2020 Genesis G90

A host of advanced safety features has been added to the G90 this year making it a safer place. The new Genesis G90 is offered in two trims with two engine options and the pricing starts at around $72,200. Genesis has reorganized and came up with something to shake up the market yet again. 2020 Genesis G90 rivals the likes of BMW 740i, Lexus LS 500, and Mercedes-Benz S450. Let’s see if Genesis is capable enough to hold up against the competition. 

The 2020 Genesis G90 comes with a whole variety of features for the price and all of them concentrate on the passenger feeling like they are on top of the world. The Korean manufacturer sells the G90 in two trims, namely the 3.3T Premium and the 5.0 Ultimate. The main difference between the trims is the engine options. Apart from the engine upgrade in the 5.0 Ultimate, you also get a rear entertainment system with dual 10.3-inch displays and power-adjustable and ventilated rear seats. Both trims come standard in RWD drivetrain config but one can opt for AWD configuration for a more engaging driving experience and added confidence.

Which Trim should you buy?

Who doesn’t love a big 5.0L V8? But in this case, it is safe to stick with the 3.3T Premium trim. The 3.3L Twin-turbo V6 equipped car is peppy to hoon around town. And is almost as powerful and fast as the bigger V8; thanks to the twin-turbo onboard. All-wheel drive is an optional extra, but it takes $2,500 out of your wallet.

The 2020 Genesis G90 features two engine options. The 3.3L Twin-Turbo V6 and the mighty 5.0L V8 but the main caveat here is that the smaller V6 powerplant does the job well enough. The 3.3L Twin-Turbo V6 churns out 365 hp and 376 lb-ft while the 5L V8 churns out 420 hp and 383 lb-ft. Both the engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. As standard, the vehicle comes in RWD drivetrain configuration but can be optioned with Genesis' HTRAC AWD system. The acceleration from both the engines is quite similar on paper and it would be better to stick to the smaller engine in this case to get better fuel economy. But if the old-school character of the V8 is more your thing, then get it for it offers a distinctive sweet melody of that throaty V8.

Both of the engines on offer are good, and should not leave you wanting for more power considering the purpose of the G90 which is to take the passengers from point A to point B in the most comfortable manner possible. The 8-speed automatic shifts gears without a hitch all day long, and allows for a smooth and linear power delivery across the rev band. The gearbox comes across as a bit laid back under intense driving. When it comes to cabin noise and smooth acceleration, the 2020 G90 falls short compared to its competitors. 

The engine in the G90 is not meant to burn down drag strips but is responsive enough. It can hold its ground even amongst its competitors. But remember the car is not tuned for aggressive driving of any sort; None of the cars in this segment are. This luxury barge on wheels might have the lowest performance figures when compared to the others, but the acceleration timings do seem fair enough for its class. It covers from 0-60MPH in 5.4 seconds while the LS 500 can do it in 4.6 seconds. LS 500 is the most powerful on paper and it comes with a larger 3.5L Twin-Turbo V6 and it costs only 3000USD extra.

How well does the 2020 Genesis G90 handle?

The 2020 Genesis G90 is not built to carve corners or for drifting. It is soft and pillowy like a 70s Buick. Moreover, it gives it a planted feeling on the highway. It does have some body roll in the corners but the precise steering counteracts it. The G90 comes with Genesis Adaptive Control Suspension with Electronic Damping Control that delivers an impressive ride quality and it is a comfortable place to be and travel in. 

The insulated cabin is a treat to be in. Its active suspension does the job better than expected and it does manage to not let its weight be felt in the corners unless you decide to push it hard. After which the body roll becomes hard to ignore. And all of that, with the 19-inch rims, is a welcome surprise. Overall, the G90 is a capable machine that is lesser than some of the competitors while providing an impressive ride quality. 

2020 Genesis G90 Braking Performance

The 2020 Genesis G90 comes equipped with ventilated discs along with ABS and automatic braking aiding it. As standard, you get 14.2-inch rotors at the front and 13.4-inch rotors at the back.

The brake pedal does not feel as confidence-inspiring as the one in the BMW 740i or the S Class. But it does have a decent response and brings the car to a stop efficiently.

All of these luxury barges are blessed with a good braking setup and have decent braking performance. Lexus is the heaviest of the lot but still, it manages to stop within 114 feet when the brakes are slammed. The G90 takes slightly more distance to come to a stop but the BMW is the absolute best in terms of braking capability and it outperforms all others here. 

The base 3.3L Twin-Turbo V6 engine of the G90 isn’t the most efficient in the group. It returns 17 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway. The bigger 5.0L V8 is certainly worse but that does not make the smaller V6 the most efficient one. It returns 16MPG in the city and 17MPG on the highway. As a compromise, the 2020 G90 comes equipped with a large 21.9-gallon fuel tank which puts its driving range well over 547 miles on the highway.

Though Genesis returns the worst fuel economy numbers and range, it’s not too far off from the other two in the city and the combined average. The Lexus LS 500 is the most powerful in the lot and it is surprising to see that its fuel economy is on par with the BMW 740i. 7 Series comes with an underpowered engine and the added advantage of light-weight makes it the most efficient in the lot. But when it comes to driving range, LS 500 wins the crown here delivering over 650 miles on a full tank.

The interior of the 2020 Genesis G90 is something to make everyone talk about. Trimmed in Nappa leather, wood, and suede to the perfect amount, it gives out a premium feeling and a sense of achievement. It offers a posh interior at a much more affordable price. It is a full-size luxury sedan and it feels so every time you step inside it. G90 also features active noise cancellation to insulate its cabin from road noise and offers immense tranquility to its passengers. The passengers are the utmost priority and Genesis makes sure we know it. 

You can accommodate 5 people inside comfortably. As standard, you get features like tri-zone automatic climate control, Nappa leather upholstery, wood trims, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. Moreover, the cabin does feel upmarket with all the switches being coated with brushed aluminum but it does let down in some of the places. Some of the switches feel like they’re made of cheap plastic; cost-cutting is imminent. Overall, it is amazing, but the 2020 Civic coupe needs a refresh on the interior just like it got on the exterior to come to a match with its German rivals.

The G90 comes with plenty of space to stretch out. The car proves to hold its ground against its competition, sometimes even providing more space than its competition. The BMW however, is the most spacious option here. If we come to talk of the cargo space, it is always a downside of most of the chauffeur-driven luxury sedans. The 2020 G90 offers 15.7 cu-ft of space for your cargo which is ample for its purpose but it is the least amount of cargo space offered, compared to the competitors. However, by no means is the Genesis G90 poorly specced. It comes with its own set of highlighting features even if the quality is a little compromised. Standout interior features in the 2020 Genesis G90 include:

• 22-way power driver’s seat and 16-way passenger seat with powered lumbar, shoulder and bolster adjustment.
• Wood and Aluminium interior garnishing
• Heated and Ventilated power front seats
• Heated Leather steering wheel with auto tilt-away
• Nappa Leather upholstery
• Tri-zone climate control
• Heated rear seats

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2020 Genesis G90 has a 12.3-inch infotainment screen at the front which controls a lot of functions. And a quirk that might interest a lot of the old-school fanatics here, is that it comes with a little rotary knob to help navigate through the menu. It also comes with other buttons which are quite tactile and make navigating through the menus effortless. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard and it also comes with a wireless charging pad for your phone.

Apart from that, you also get a navigation system, and a 17-speaker Lexicon premium surround-sound system. Opting for the 5.0L Ultimate trim also gets you a rear entertainment system with dual 10.3-inch displays. Standout infotainment features are:

• 12.3-inch infotainment display
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Navigation
• Head-up display
• 17-speaker premium stereo
• Wireless device charging
• Rear seat entertainment system

The most notable upgrade from the outgoing G90 model is on the exterior front and the way it looks. It looks different and better in every aspect. They managed to take a beautiful car and gave it a modern twist along with some classical bits. The Korean manufacturer has highlighted the front end of the car with a massive grille which is featured in most of the Genesis models now. It looks bold and gives the car a muscular but streamlined stance.

The lower air vents complete the look along with the beautiful headlamps and DRL setup.

From the rear, the car is quite a lot more streamlined than the front. There is a rear lip on the deck. But arguably the most notable feature that ties the whole luxury barge look together is the beautiful 18" twin 5-spoke alloys. Overall the Genesis cannot be termed as a properly beautiful luxury sedan as it has some weird-looking elements all around. 

The 2020 Genesis G90 might have the same dimensions as its predecessor but it certainly utilizes it better and looks better doing it. It has a much better presence, is wider with a beautiful stance. Despite being larger than the competition, the BMW 740i is the lightest one in the lot. It also offers a large wheelbase which translates to better interior space. However, LS 500 has the highest ground clearance in the lot. Standout exterior features are:

• Heated power mirrors
• Hands-free Liftgate
• 18" twin 5-spoke alloys
• Sunroof
• Power rear sunshades
• Adaptive suspension
• Fully Automatic Projector Headlamps

From a luxury sedan, we only expect the highest safety equipment to protect its occupants, and the 2020 Genesis G90 does not disappoint. Being a luxury barge, NHTSA has not crash-tested it. But the IIHS has crash-tested and awarded it with “Top Safety Pick+”. And the 2020 G90 comes standard with a lot of driver assistance features which the others expect you to pay extra thousands of dollars for. Standout safety features are:

• Forward collision warning with pedestrian detection
• Automatic emergency braking
• Driver attention monitor
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Blindspot monitor
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane change assist
• Adaptive headlights
• Adaptive cruise control
• A surround-view parking camera system

2020 Genesis G90 vs 2020 BMW 740i

The BMW 7 series has always been the famed luxury sedan at this price range. It delivers enough to hold its name and more. Barring the fact that it is a BMW, it is faster, offers best in class fuel economy, cargo space, and rear-seat space. But the G90 does land a blow by providing better front-seat space and it does all that the BMW does at a lower price tag. But still, the 7-Series is the overall better choice considering the fact that it is also more engaging to drive.

2020 Genesis G90 vs 2020 Lexus LS500

Apart from Genesis G90, the Lexus LS 500 is the only other Asian rival in the group. The Lexus gets a more powerful base engine amongst the lot and comes with a lot of little quirks and creature comforts at its price point. It provides a bigger cargo area, better fuel economy but misses out on the crown because of its cluttered infotainment and not as the premium interior when compared to the Genesis.

2020 Genesis G90 vs 2020 Mercedes Benz S450

The Mercedes-Benz S class is all that comes to mind when you think about luxury sedans. It is unparalleled when it comes to presence and luxury cabin experience. The Mercedes is quicker than the G90 and provides more cargo space. The Genesis G90 comes out on top when you consider the most important part of a luxury sedan, which is interior space. And it arguably handles better too. The Genesis G90 might not have a famed name but it comes at a much lower price and offers almost all the creature comforts that the S450 does.

The new Genesis G90 is an absolutely elegant car by the Korean manufacturer and they have improved on every visible front. And it does make a strong case for itself against both the Mercedes Benz S450 and BMW 740i. The G90 does everything expected of it, and more. It comes with a whole plethora of standard features that every other car in this segment should do. It provides a premium cabin and a beautiful experience when being chauffeured around it. So if you do not want your wallet to take a massive blow, yet you are in the market for a big luxury sedan and you stray away from the Germans, the 2020 G90 is for you.