Driving large in luxury. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

When people talk about the advantages of electric vehicles over those that explode gasoline in their cylinders typically included are:

• Quiet
• Powerful

The first is obvious. An electric motor has nothing exploding, just rotating at high speeds on some exceedingly slick bearings.

And the second is pretty much predicated on the torque, which is the measure of the force that is generated by said motor. A simple way to think about this is in relation to a food blender. You can push the “10” button and the blades whiz to that speed from a standing stop without any delay in going through the digits beyond zero.

One thing occurred to me when I drove the Genesis G90.

It is arguably quieter than many EVs because I suspect that there is an array of countermeasures taken to mitigate any sound intrusion into the cabin.

And when you depress the accelerator there is the kind of propulsion that might otherwise be achieved in an EV. It is worth noting that this is a different kind of acceleration experience than is achieved in, say, an ICE-powered sports car, which typically has the perceptible shift moment. The eight-speed in the G90 is fully smooth.

While this is certainly not an electric vehicle, as it is powered by a 3.5-liter V6, it does have a 48-V e-supercharger which kicks in at low speeds such that there isn’t lag.

Of course, that the powertrain has an output of 409 hp, that isn’t something that you would expect, anyway.

But the point of the G90 isn’t speed. It is more about no-compromise confidence.

The G90 was the original flagship model when Genesis was launched in the U.S. in 2016. That leading status within the brand has been maintained as the vehicle has evolved, but what hasn’t changed is that it is large and luxurious.

As for the size, it is 207.7 inches long, 76 inches wide, 58.7 inches high and has a 125.2-inch wheelbase.

As for the lux, the vehicle is, simply, loaded. The vehicle driven here had a single option: $650 for special paint. Standard are features including Nappa leather seats, power front and rear seats with massage (yes, the rear is room and quite comfy), microfiber suede headliner and pillars, 12.3-inch high-def infotainment screen, Bang & Olufsen audio, and carpeted mats that are so thick you might want to sit in the car barefoot.

There are the obligatory assist features, from lane-keeping to safe-exist assist. There is even remote smart parking assist.

And there is the striking yet sophisticated exterior design that telegraphs the performance of the vehicle as well as a higher level of luxury, indicated by a tasteful touch of chrome trim.

But the G90 comes at a cost. The MSRP of the vehicle driven here is $99,500, which puts it in the space with vehicles like the BMW 7 Series and the Audi A8. Which brings something to mind: the 7 Series was first introduced in 1977 and the A8 in 1994. So both have something of a pedigree, something that the G90 lacked. Presumably the designers and engineers at Genesis realized that if they were going to get into that space it wasn’t a matter of equaling the competitors but bringing something more.

Which they have.