What Is A Genesis? Luxury From The Maker Of Hyundai
Hyundai has quietly taken the automotive World by storm, stacking up one sales success after another over the past two decades, from the award-winning 2011 Sonata's beautiful design, to the recent smash-hit 3-row Palisade SUV, selling more than 80,000 units per year in both 2021 and 2022. Now entering its seventh year, the Genesis brand is beginning to offer heavy-hitting competition to very luxurious vehicles from the likes of Mercedes-Benz. Indeed, Genesis just outsold Infiniti for the first time in 2022. Here's what they have to offer.
While the new Palisade has true luxury features such as optional Nappa leather, Hyundai wanted to move further up-market to compete with the likes of Toyota’s Lexus, Honda’s Acura, and Nissan’s Infiniti. After attempts to sub-brand luxury cars under the Hyundai nameplate such as the under-appreciated Equus and the Hyundai Genesis sedan, Hyundai moved the Genesis model name into its own brand in 2017.
G90
The Genesis G90 is a truly world-class super-luxury sedan, with a complete redesign in 2023 bringing Genesis’ most luxurious model to new heights. Right at home in the tony districts of South Korea, the G90 comes in two trims, each with a long list of standard features; no extra checking of boxes for options. The “base” 3.5T AWD has a starting msrp of $88,400, handily undercutting the Mercedes S-Class with its standard Nappa leather seats, power front seats with massaging function, and a 12.3 inch digital instrument cluster. Interior colors are black, brown, beige, or glacier white. More standard features include 20-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, a host of safety and driver assistance features, 3-zone climate control, heated and ventilated seats, wood trim, Bang and Olufsen stereo, and heads-up display. A twin turbo 3.5L V6 has 375 horsepower. The 3.5T E-Supercharger AWD is the up-level trim, starting at $98,700 msrp, adding a supercharger on top of the turbo motor for a total of 409 horsepower. Other upgrades include 21-inch alloy wheels, multi-chamber air suspension, and power reclining and massaging rear seats (for when you’re being chauffeured around Gangnam).
G80
Slightly more affordable than its G90 big-brother, the G80 still delivers big luxury in the mid-size segment, at an msrp of $50,000 for the 2023 model year. Thoroughly spotlighting the Audi/BMW competition’s lack of value, the G80 comes with standard 18-inch alloy wheels, rear wheel drive, 14.5 inch navigation, and a 300 horsepower turbo four-cylinder mated to an 8-speed automatic. Standard features include leatherette seats, power adjustable seats with 4 way power lumbar, dual-zone climate control, power tilt/telescope wheel, heated front seats, and 8-inch digital cluster. Advanced option package ($4700) includes 19-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, and Lexicon brand premium audio system. The Sport Prestige option package ($10,800) includes real leather seats, wireless device charging, and power trunk. All wheel drive is available for $3,150 more on the 2.5T. The 3.5T All Wheel Drive starts at $65,750 msrp with the 375 horsepower twin turbo V6 from the G90, as well as heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, aluminum trim, power window shades, and power door closure
GV80
Most recently famous for being crashed by golf legend Tiger Woods, the GV80 is Genesis’ biggest SUV, with standard all wheel drive and an eight speed automatic transmission. Buyers can choose from the same 300hp turbo 4-cylinder or 375hp twin-turbo V6 offered in the G80 sedan, with a host of trims to choose from. The entry-level 2.5T I4 AWD starts at $57,450 msrp with heated steering wheel, wood trim, 19-inch alloy wheels, power hands-free liftgate, power-folding mirrors with Genesis logo puddle lamps, leatherette seating, power and heated front seats, 14.5 inch navigation screen, 8-inch digital cluster, and a wireless device charger. Advanced Package offers 20-inch alloy wheels, genuine leather seats, and surround view monitoring system, for $6,500. The twin-turbo V6 steps the starting msrp up to $64,600 and includes bigger 20-inch wheels, panoramic sunroof, and heated/ventilated front seats. The top of the line 3.5T V6 AWD Prestige Signature starts at $81,500 msrp with Nappa Leather, 2nd row captain’s chairs with power and ventilation, 2nd row wireless charging, 22-inch alloy wheels, electronically controlled suspension, and a 12.3 inch 3D digital cluster.
GV70
The Genesis GV70 is the volume-SUV model for the brand, in the crowded small lux-SUV space aside the Audi Q5 and the BMW X3. Starting at $44,900 msrp, the small size SUV comes standard with the 300 horsepower turbo-4, 19-inch alloys and a 14.5 inch touchscreen display. The larger Genesis twin-turbo V6 with 375 horsepower is available on the 3.5T AWD, starting at $57,500 msrp. The Advanced option package adds real Nappa leather, panoramic sunroof, heated mirrors, power hands-free liftgate, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated steering wheel. The 3.5T AWD Sport Prestige is the loaded to the gills model, starting at $71,225 msrp. It includes 21-inch wheels, heated 2nd row seats, 12.3 inch 3D digital cluster, quilted seat pattern, Lexicon premium audio, suede headliner, carbon fiber trim, heads up display, and sport appearance package.
GV60
Not to be outdone by the Kia EV6 and the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Genesis also makes use of Hyundai Global’s electric technology in the GV60. Starting at $59,290 msrp in Advanced AWD trim, the all-electric GV60 gets an estimated 248 mile range with its dual-motor all wheel drive. It has 314 horsepower and a longer mileage range than the top-of-the-line model. The Performance model, in contrast, starts at $68,290 msrp, and is blisteringly fast with 483 horsepower. The range is slightly lower at 235 miles, which decreases if you make full lead-footed use of the GV60 Performance trim’s rambunctious acceleration ability. Both trims come with genuine leather seats, aluminum trim, 12.3 inch navigation, 12.3 inch color instrument cluster, Bang and Olufsen audio system, heated and ventilated front seats, vision moonroof, and 20 inch alloy wheels. The faster model adds Nappa leather, suede headliner, power front seats, and 21-inch wheels.
G70
Rumors are swirling that the G70 will not be renewed when the current iteration is up due to slow sales. Entering its sixth year on the market, it represents a strong value at its starting msrp of $39,400, especially if you can find a dealer willing to haggle on one. The 2.0T rear wheel drive has 19 inch alloy wheels, 10.25 inch touchscreen navigation, and 300 horsepower. Adding all wheel drive bumps the starting msrp to $41,500. Standard equipment includes leatherette seats, 8 inch digital cluster, Apple Carplay/Android Auto, heated front seats, heated mirrors, power front seats, and forward collision avoidance assist. The 3.3T motor steps the price up to $44,900 msrp for rear wheel drive and $47,000 msrp for all wheel drive. This twin turbo V6 has 365 horsepower in the G70, galloping the car along to 60 miles per hour in under 5 seconds. Other standard features on the 3.3T include power folding mirrors with puddle lamps, genuine leather seats, aluminum trim, heated front seats, and a hands free smart trunk.
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