GENESIS reaches for the premium sedan top
JORDAN STATION, ON: If ever there was any doubt Genesis is serious about reaching for the top of the premium luxury segment, the 2020 G90 fullsize sedan answers that question.
Similarly equipped to German sedans costing well over $100,000, the G90 is priced at $87,750 all inclusive.
That’s because the Canadian marketing strategy is a fixed price for all models, including all delivery and destination fees, as well as an unparalleled suite of ownership benefits including Genesis at home concierge service, complimentary scheduled maintenance, Genesis Connected Services, map updates, and more, for five years or 100,000 km.
And in keeping with that marketing strategy, all available safety and driver assistance technologies are included as standard equipment.
The G90 is fitted standard with a 5.0-litre naturally aspired V8 engine producing 420 hp and 383 lb/ft of torque on regular fuel.
And while the brand sees it as a “special order,” there is a 365 hp (376 lb/ft) 3.3-litre twin turbo V6 version available at $86,750, but the V8 makes more sense.
With eight-speed automatic transmission, allwheel-drive is standard with three drive modes, thanks to an electronic transfer case with active torque split.
In Eco, at more than 20 km/h, drive is 100 per cent to the rear.
In Normal, the torque is 42:58 front/rear, but increases to 05:95 for fuel economy at higher cruising ranges.
Lastly, Sport shifts that to 45:55, but can move up to 90 per cent to the rear for high speed cornering.
Also standard is Genesis Active Control Suspension (GACS), which was great fun on a 600 km plus Labour Day weekend jaunt, but more on that later.
As noted above, Genesis knows the level of competition it is up against and this is a segment where size really does matter.
The G90 is 5,205 mm long compared to the BMW 7 Series at 5,108 mm and Mercedes-Benz S-Class at 5,125 mm and is wider than the BMW, while the S-Class ups the G90 by 25 mm.
The payoff is the G90 back seat with a 14-way power seat on the right and 12-way seat on the left, and of course, with recline, heating and cooling.
The right rear passenger also has a button on the side of the right front seat that allows him/her to move the front seat all the way forward to the dashboard for unparalleled legroom.
The rear centre console has rear seat integrated memory and a full suite of HVAC/infotainment controls.
Throughout the interior, the calibre of materials and the attention to appearance was evident, with real chrome plated switch gear. And, to my great relief, they shunned the current luxury car vogue overkill in piano black trim using seat matching leather most notably on the centre console and matrix quilting on the seats.
Instead of heavily varnished wood trim, Genesis goes with open pore European Ash you can feel with the fingertip.
After the press introduction, Genesis allowed me to keep the G90 over the Labour Day weekend for my annual journey to Strathroy, ON, to stock up on Maple Sweet corn – it’s a long story.
Traffic was not that bad, but strung up all the way and back with a mix of cars, transport trucks and U-Hauls loaded down with university student move-in stuff.
Despite its size, the G90 was a nimble and responsive performer during the inevitable bop and weave down Highway 401, where I really appreciated the head-up display (HUD), which was bright and visible even with polarized sunglasses.
On the lighter travelled Highway 402, I switched on the adaptive cruise control with lane keeping for hands-off driving, where the G90 performed like it was glued between the lanes.
Now it must be said Genesis does not encourage hands-free driving and a bright orange “hand on wheel” icon in the centre of the driver information display grabs your attention.
But it did allow the brief chance to snap a photo of the map in the 12.3-inch centre stack screen that not only showed the location of gasoline stations with corporate logos, but the price at the pump as well.
Visiting friends to the west of Strathroy, my friend, his wife and I went to a favourite eatery in Alvinston, ON, with me on the left rear seat and his wife in the right rear with all the buttons and controls, especially the power sunshades on each rear door.
“Jimmie, write that’s the best seats I’ve ever tried in all the cars you’ve brought here,” she said.
For me, a standout feature was a display in the main instrument cluster that showed what was in the blind spot on either side of the car when the turn signal was activated.
After more than a combined 600 km journey, I arrived home and emerged feeling rested, which is frankly a major buying decision of a sedan at this level.
Genesis feels it has what it takes to make diehard, brand loyal owners consider this upstart in the premium luxury sedan segment.