Driven: The 2023 Genesis G90 Is the South Korean Maybach You Can Afford
The Genesis G90 is the car that you buy when you want the highest form of luxury but can’t afford a Maybach. That is to say that the G90 has everything you can want in an opulent full-size sedan for only around $100,000. Does that sound like a lot? Let’s take you through a little tour of the G90, and you may find that it’s worth every penny like we did.
The 2023 Genesis G90 looks as expensive as it is
While it’s easy to shake your head at our tester’s $101,295 price tag, the numbers start to make sense when you set your eyes on the car. There are nine different exterior colors to choose from, but our tester for the week was covered in the Makalu Matte Gray finish. Although we’re not huge fans of matte paint – because it can be hard to care for – we admit that it looked exceptional on this 17-foot-long car.
Yes, the Genesis G90 is massive. After all, it is the brand’s flagship sedan. But that length doesn’t look too gaudy or odd when you take into account the large 21-inch alloy wheels that fill the fender wells. The split headlights and large front grille take up enough real estate to give the car a menacing but uniquely elegant look.
The sloping, angular decklid gives it a subtle and sporting feel that you wouldn’t expect on a car like this. Overall, we think the G90 has a sleek and non-offensive aesthetic that nearly anyone can warm up to over time. One of our favorite features is when you walk up to the car.
All four of the flush-mounted door handles protrude, and the interior lights turn on to welcome you into the car. And when you open the power-operated door, you step into even more luxury.
Stepping into the 2023 G90 feels unlike any other car
Take a seat inside the Genesis G90 and prepare to be impressed with everything it has to offer. On the driver’s side, when you step on the brake to start the car, the door swings closed automatically. The other three doors do the same with the touch of a button. After settling into the Nappa leather seats, you’ll be able to marvel at the car’s tech features.
There is a large 12.3-inch digital instrument display that sits in front of the driver in addition to a 12.3-inch infotainment screen on the dashboard. The infotainment screen can be controlled via touch or the giant white knob on the center console. It’s worth noting, though, that this knob can be easily confused with the gear shifter knob next to it, so be careful.
There are tactile buttons below the infotainment screen to control the HVAC and more buttons on the center console for the heated/ventilated seat functions, camera views, and drive modes. There’s even a fingerprint scanner, so the driver doesn’t need to use the key.
As for the entertainment and comfort features, our G90 was equipped with a Bang and Olufsen premium sound system, which sounds amazing. Every seat in the car has a massaging function — aside from the rear middle seat – and a panoramic moonroof sheds light into both seating rows.
Sitting in the backseat of the G90 is better than the front
Sit in the backseat of the G90, and you’ll feel like royalty. There’s a touchscreen command center in the back of the folding armrest that allows users to control the massage, heating/cooling, and footrest features. Yes, there’s a footrest for the passenger side seat so that anyone sitting in that spot can relax and tell the driver where to go.
As an added plus, there are power window shades on the side and rear windows to block out the sun – or any commoners trying to peak in to witness your majestic aura.
The Genesis G90 has plenty of power
Gone is the older V8 from the earlier Genesis G90 models. The South Korean automaker tossed in favor of an electrically supercharged and turbocharged 3.5-liter V6. The technically advanced powerplant puts out 409 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque, which is more than enough power to rocket the car to 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds, according to Car and Driver.
It’s also mated to a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission that sends the power to all four wheels. According to the EPA, the Genesis G90 can get up to 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. In our testing, we averaged 19 mpg in combined driving situations.
Ultimately, the 2023 Genesis G90 is the ultimate bargain luxury cruiser
At the end of the day, the 2023 Genesis G90 is the full-size luxury sedan you buy when you want to spend your money on the highest form of opulence effectively. Although you can buy a Maybach for three times the price, what’s the point? The G90 has everything you need.
