxury division, Genesis gave the G90 a thorough overhaul: a handsome new style, an upgraded interior, and a potent new 3.3-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine.

We'd done long-term tests with the Equus and the K900, both equipped with powerful V8 engines. Although the G90 offers a V8, we wanted to try the new turbo V6 since that's become a more standard configuration, along with all-wheel drive, among large luxury sedans. Choosing a G90 was easy since there are just two trim levels: Premium and Ultimate. Or read another way, V6 and V8.

Our test got off to a slow start. Could a $71,000 Genesis sedan really hang with rivals from Audi, Cadillac and Lexus? We were skeptical. Then we warmed to it (note, in particular, Mr. Sadlier's enthusiasm for the big silver slab). Genesis still has work to do, especially with its tech and electronics, but overall we found it was a fantastic car for melting away miles.

Performance

"This is a significant new engine for Hyundai — er, Genesis — and I'm afraid there's still some work to be done. I was initially thrown off the scent by the baritone engine note, which masks the expected V6 graininess, but there's no hiding the vibrations beneath your feet at higher rpm. A car like this should be all refinement, all the time, and the force-fed 3.3[-liter V6] doesn't currently meet that standard." — Josh Sadlier, senior manager, content strategy

"The G90's powertrain takes a few beats to put the power down, especially when you aren't in Sport mode. But when the stars align and you're in the right gear at the right time, the throttle responds quickly and the all-wheel-drive system seamlessly transfers power to the axle that needs it." — Calvin Kim, road test editor

"The G90 reminds me of the car that I first learned to drive, a 1979 Cadillac Eldorado. The G90's linear power delivery feels just like the Eldo. The Genesis's 3.3-liter turbo six-cylinder couldn't be more distant from the old GM engine, but feels so similar. It's this long band of torque as you stomp away from a stoplight, then it's just percolating below the surface when you need a quick hit on the highway to pass, merge or antagonize the 7 Series driver next to you." — Dan Frio, staff writer

"Taking this thing around pretty much any corner is a lackluster experience at best. It doesn't feel buttoned-down or confident in any way ... just ungainly and sloshy through the turns. There isn't much natural fun to be had in this big sedan." — Travis Langness, staff writer

"If you put it in Sport mode, it actually feels tight. I've whipped down a couple freeway on-ramps at speed and it handled them well. The Equus couldn't do that." — Ed Hellwig, senior editor

"The suspension does good work. It's hard to upset this large chassis. It maintains composure over large and hard-edged bumps in the road, and it keeps the cabin fairly level and the passengers isolated." — Calvin Kim

"I'm frustrated that the G90 defaults to Smart drive mode on startup. I have an Individual profile that I like: It keeps the chassis soft and the throttle sharp. Smart mode will tighten up the suspension if you start driving a little aggressively, and I really don't need to start feeling bumps in the freeway just because I wanted to pass a slow-moving car. If I drove this car every day, I'd be annoyed at having to change drive modes at every startup." — Will Kaufman, associate staff writer

MPG

"We had the Genesis packed to the gills for a Las Vegas trip: four occupants, luggage and several bags of provisions. I wasn't concerned about setting a fuel economy record . . . but even so, I used the adaptive cruise control most of the time to hit a decent highway number. The G90 achieved 22.7 mpg from our starting point to Las Vegas, with a few miles of city driving thrown in before we left. This wasn't far off the EPA highway rating of 24 mpg — reasonable, I thought, given the [cargo] and uphill grades." — Cameron Rogers, staff writer

"One thing absent in our G90 is an auto stop-start function, which usually helps boost city mpg value. I'm typically not a fan of these systems because they usually delay a car's response off the line and make my mechanically sympathetic heart cringe with the high frequencies of restarts. Not needing to shut off that feature every time I fire up the engine is a luxury in itself." — Jonathan Elfalan, senior road test editor

Comfort

"We're approaching the 10,000-mile mark and I'm growing fonder of our G90. The cushy suspension is refreshing. Hyundai — er, Genesis — understands that a car like this doesn't have to corner like a sport coupe, and that empowered the suspension engineers to dial in a magic-carpet ride. I love the way this thing wafts down the highway. Great sound insulation, too. The road-trip game is strong with this one." — Josh Sadlier

"I've noticed that car seats are getting firmer in terms of cushioning. It seems like manufacturers are adopting Audi's construction by concentrating more on the shape of the seats rather than masking them with pillowy compliance. Not the Genesis. This is old-school soft cushioning. It feels like you sink into the seat, almost like an Eames lounge chair. That's neither good nor bad; it just comes down to what you prefer. These seats are plenty comfortable." — Mark Takahashi, senior writer

"Have we had the same car three times now? First the 2011 Equus, then the K900, now the G90? This G90 is the best of the batch so far. Leaps better interior than the Equus and a much better ride than the K900. The Kia was right on the bubble, but ultimately its ride quality sank it. You just couldn't take it seriously as a luxury alternative with a suspension that was so prone to crash and bottom out on big road upsets. I don't feel any of that with the G90. With some of the garbage roads here in the Southland, the G90 feels much more dialed in than either the Equus or K900." — Dan Frio

"When the new BMW 5 Series joined the long-term fleet, I wondered if it might challenge the G90 for seat comfort. We'd been fond of the seats in a short-term tester, but those were the Perfect Position seats, and our standard 5 Series seats are distinctly less perfect. The G90's seats are softer and more supportive, and for me at least they're simply a nicer place to spend time than the comparably priced Bavarian's." — Will Kaufman

Interior

"The Genesis is an ideal car for my elderly, 52-pound dog, Mya. She has a very hard time walking due to joint issues and cancer, so I use a ramp to load her into any vehicle. The Genesis' low seat height (compared to any SUV or crossover) keeps the angle shallow so Mya can more easily amble up the ramp. Plus, the big sedan's large rear door apertures also ease access. The retractable sunshades are great for keeping her cool. Oh, and backseat vents! ... I don't think there's a better car for dogs out there!" — Caroline Pardilla, senior copy editor

"I took the G90 to Vegas to watch the Evo fighting game tournament with three friends. We fit three carry-on suitcases, a duffel bag, two backpacks and a fight stick (so that we could have our own tournament) in the trunk. This big luxury sedan took us down the road with confidence. My passengers in the back seat were probably the most comfortable since they had a sunshade to shield them from the sun and 112-degree heat. The G90 was a great car both for the chauffeur and the coddled passengers in the back." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor

"Had the G90 for a few nights in a row and came away really impressed by how easy this executive sedan is to live with. There's not much of a learning curve with the electronics and everything just makes sense pretty quickly. The sheer bulk of the thing can make it a handful in the city, but insofar as it's possible to build a user-friendly luxo-barge, Genesis has pulled it off." — Josh Sadlier

Audio and Technology

"I recently found a stereo I like as much as the G90's: the 23-speaker, 2,400-watt Mark Levinson stereo in the new Lexus LS 500. That's a pricey add-on in a pricey car, and I really couldn't say that it sounded any better to me than the G90's standard Lexicon system. Somewhere a guy with $15,000 worth of tube amps in his basement is screaming bloody murder, but for my money, the G90 is where I want to be when it's time to crank some tunes." — Will Kaufman

"A hands-free trunklid gains a new level of usefulness when it's power-operated. Just stand at the back of our G90 with the key in your pocket, wait about 3 seconds as the system beeps a few times, then the trunklid automatically opens. It's slower than opening a trunk with your hand, and you still have to push a button to close the trunklid. But if you've got your hands full of stuff, the G90's automatic opener is pretty cool." — Brent Romans

"I can't remember a car, especially not one that clocked in at more than $70,000, that had less responsive voice commands than our G90. I tried to give it commands, select radio stations and input navigation destinations while on the road, but all of it was a disaster. When it did understand my basic commands to start the prompts, the menus were confusing and impossible to sift through. More than once, I had to pull over, put the car in Park and manually type in an address for my destination. A deal-breaker." — Travis Langness

"The G90 is a big vehicle and has a feature I wish more large vehicles had: a forward-facing camera for parking. In a perfect world, all drivers could accurately estimate the distance between their front bumper and the parked car in front of them. And although I think I'm pretty good at parallel parking, the forward-facing camera helped me park more quickly than I would have on my own." — Matt Jones, senior consumer advice editor

"I keep finding new things to admire about the G90. This time it's the stereo. What impresses me is the richness of the sound itself, including a rare surround-sound mode that actually enhances the experience (these modes usually sound artificial to me). And the whisper-quiet interior is a perfect place to enjoy it." — Josh Sadlier

Maintenance

"The G90's electronic shifter is worse than others. There must be a software glitch because I cannot imagine the transmission is behaving the way it's supposed to. On multiple occasions, I will reverse out of my driveway and move the shifter to Drive, only to have the transmission revert to Neutral. The G90 is due for regularly scheduled maintenance, so we'll add this to the to-do list when we bring it in." — Cameron Rogers

"I didn't have much luck scheduling our first G90 service. After 15 minutes of searching for a Genesis dealer near me, I confirmed that the nearest Genesis service center was a Hyundai service center. Based on the Genesis-specific websites I found, this was a bit misleading. After 15 minutes on hold, trying to schedule an appointment at my nearest dealership, I hung up feeling frustrated.

"Another 10 minutes passed before I found the G90 concierge phone number. After 15 more minutes on the line with a very friendly concierge, I had an appointment at the same dealer that had originally put me on indefinite hold. I arrived at Huntington Beach Hyundai early the next day. A porter walked out, greeted me and walked me to the service adviser, who was equally polite. We started the paperwork, which is where our experience detoured from that of the typical G90 owner.

"Genesis offers three years/36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance, available from the dealership where you bought the car. Our adviser explained that he would honor the service plan even if the G90 had been purchased at another Hyundai/Genesis franchise. Since this was a test car, it wasn't in the database and we paid out of pocket.

"It cost $109.55 for the oil, filter and tire rotation. We really can't count this against the car, so we won't. But counting the five-minute drive from my house to the dealership, I devoted a full hour just to making this service happen. That is unacceptable. Perhaps G90 buyers are handed a neat folder at the time of purchase with all of the information I had to search for online. I hope that's the case because this didn't feel like the special experience I expected." — Mike Schmidt, senior manager, vehicle testing operations

Miscellaneous

"There's an auto recirculation feature in the climate control, but I'd hate to see what it takes to trigger it into activating. While stuck in traffic, I figured I'd give it a whirl and turned off the standard recirc, only to get a big whiff of every diesel truck in the vicinity. Not only did diesel stink come through, but so did cigarette smoke, medicinal vapors and everything remotely catalytically challenged. I think I even got a whiff of someone's cologne. Ugh." — Kurt Niebuhr, photo editor

"Let's talk about climate control. Automatic recirculation, to be precise. One would presume that such a system would automatically switch to recirc mode when it detects nasties in the air. Well, all I can tell you is that the Genesis — when in auto recirc mode — did absolutely nothing to prevent the stench of a particularly foul Lancia Fulvia from entering the cabin. I had to manually switch it to recirc. Which is no big deal, but then what good is having automatic recirc?" —Jason Kavanagh, senior road test engineer

Maintenance & Repairs

Regular Maintenance:
For its 7,500-mile service, the G90 went in for an oil and filter change, a tire rotation and brake inspection. It cost us $109.55, although for Genesis owners, this service interval would be covered. (Genesis lent us this car, thus we picked up the maintenance out of pocket.) For owners, scheduled maintenance is covered for three years/36,000 miles, or about five or six scheduled services.

Service Campaigns: None.

Fuel Economy and Resale Value

Observed Fuel Economy:
The G90's EPA-estimated fuel economy is 20 mpg combined (17 city/24 highway). In slightly more than 20,000 miles of driving, we achieved 19.6 mpg — nearly dead-on the EPA money, and impressive given our local traffic conditions and our heavy feet.

We also managed the more astonishing feat of squeezing 488.9 miles out of a single tank. We refilled that tank with 19.6 gallons, suggesting there were 2.3 gallons remaining (the G90 has a 21.9-gallon tank). In theory, we might've been able to stretch that tank out to almost 530 miles.

Resale and Depreciation:
The MSRP on our 2017 Genesis G90 AWD 3.3T Premium was $71,550. After rolling a bit more than 20,000 miles on the odometer, the Edmunds TMV Calculator values the G90 at $52,033 based on a private-party sale. That's a pretty steep depreciation of about 27 percent. Nice as the Genesis is, it's clear that, in the minds of buyers, the brand still has a long road to establishing itself as a true luxury marque.

That said, another large luxury sedan that recently departed our fleet and a key competitor of the G90, the Lincoln Continental, fared even worse at 37.5 percent.

Summing Up

Pros:
Most of our staff came around to the swift, if ever-so-unrefined, nature of the 3.3-liter turbo V6 engine. It returned pretty good fuel economy, too, for such a big sedan. The whisper-quiet interior, huge trunk, old-school comfort seats, absorbent ride, and crisp, clean stereo system made it a favorite not only for making road trips but also for alleviating brutal spells of urban commuting.

Cons:
The G90's tech and electronic features proved glitchy on several occasions. We had problems using the voice controls, Bluetooth and wireless phone charger. The car wouldn't remember our preferred drive mode and its auto recirculation was less effective than cheesecloth. There wasn't much life in the handling. And our sole service experience was a time-soak for one of our editors, undermining the exclusive, customer-centric model Genesis strives to foster.

Bottom Line:
The 2017 Genesis G90 is a promising disruptor to the established class of full-size luxury sedans. It's a distinct improvement on its Hyundai Equus predecessor, but it isn't quite fully baked. Even so, it represents tremendous luxury value for the keen-eyed buyer.

The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.