2017 Genesis G90
We’d have to be nearsighted not to have seen this coming. Hyundai’s been dating the luxury car customer for some time with products such as the midsize Genesis and large Equus sedans. With the announcement and launch of the Genesis luxury brand, it puts a ring on that finger.
It’s a small family for now, with just two products. The Hyundai Genesis is renamed, now dubbed the G80, and the replacement for the Hyundai Equus and subject of this review, the 2017 Genesis G90, serves as the flagship of the brand.
Hyundai’s plan is to build the Genesis family brand into a six-vehicle lineup by 2021. That would include the G90 premium large sedan, the G80 midsize luxury sedan, a smaller G70 near-luxury sedan, an as yet unnamed midsize luxury sport coupe, and midsize and compact luxury crossovers likely dubbed GX with a two-digit appellation.
The headliner 2017 Genesis G90 flagship is available in two flavors. The volume offering will be the 3.3T Premium, powered by a downsized version of Hyundai’s 3.8-liter V6 that’s been turbocharged to make 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque over a wide band from 1,300 to 4,500 rpm. Topping the G90 range is the 5.0 Ultimate, sporting a 420-hp V8 with 383 lb-ft of torque, a carryover from the Equus.
Most important is the addition of allwheel drive, the only option offered and available on both G90 models.
The G90 looms long and wide. Its face incorporates an even larger version of the hexagonal grille and winged Genesis badge. A long hood, stretched dash-to-front axle ratio, stately 19-inch alloy wheels, and short overhangs give the G90 the right premium-luxe, rear-drive proportions.
There’s an artful mix of analog and digital details in the cabin with a crystal-clear 12.3-inch central infotainment screen controlled using a knob mounted on the center console, wireless cellphone charging and a full color head-up display juxtaposed with a dash-mounted analog clock, large speedometer and tachometer instrumentation, and logically arrayed, tastefully executed buttons and knobs for infotainment and climate control functions on the center stack.
Extra-thick acoustic glass all around helps keep out a noisy world. Or for the opposite effect, the standard 900-watt, 17-speaker Lexicon surround-sound system can create considerable decibels of its own with settings you can adjust to put the music in front, in back, or all around you.
In the 5.0 Ultimate model the 5.0-liter V8 delivers a bit more top-end punch and the hearty sound of eight great cylinders while giving up some fuel economy. This engine is EPA-rated at 16-mpg city/24-mpg highway with rear-wheel drive and drops further to 15-mpg city/23-mpg highway with AWD. It can sprint to 60 mph in just over five seconds, according to Genesis.
Adding to the G90’s confident feel is the armada of electronic and semi-autonomous safety gear it packs. This includes just about every active safety technology out there, including, among others, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and prevention, adaptive cruise control with full stop, and blind-spot warning. There’s also a driver attention alert that will beep and buzz the haptic steering wheel and flash a warning if it senses a driving pattern indicating drowsiness or inattention. As with everything else offered on the 2017 Genesis G90 (aside from AWD), it’s all standard equipment.
Also standard is the Genesis Experience. This encompasses a portfolio of services that includes three years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance and valet service when your G90 is in the service bay, and three years/unlimited miles of roadside assistance with concierge service. Additionally, the Genesis Experience includes three years of complimentary connected services from your cellphone, as well as SiriusXM traffic, travel link, and navigation updates for that period of time.
Overall, the G90 exhibits a solid and secure vibe.