In 2015, Genesis became the Acura to Hyundai’s Honda. Formerly used as a model nomenclature, the name received its own badge under which three new “G” models were introduced — the full-size G90 sedan was the first of them. Fast-forward five years and Genesis gave its flagship a little makeover to tackle the 2020 model-year with poise.
Hyundai did Genesis both a service and a disservice when it freed its subsidiary and created a stand-alone brand. Everyone knows what a Hyundai is. Not everyone knows what a Genesis is. Thankfully, the lack of brand exposure is compensated by the fact that the three cars under the winged banner are absolutely gorgeous, which makes people curious about them.
When I drove around the Genesis’ G90 flagship sedan, people both admired the look and scratched their heads. What’s a Genesis? It’s a pity really because the Genesis lineup is surprisingly good. The G70 is a real delight for someone like me who enjoys an entry-level sedan more focused on performance. As for the G90, it rubs elbows with some of the biggest names in the full-size luxury sedan segment and imposes some serious competition.
The facelift really takes the model to a new level of luxury and further separates Genesis from Hyundai. When I look at the G90’s new face, I see a little bit of Lincoln’s muscle mixed in with Volvo’s Scandinavian charm. The wide-open diamond-shaped grille is flanked by a new set of headlights, belted at the centre by a strip of LED reminiscent of Volvo’s Thor hammer design. The 19-inch wheels are an intricate knit of spokes that create a luxurious effect. You can smell the luxury right off the car even before stepping in.
The G90 performs exactly the way you expect a luxury sedan to perform. Does it stand out? Not particularly. It plays in the same field as the comparable Jaguar XJ, Mercedes-Benz S Class, Volvo S90, and Lincoln Continental. That being said, Genesis is the one that was named the top-ranking brand for initial quality by J.D. Power — the same people who bring you the reliability study every year. Where the Genesis also stands out is that you get European-level quality at a Korean price.
Under the hood, the valiant 5.0L V8 teamed with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive powertrain ensures you get anywhere smoothly and efficiently. The transmission is unobtrusive and doesn’t get in the way of getting you the power you want when you want it. The massive powerhouse is good for 420 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque.
Genesis opted for a more minimalistic approach to interior design. The interior space is elegant and well laid-out. The spectacular 12.3-inch touchscreen display is nicely integrated to the dashboard. Don't be fooled by the apparent lack of buttons: all the functionalities you want are there and easily accessible through the touchscreen.
Passengers at the back have their own little bubble and have access to electronic seat adjustments, as well as audio and climate controls. It goes to show the G90 can act as a family sedan as well as an executive’s transport. The sedan can receive five passengers but only four fully get to enjoy the creature comforts the car has to offer. The middle seat at the back looks more a “just in case” feature.
Contrarily to its competitors offered in a variety of trim levels and with countless optional (and often expensive) packages, the 2020 Genesis G90 5.0 Prestige comes in a single, fully-loaded version. What you see is what you get for just shy of $90,000. There is a twin-turbo V6 model offered but only on special order and for a mere $3k price difference. If you're the indecisive type, you'll probably love this. So what’s a Genesis?
The specs
Model: 2020 Genesis G90 5.0 Prestige
Engine: 5.0L, V8, 420 horsepower, 383 lb-ft of torque
Transmission: eight-speed automatic, all-wheel-drive
NRCan rating (L/100km city/highway): NA
Length: 5,205 mm
Width: 1,915 mm
Wheelbase: 3,160 mm
Weight: 2,250 kg
Price: $89,880 as tested, including freight
Competition: Jaguar XJ, Lincoln Continental, Mercedes-Benz S Class, Volvo S90, BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS
Standard equipment: Quad-lamp LED headlights with Adaptive Cornering System, Leather-wrapped 4-spoke steering wheel with shift paddles, Heated steering wheel, Audio, Bluetooth, cruise control and voice command controls, Open pore natural wood trim, Head-Up Display, Interior ambient lighting (adjustable — 7 colours), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), Forward Collision Avoidance-Assist (FCA-A) with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, Rear Collision Avoidance-Assist (RCA-A), Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance-Assist (BCA-A) with Lane Change Assist (LCA), Lane Keep Assist (LKA) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with stop-and-go capability, Panoramic sunroof, Proximity keyless entry with push-button ignition, Proximity-activated hands-free trunk opening (“Smart Trunk”), Rearview camera, Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM), Multi-View Camera System (MVCS), Quilted Nappa leather seating surfaces, Heated and ventilated front seats, Heated and ventilated rear seats, Genesis Connected Services, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, USB (x3) and auxiliary connectivity, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, 12.3" touch-screen navigation system with 720p high-definition display, 900-watt Lexicon AM/FM/XM/DVD/MP3 7.1 surround sound audio system with 17 speakers
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