2023 Genesis G90 Ultimate

A relative newcomer, Genesis has been staking its claim in the luxury arena with bold designs and fresh takes on traditional segments. The South Korean automaker—it's the luxury arm of Hyundai—launched its first nameplate with the full-size G90 in 2017 and impressed us right out of the gate, winning a comparison test on the strength of its well-appointed cabin and high-tech features.

Since then, Genesis has fleshed out its lineup with a stable of sedans and crossovers. The G70 sport sedan won our 2019 Car of the Year, and the GV70 compact SUV took home our Golden Calipers as the 2022 SUV of the Year. Sales have reflected the brand's overall excellence, as well; Genesis managed to move nearly 50,000 units in 2021—more than double its previous best and more than a third as many as Cadillac despite that brand's century-plus head start. The G90, however, had merely been face-lifted since it arrived. It remained a strong value in terms of features and comfort but lacked the stateliness of newer versions of long-running nameplates.

Now, the 2023 Genesis G90 is all-new and ready to challenge the full-size luxury sedan establishment once more, boasting a fresh exterior design, gorgeous interior, and new mild hybrid drivetrain.

A Striking Sedan

We were intrigued by the 2023 G90 as soon as the first images of the new luxury sedan emerged online. Genesis calls its design language "athletic elegance," which is apparent in its mixture of organic and straight lines. Additionally, Genesis uses a two-line graphic for the LED headlights and twin taillight bars to give the G90 instantly recognizable front and rear visages; we particularly like how the lighting elements flow into the wheel wells and reappear just ahead of each front door.

The signature "crest grille" mimics the shape of the shield at the center of the Genesis logo, a motif also reflected in the shape of the exhaust finishers. Both the grille and available 21-inch wheels make use of a layered design, with tiers of texture for additional nuance and depth. The result is a vastly more elegant car than the outgoing model, with the style and presence necessary to sit at the top of the Genesis lineup.

First-Class Cabin

The improvements extend to the G90's interior, which both looks and feels the part of a contemporary luxury flagship. High-quality leathers, metals, and other trim materials are on display, while exposed plastics are few and far between. Twin 12.3-inch displays include a fully digital instrument cluster that's configurable to a variety of styles, as well as a main infotainment display with gorgeous graphics and quick responses to inputs. However, scrolling through the horizontally aligned thumbnails can get frustrating if a menu item happens to be at the end of the list. Otherwise, the interior layout is very user friendly for the driver.

Unfortunately, buyers who only drive their G90 won't experience one of its finest points, the incredible back seat. Like other executive sedans from the long-benchmarked German and Japanese brands, Genesis generously equips its second row. Features include heated, massaging, and ventilated seats; the best spot in the entire car is the passenger-side rear seat, which can be fully reclined and offers a motorized leg rest. The front passenger seat folds away, as well, to open enough space for most adults to stretch out and wiggle the tips of their toes. Button-activated power soft-closing front and rear doors add to the overall feeling of opulence.

G90 variants equipped with this feature also receive a Chauffeur mode, which alters suspension damping for maximum comfort for rear passengers. When we arrived in Miami, Genesis sent a driver in a G90 to pick us up from the airport. With all the rear shades up to block out the hot Florida sun, the ventilated seats activated, and a massage cranking away, this felt like a serious upgrade from flying coach. All these features can be controlled via a display on the rear middle armrest. This small screen is easy to navigate and is positioned next to a large volume knob. Genesis told us its home market in South Korea will take advantage of this setup at a much higher rate than U.S. consumers will, as even wealthy Americans tend to drive their own cars.

First Drive Impressions

Since most American owners will find themselves in the driver's seat, the G90's road manners really matter. Fortunately, Genesis offers two powerful drivetrain options that provide ample grunt to haul around this large sedan and its occupants. The base engine is Genesis' familiar 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 producing 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. The top-spec car that we drove makes use of an upgraded version of that powerplant. Genesis equips the most powerful drivetrain option with an electric supercharger powered by a 48-volt mild hybrid system. Total output increases to 409 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque, with the torque curve improving dramatically because the electrically driven supercharger doesn't need to be spun by the engine itself. In fact, its battery is recharged via brake-based regeneration.

On the road, this engine is responsive yet relaxed. The unstressed nature of the drivetrain lends itself to an overwhelmingly calm driving experience. Shifts are smooth and fade into the background as the eight-speed automatic transmission, standard for both engines, shuffles through gears. All-wheel drive is standard on all G90s, as well. If you end up in a hurry, the big sedan feels brisk from a standstill. There's no sporty character whatsoever, but that speaks to the focus Genesis had in making this sedan feel as luxurious as possible. That's evident in the unobtrusive engine stop/start feature, as well. However, even when the V-6 is actively idling, it's nearly imperceptible; the engine turns at just 500 rpm when the G90 is stationary.

On our top-trim test car, adaptive air suspension with adjustable ride height gives the G90 a cushy feel over most road surfaces. When the pavement gets gnarly, the electronically controlled multilink system does a great job of blunting the impact of bumps or ruts. The steering is numb, as one might expect from a car like this, but it's accurate and rear-wheel steering provides uncanny nimbleness in parking lots.

Highway stability was excellent, too, and the G90 simply crushed miles of Florida's arrow-straight highways. Sport mode firms everything up, most notably adding heft to the steering, but had little effect on the way the G90 comported itself. Ultimately we preferred Comfort mode for the majority of our test drive, because of course.

We did find a couple roads and as many freeway ramps as possible with enough curves to get a sense of the G90's handling. Its body, which is said to be 12 percent more rigid than the outgoing G90's, felt well-controlled as we slithered through the bends. Even with the car softened in Chauffeur mode, our rear passenger reported feeling totally at ease during brisk runs onto the highway outside of Miami Beach. It's truly impressive the progress made to this flagship in just one generation.

High-Tech Appointments

The G90 comes equipped with the latest versions of almost all of Genesis' technology. Genesis partnered with Apple and Samsung to allow drivers to use their phones as a remote key. Seven ultra-wideband sensors allow the car to detect a mobile device as one approaches the G90, triggering the greeting procedure that includes a light show and extending door handles. A total of four digital keys can be active at one time, and the vehicle's owner can share keys with friends and family on demand with the Genesis Connected Services app. This same software allows the G90 to perform functions like flashing its lights, honking its horn, and starting or stopping the engine, as well. For this test drive, Genesis sent us a digital key via text message. We added it to our Apple Wallet and had no issues using it to lock, unlock, and start the car throughout the day. Two traditional key fobs are included with every G90, but it was surprisingly easy to get used to simply using your phone instead.

Genesis equips all versions of the G90 with a Bang & Olufsen sound system. Base models receive a 15-speaker setup, while top-trim versions have a premium 23-speaker arrangement. One of the car's party tricks is a configurable soundscape that uses seven microphones in the cabin to help emulate large and small spaces, such s Boston Symphony Hall or a living room.

A plethora of safety features are also included with every G90. Genesis equips the latest versions of its highway driving assist semi-autonomous technology, hands-on detection warning, advanced rear occupant alert, forward collision avoidance assist, reverse collision avoidance assist, and remote smart parking assist on the entire range.

Buyers may miss a few features they expect on a pricey luxury sedan, though. Genesis's Face Connect facial recognition, which is available on the GV60 electric crossover, is not being offered on the 2023 G90. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are absent, as well. When pressed, a representative from Genesis said this was done because the wired versions of these phone connectivity systems are so much more responsive and stable than their cord-free alternatives, but we think it should be up to the buyer to choose how they connect their device to the car. Wireless charging, on the other hand, is available in both the front and second rows. Otherwise, the G90 is as tech laden as flagship vehicles come, especially as over-the-air updates are standard for all G90 models and included for the entire lifetime of the car, even as it passes to new owners.

Should I Buy a Genesis G90?

Historically, the G90 was something of a value play within the full-size luxury sedan segment. It offered impressive materials and comfort at a far lower price than the competition. That's changed some with this new generation. The 2022 G90 started at $74,950; the base 2023 G90 3.5T AWD starts at $89,495. The version we drove, which Genesis calls the G90 3.5T E-SC AWD, starts at $99,795. As equipped, our car stickered at $100,370, factoring in the $575 metallic Saville Silver paint. Matte paint colors add $1,500.

That pricing puts the G90 above the 2022 BMW 740i, which starts at $87,795, as well as the 2022 Lexus LS500, which starts at $77,175. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class starts at $112,150, however, which still makes a fully loaded G90 a deal in comparison.

Although the Genesis G90 doesn't exhibit better, more engaging driving dynamics than most of its rivals, the South Korean luxury automaker's hyperfocus on luxury and interior appointments make this sedan stand out in its segment, and it's leaps and bounds ahead of the first-generation model in terms of refinement, opulence, and—most crucially—presence. With incredible attention paid to the smallest details, Genesis just may have another winner on its hands.