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https://www.barrons.com/articles/genesis-offers-upscale-g80-and-g90-models-01639684031
Genesis has two new high-end models: The 2021 G80 is already with us, and the 2023 G90 has just been revealed. Penta tested the 2021 Genesis G80 in 3.5T AWD Prestige trim and has details about the G90—which will be on the market sometime next year.
Genesis is still trying to increase its brand awareness, says Claudia Marquez, chief operating officer for North America. Oddly enough, it probably helped that Tiger Woods’ high-profile speeding crash last February was in a GV80 [is this a high-end G80?]. Consumers are buying Genesis vehicles when they get to the showrooms, though—sales in October were up four-fold compared to the same month in 2020. More incentive was provided by the G80 being named Best Upper Midsize Premium Car in J.D. Power’s 2021 Initial Quality Study. (It was second in 2020.)
The cars do tend to sell themselves when seen, because the value for the money is readily apparent. The third-generation G80 starts at US$49,045, and with options this top-trim model was US$69,195 as tested. The Prestige package, which includes Nappa leather seats, 20-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch digital display, and some safety technology (adding to the impressive suite standard with the car), costs US$5,400. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the G80 high ranking.
Yes, there are Hyundai roots, but the company is following a worn path trod by Japanese rivals Toyota, Nissan, and Honda in setting up well-regarded luxury divisions. The G80, interior and exterior, looks the part. The big toothy grille takes some acclimation, but it’s nicely set-off by slit-like LED quad lamp headlights that mirror decorative “power lines” on the front fenders. It looks alert and ready to go.
The cabin emphasizes quality materials, via matte-finish wood trim, a suede headliner, and temperature-controlled leather seats equipped with seven air cells to reduce fatigue with automatic posture correction. There’s a twin-filter air purification system that activates when it detects fine dust. The Lexicon premium audio has 21 speakers and concert sound selection. Rear-seat passengers have plenty of legroom, as well as dual touchscreens. The trunk is large.
The G80, enjoyed on a long blast through the New England countryside, was nimble for its size (16.4 feet long) and the all-wheel drive was welcome. As you might expect, the G80’s 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo engine is very quiet as it delivers 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. This is the premium engine: other choices are a 300-horsepower 2.5-liter inline four and a 2.2-liter diesel (210 horsepower). Order the others if you want fuel economy; as tested with the V6, the G80 delivered 21 miles per gallon combined (18 city, 26 highway).
The G90 for 2023 was unveiled Dec. 13, with pricing not yet announced (the 2022 started at US$68,350). The model is moving up in the world and may cost more money—but it’s a lot of car. The company’s flagship is aimed at entrenched targets like the Mercedes S-Class. The G90 was refreshed in 2018, but this is a new model.
The styling has many cues from the G80, including that huge grille, the power lines, and the quad lamps, but here they’re installed on a wider, longer body that, should the owner desire, can accommodate a chauffeur. Passenger comfort is controlled by camera-equipped suspension that reads the road ahead and adjusts accordingly. Air suspension is also available. There’s a separate sunroof over the second row.
Yes, a special long-wheelbase model is available and it turns the rear compartment into a quilted leather throne room. Each passenger gets a screen and controls in a central console. The rear seats both massage and recline. The slashings of wood look impressive, but they’re actually made from reprocessed waste paper. The Bang & Olufsen stereo has 23 speakers and a fingerprint scanner can open the doors instead of a key fob.
The G90, like the G80, comes with a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine attached to an eight-speed automatic. That’s the same as the G80, so power output is likely similar. In the long-wheelbase version with all-wheel drive, electric e-S/C supercharging is available for added power. An Electrified G90 model is possible in the near future.
Technology on this car includes rear-wheel steering (up to four degrees) in low-speed maneuvering (again, as seen on the S-Class), a three-mode braking “chauffeur” allowing drivers to control braking force, and active noise canceling. The new car will accommodate over-the-air updates.
The new G90 is, in a word, loaded, and an increasingly viable alternative for customers who previously bought only from the Germans.
Genesis has two new high-end models: The 2021 G80 is already with us, and the 2023 G90 has just been revealed.
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