If you take a look around dealerships’ lots in your area, there’s a great chance that you’ll see many more SUVs and crossovers than you do sedans. Americans, for one reason or another, have made the shift to larger vehicles in a big way in recent years, and automakers have followed suit. Many have dropped cars from their lineups altogether, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still innovators in the segment.
Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia have been hard at work making some of the best cars that money can buy, and Hyundai’s premium Genesis brand is the cream of the crop. The 2020 Genesis G90 sedan is an example of how good a luxury car can be and manages to be both exclusive and down-to-earth at the same time. It’s a spacious car with all of the tech, comfort, and convenience features we expect.
The 2020 Genesis G90 shows that days of the large sedan aren’t over yet, and here are three reasons why.
It’s Luxurious In Every Way
The Genesis G90 is what people remember Cadillac’s cars being from several years ago. It’s large, beautiful, and supremely quiet inside, which are all good things when it comes to luxury sedans. Inside, front-seat passengers are coddled from the moment the doors open. The seats are wide, deep, well-padded, and supportive in all the right places. Individual adjustments for the headrests and seat bolsters offer the ability to home in on a driving position that is comfortable for nearly any size person.
The G90’s back seats are executive-level cushy, with enough legroom to accommodate an NBA player, heated outboard seats, and a large fold-down armrest with climate and audio controls built in. There’s plenty of room for car seats, and the acres of legroom make it easy to fit large or rear-facing seats with ease.
It’s a Smooth Performer
The G90 is powered by the same 3.3-liter twin-turbo powerplant that makes its smaller cousin, the G70, such a pleasure to drive. An upgraded 5.0-liter V8 is available for $3,000 more, but the V6 gets the job done admirably. The engine is refined, smooth, and almost silent, thanks to the car’s excellent sound deadening. In the smaller, lighter G70, the turbocharged engine’s 365 horsepower helps the car go from 0-60 mph in short order, but the G90 is a much calmer and less exhilarating affair. It pairs excellently with the eight-speed automatic transmission, which has no trouble finding its gears and putting the engine in a position to produce the most power with the least amount of effort.
On the road, the big Genesis glides over all but the worst broken pavement and makes easy work of long-haul highway trips. The car is able to do that while also maintaining its composure when the roads get curvy. Adaptive suspension helps keep the G90’s mass in check and provides a comfortable ride in almost all situations. It’s difficult to unsettle the car, but it is quick to recover and get back on track. Most people won’t be buying the G90 for the driving experience, but it’s comforting to know that it can hold its own when needed.
It’s Got All the Tech
Modern people demand modern tech, and the Genesis G90 does not disappoint in this regard. Because Genesis only offers the G90 as an all-in, maxed-out package, even the “cheapest” models get all the goodies. The car uses the same simple-but-excellent infotainment system that runs in Hyundai vehicles, which performs excellently on the G90’s widescreen infotainment unit. The 12.3-inch touchscreen runs smoothly, offers excellent viewing angles, and operates responsively in almost all scenarios. There’s also wireless smartphone charging, tri-zone climate controls, a Lexicon premium audio system, a surround-view camera system, a rear-seat entertainment system, and the list goes on. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is navigation, but most people will be happy with their Apple or Google-flavored mapping tool.
Genesis managed to pack all of that tech into the G90 without making any part of the package seem out of place or awkward. The sound system gives passengers an immersive and deep audio experience, thanks in part to the G90’s cocoon-like interior, but it’s also due to the stereo’s power, clarity, and tuning for the car. Rumbling bass and crystal-clear highs are both a part of the deal, but the system truly shines with voice reproduction, where it remains clear and doesn’t distort with volume changes. There’s a rotary control to allow drivers the ability to make selections on the screen without taking their eyes off the road, and the versatility of being able to control the screen in multiple ways helps reduce distraction overall.
Genesis didn’t skip safety, and the car’s excellent crash-test results are the payoff. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the G90 a Top Safety Pick+ designation for the 2020 model year, which is based on Good ratings in all crash testing categories, Good ratings for the car’s headlights, and a Superior rating for vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention tech. Those ratings are due in part to the inclusion of Genesis Smart Sense on every G90. That includes standard lane keep assist, smart cruise control, smart blind spot detection, driver attention alerts, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a pre-active seatbelt, and a multi-view camera.
