The recipe for a great luxury sedan includes an ingredients list with ample interior space, handsome exterior looks, extensive tech and convenience features, top-end materials and build quality in the cabin, attention to detail, and a powerful yet quiet engine to go with a sumptuous ride from the suspension. The Genesis G90 delivers it all, with the 2024 model carrying over from its big 2023 upgrade – which says a lot, considering it goes up against big names like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series, and both of those full-size sedans have well-deserved reputations.
The G90 arrives at the party in a smart suit and filled to the brim with features. With a base price of $89,200 (excluding destination), it’s powered by either a beefy 3.5-liter V6 making 375 horsepower, or an electronically supercharged version of the engine producing 409 hp.
The G90 undercuts its German competitors in price by not going the extra mile with the driving dynamics BMW and Mercedes value so highly. But do you need that additional 10 percent of sporty driving in your executive sedan? We spent a week with the G90 to find out.
Exterior: Keeping It Classy
The Genesis GV90 has, by design, a distinctly European look to it, with those slick and sharp two-line LED lights and bold yet elegant grille. 20-inch wheels are standard, but our supercharged tester had 21-inch alloy wheels. With understated, charming looks that belie the powerful nature of the car, the G90 is far less obnoxious about its status in life than some of its rivals.
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Genesis G90 Exterior Dimensions vs. Competitors |
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|---|---|---|---|
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G90 |
S-Class |
7 Series |
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Wheelbase |
125.2 in. |
126.4 in. |
126.6 in. |
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Length |
207.7 in. |
207.7 in. |
212.2 in. |
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Width |
76 in. |
83.7. in. |
76.8 in. |
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Height |
58.7 in. |
59.6 in. |
60.8 in. |
All G90s come with a panoramic sunroof and hands-free trunk accessibility and a long list of standard features. Detail is important when it comes to a luxury vehicle, so we appreciated the Genesis logo puddle lamps, powered doors, how smoothly the powered trunk operates, and how every panel gap is small and even.
Interior: Style And Comfort
The inside of the G90 is as urbane and elegant as the exterior leads you to believe; top-class materials are used generously, and the sense of class and refinement is distinct without rubbing your face in it. As an example, the ambient lighting is tastefully implemented rather than giving a nightclub vibe, although you can go that way with the colors if you really want to.
The G90 comes standard with a Nappa leather steering wheel and seats, three-zone climate control, front ventilated seats, front and rear heated seats, active noise control, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system.
Again, the list of standard features for the interior is long, suited to the luxurious feel created by the sheer amount of room. A couple of linebackers in full gear would be perfectly comfortable in the back – which applies to families or the respected executive, too. Headroom and legroom is generous – on par with the S-Class for headroom, and slightly more impressive in terms of front legroom.
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2024 Genesis G90 Interior Dimensions |
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|---|---|---|
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Base 3.5 T |
E-Supercharged |
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Headroom Front | Rear |
39.4 inches | 38 inches |
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Legroom Front | Rear |
42.3 inches | 37.8 inches |
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Cargo Space |
12 ft³ |
10.6 ft³ |
Trunk space lags behind rivals, however, and the most potent E-Supercharged models have it even worse, losing out on even more space int he trunk. The S-Class has 22 cubic feet of space in the trunk while BMW avails 13.7 cubes in the 7 Series for storage. Still, golfers will be quite content with the G90 as a bag will fit and the load-in level is low. We’re not sure anyone buys an executive sedan based on how much stuff they can load into the trunk anyway.
The power-opening doors, triggered with a button on the door, were a smoothly welcome luxury to get used to. For weeks after driving the G90 we were reaching hopefully for the same button on other cars.
Infotainment And Tech: A Masterclass In Moderation
While Mercedes iseagerly filling its dashboards with the biggest screens, Genesis is picking out the right size for the space – a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster are standard. The infotainment system itself, controlled by touch or a control wheel on the center console, is slick and pretty, while also offering wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay – a smart move considering our thoughts on automakers and infotainment.
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The G90 comes standard with fingerprint authentication, which is a nice touch assuming the sample is kept local, and Genesis Digital Key 2, which is “currently compatible with select Samsung, Google and Apple devices.” With Digital Key, you can lock and unlock the car as well as start it from your smartphone – and set comfort presets; it can be shared with three people.
The IIHS’s evaluation of the Genesis G90 also earned it a Top Safety Pick+ rating. Standard safety features include:
- Forward collision-avoidance assist
- Lane keep and lane following assist
- Driver attention warning
- Blind-spot collision avoidance assist and blind-spot view monitor
- Rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist
- Par distance warning and park collision avoidance assist
- Safe exit assist
- Advanced rear occupant aler
- Ten airbags
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Under The Hood: Smooth Power
The days of needing a V8 under the hood for smooth and plentiful power are over, and the G90’s supercharged V6 is an admirable substitute. The G90 comes in two flavors – the base 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375 hp and 391 lb-ft, or the e-Supercharger version that we had on test, which puts out 409 hp and 405 lb-ft.
Under hard acceleration, the sound isn’t as satisfying as a V8, but there’s a reassuring growl that goes with the relentless torque under acceleration. Around town, though, it’s quiet and refined, with the eight-speed transmission helping keep things that way. The EPA fuel economy rating is a mixed bag with the base engine being the more frugal of the two, but still only earning ratings of 18/26/21 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. The e-Supercharger version drops to 17/24/20 mpg; after a week of mostly city driving, we landed on 19 mpg combined.
On The Road: A Sumptuous Ride
The G90, when equipped with the supercharged engine, rides on a multi-chamber air suspension system. The electronically controlled suspension comes with Road Preview technology that reads the road up front and adjust the suspension accordingly. It eats up lumps and bumps with ease while keeping the chassis reasonably flat in corners, which adds up to a lovely, smooth ride – despite riding on those 21-inch wheels. As the engine is supercharged, there’s no lag from turbos spooling up whatsoever, and power comes on smoothly and, if need be, urgently.
Models equipped with the electronic supercharger also include rear-wheel steering. At higher speeds, it’s so subtle you may not notice it, but it adds four degrees of lock at low speeds. As the G90 is a longer car, it makes a big difference when making your way through a tight car park. The Mercedes S-Class offers a similar system, but the wheels can turn at a tighter angle. However, that will likely be noticed more in Europe than in the US.
Conclusion: Not Just Value For Money
As an experience, the G90 delivers serenity for passengers and a complete lack of drama for the driver – unless they invoke the wellspring of power available from under the hood. This goes for both trims, however the e-Supercharged version is still our favorite. Not only does it get the bump up in power and additional mechanical features, but it’s also blessed with a few more niceties:
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Differences in Standard Features Between 2024 Genesis G90 Trims |
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|---|---|
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3.5T – MSRP $89,200 |
3.5T e-Supercharged – MSRP $99,500 |
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Standard Suspension |
Multi-Chamber Air Suspension + Rear-Wheel Steering |
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20-inch Alloy Wheels |
21-Inch Alloy Wheels |
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Wireless Device Charger: Front |
Wireless Device Charger: Front & Rear |
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Power Door Closure |
Power Door Closure + Easy Close Power Doors |
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Power Hand-Free Smart Trunk with Auto Open |
Power Hand-Free Smart Trunk with Auto Open |
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Power Front Seats with Massage Function |
Power Front and Rear Seats with Massage Function |
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Heated & Ventilated Front Seats |
Heated & Ventilated Front & Rear Seats + Front Seat Bolsters |
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Bang & Olufsen Premium Audio |
Bang & Olufsen Premier 3D Sound |
The seats are as adjustable as they are comfortable, and the overall vibe is tasteful opulence. To go further, you would need to look at Bentley or Mercedes-Maybach and the price tags they command. If you’re not interested in outright excess, though, and are looking at the BMW 7 Series or Mercedes S-Class sedan, then the Genesis G90 should also be on your test drive list. It’s so good, in our opinion, that the small percentage of sport driving it lack against rivals is negligible. We don’t think that’s what this segment is all about – and with a price under $100k for the most potent version, it’s a bargain you won’t regret.
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