Luxury sedan Genesis G90 in the look test: This is how the Korean flagship drives

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No, this is not a Bentley. The neighbor who watched me park the Genesis G90 in the garage was wrong. But almost: Korean and English look incredibly similar, thanks to Luc Donckerwolke (58). The Belgian automobile designer worked as head of design at Bentley from 2012 to 2015, and as chief designer at Hyundai sub-brand Genesis since 2016.

Hyundai’s Korean luxury branch has been operating in Switzerland for almost three years and now, after five models, the portfolio will be expanded to the luxury class with the flagship. So how does a luxury car actually drive?

before trip

The length of the good part is 5.28 meters and we are testing the shorter SWB (Short Wheelbase). The longer version LWB (Long Wheelbase) comes with an additional 20 centimeters more wheelbase and therefore more legroom for rear passengers. Visually, the G90 stands out from other Genesis models with its two-piece, fully connected taillights, but it’s just as elegant as its siblings. Inside, there is a modern cockpit with plenty of leather and physical buttons, as we know from other Genesis models. The doors can be closed with a single button soft closing. A rather paltry 368 liters fit into the boot. For comparison: A Bentley Flying Spur, also with two separate seats, produces 420 liters of volume.

on the street

St. Start towards St. Moritz. The Korean is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 turbo petrol engine that delivers a massive maximum torque of 549 Newton meters to all wheels. The G90, which weighs approximately 2.3 tons, accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 250 km/h. Multi-chamber air suspension absorbs irregularities on the road surface without any problems. On a quick trip up the Julier Pass the suspension could be a little firmer, at least in sport mode. Thanks to the rear wheel steering, the sedan can be maneuvered quickly around sharp bends. The 415 hp (305 kW) six-cylinder engine sometimes feels a little forced; The high weight resulting from four-wheel drive, mild hybrid system and luxury equipment attract attention.

that was good

If we’re talking about luxury: In addition to the usual seat heating and ventilation on all four seats, the Korean seat also has massage functions, and for the king’s seat in the rear right, even foot cooling or heating, including massage, is available. Open the footrest attached to the back of the front seat and enjoy. A 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen hi-fi system provides concert sound. Important detail: If the rear right passenger wants to lie down and pushes the passenger seat all the way, the headrest folds down enough for the driver to still see the right outside mirror clearly.

he was bad

Although we feel very comfortable in the front and rear of the sedan, we find the seating position a bit high. As for the consumption indicator: From Zurich, where there are many motorways and intercity roads, to St. Consumption for the journey to St. Moritz is 12.1 l/100 km. This is no longer suitable for a new car, and mild hybridization using a 48-volt electric motor also seems unnecessary. The infotainment system works well but takes some getting used to. You have to lean forward a little to touch the touch screen. Fortunately, the infotainment system can also be controlled using the buttons on the center console.

what remains

The Genesis G90 can certainly keep up with rivals like the BMW 7 Series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but it doesn’t need to hide from British luxury brands like Bentley or Rolls-Royce. It impresses with its good quality, comprehensive equipment and high driving comfort. We were also impressed by the price-performance ratio, because with a starting price of 128,400 Swiss francs (test car 129,900 francs) you get great value for money. For comparison: The Mercedes-Benz S-Class starts at 129,881 Swiss francs without options.

Source: Blick