Despite having mix CDs packed with Warped Tour icons, I’ve never been a big fan of cars that look like they haven’t been unlocked in video games yet. All-black everything works for suits and cards, but cars usually need a touch of contrast. Even the Buick GNX had bright lips on its alloy wheels. There’s one potential exception though, and that’s full-sized luxury sedans. There’s something sinister about a six-figure four-door cloaked in night, so when the Genesis G90 Prestige Black was announced, I was curious to see how it would look out in public.
Even beyond the novelty of a full factory blackout treatment in this price bracket, the Genesis G90 is notable because it’s one of a few players in a shrinking segment. Launching a big body sedan before a large three-row SUV in this market was a bold decision, but it has all the right specs on paper for sedan traditionalists. The question is: how does it compare to the Germans? Let’s find out.
[Full disclosure: Genesis Canada let me borrow this G90 Prestige Black for a week so long as I kept the shiny side up, returned it reasonably clean with a full tank of premium fuel, and reviewed it.]
The Basics
Engine: 3.5-liter quad-cam twin-turbocharged intercooled V6 with a 48-volt electric supercharger.
Transmission: Eight-speed torque converter automatic.
Drive: Full-time all-wheel-drive.
Output: 409 horsepower at 5,800 RPM, 405 lb.-ft. of torque from 1,300 to 4,500 RPM.
Fuel Economy: 17 MPG city, 24 MPG highway, 20 MPG combined (13.6 L/100km city, 9.6 L/100km highway, 11.8 L/100km combined).
Base Price: $107,895 including freight ($121,500 in Canada).
Price As-Tested: $107,895 including freight ($121,500 in Canada).
Why Does It Exist?
Throughout the history of the automobile, every country has had its flagship. Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, Honqi, the list goes on. In Korea, the Genesis G90 is the big boy. The top dog. El jefe, if you will. A luxury sedan for CEOs and heads of state alike. With the impending demise of the Audi A8 and Lexus LS, the Genesis G90 is also now one of the big three executive limos in North America, and this blacked-out variant aims to add a touch of menace.
How Does It Look?
Any sedan in this class needs to exude power standing still. Maybe the owner oversees eight-figure deals. Maybe the owner knows how to cook half a brick in the air fryer. Do you really want to find out? Probably not, but the G90 Prestige Black is one of the few new cars out there that pulls off the full mallgoth treatment. It starts with a coat of metallic black paint that simply absorbs light. It’s so dark, it’s like driving 207.7 inches of night. Fantastic.
Of course, paint alone doesn’t make a special edition, so Genesis has also blacked out everything else. The grille, the trim, a chunky set of five-spoke 21-inch alloy wheels. You even get a special emblem on the hood with engraving that gets progressively finer to the point where you need to break out a microscope. Best of all, it’s not all just the same shade of black. There’s nuance to the variety of finishes, and that’s before we talk about the general styling. This is the last C-suite sedan left that’s visually tasteful. The curves of that enormous clamshell hood, the strong haunches, the slim lights that appear to pierce the wheel wells. It all just works. Stay classy, Genesis. At a time when the Germans keep unveiling ever-more-vulgar designs, elegance is a USP.
What About The Interior?
Slide behind the wheel of the Genesis G90 Prestige Black and the cabin immediately feels rich. Not quite gold-flakes-on-your-steak excessive, but definitely A5 wagyu decadent. Sure, you’ll find synthetic leather rather than real cow on some interior panels, but it has the right satin sheen to feel about right. The hide on the seats is real and just as soft as what you’d get in any of the competition, and then there’s the broader mix of materials. Glass in the shifter, metal on the tweeters and some of the secondary controls, suede on the headliner, and huge panels of black open-pore wood with tasteful copper inlays. Sitting in this thing feels like a six-figure experience, and that’s before you find the best seat in the house.
The fully loaded G90’s $107,895 price tag ($121,500 in Canada) gets you something you won’t get in any competitor at this price point: A proper VIP seat. Not only are both rear seats power-adjustable, the right one gets a full-on footrest that deploys in a wonderfully theatric manner. Press the “Rest” button, and the front passenger seat tucks all the way up against the dashboard, the backrest reclines, and a quilted ottoman extends to cradle your legs. For anyone under six feet tall, it’s wonderful, although an even longer-wheelbase model is available in Korea for those who really want to stretch out.
How Does It Drive?
Since we’re more than a decade into the era of downsizing and turbocharging, it shouldn’t be a huge surprise to learn that the biggest Genesis doesn’t have a V8 under its long hood. Instead, it’s the marque’s familiar 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with a 48-volt electric supercharger joining the party in the pursuit of reducing lag. Hitched to an eight-speed torque converter automatic, this 409-horsepower mill usually makes for buttery progress, except for one patch of weirdness. Under light throttle application from a steady speed, there’s a slight vibration around 2,000 RPM that only makes itself present in the standard drive mode. Selecting “Sport” keeps the revs up and avoids the chug zone entirely, while holding the mode selector for “Chauffeur Mode” sands down the coarse spot nicely. As for general performance, a zero-to-60 mph time of just under six seconds is perfectly sufficient, but you don’t buy a car like this for its straight-line pace.
No, you buy a full-size luxury sedan because it promises to erase parts of the outside world. Time, distance, the dull thwack of tires hitting an expansion joint, the sound of Luke Bryan blaring from the run-down Chevrolet Equinox sitting next to you in traffic, etcetera. In that regard, the G90 isn’t quite S-Class insular, but it reminds me of a BMW 7 Series from a time when Bavaria’s C-suite express wasn’t hitting the pies so heavily. There’s a definite learning curve to the four-wheel-steering as huge inputs at low speeds can almost feel like a tank-slapper, but flip the adaptive air ride into its firmest setting, throw this somehow-still-lighter-than-a-BMW-M5 sedan around an on-ramp, and you’ll be amazed at how well it carves.
Then, when you want to relax, select the aforementioned “Chauffeur Mode” and everything takes a deep breath. The rear suspension slackens off beautifully while still maintaining decent body control, and the brake pedal softens up to smooth out your stops. As the attitude adjustment kicks in, you start to notice how well all the body seals and double-glazing hush wind noise, how wonderfully low the dashboard is relative to the seating position, and how it rides remarkably well over city potholes despite the massive 21-inch wheels. It’s the sort of experience that invites you to stretch out, lean on the console armrest, and watch the miles melt away.
Does It Have The Electronic Crap I Want?
Undoubtedly. The Genesis G90 Prestige Black is so gadget-rich, it makes your local Best Buy feel like a farm shop. Let’s start with the doors, which are power-assisted and can be closed remotely by a variety of buttons throughout the cabin. The driver’s door even closes when you hit the brake pedal, much like a Tesla Model X. Once you’re in, you’ll quickly learn that all four main seating positions offer heat, ventilation, memory, and a shockingly good massage. As little fingers in the seatbacks knead your tight lumbar, you’ll start to ponder whether your workplace’s wellness allowance will at least cover part of the lease payment. Beyond that, you can choose which interior perfume you’d like to smell and how strong you’d like it, how many power window shades you want closed, how strong of a blue light filter you want on the displays at night, and even what color temperature you’d like the map lights to be. Oh, and we haven’t even reached the best part yet.
See, the top-spec G90 comes with two touchscreens. There’s the one in the dashboard, which offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and then there’s the one in the rear armrest. In here, you’ll find controls for almost everything out back. Additional seat settings not covered by physical controls, individual climate zones, the blinds, all that. Right behind that screen, there’s a bank of buttons and a giant knob to control the crystal-clear Bang & Olufsen audio system that’s unfortunately burdened with B&O’s rather unintuitive tone circle of confusion. If you have kids, figure out how to lock this out, or you’ll be hearing “Baby Shark” on repeat. There’s more to the rear armrest too, including a wireless phone charger and a UV-C disinfecting compartment, and you can fold it up and get a fifth seat. As you’d expect, an extensive advanced driver assistance suite comes standard on the G90, although it’s not quite as relaxing as driving yourself when you’re in real traffic. Still, this level of kit would command a five-figure premium in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or a BMW 7 Series. Short of a fridge, literally nothing’s left out.
Three Things To Know About The 2026 Genesis G90 Prestige Black
- Everything from the power-closing doors to the executive rear seat is standard.
- The sheer speed of the four-wheel-steering has a slight learning curve.
- You can also get it in white.
Does The 2026 Genesis G90 Prestige Black Fulfil Its Purpose?
You know how, 35 years ago, Lexus showed up with a big body sedan that offered a wild amount of car for the money? The Genesis G90 is the modern equivalent. It’s not quite as isolated as a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series, but it’s also thousands of dollars, if not tens of thousands of dollars, less expensive than comparably equipped rivals. At that sort of price gap, getting a slightly firmer normal mode ride in exchange for greater engagement and loads of toys seems like more than a fair trade. It certainly doesn’t hurt that the G90 feels like the closest modern equivalent to an E38 7 Series with the Sport package. This isn’t an inexpensive car, but it sure feels worth the cost of entry.
What’s The Punctum Of The 2026 Genesis G90 Prestige Black?
“Entourage” vibes at a price that’ll make the Germans nervous.
Top graphic image: Thomas Hundal
It looks sharp but not imposing or stately, if that’s what Genesis was going for. It gives off vibes of 20 something influencer who hit 1,000,000 followers vibes more than it does head honcho vibes to me if that makes sense. Kind of like how a lifted and blacked out RAM is supposed to scream alpha male but all it does is make people think you live on Monster Energy and gas station dick pills.
I think the better move is to go for stealth luxury to match the lower entry price. Lexus nailed that with the LS400. Those who know will know, and why would you care about the people who think you have a weird special edition Accord? The experience from the inside is what matters the most to you.
“It gives off vibes of 20 something influencer who hit 1,000,000 followers”
On that note, there’s a basketball player at our university who parks a white one of these illegally and conspicuously on the front apron of the arena, right in front of the doors, right where everyone can see.
See my Genny? That’s right, m’effer, I’m a big fish in this little pond. Someday that’s gonna be an S Class at Capitol One Arena…until the Wizards trade me after my first year.
Agree on all points
I’m not sure what the angle is with this car. If I have $100k for a car, I can probably swing $110-120k as well and I’m cross shopping to a 7 series or a S-class.
The BMW and Mercedes offer a bunch of exterior and interior color options for those of us who don’t want “black hole” as our interior, no matter how nice the materials might be.
If I really want to save money, I’ll go find a certified used LS500.
exactly, who price shops at this level? they are all company leases anyway
Does anyone else think those wheels look like dado blades?
I understand all of the reasons why it’s a turbo V6, but if I’m dropping that kind of coin on a car like this, I want a V8, preferably N/A.
They should offer a factory Vantablack edition.
Hyundai’s wheel game on their Genesis models has been extremely on point since COVID. This one loses a bunch of points by being the same on each side but I’ll give them credit by saying I wouldn’t have thought were anywhere near that big.
It looks great. I don’t generally like those cat litter box feces scoop girls, but this works. I hate slitty headlights, but these and the side vents are very nice, and break up the scale nicely. I wouldn’t mind being chauffeured around in this, the interior looks like something I could get used to.
I think the Toyota Century is what they are aiming for at, or pointing in that general direction anyway.
Needs more sidewall though, not only for looks, but no mater what the magic suspension is, it would feel better on taller tires.
Let a thousand Livery leases bloom! Is the car a black car? None more black!
Those lights and those wheels are very ugly to me, but, yeah, I’d drive this if I could afford it. Maybe I’d just stick to a normal G90, though.
BTS is on tour again this year, Genesis should hand these out to the members, have them roll up to the show chauffeured in it. Make these a pop culture hit, otherwise I don’t see how these sell when the 7 series are about the same price.
The Korean looks pretty good, The 7 looks like a modern BMW… Seems like enough to win at least a few sales for Genesis.
I think the 7 series is exactly what people who spend $100k+ on a sedan is looking for. It looks like – Hey, I’m a $100k!
It might not look good but it looks like a $100k.
While the Genesis, looks like wait what? That’s a $100k?
Yeah not anymore. Those folks buy the $100k SUV/CUV.
Sedans are quiet luxury – the Shiv Roy of bodystyles. (Okay, she’s the Shiv Roy of bodystyles, as in she’s not heroin chic or Buttlift Kardashian, she’s just a sharp as fuck ladyboss with a great ass. Sue me.)
I might be tempted to shop these CPO in two years, once 60% of MSRP has fallen by the wayside.
Yeah, but that particular wheel design is so f*cking ugly and inelegant for such an otherwise stately car. Not only are they ugly, they also look cheap. Genesis normally does a brilliant job with styling, so I wonder what happened here.
Seriously, why? I see a handfull of them things on the road with a pretty wild looking option wheel and they look great, This looks like a set of hubcaps off of a dodge intrepid with some black plastidip.
I despise black wheels and I won’t buy a vehicle with them.
Ugh, all ruined by “Look Ma! I glued a tablet to it!” interior design.
While I agree with you, it makes me sad to note that this is still one of the less egregious offenders of late.
The contextless rectangles springing straight up from dashes are my least favorite of all. At least this dumb rectangle is merged-ish into the shape? Sort of?
Yeah, but only the chauffeur and pistolero will have to look at it.
I feel superior driving my 2027 Bolt with a nicely integrated screen tilted at 45 degrees.
As a S-Class on the 20% Off rack, on paper it seems to fit the bill. I prefer the G90s interior styling to the hypergloss nonsense in the S Class but it sure looks like Mercedes blows it out of the water in powertrain, prestige, and dealership experience.
When judged by the standards of the time, I think the original LS400 was a more complete package and a far better S Class competitor. Seems to me this G90 is taking the fight more to the A8, disgusting avant-garde 740i, and the forgotten, forsaken LS500.
Anyway, the cheapskate in me says if I’m going to do cheap luxury, I’m going to do it right and buy the G90 after someone’s 3-year lease for 50-60 grand. Tragic depreciation–another issue original LS400 owners didn’t have to deal with.
I just want a new LS550 with a silkier version of the last Lexus V8, an interior that feels like Frank Lloyd Wright spent two semesters abroad at Tokyo University, and a face that *doesn’t* look like a wasp’s armpit. I’m their target customer, who is a 45 year old who can afford what their perfect Newport Beach 55 year old wants.
But, alas, I’ll have to go with a barely-used LC500 myself while my wife is bored enough by the GX550 to buy a CX-90 or Durango 392 instead. Their loss, my gain.
“This isn’t an inexpensive car, but it sure feels worth the cost of entry”
You shopping this price bracket, Thomas? If not, I’m not sure we’re qualified to make that assessment…
Sincerely,
Someone Who’s Not Qualified Either
In a weird way, often, but that’s six-to-one. Regardless, look at it this way: I tested a GLC 43 that stickered for $102k Canadian. For less than one Versa more, this thing gives you so much more car in just about every way.
For half the price of this you can get a really nicely sorted MB 450SEL 6.9. Far more my idea of a luxobarge.
Can we get Adrian’s opinion on which Goth subcategory this is?
K-Pop Demon Limo.
Holy motors.
I absolutely, positively, LOATH the “murdered out look” – it needs to die in a fire already. Luxury cars need some brightwork for jewelry, cheap cars have long been the ones with cheap blacked out trim.
I don’t understand why anyone would buy one of these new over an S-Class. If you can afford the Korean cut-rate knock-off, you probably can afford the real thing, and it likely doesn’t chug at certain rpms. And the S-Class come in more than just shades of gray plus a single blue. Blech. The “Manufaktur” range of colors are highway robbery in price, but at least you get a pile of interesting options, and what’s another $10K to have it nearly your own way? And really, black or white only for the top spec? Blech, again.
Some people think the S class has gotten a little tacky. Of course Mercedes will build a car with all the badging and tacky V12 logos removed if you want.
The other colors and bright grill look like an awkward Buick. Which is nice go all the folks that wonder why Buicks got weird I guess, but they fall apart visually.
Only as tacky as the owner wants it to be (and for sure some of those $10K colors live in a taste-free zone). Lighted emblems can die in a fire. And I would proudly rock the badge of the smallest available engine anyway.
I’m a proud de-badger myself. https://youtube.com/shorts/8vkNZulAr8g
Porsche’s willingness to paint a car any color you want from their history, or to match any object you want is admirable and I think they are pretty open to any upholstery fabric you want too.
One of the nice things about the Porsche 911 shape is any color looks about as right as any other.
I’m really anticipating what people are going to wrap their Slate trucks with. There are some surprisingly gorgeous Cybertrucks locally, so I have high hopes. Still haven’t seen a David Smith with an angle grinder look yet – seems so obvious to me.
Most cars aren’t as adaptable to any color you want because there is too much detail that gets weird. Or the design is so ungainly that it needs something breaking it up. C-pillars seem to be the worst offenders, with weird splotches affixed for no reason other than distraction. Weird creases on the sides and grills that look like the designer just quit in the middle of the day and some intern filled in the empty space with a wadded up piece of plastic.
Don’t even get me started on the detailing of modern cars. I think Edward Scissorhands is the main stylist employed today. So many random creases and lines and “surface excitement”. And then there is the evident competition to see who can design the goofiest lighting package. Plus all the nasty black plastic slathered here and there. I blame Chris Bangle for starting the madness.
I admire Porsche’s “have it your way” ethos, even if their prices for doing it appall me, LOL. I love that they still offer interiors in actual colors. But for sure I would never buy any configurable car “off the rack” – I had fun configuring my two new BMWs “my way”, or at least as close to it as I could get. And the Cayman I was all set to order before my inner Yankee Cheapskate talked me out of it. Sigh.
I don’t understand how it keeps persisting in OEM design shops. I also think it looks terrible.
I concur. I’m sure this car provides an opulent experience from the inside, but from the outside it doesn’t look much different from a plasti-dipped 84 month-financed Altima.
All Black = BORING!!
Thank you thank you THANK YOU for not writing “ze Germans.” Some journalistic tropes need to die, and that one sits right alongside ‘The Motor Company’ for H-D.
thomas says “keep the shiny side up” in every single review disclosure lol
we get it, you’re not supposed to crash a press car
“The driver’s door even closes when you hit the brake pedal”
I despise shit like this. Sometimes there’s a damn good reason to depress the brake pedal with the door open. It was this kind of uber-golden-retriever behavior that made alignments and other basic services ten times harder on cars that had them versus those that didn’t. Autopark, auto electronic e-brake, etc etc.
Yup. Getting a parking ticket out of a machine springs to mind.
I’m sure you can turn that off.
I had an Escalade IQ loaner for a couple of weeks with power-opening/closing doors. It was honestly pretty cool. But I shudder to think what all that costs to fix, and I’m someone with a generally healthy tolerance for high-end car shenanigans.
IT’S NOT A PHASE MOM! – every automaker right now
“Where’s my black Hyundailiner?”
“We have both kinds of music; The Cure and My Chemical Romance”
The car automatically moves to the part of the parking garage with no other cars, uses the tablet to scroll the complete works of Edgar Allen Poe.
It feels like Genesis (and, lesser extent, Kia) has a reasonably cohesive design strategy and they look reasonably decent.
So, why can’t Hyundai, itself, show some of this?
Almost nothing is as sinister as a black S63. Try all they might (and obv huge undercut on price), that’s an awfully high bar to reach. And this doesn’t even come close.
My quick opinion. Interior looks good. I would be happy to be chauffeured in that. But the exterior does not look good, so I would not want to be driving it. Also at that price, there are some other options I would probably choose first.
Some day, people will wake up and realize that being charged extra for cheap black trim/wheels/paint/interior is a scam.
There needs to be less of a pendulum swing between chrome & blackout in cars.