The luxury full-size sedan looks amazing in the metal
Genesis has some outstanding luxury vehicles, including the comparison-winning GV70 cross-country vehicle and the G80 sedan. Only exception to this is the G90 full-size sedan, which was introduced in a time when the brand wasn’t at its best. The new 2023 Genesis G90 will be arriving in the US later this month. It should correct that oversight and offer great styling and technology, making it a flagship that can take on the established.
The new G90 was shown to us in pre-production form a few days ago. We were impressed by the car’s spacious interior and the fine detailing of its exterior. Although we liked the car in photographs, it is impossible to resist seeing it in person. The G90 is elegant and refined from stem to stern. It proves that Genesis knows how to make quality cars without resorting too much to overwrought design, as some automakers believe flagship customers desire.
The exterior is the first. The G90’s 2020 facelift introduced some of the first use of G-Matrix mesh, which was featured on the grille, lacy wheels, and lacked the four-lines headlights we have come to expect from Genesis. This was a strange oversight considering that the G90’s 2020 facelift came just a few months after the GV80 and its signature lighting elements. However, the 2023 model is now perfectly integrated with the rest the Genesis lineup with its quad-LED headlamps which use an intricate array cube-shaped projectors.
The headlights wrap around the front bumper and are interrupted by the wheel arch. After that, they resume in the form a “fendervent” lighting signature. This motif was first seen on the gorgeous Genesis X concept car. We expect it to continue to appear throughout the Genesis lineup. The shutline of Genesis’ clamshell hood was also hidden by the designers. It connects with the side lighting, headlights and wheel arch seamlessly.
The Genesis X also contributed its angular rear lights design and softly contoured decklid style to the G90. This gives the G90 a bustleback look that recalls luxury cars from the 1930s and 1980s. The G90 has a more planted appearance thanks to its 21-inch wheels (which are likely optional). However, the design is a modernized version of the retro-fabulous wet rollers of the G90. The new G90 may be targeted at a more performance-oriented customer, but it retains the feel of a large, comfortable mid-century American sedan.
The G90’s interior is the most distinctive from the rest of Genesis products. While the 2023 model still features a 2-spoke steering wheel with a swivel, the interior design is more complex and three-dimensional. The GV70, G80 and GV80 had a wide, high touchscreen display. This has been replaced by a 12.3-inch unit with a more traditional shape and position that is easier to reach.
The dash design is reminiscent of an airplane that had a trapezoidal binnacle which separated the infotainment cluster and digital instrument cluster. A distinct ovoid theme appears on door release buttons, HVAC controls and speaker grilles. We were able to see Genesis in person and it has some very unique trim options, such as the crushed carbon fiber with an aluminium G-Matrix Inlay.
You will also find some convenience and tech features in the G90, including an 8.0-inch screen in your rear seat, exceptional massage for all four positions, a UV powered phone disinfector in your center rear armrest and electrically controlled doors. Simply push one button on either the front or rear consoles and the doors will motor close gracefully.
Genesis did not provide details on pricing or powertrain details. However, we believe Genesis’ twin-turbocharged 3.5 liter V6 will be standard. We expect it to have a little more horsepower than the 375 in the G80/GV80. The G90 2023 will be available to dealers by the end of the year. Its price should start at $80,000, which should make it a great deal for Lexus, Audi and BMW customers. We’ll be able to provide more details soon, but for now, we are very excited about the possibility of a Genesis flagship.