Genesis G90 2025: A luxury sedan at a reasonable price

Last Updated: 04.12.2024

As the flagship of the emerging Genesis luxury brand, the Genesis G90 sedan offers a comfortable ride and a limo-like cabin, but at a price that undercuts established rivals by thousands of dollars. It even earns a spot on our Editors’ Choice list. A twin-turbocharged V-6 is standard and buyers can opt for a 5.0-liter V-8 engine, but we found that performance is about the same no matter which one is under the G90’s hood.

Genesis G90 sedan

Both are smooth and quiet, which contributes to a serene cabin environment when cruising. The G90’s front and rear seats are plush, spacious and comfortable, and the cabin offers plenty of standard luxury and convenience features. The main area where the G90 can’t keep up with rivals like the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class is in the tech department, but most users will still find its standard infotainment and driver-assist features intuitive and helpful.

What’s new ?

After a thorough redesign for the model year, the Genesis G90 receives only minor changes. A new Rear Comfort driving mode improves the ride for rear passengers. The dashboard and door panels swap real leather for the fake stuff previously used. The G90’s infotainment system is now capable of over-the-air updating and improved voice recognition. The only external difference is a new design of the 19-inch wheels.

Genesis G90 – Image: Disclosure / Genesis

We usually love a big V-8 in a luxury car, but in this case we’d stick with the twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V-6 and save the money. The 3.3T, as it’s known, is gutsy and almost as quick as the 5.0-liter V-8. All-wheel drive is optional if you need it, but it adds $2,200 to the bottom line.

Engine, transmission and performance

The base turbocharged 365-hp 3.3-liter V-6 setup is a high-flyer, matching the 420-hp 5.0-liter V-8’s zero-to-60-mph acceleration in our testing. Both powertrains pair with a responsive eight-speed automatic transmission and offer a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive. We see no reason to pay extra for the less efficient V-8 unless you prefer its more relaxed, old-school character and distinctive sound. Although the G90 doesn’t accelerate as quickly as its rivals, neither the V-6 nor the V-8 engine leaves you wanting more power.

Calmness and smoothness prevail, and the Genesis can feel a little sloppy when you pick up the pace through the twisty sections of a road. Its soft and pillowy ride is reminiscent of 1970s Buicks, but not necessarily in a bad way. It smooths out rough roads and provides a calm, planted feel on the highway. The trade-off is a decent amount of body roll in corners, but the precise and light steering keeps the heavy G90 from feeling like a total boat. Its brake pedal isn’t as firm as we’d like, but it’s not too mushy, either.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Some of today’s modern luxury vessels achieve impressive efficiency, but the G90’s fuel economy ratings are average. The optional V-8 is particularly thirsty, but in our testing the V-6 beat its EPA numbers. We saw 27 mpg on our 200-mile test route; that’s 10 percent better than its EPA highway number, but it falls far short of the real-world highway fuel efficiency demonstrated by the Cadillac CT6 and BMW 7 Series.

Interior, comfort and cargo

Finished in Nappa leather, suede, wood and brushed metal, the G90’s interior feels rich even if the design is understated. Genesis embarrasses higher-priced rivals by making features like heated and cooled front seats, a head-up display and a power rear sunshade standard instead of expensive options.

As befits a full-size luxury sedan, the G90’s plush back seat is a nice place to be. There’s plenty of room to stretch out, despite the dimensions suggesting it. Neither the Genesis nor any of its competitors offer folding rear seats, so the roomy trunk offers all the cargo space you’re going to get. Behind the rear center armrest is a pass-through for hauling long, narrow items like skis. Its center console is among the largest in its class, but its door pockets are small. A handy compartment in front of the gearshift is a nice size for a smartphone.