2017 Genesis G90

ANDREW WENDLER

October 5, 2017 at 5:35 PM

WHAT WE LIKE: First and foremost, the torquey pull of the twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6 and the smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic. Virtually every comment in the logbook references the powertrain’s versatility, one editor describing its demeanor as “docile when not provoked but a rocket ship when pushed.” The quiet interior features near-perfect fit and finish, and aside from one driver who couldn’t find a comfortable setting for the lumbar support, the 22-way adjustable seats provide enough adaptability for drivers of any size to get comfortable. Taller staffers who generally loathe sunroofs for their headroom-consuming properties have been pleasantly surprised by the noggin space in the G90. It’s worth mentioning that our observed fuel economy has remained 23 mpg—not too shabby for a big beast piloted by a staff of lead-footed drivers.

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE: Lots of commenters have noted tire slap over expansion joints and unfiltered impacts from broken highway pavement. Additionally, body motions, particularly rebound, are not as controlled as in most of the G90’s competitors. While neither is severe enough to be a deal breaker, some have wondered how these aspects of suspension tuning seemed to escape the final development process in a vehicle otherwise so polished. Another small complaint is the inconsistency of some of the exterior panel gaps. While the alignment is generally straight, the width of the gap can vary from location to location. For instance, the gap in the junction where the passenger-side A-pillar meets the door is significantly smaller than the adjacent spaces between the door, hood, and front fender.

WHAT WENT WRONG: Not much. Within a month of the car’s arrival, a small divot appeared in the windshield just left of the driver’s sightline, so we had a local glass company come out and fill it for $50. At about 8000 miles, we took the Genesis in for its first service, which consists of an oil change, a multipoint inspection, and fuel additive (the last required, according to the owner’s manual, unless you’ve been running top-tier detergent gasoline). The tires weren’t rotated, but no abnormal wear was noted. That service set us back $48, which sounds not bad, until you realize that the G90 comes with complimentary scheduled maintenance for 3 years or 36,000 miles. Our employee wasn’t aware of the plan, and the people at the suburban Detroit Hyundai dealership—who said this was only the second Genesis they’d serviced—apparently hadn’t gotten the memo from corporate.

Around the 5000-mile mark, a couple of drivers complained that the right-front edge of the sunroof was not fully sealing, causing excessive wind noise. But such notes—and the noise—ceased within 100 miles, leading us to believe that some debris may have been lodged in the seal.

WHERE WE WENT: After the G90 survived a trial by fire of sorts by completing a pair of epic southbound journeys within days of its arrival—on which we reported in the car’s introduction—editor-in-chief Eddie Alterman turned its nose north and headed for Mackinaw City, Michigan, in July. Since then, the G90 has been spending some quality time at our home base, largely traversing the Ann Arbor/Detroit/Toledo axis of power. With the holiday season on the horizon, however, we expect the spacious, easy-driving G90 to start knocking down miles at a fevered pitch.

Months in Fleet: 4 months Current Mileage: 11,220 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 23 mpg Fuel Tank Size: 21.9 gal
Fuel Range: 500 miles
Service: $48 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0
Damage and Destruction: $50

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE AS TESTED: $69,050 (base price: $69,050)

ENGINE TYPE: twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 204 cu in, 3342 cc
Power: 365 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 376 lb-ft @ 1300 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 124.4 in
Length: 204.9 in
Width: 75.4 in Height: 58.9 in
Passenger volume: 113 cu ft
Trunk volume: 16 cu ft
Curb weight: 4717 lb

PERFORMANCE: NEW
Zero to 60 mph: 5.2 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 13.0 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 23.1 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 5.7 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.8 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.7 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 13.8 sec @ 103 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 147 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 182 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.84 g

*stability-control-inhibited

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA combined/city/highway: 20/17/24 mpg
C/D observed: 23 mpg
Unscheduled oil additions: 0 qt

WARRANTY:
5 years/60,000 miles bumper to bumper;
10 years/100,000 miles powertrain;
7 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection;
3 years/unlimited miles roadside assistance;
3 years/36,000 miles scheduled maintenance

In retrospect, it’s only logical that we eventually would find ourselves behind the wheel of a nearly $70,000 Hyundai. Loosely following the blueprint used by the trio of Japanese manufacturers that launched upscale divisions in the late 20th century, Hyundai’s newly minted Genesis is meant to put a little space between its upmarket offerings and the value-oriented fare it built its name on. Morphing the model name of its Hyundai Genesis coupe and sedan into a stand-alone brand also creates a place in which to move loyal customers as their income and tastes permit more upscale pursuits. With the G90 standing as the new brand’s top offering, we secured one for a 40,000-mile long-term test.

Hyundai has a reputation for tilting the feature-content-to-price ratio in favor of the consumer, and its upscale Genesis division follows that formula. If you get a kick out of optioning a vehicle to the $100,000 mark, turn your attention elsewhere. For a segment-reasonable $69,050 base price, our G90 includes all the modern conveniences and then some: nappa-leather-upholstered, heated and cooled, multi-adjustable front seats (22-way driver, 16-way passenger); a leather-covered dash, steering wheel, and door panels with real wood accents; acoustic laminated glass; rear-side-window and backlight sunshades; a head-up display; adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability; a 12.3-inch infotainment screen; and a 17-speaker Lexicon audio system, just to name the highlights. The only way to inflate the G90 Premium’s sticker is to add $2500 for Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive. Or one can step up to the Ultimate trim, which costs an additional $1600 and replaces the Premium’s 365-hp twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6 with a 420-hp naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8 (and again offers all-wheel drive for $2500).

While $1600 for 55 ponies may seem like a bargain, the grunt portion of the deal isn’t as convincing. Whereas all 376 lb-ft of the turbo V-6’s torque is on the job as soon as 1300 rpm, the V-8’s 383 lb-ft don’t punch in fully until 5000 rpm.

Matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission, our V-6 G90 seems to have hit the sweet spot. Early logbook entries agree that the combo pulls hard, shifts precisely, and sounds good doing so. Our initial assessments of the G90’s powertrain were confirmed at the test track, where it laid down a respectable 5.2-second zero-to-60-mph time and scooted through the quarter-mile in 13.8 seconds. Braking from 70 mph consumed 182 feet.

As for rolling stock, our Patagonia Blue G90 arrived sporting a quartet of hefty-looking 19-inch chrome aluminum wheels wrapped in Continental ContiProContact tires. The multilink front and rear suspensions utilize adaptive dampers, with mixed results. While the ride is supple, the handling and body movements can get a bit sloppy. We can think of several competitors that better manage the ride/handling/comfort equation, although the G90 never pretends to be anything but a competent luxury barge.

Daily Driver

Considering the G90’s cavernous and well-appointed interior, it’s only natural that the car would get the nod from those with a lot of highway miles to cover. Less than a week after arriving, the G90 was pressed into service to transport staffers to Virginia International Raceway for our annual Lighting Lap competition. Barely two weeks after its return, associate online editor Joseph Capparella climbed behind the wheel for a run to North Carolina, reporting an indicated 27 mpg for portions of the trip. In between highway jaunts, the G90’s enormous back seat, which is wide enough for three people even if they aren’t particularly friendly, makes it a top choice for lunch runs. Our overall fuel economy to date is 23 mpg, which falls on the sweet side of its 20-mpg combined EPA rating.

Although we have accumulated fewer than 5000 miles at this point, we are encouraged by the G90’s rock-solid reliability, coddling interior, and hushed ride. We’ll see how this story develops over the next 35,000 miles.

Months in Fleet: 1 month Current Mileage: 4738 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 23 mpg Fuel Tank Size: 21.9 gal Fuel Range: 500 miles
Service: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0