2020 Genesis G90 5.0 RWD

A competitive luxury car

2020 Genesis G90. Courtesy of Genesis

It was about time for Hyundai to create a luxury division. After all, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota had started way back in the 1980s.

Genesis was launched as a luxury brand in 2015. The flagship G90 was launched at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2016.

Inside the Genesis G90. Courtesy of Genesis

The lineup includes G70, G80, and G90. The G90 5.0 Ultimate is the top-of-the-line and my vehicle for evaluation.

Powertrain

The standard G90 is powered by a 360-horsepower 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6. Also available is a 5.0-liter V8 engine which is good for 420 horsepower. It’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic and paddle shifters. Intelligent Drive Mode with Smart Shift and Genesis Adaptive Control Suspension with electronic damping control provide optimization and improved stability.

Center console with gear selector. Courtesy of Genesis

Those wishing for a little better mileage at the expense of torque might choose the twin-turbo V6. But in my week of driving I averaged 23 mpg highway and city combined.

Interior

Genesis is quiet and eager for you to get in and start it up. Smart Key with Push Button Start, Nappa Leather seating surfaces, and microfiber suede headliners with quality stitching provide an air of aristocracy, especially with the leather wrapped dash, genuine matte finish, and wood trim.

22-way power driver’s seat and 16-way power front passenger seat provide just about any kind of positioning for those in the front cabin. Ventilation and heating add additional comfort.

However, the tight high sides of the seats were a little uncomfortable. Because the vehicle sits so low, it becomes difficult for anyone with a bad back, hobbled knee, or wide butt to easily dismount. The tri-zone auto temp control with Air Quality Sensor and CO2 sensor add additional health quality.

Main infotainment display. Courtesy of Genesis

The 7-inch HD LCD Multi-Info Display is easy to read, and complements the 12.3-inch HD Navigation with multiple controls. They command the Lexicon 17-speaker audio system, with a knob in the center console that walks you through the tech control. Quantum helps set the tone for the inside environment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Screens and multimedia controls with headsets are available to the back seat occupants. However, you cannot operate Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from there. Should you not be in the mood for entertainment, just sit back and enjoy the quietness inside the cabin.

Backseat with command center in armrest. Courtesy of Genesis

Exterior

Outside, this Genesis has impressive side styling. The nose is massive and distinctively styled. The gigantic grille has geometric patterns which can be identified throughout the car’s interior. The grille is flanked by split LED Headlights and LED Daytime Running Lights All these rich good visual elements rest on 19-inch alloy wheels.

A strong exterior expression. Courtesy of Genesis

Safety and Technology

I believe that just about every auto safety technology can be found on the Genesis flagship. But these are the features I found the most appealing and wanted to mention: Surround View Monitor, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist-Reverse.

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, I did very little city driving. But I did manage to take the G90 on several outings, and got a pretty good feel for the dynamics, road-going capability, comfort, and future potential of the vehicle. Cabin quietness was impressive. This is a big, strong, luxurious, powerful sedan. But not ready for Indy.

There were no optional packages. I guess because everything imaginable was standard.

The MSRP is $72,200 for the RWD 3.3T Premium and $75,700 for the RWD 5.0 Ultimate. Add $2,500 for the AWD drivetrain.

Warranty 3-year/36,000-mile New Vehicle Warranty 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Warranty 7-year/unlimited miles Anti-Perforation Warranty

Durhl Caussey writes a car column read around the world. He resides in Dallas, Texas. He may be reached at this paper or [email protected].