2023 Genesis G90

The old G90 still garnered a lot of respect and traded on its excellent value proposition in the luxury class, but the new Genesis G90 luxury sedan is fully redesigned for 2023 and a clear step up from the old car - both in sophistication and price. It's properly premium, and features such as Nappa leather upholstery and power-operated doors are standard on both trims, reflected by a price increase to nearly $100k for the flagship. That still undercuts rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series, so value remains one of its hallmarks. It's just as well because it's still building up the brand panache and bragging rights of a German sedan, and it can't quite compete on handling finesse, an area in which the Europeans traditionally reign supreme. Genesis is hoping to lure away buyers who recognize talent and don't just go for the badge on the hood, so the G90 had better do a good job of convincing open-minded folk that their money is well spent on an excellent upper-crust conveyance. It seems to have all the necessary ingredients to do so.

The MSRP of the Genesis G90 3.5T AWD base trim is $88,400, while the 3.5T Supercharger AWD will cost you $98,700. These prices don't include any extras or the $1,125 destination fee.

Given that the G90 is, first and foremost, a luxury sedan and that the previous one focused on comfort rather than athleticism, we wouldn't criticize it too badly if it didn't deliver a sporty drive in the manner of a BMW. It doesn't, but it acquits itself well in the curves and stays faithful to the chosen line, with fine control and moderate body roll. It's just not fun, and the steering is numb - but that's fine because the G90 compensates with an excellent ride. The ride is even better with the air suspension and with Chauffeur mode activated to optimize damping for rear-seat comfort, rendering the G90's ride cloud-soft without floating and wallowing. On the highway, the silence is tomb-like, and occupants are isolated from extraneous noises and vibrations. At low speeds, the rear-axle steering on the top trim makes the big sedan far more maneuverable than you might imagine, and it's easy to slot into parking bays.

Most agree that the S-Class still melds true executive-class status and street cred better than any rival, but it's as much about perceptions as ability, we think - and one drive in the new G90 will demonstrate why. The Genesis might not have the three-pointed star on the hood, but it does luxury and comfort in a very Mercedes-like way, and it comes across as a cohesive package with tons of standard features and no obvious flaws, except a small trunk. It might have gone up in price, but it's also gone up in ability - and it's still more than ten percent cheaper than the Merc, and just below the BMW 7 Series, price-wise. The 2023 Genesis G90's safety review and reliability expectations are also outstanding. The G90 is not just good "for a Genesis" - it's a superb luxury sedan in its own right.

If you still believe a Genesis G90 only makes sense based on a lower price than the European competition, you could do far worse than the base car. But you'd also be wrong, because the new G90 is a superb luxury car in every respect, beating out rivals such as the Lexus LS on general ability, and offering stand-out looks. We'd go al-in for the top trim because it lacks for nothing, offers spirited performance, and comes standard with air suspension, rear-axle steering, power-adjustable, ventilated, and massaging rear seats, and an even more premium audio system - all at less than $100k.