Blog

The Genesis G90 is the flagship of the new Genesis lineup.  It will be on the market in September, 2016.  Genesis is positioning the G90 against the top-of-the line Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus sedans.  The question is can it compete?

Size is Competitive with Lexus, Mercedes, BMW  From a size perspective, the Genesis G90 is within inches of its competitors.  It is a bit bigger than the Lexus LS460.  It is about the same size as the Lexus LS460L, however.  That is the extended length LS.  It is a couple of inches shy in wheelbase and overall length to the BMW 7-Series.  It is a couple of inches shorter than the Mercedes S-Class.  Its interior volume is a bit bigger than the S-Class.  Let’s call it a toss up when looking at size.

Powertrain Choices – Base V6 TT with Optional V8  The base Genesis G90 powertrain is a 3.3L Twin-Turbo GDI (gasoline direct injected) V6 with 365 horsepower and 376 lb.ft. of torque.  About 80% of G90 volume will be the V6.  Base-to-base, G90 loses to the competition with standard V8s.  Lexus’ 4.6L V8 has 386 horsepower.  The Mercedes 4.7L bi-turbo V8 has 449 horsepower.  But Genesis’ V6 has more horsewpower than BMW’s base 3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 that has 320 horsepower. The optional Genesis engine is the 5.0L GDI V8 with 420 horsepower and 383 lb.ft of torque.  The BMW 750i with its 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8 has 445 horsepower.  So Genesis’ V8 is a bit below the German V8s.

So what?  The Genesis G90 with the Twin-Turbo V6 performs very well.  Teamed with an 8-speed automatic transmission, the G90 has excellent performance.  Power is delivered smoothly and continuously.  The powertrain is seamless and unobtrusive.  There are only two options – V8 and All wheel drive.  Driving the V6 with both rear and all wheel drive, we did not feel any noticeable difference.  It wasn’t snowing.

Genesis planners want to have an interior that is “whisper quiet” and the NVH of the car delivers.  The interior is quiet.  Conversation is easy at any speed.

Rumor has it that Hyundai called in Lotus Engineering to help fine tune the G90s suspension.  True or not, the suspension feels biased towards a German feel – purposeful and taut.  It is not the cushy, absorbent feel provided by the Lexus LS.  Handling is stable with little body lean.  Nothing not to like.

On the Road to Autonomous Driving  The Genesis G90 is loaded with standard driver assist and safety features.  Many standard features on the G90 are in optional packages on the competition.  As more and more is being written about autonomous driving, the G90 has some features that qualify.  With standard adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist the G90 can cruise in heavy traffic pretty much autonomously.  But, if the driver has their hands off the wheel for longer than 13-seconds, the car insists you touch the wheel again.

I found the lane keeping assist pretty accurate on twisty mountain roads in British Columbia, but there were a couple of times the car was obviously going to overshoot a lane marker and I had to take over.  I would be confident in using this in heavy Los Angeles Freeway gridlock, but would stay attentive when on the twisties.

Base Pricing Guess – $65,000 – $70,000  Genesis is not ready to divulge pricing for the G90 yet.  As brands usually say at a press event prior to introduction, pricing will be set closer to the release date.  But the pricing of the competition can show the general area the G90 will be priced.  The more-powerful V8-only S-Class has a base price of $95,650.  G90 will not be that high.  The less powerful in-line 6-cylinder BMW is priced at $81,500.  A 750i V8 is priced at $97,600.  The lowest priced facing competitor is the Lexus LS at $72,520.  But lets look at the Genesis sister ship the G80.  The G80 starts at $41,400 with a 311-horsepower 3.8L V6.  Check all the boxes and you get the G80 up to $50,350.  The V8 G80 is $54,550 fully equipped.  Any guess at what the base price for a rear wheel drive G90 with the V6 would be?  Our guess is the base price will be between $65,000 and $70,000.  For a V8 G90 with All Wheel Drive?  Maybe $75,000.  I could be high.