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https://www.barrons.com/articles/genesis-feature-laden-2023-g90-is-a-high-tech-tour-de-force-01660232863

Lately, automakers have been outdoing themselves with luxury appointments in their top-end sedans. It seems some brands have Bentley and Rolls-Royce in their sights. Genesis, the upscale division of Hyundai Motor Company, has the 2023 G90 as its vanguard product, and the list of standard features is lengthy. 

The immediate competition is the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes S-Class—the latter now available as a very capable electric vehicle. The Genesis brand, introduced as a stand-alone proposition in 2015 (2016 in the U.S.), doesn’t have quite the resonance as the European competition, so it’s necessary to try a little harder. 

“It would be wrong to create a certain level of expectations and simply fulfill them. You have to beat them. You have to go further. We want to create things that move the car industry forward over time,” says the chief designer, Luc Donckerwolke.

The consumer is, of course, the judge as to whether such lofty ambitions are met. 

But the car is pretty darned cool, with a distinctive front end highlighted by Two-Line headlamps that put the illumination in a pair of stacked rows. The G90 was facelifted in 2018, but this one is all-new. 

There are two models, the 3.5T AWD (US$88,400) and the 3.5T E-Supercharger AWD (US$98,700). Both have all four wheels driven, Nappa leather on the seats with massage function, a wireless charging pad, head-up display, power rear sunshades, wood trim, and Genesis’ Digital Key II. 

With the latter, the driver simply presses his or her smartphone against the pop-out door handle and the car unlocks. Once inside, a fingerprint authentication in the center console will get the car ready to start and load preferences—no keyfob needed. The trunk is similarly keyless, opening when the driver or passenger stands next to the rear sensor for three seconds. Buttons in the first and second seat rows will also close the car’s doors. 

The Mercedes S-Class pioneered the idea of fragrances onboard, and Genesis offers a trio of scents via changeable cartridges, integrating that function with others in what is known as Mood Curator. There are four modes, which tap into the massage seats and electric curtains to create ambience. 

The seats are “ergo relaxing,” incorporating 10 air cells on the seatback (and two on the cushion) to support a range of massage choices. To ease entry and exit, the air cells will temporarily deflate, then reinflate when the driver or passenger is in position. The Supercharger model adds rear seats with heat, cooling, and even a recline feature. 

Also on board is an air purifier that fights microbes. Advanced noise-canceling might also help your mental state—if it detects noise from the road, it counters with opposite-phase sounds through the speakers. There are twin 12.3-inch infotainment screens in front of the driver, allowing a digital dashboard and on-screen functionality.

There’s no need to pay extra for the “premium infotainment”—both cars come with a Bang & Olufsen system. Buy the Supercharger, though, and it upgrades to 23 speakers and a 3D surround-sound feature that duplicates the acoustics in selected concert halls. It monitors the inside noise level and makes adjustments accordingly. 

Both iterations of the G90 feature a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6, producing 375 horsepower in standard form. In the upgraded model, output rises to 409 horsepower via an electric supercharger and 48-volt hybrid system. The V6s are coupled to an eight-speed automatic. The base G90 is the fuel-efficient choice, rated at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 26 on the highway. Choosing the supercharger reduces that to 17/24 mpg. 

Will there be an all-electric G90? Quite possible. For 2023, Genesis introduced the 365-horsepower Electrified G80, with 282 miles of range. Hyundai said earlier this year that it will introduce a whopping 17 new battery models by 2030, giving it a hoped-for seven percent share of the global EV market. 

The G90 is a state-of-the-art luxury car for 2023. There’s a price increase over 2022, but it’s also more car. The Mercedes S500 4MATIC, a somewhat comparable vehicle, starts at US$112,650, so there’s still a pocketbook advantage to the Genesis. But no three-pointed star. 

Lately, automakers have been outdoing themselves with luxury appointments in their top-end sedans.

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