2023 Genesis G90

Reviewing the Genesis G90 in the past has always been a game of qualifiers. It drives really well (for the money). The interior is a massive step in the right direction (for a Genesis). That tech sure is snazzy (but not as good as the German stuff). And so on. In a way, these are all backhanded compliments. Ask someone to put their money on a single flagship luxury sedan, and even though the G90 is really good, most buyers in this class are still plunking down the big bucks for a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series. The 2023 Genesis G90 faces this uphill battle against German prestige once more, but as a fully revamped model that is far better equipped to take on the best in the world. To see if it’s strong enough to land any punches against the best, a road trip and plentiful seat time is in order. There’s nothing a big, long sedan excels at better than scarfing up highway miles, but is the new G90 the one you want for this task? If catching eyes and attention on the road is a desired outcome, then the G90 aces this test. There isn’t a subtle angle to the G90, from the impossibly thin “Micro Lens Array” headlights up front to the width-stretching LED taillights out back. Its proportions and general design need no highlighting — the car is a stunner. But the details deserve to be highlighted. Elements like the elongated lights that stretch into the front fenders, the bronze-painted brake calipers and the trapezoidal exhaust tips are all examples of Genesis letting its designers loose to make something genuinely unique. The powertrain under the G90’s clamshell hood — it combines the hood and fenders to provide a panel gap-less look — keeps up with the Joneses if you spec the upgraded model dubbed “E-Supercharger.” In this as-tested spec, the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 is supplemented by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that brings an electrically-driven supercharger into the fold to both smooth accelerative responses and provide a boost in power. Total system output is 409 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque, which is 34 hp and 14 lb-ft of torque more than the base G90 without the mild-hybrid system. Even if you skip the E-Supercharger, the base G90’s engine is an upgrade over the smaller 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 it made do with before — there is no more V8 for 2023. This engine, while not as mighty as the boosted V8 options you’ll find in a Mercedes-Benz S 580 or BMW 760i, is an ideal unit for a sedan such as this one. The start/stop system allows for seamless coasting to a halt and natural initial acceleration. Plus, the supercharged boost from the get-go negates any lag from the engine before the turbos spin up, ultimately providing that oh-so-desired effortless glide from light-to-light. The melt-into-the-background eight-speed transmission does fine work of not getting in the way of this engine’s smoothness, too. When you do call …
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