2023 Genesis G90 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

When you see a Genesis G90 in the wild, you’ll know it immediately. From the bifurcated micro-lens LED headlamps (the thinnest on any Genesis model) to the strong lines along the silhouette to the distinct two-row taillights, everything about the G90 is an exercise in precise design. The dual-layer grille brings texture and depth to the front without seeming like a gaping maw—I’m looking at you, Lexus—and there isn’t any kind of buck-toothed grin like what BMW is subjecting the public to with its 7 Series. Instead, the front of the G90 looks elegant, new, and sophisticated.

Flush-mounted door handles pop out when the driver approaches the car, and the strong c-pillar tops the 3,180-millimetre wheelbase. Around the rear are two rows of tail lamps, really emphasizing the 1,930 mm of width. The top row features traditional LED taillights connected by a light bar, while the bottom light bar extends out a bit further, wrapping around the haunches of the G90.

Moving inside, drivers are treated to copious amounts of Nappa leather. There is real black wood veneer as well as a design trick made with recycled newspaper. Metal inlay in the doors is crafted using traditional Korean techniques. Ambient lighting rounds out the mood in pretty much any colour you want.

The rear can seat three, but a fold-down centre console divides the two outboard seats, echoing the strong centre console up front. Plush floor mats for all riders feel good on bare feet in the Obsidian Black, Dune Beige, or Bordeaux Brown interior colours.

Fit and finish here is excellent and all the materials are high quality. Make no mistake—Genesis wants to out-luxe the Germans, and it shows.

In Canada, the G90’s standard powertrain includes a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine with E-SC. That last bit stands for electric supercharger or "e-supercharger," but it’s not a traditional supercharger that uses forced induction to up the power. Instead, this is more of a 48-volt mild hybrid system that allows for more torque off the line. All told, the G90 produces power specs of 409 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque.

This turbocharged engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that puts the power down to all four wheels for standard all-wheel drive (AWD). Rear-wheel steering is standard for a tighter turning circle and more stability on those long, sweeping turns.

The G90 has a few drive modes, including a “Chauffeur” mode that keeps things comfy for rear-seat passengers. There are paddle shifters and a Sport mode, but don’t mistake the G90 for a muscle luxury sedan. This car is a cruiser. While the transmission does its thing in the background, ask for more power and it’s a touch lazy to respond. Honestly, that’s just fine with the multi-chamber air suspension that floats over broken pavement to provide an impeccably smooth ride. It even uses the cameras and sensors from the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) to adjust the dampers on the fly, so no worries if you see that pothole at the last minute.

The steering weight on the G90 is light, as is to be expected from a cruising luxury car, but it still feels accurate and on-centre. The brakes can be a bit touchy, but Chauffeur mode mitigates that to some extent. It's exceptionally quiet, with very little road or engine noise making its way into the cabin.

A standout here is the G90’s stop/start system. When it's engaged, the engine will shut off when the car is stopped to save fuel. When the driver lifts their foot from the brake, the engine quickly restarts and it’s ready to go. This isn’t new technology, but it’s reached a pinnacle here in the G90. There is no vibration or noise on start-up at all. Other manufacturers should take note.

If you’re looking for a supremely comfortable car, the G90 is it. Our tester had heated and ventilated front and rear seats, and the front seats also have a massaging function with four modes that will stay active for up to 20 minutes. Audiophiles will love the Bang & Olufsen 23-speaker audio system with Virtue Venue Live technology. You can program your music to sound like it’s coming straight out of Boston Symphony Hall, or keep it to a simple surround sound. It’s one of the best sound systems on the market.

The back seat gets sunshades that can be deployed via a touchscreen. From the front, drivers can set a mood curator with four different ambiences: Vitality, Delight, Care, and Comfort. Mercedes-Benz has a similar feature, and while it’s cool to get nine minutes of curated music, fragrance, ambient lighting, and massage, it’s tough to picture this feature being used on a daily basis.

There are no door handles inside the G90. To close the door, simply press a button on the centre console, and the Easy Close Access power doors swiftly latch themselves. The front doors can even be programmed to close when the brake pedal is pushed. To open the door, there is a button on the door itself, but here, it merely unlatches the door. Riders still have to push the door open on their own. In case of emergency, there is a mechanical latch hidden in the door pocket.

Wireless charging is standard for front seat and rear seat passengers. There are five USB-C ports scattered about the cabin, so no device should ever run out of juice. The rear centre console also functions as a UV-light sterilization box to un-grime your phone.

There isn’t a ton of small storage inside the cabin, beyond the front and rear centre consoles. There is a hidden little bin in the door armrest that we found by accident, but there is no open cubby for your phone or house keys. The trunk is just 300 litres, much smaller than the more than 350 litres found in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The G90’s rear seat has more than 960 mm of legroom. When the front passenger seat is fully forward and tilted away from the rear seats, it feels downright cavernous back there. Extend the footrest and recline the seat for some added comfort, and don’t forget to buy the two pillows available as an accessory. It’s like putting your head on a cloud.

Sitting up front in the G90 is a 12.3-inch infotainment system that’s intuitive to use. There are physical buttons for common functions like navigation and radio, but drivers can also swipe the screen with their finger or use the dial mounted on the centre console. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both here, but you’ll have to wire them in. It’s odd that a luxury vehicle doesn’t have wireless smartphone mirroring.

Drivers are treated to a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster that can be reconfigured based on drive mode. Rear seat passengers get an 8-inch touchscreen to control seating position, climate, sunshades and lighting.

None of these things are really float-your-boat cool, but the G90 has an ace up its sleeve—or rather, in your phone. A digital key is available through Genesis Connected Services, and it works on both Apple and Android devices. Stored in either Apple Wallet or Samsung Pass, when used to open the G90, the digital key also tells the car to automatically load that driver’s personal settings, so your navigation will display your favorite restaurants, the audio will show all your presets, and your seat will be in the correct position.

The digital key uses ultra-wide-band frequency, so it knows if you’re approaching the door or the trunk. No more stabbing at buttons trying to get the right door to open. This car knows already. The key also works using near-field communication (NFC) technology, which stays active even if your phone dies. And in case you lose your phone, you also get a traditional key fob.

Genesis does a great job offering advanced driver assistance and safety features as standard, and the G90 is no different. The blind-spot monitoring system is excellent, with an audible and visual warning if you attempt to make an unsafe lane change. The gauge cluster will display a video feed of your blind spot as well when you signal, and you’ll get a visual warning in the head-up display if a car approaches your blind spot. It’s very thorough.

Smart adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go is standard, as is highway driving assist. Together, these systems help take the stress out of a low-speed commute by maintaining a set following distance and keeping the car centred in its lane. The tech works great at higher speeds as well.

Remote parking assist means the Genesis can pull itself into or out of a parking spot with the driver outside of the car. It’s great when you have to shimmy into a tight space. Also on tap here are a 360-degree camera, lane-keeping assist, forward-collision warning and assist, and parking-collision avoidance.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the 2023 Genesis G90 its highest rating, Top Safety Pick+. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t published safety ratings for the 2023 Genesis G90 yet.

The Genesis G90 gets middle-of-the-road fuel economy when compared to the German luxury sedans at 13.6 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 9.6 on the highway, and 11.8 combined. If fuel consumption is a deal-breaker for you, you should know that the current Mercedes-Benz S500 can eke out 10.4 L/100 km combined.

The G90 is available in Canada in a single trim, priced at $115,000. That seems pricy, but that’s no-haggle, all-in pricing including fees. At-home test drives and delivery, at-home service pick-up and loaner delivery, and five years of scheduled maintenance and map updates are also included, and more.

Meanwhile, the 2022 BMW 7 Series starts at $147,000, and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class starts at $143,000. The Porsche Panamera 4 Executive with a similar wheelbase is over $125,000. The only German competitor that comes close is the Audi A8, which starts under $106,650 but doesn’t offer nearly the same number of luxury features as the G90.

The 2023 Genesis G90 is certainly enough car to eclipse the big boys. Not only does it offer more features and luxury appointments than its Germans rivals do, but this flagship sedan is also a stunning value.

Note: Images show a US model.