Like other manufacturers initiated years ago, Hyundai now has a new luxury spinoff brand. It’s the 2017 Genesis G90. Gone are the Hyundai Genesis and the Hyundai Equus in favor of the Genesis lineup, currently the G90 and G80.
Key Takeaways
- 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 365 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic; the other engine is a 5.0-liter V8 with 420 horsepower.
- $68,100 MSRP and $69,050 as tested.
- 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds; 17 mpg city and 24 highway.
- Value: The new spinoff from Hyundai works well at a price $25,000 less than the leaders of the pack.
- Ride: The Genesis is confident on the road, the kind of ride best for long highway hauls in comfort and with an absence of stress.
- Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles bumper to bumper and 10 years/100,000 miles on the powertrain.
The 2017 Genesis joins Toyota (Lexus), Nissan (Infiniti) and Honda (Acura) with its upscale Hyundai relative, a sedan ready for a tough gig. It’s entering a car segment where brand loyalty is difficult to shatter, particularly when the competition includes Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
The Weekly Driver Test Drive
Available with a twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 with 365 horsepower or a 5.0 liter V8 with 420 horsepower, the Genesis is a fully loaded upscale luxury sedan. Both options are available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and with eight-speed automatic transmissions. Both vehicles are also designed for premium-grade fuel.
Like should be expected from a luxury sedan, the Genesis G90 defines the segment. My test vehicle was the 3.3-liter turbo, and it was surprisingly agile for its size. Its comfort and quiet ride further added to the enjoyment of driving a new brand.
Unlike many luxury brands with expensive option packages, Genesis keeps it simple. The standard features list is all-inclusive and lengthy. Highlights include: a head-up display, automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and 12.3-touchscreen for the infotainment features. The safety features list also includes: lane-keeping assist, a driver-attention monitor and active cruise control with full stop and start.
The G90 interior is spacious. Front and back and passengers ride on Nappa leather seats and in a designer magazine editor’s style nirvana. The wood trim is handsome and distributed well. The monster-size infotainment screen features a multiple-view camera that includes around view. While passengers have it swell, the driver get the best of it with 22 seat settings.
The superior Lexicon audio system further adds to the luxury. There are 17 speakers, including two jumbo-sized stainless steel speaker grilles inset on the front doors to prove it. The console between the two back seats has several individual functions, including audio controls. The only downside of the function may be a disagreement of preferred music choices between front and back seat occupants.
What Others Say: “The G90 is the kind of car you could drive for hours on end and arrive feeling relaxed and refreshed.” Kelley Blue Book. “The 2017 Genesis G90 is shaping up to be a luxury vehicle which offers everything from the start and doesn’t break the bank when it comes to pricing for this much luxury.” TorqueNews.com. “While other luxury brands make many electronic features optional, the G90 comes with them as standard equipment.” USA Today.com.
2017 Genesis G90 Verdict
Driving the G90 further adds to the new vehicle’s luxury status. The twin turbo is smooth and the large sedan accelerates from 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds. The Genesis is confident on the road, the kind of ride best for long highway hauls in comfort and with an absence of stress.
It’s hard to imagine a new luxury sedan infiltrating a market stocked with iconic, well-established customer favorites. But if any car can do it, it’s the Genesis. The new spinoff from Hyundai works well at a price $25,000 less than the leaders of the pack.
Likes
Spacious, plush interior. Quiet, comfortable ride. Beautifully designed inside and outside
Dislikes
Gas mileage needs improvement. Electric parking brake lever awkward.
Facts & Figures: 2017 Genesis G90
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Price | $68,100 |
| As-Tested Price | $69,050 |
| Engine | 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 |
| Horsepower | 365 hp |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| 0-60 mph | 5.3 seconds |
| Fuel Economy | 17 city / 24 highway / 20 combined mpg |
| Fuel Type | Premium |
| Airbags | 9 |
| Warranty | Bumper to bumper 5 yr/60,000 mi; powertrain 10 yr/100,000 mi; corrosion 7 yr/unlimited |
James Raia
A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
I am glad Hyundai is still doing well. Love its cars.