Photo credit: Genesis
Every full-size luxury sedan except the Mercedes S-Class is struggling. Buyers are flocking to bigger, opulent SUVs offered by seemingly every luxury brand, leaving few left to buy hulking uber-sedans. Genesis doesn't seem to care. The company knows this is the segment where luxury prestige is earned, so it's continuing its pursuit of the Big Benz with an all-new, even nicer G90.
The last G90 flagship was already a fantastic car on a value basis. But the new S-Class has raised the bar further, offering a serene experience unmatched by any car. Sure, the Genesis is cheaper, but that only gets you so far. So the G90 returns more prepared, starting with an even better exterior design. Not only is it an improvement on the last car, it's far sharper than the S-Class and, to my eye, the best looking car in its class.
Photo credit: Genesis
We had already seen that design. What we hadn't seen is the interior, which Genesis revealed today as part of the car's full reveal in Seoul. The interior is an evolution of current Genesis design, with straightforward controls and clean lines but clever, intricate detailing. The infotainment is all-new, with a new digital gauge cluster also flanked by speakers as part of a new Bang & Olufsen sound system. Massaging front seats, a notable absence on the last G90, appear here, along with an active perfuming system to really calm the nerves.
The fingerprint system from the GV70 also appears here, allowing you to link your profile to your finger to instantly adjust all settings to your liking. Genesis has unfortunately also given into the trend of power-deploying door handles—one of the few annoyances on the new S-Class and a tiring gimmick—albeit fixed to doors that can also be power-operated. The driver door can be programmed to automatically close when you press the brake pedal, like the Tesla Model X.
Photo credit: Genesis
Reclining rear seats are also available, with a power-operated footrest for the passenger-side rear seat. There's also a big central touch screen for rear passengers to control lighting, curtains, climate control, and seat settings with a few taps. Two moonroofs ensure that everyone gets light, while ambient lighting and cool new trim made with recycled newspaper keep the atmosphere interesting.
The ride should be good, too, as the G90 comes with three-chamber air springs linked to cameras that detect incoming bumps and prepare the suspension to soak them up. The air springs can also raise the G90 about an inch and will do so automatically on steep inclines to prevent bottoming out. Four-wheel steering should also assist in helping you forget about the G90's gargantuan size, especially on the new long-wheelbase version.
Photo credit: Genesis
What you won't get to help manage the size, unfortunately, is a V-8. The 5.0-liter appears to be on its way out, with no note of it for the car's global debut. Instead, Genesis says G90 will be powered by a 375-hp twin-turbo V-6 like the one in the G80. That's a 10-hp increase over the G90's last V-8, with 391 lb-ft of torque to boot, but still not as much as the 420-hp V-8 in the last-gen car. These are not U.S.-spec numbers so they are subject to change, but if you're disappointed about power, don't worry too much. Genesis will be launching a more potent version in the form of the Electrified G90, an all-electric version designed to take the fight to the Mercedes EQS. More details on that will come later, so we'll have to see if Genesis really has what it takes to mount a serious attack on Mercedes' market share.
Photo credit: Genesis
Keyword: The 2023 Genesis G90 Is Coming For Mercedes, Albeit Without a V-8