by Larry Lark, Herald Special Sections Writer
No ifs, no ands and no buts.
The 2017 Genesis G90 3.3T simply delivers advanced safety, refined performance and the ultimate luxury driving experience at a bargain, compared to its more status-quo competitors: BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Lexus, Acura and Infinity.
My tester was powered by a 3.3-liter, direct-injected, twin-turbocharged V6 engine that provides 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque throughout a 1,300- to 4,500-rpm range. Paired with an eight-speed, automatic transmission with paddle shifters and old-school rear-wheel drive, this dynamic dual spells fun – as in F. U. N.
At risk of sounding like an infomercial, I write the words… but wait, there’s more! A 5.0-liter V8 power plant is available with the Ultimate model, and that, my friends, will rock your world.
Genesis G90 seats five occupants in posh, living-room-style comfort and space. To call the trunk cavernous, is an insult to caves. And despite the car’s largesse in terms of weight and girth, it still manages a combined 20 miles per gallon in combination city/highway driving as estimated by the EPA.
To compete at the top of the premium luxury car segment, Genesis wants to ensure driver confidence and occupant safety. This is accomplished with the most comprehensive array of standard safety technology in its class highlighted by automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver-attention alert and smart blind-spot detection.
“The Genesis G90 not only presents a compelling product offering, but also a unique ownership experience to create value for our customers,” said Erwin Raphael, general manager of Genesis in the U.S. market. “The G90 embodies all the hallmarks of a modern luxury vehicle with timeless design, performance engineering and innovative technology, while offering owners an unprecedented level of choice, convenience and customer care.”
Seemingly innocuous things can reveal a lot about a manufacturer’s attention to detail. How quiet – or not – the cabin remains when running at full speed is one of those. Items like specially laminated acoustic-filled glass on every window and the development of a two-piece hollow wheel design that acts as a sound absorption chamber, help create a noticeably quiet cabin. You can speak quietly and still be heard.
Another detail is the 22-way power adjustable driver’s seat and 18-way power front passenger seat. Both come with leather and are heated and ventilated. I believe you could emerge from a 500-mile road trip refreshed and ready to go, thanks to those works of art. The goodie bag runneth over in the Genesis G90.
Highlights include a multi-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, three-zone automatic temperature control with CO2 sensor, front seat wireless device charger, 12.3-inch HD navigation system, Lexicon 17-speaker surround-sound audio and so much more.
All things considered, the Genesis G90 was a pleasure to drive and worth every nickel in my spendthrift book. I’m just glad our ice and snow events had ended – I wasn’t really wanting to test this rear-wheel drive in that stuff. But my guess is this Genesis would have handled that as well.
2017 GENESIS G90 3.3T
BASE PRICE: $68,100
AS TESTED: $69,050
Base price includes destination charge. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturer. Prices may vary at local dealerships.
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