What is the Genesis G90?
Ready for a shocker? The top-level 2023 Genesis G90 costs $100,000 and feels worth the price tag. You tell us which is more surprising.
The Genesis G90 returns with an all-new design, drivetrain and feature list to mark the next generation of Genesis' big luxury cruiser. The new G90 retains the qualities that made it a breakout star — soft ride, ample room, first-class comfort and features — and refines the formula with improved in-car tech, better fuel economy and more sophisticated driver assist features.
Among the notable changes is a new V6 engine in two configurations. The standard turbocharged V6 makes 375 horsepower, but the upgraded version adds an electric supercharger that boosts power at lower speeds where the turbo isn't as effective. The result is silky smooth acceleration and imperceptible lag while the turbo winds up. And while the E-Supercharger version isn't quite as potent as the outgoing V8 — 409 hp compared to the V8's 420 hp — it delivers more low-end thrust and slightly better fuel economy. The 2023 Genesis G90 is estimated to get 21 mpg combined in standard trim and 20 mpg combined with the supercharger, gains of between 1 and 3 mpg combined.
Inside, the G90 is just as dazzling as before. Leather and near-leather surfaces abound — Nappa on the seats, microsuede for the headliner, the simulated-yet-sublime leather for the dash, door panels and consoles. The new dash design is more streamlined and linear, with fewer buttons, while dual 12-inch screens display digital gauges, multiple systems' status and infotainment. Dual rotary dials in the center console feel like a user-interface case study — one selects gears, the other controls the touchscreen — with the latter requiring a learning curve to know whether to swipe, rotate, shift or press for a desired result. Clunky dials aside, the whole dash borrows the best elements from Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Even the new "Mood Curator," which tailors cabin lighting, climate control, seat massage and air fragrance to suit different moods, is a nod to the G90's competitors.
Perhaps that helps explain why Genesis has priced the 2023 G90 in between its luxury targets. The new G90 starts about 18% higher than its predecessor and tops out at just under $100,000. It's a lofty, ambitious move but blunts much of the G90's original appeal: European-style luxury at a substantial savings. Though you still get plenty for the money. The top trim comes with an air suspension and rear-wheel steering to aid low-speed maneuvering, and both models come with advanced driver assist systems that can learn the habits of its drivers for more effective semi-automated driving. Whether the new G90 can retain its edge in offering the most for less remains to be seen. Watch this space for additional information, impressions and a full Expert Rating.
The 2023 Genesis G90 is a large luxury sedan offered in two trim levels: G90 3.5T AWD and G90 3.5T E-Supercharger AWD. Both are powered by a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The V6 makes 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque in base trim. The E-Supercharger trim, like its name implies, adds an electric supercharger for a power boost of 409 hp and 405 lb-ft.
G90
The standard G90 comes with:
Tech features include:
The G90 also comes well equipped with driver assist features such as:
G90 E-Supercharger
Opting for the supercharger-boosted trim adds:
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $88,400 |
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Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $249/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 12.0 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
Warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
The G90 and LS 500 were closely priced competitors until this newest G90's price increase. It's fair to say Genesis has cribbed a few notes from its rival for delivering a quiet and docile ride, especially when equipped with an air suspension. Neither is very exciting around a tight turn, but both excel at squashing the bumps and jostle of the road. The new G90's sophisticated interior design and materials give it the edge here.
The A8 stickers for less than the G90 yet offers similar refinement and an impeccable interior. It's also more fun to drive. But the price for more spirited handling includes a stiffer ride, and the Audi's baffling dual-screen interface requires unnecessary effort. And relative to the A8's size, the trunk is pretty small. What the G90 lacks in overall dynamic capability, it addresses with increased comfort and usability.
Today's BMW 7 Series is a reasonably enjoyable luxury sedan to drive, especially when compared to the Genesis G90. The 7 Series' base turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six delivers adequate thrust, and the speed-adjustable steering makes it easy to maneuver in parking lots and responsive on twisty roads. The G90 is backed by a longer warranty, but with a starting price not much less than a base 7 Series, the Genesis no longer offers the value advantage it once did.
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test | Good |
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Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test | Good |
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original | Good |
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated | Not Tested |
Side Impact Test – Original | Not Tested |
Side Impact Test – Updated | Good |
Roof Strength Test | Not Tested |
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint | Not Tested |
Ready for a shocker? The top-level 2023 Genesis G90 costs $100,000 and feels worth the price tag. You tell us which is more surprising.
This G90 is fully redesigned, with a spacious cabin and loads of eye-popping features to steal attention from the likes of the Lexus LS, BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The first-generation G90 model — which replaced the similarly intentioned Hyundai Equus — ran from 2017 to 2022, and with this totally redesigned model, Genesis has clear intentions to shock and awe.
The 2023 G90 sports a new look on the outside, led by a sleek hood and slimmed-down double headlight strips that accentuate the vehicle's length. The interior features a soft, swooping design language inspired by the brand's Korean heritage. The result is a striking and refreshingly unique luxury sedan that's ready to compete with our top-ranked picks from Europe and Japan.
All G90 models come with a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine. The base model produces 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque, representing a modest bump in each compared to the previous turbo 3.3-liter. Drivers looking for a bit more thrust can choose the upper trim level. Referred to as the 3.5T e-SC engine, it adds a 48-volt mild hybrid system, which powers an electric supercharger for extra power. Output for the e-SC engine stands at 409 hp and 405 lb-ft.
We drove the electrically supercharged variant and found it a delight on long roads. The G90 is built for cruising and feels at home settling into highway speeds to deliver a plush ride. Set the car to Comfort mode, sink into the well-appointed driver's seat, and let the car do the work. The powertrain is the definition of buttery — the V6 puts out plenty of torque through all four wheels, and the eight-speed automatic transmission is scarcely noticeable as it shifts through the gears.
The G90 is serene enough to rival Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz — there's little doubt about that after our short test on straight Florida roads. But it's more easily upset in corners. The steering is lazy, and there is prevalent body roll. You can feel the air suspension working overtime just to keep its natural leaning and tossing in line.
But there's more to like than dislike about the G90. Models with the electrified powertrain come with rear-wheel steering, which turns opposite the front wheels at low speed to enable a sharper turning radius and turns in tandem with the front wheels at highway speed for greater stability. The battery in these versions is charged through regenerative braking, and while this can create sudden stops in similar sedans when you hit the brakes, that isn't the case in the G90. Everything feels silky smooth. That doesn't make for a thrilling drive through high-speed corners, but it hits Genesis' target in the fight against more established luxury marques.
The 2023 G90 is extremely comfortable in every sense of the word, especially on our mild hybrid tester, which came standard with air suspension on all four wheels. On the road, this suspension soaks up nearly all bumps and cracks, making the driver and passengers nearly impervious to any disturbance that comes their way. All G90s use cameras to read the road ahead and prepare the dampers for impact. This system makes the G90 especially adept at cushioning the ride before it encounters bumps, as well as rebounding afterward to provide a leveling sensation that won't disturb your cold-pressed juice in the cupholder.
The G90's top-notch cabin is among the most dazzling in the class. Very little plastic can be found at all — we even think there's less plastic in the G90 than in recent Mercedes and BMW sedans we've driven. The seats are coated in rich leather, the door panel inserts are wood or forged carbon fiber, and the headliner and ceiling are microsuede. There is plenty of adjustability in the driver's seat and steering wheel to find a comfortable position, and the rear passenger seat reclines almost fully with an extending leg rest cushion too. Riders under 6 feet tall may stretch their legs out completely, provided the front passenger seat is folded forward. (Occupants over 6 feet will run out of room.)
Genesis has eschewed interior door handles inside the G90, opting instead for buttons that automatically close all four doors, with a "soft-close" feature to ensure an airtight fit without slamming them shut. High-level stuff. All seats are available with heating, ventilation and massage. Compared to Mercedes' swirling and rotating massagers, the Genesis version only presses, but it's still a pleasure with your choice of three levels of firmness. Sound-deadening materials and active noise cancellation technology ensure a nearly silent ride, as wind and road noise is impressively kept outside. The cabin's overall look isn't too dissimilar from that of the GV80, but the G90's materials and build quality are a notch above.
Digital instrumentation and a widescreen infotainment display dominate the upper half of the dashboard, but Genesis wisely retains a handful of physical controls for commonly accessed functions. The new Mood Curator suite tailors multiple features — including air fragrances, ambient cabin lighting, and the high-end 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system — to create different moods for the cabin. Remote parking, the ability to use your smartphone as a key and over-the-air updates are all impressive features — however, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, puzzlingly, require a USB connection and are not wireless.
Genesis' rotating dials for both the drive selector and the touchscreen controller have returned, to mixed results. In our review of the GV80 SUV we called the screen dial "somewhat clunky," and that holds true in the G90 as well. Choosing when to swipe, rotate, shift or press the dial can be confusing, though at least it helps keep your eyes on the road instead of poking at a touchscreen. And if we're being picky — this is nearly a $100,000 car, after all — the rear seat controls don't make much sense: The screen is difficult to unlock, the up and down selectors change radio stations in the opposite direction, and the buttons control the front touchscreen. What happens when, for example, the driver needs the front screen for navigation and the rear passengers start messing with the radio? That front screen switches from a map to a radio display — not the best solution when you're navigating a tricky cloverleaf. It's a smart idea that, in practice, needs work. One feature that better hits its mark is a sterilizing UV light in the rear center console that kills 99.9% of germs on your phone, or any other small objects placed inside the console, in 10 minutes.
The standard 2023 G90 gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined (18 city/26 highway) while mild hybrid models are rated at 20 mpg combined (17 city/24 highway). That aligns with our short drive of highway and city streets in a mild hybrid G90, which returned almost 22 mpg according to the digital readout. It's also encouraging that the mild hybrid system is powered through braking, so drivers will generate their own electricity for later use — both to power the supercharger and to shut down the engine for brief periods when stopped at a light. We'll have to bring in a G90 for testing to get a more accurate, extensive fuel economy reading.
The 2023 Genesis G90 comes in two versions: the standard G90 and the mild hybrid model. Standard features are included as follows:
Is the world ready for a $100,000 Genesis? The company thinks so, and the 2023 G90 is a startling upmarket move into the world of ultra-luxe sedans. There is a lot here that impresses, on top of the basics that luxury buyers expect at the price point. The G90 marks a new level of refinement and palatial treatment for the fledgling brand.
If Genesis was sitting at a blackjack table in Las Vegas, security would be swarming it if not for its only losing hand: the G90 large luxury sedan. Every other car and SUV from Hyundai's luxury brand posts strong to decent sales figures, but the G90's base price of $75,000 limits its appeal, and rivals from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz have arguably greater brand cachet.
But Genesis is undeterred by the lukewarm reception to the G90 and is bringing a second generation of this flagship sedan to the U.S. next year. Genesis has only revealed details of the Korean-spec model so far, but we expect most of the updates to make their way to the U.S. version as well.
Inside and out, the 2023 Genesis G90 is a design tour de force. Blending modern forms with classic detailing, the G90 leads with distinction rather than following with mimicry. Genesis says the cabin is trimmed in leather, wood, glass and aluminum, and it features front and rear seats with heating, ventilation and massage. Sound-deadening materials and active noise cancellation technology help ensure a quiet ride.
Digital instrumentation and a widescreen infotainment display dominate the upper half of the dashboard, but Genesis wisely retains a handful of physical controls for commonly accessed functions. The new Mood Curator suite tailors multiple features — including air fragrances, ambient cabin lighting, and the 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen high-end audio system — to create different moods for the cabin.
Genesis confirms that its turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine will power the Korean G90, and we expect it to be standard stateside as well — likely hooked to an eight-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive. We wouldn't be surprised if electrification plays a part of the G90's story since Genesis is already working on the full electric Electrified GV70 and Electrified G80 models. Air suspension, a rear-seat control panel and remote parking using the key fob should all make the trip across the Pacific.
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2023 Genesis G90:
The least-expensive 2023 Genesis G90 is the 2023 Genesis G90 3.5T 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $88,400.
Other versions include:
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