Genesis. It's one of the newest additions to the mainstream automotive consciousness and was founded by Hyundai following a string of successful Genesis models produced by the marque. In reality, Genesis is barely a decade old, while many of its direct competitors have been around for several times as long. However, despite its newness, Genesis has managed to do quite well for itself, and has quickly gained an enthusiastic following.As with any automotive brand, there had to be a "first model". In the Korean luxury marque's case, its debut nameplate was the G90, a large, flagship sedan that sits right at the top of Genesis's sedan lineup. The idea behind entering the fold with as much luxury as possible in the G90 was to garner a name for Genesis as quickly as possible. After all, the fact that the brand was the new boy on the block probably didn't escape Hyundai's top brass, so the G90 needed to be good. And, it seems, it was. Humble Beginnings To Shooting Star GenesisWhile the Genesis brand itself first got its start at the end of 2015, the genesis... of Genesis... actually occurred in 2009. Back then, Hyundai released the Genesis sedan, the first in the line of models bearing the same name. A Genesis coupe entered the fold a year later.At the time, Hyundai's decision to release the Genesis sub-brand was to, in effect, test the waters and see just how receptive the public would be to a luxury-oriented Hyundai. While Hyundai is more upmarket than its budget-minded subsidiary, Kia, Americans simply didn't see the Korean automaker as a brand that could compete with the likes of Lincoln, Cadillac, or Lexus at a lower price.Right off the bat, the Genesis sold relatively well. In its first full model year, the Genesis sedan managed to sell about 21,889 units. By 2011, that number had climbed to around 32,998 before peaking at approximately 36,485 a year later. However, Hyundai was still able to shift around 30,000 units per year until its final model year, 2016.By that point, the Korean brand had already revealed its plans to create an entirely new brand simply called Genesis. As the dust settled and the all-new brand made its 2016 debut, the Genesis coupe was suspiciously absent. What was left in the fray, though, was the Genesis sedan, now renamed the "G80."Hyundai However, that wasn't the only new model. While the Hyundai Genesis sedan had served as a pseudo-flagship for Hyundai, the real big luxury liner, hiding in the shadows, was the Hyundai Equus. It sold in small numbers in the US, as it simply couldn't compete very well with the likes of the brands listed a moment ago. Instead of giving it the boot when the Genesis brand came along, Hyundai decided to hand it over to the new company with a new name: the Genesis G90. Big Expectations GenesisOn October 26, 2016, the very first Genesis G90 was delivered. A lot was riding on the new model because – as anyone who's transferred schools mid-way through the year knows – you've got to get yourself out there if you want anyone to notice you. Luckily, Hyundai understood this, and the G90 debuted with about as much kit as you could cram into a sub-$100k luxury liner. When the G90 first hit dealership lots, it boasted a base sticker price of $68,100. What It Offered GenesisVirtually everything you could ever want in a car was included with the base-level 2017 G90. Just two trim levels are available. At base level is the G90 3.3T Premium, and the G90 5.0T Ultimate.For starters, its seats are finished in premium Nappa leather, and front-row passengers are treated to both heated and cooled seats, along with 22-way power adjustment. Real wood and metal trim is peppered throughout the interior, and nearly every surface that requires you to touch it is laden with soft-touch material.Genesis It's got tech out the wazoo, too. A head-up display is baked in, along with voice-activated navigation. Sitting center stage on the dashboard is a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that's hooked into a 17-speaker sound system courtesy of Lexicon. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are programmed right into the 12.3-inch system. Tri-zone climate control keeps everyone comfortable, and it even boasts a CO2 monitoring system.Genesis As with other high-end luxury liners, the back seats are the place to be in the '17 G90. As standard, rear-seat passengers are treated to their own HVAC vents and temperature control, seat heating, and a center console. One of the only optional packages available for the 2017 G90 is the Rear Seat Package, which includes 14-way power adjustment for the right-hand seat, and 12-way power adjustment for the left. Massage and ventilation for both seats is also included with the upgrade. The Rear Seat Package comes standard on the top-spec Genesis G90 Ultimate 5.0 grade. What's Under The Hood GenesisJust two engines were offered for the '17 G90, starting with the base 3.3-liter V6. The mill takes advantage of a pair of turbochargers, along with a compression ratio measuring 10.0:1. Both the engine block and cylinder heads are made of aluminum, and variable valve timing helps keep the motor running as efficiently as possible. One of the hallmarks of the mill is its relatively flat torque curve, spanning from 1,300 rpm all the way to 4,500 rpm.Genesis While the V6 does pack a good amount of oomph, the engine you really want is the optional 5.0-liter V8, part of Hyundai's Tau engine family. It's naturally aspirated, and packs an 11.8:1 compression ratio. Like the V6, it also sports variable valve timing and an all-aluminum construction. Hyundai took care to prevent as much friction as possible by employing the use of low-friction material on the cylinder walls and piston rings.Genesis Handling either engine's power is an eight-speed automatic transmission built by Hyundai. Rear-wheel drive is the standard drivetrain configuration, with Hyundai's H-TRAC all-wheel drive system serving as the optional upgrade. Both the 3.3-liter and 5.0-liter engine options can be had with all-wheel drive. Its suspension setup is fully independent, consisting of a five-link configuration for both the front and rear axles. It also employs active electric damping, which can read the road surface and continuously adjust the ride as needed. How It Compares To The S-Class 2017 Genesis G90 Right off the bat, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class loses one point due to its original price, which sits at $96,600, nearly $30,000 more than the G90's base price. However, it's a bit more complicated. A Luxury-Liner Shootout When it comes to overall ride quality, the Merc has the Genesis beaten. Oftentimes, the S-Class is used as a benchmark for flagship sedan suspension, and if you're the benchmark, you're doing something right. Not to mention, it's also reported that the '17 S-Class packs even more tech into its well-adorned cabin than the Genesis, as its interior is described as being more "screen-heavy". However, the Genesis does offer more gizmos as standard, and its sound system sports 17 speakers compared to the Merc's 13.However, the Mercedes does eke out a lead when it comes to sheer driving dynamics. Underneath its hood is a 4.7-liter V8, which pumps out 449 hp as standard. That's quite a lot more than the G90 can offer at entry level. Not to mention, the S-Class also packs another gear into its transmission, with nine at its disposal. Its Airmatic active air ride system is considered one of the best in the business, offering superior comfort and handling to the G90's active dampers. Verdict GenesisDespite the S-Class perhaps offering just a little bit more in terms of driving dynamics and overall feel, you can't argue with the '17 Genesis G90's sheer value for money. It's current used price is nearly $12k less, and it packs a ton of kit into its interior. Sure, it's not as fast, and maybe it doesn't look as good, but it makes up for that with its simplistic approach to opulence that still manages to not skimp out on the finer things.