MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS FADING, BUT GENESIS OFFERS ONE ON 2020 G70 SEDAN

With automatic transmissions coming with Sport and Sport+ modes and manual gear selection via paddle shifters mounted to the steering wheel or, in some cases, the steering wheel column, vehicles equipped with manual transmissions continue to fade from the market.

According to various sources such as Carfax.com and autowise.com, just over 40 vehicles for 2020 come with the capability of the traditional clutch and shift operation, which sounds like a decent number of options.

That is, at least until you consider that a study late last year showed that sales of electric cars nearly doubled those for vehicles with manual transmissions. Just over 1.1 percent of buyers went for a manual model compared to just under 2 percent for an electric car.

Not even the new Chevrolet Corvette, long recognized as America’s Sports Car, is offered with a manual transmission. The C8 model not only is the first mid-engine Corvette but also the first to be offered with an automatic only.

Part of that has to do with the design elements of accommodating the new powertrain, but the rest is because of slow sales of manually equipped C7 versions in recent years. A report in Car & Driver quoted chief engineer chief engineer Ed Piatek as saying that sales of the C7 Corvette with a manual gear box had dwindled from 50 percent in 2014 to less than 20 percent in 2019.

We’ll see if enough Corvette purists demand Chevy reconsider its decision, but the fact that the C8 Corvette is zipping from zero-to-60 mph in under three seconds with its double-clutch automatic likely will stifle momentum for the manual.

I am not a purist, and I do like most of the responses I get when driving in Sport mode, but I get my most enjoyment when the test vehicle that shows up in my driveway on a weekly basis is a manual, usually a 6-speed these days. (I harbor strong memories of a 1963 Ford Falcon Sprint convertible with “4 on the floor” I had back in the day.)

Regrettably, it doesn’t happen often, but it did recently when I was delivered a new Genesis G70 sedan.

The G70 comes with a choice of two turbocharged engines, a 3.3-liter V6 and a 2.0-liter inline 4 with either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.

While an 8-speed automatic is the more common transmission, a 6-speed manual also is available with the 2.0T 4-cylinder G70 with RWD. The manual model also comes with a performance package that gives horsepower a slight boost to 255 (torque remains at 260 pound-feet) and adds a sport exhaust and Brembo brakes with enhanced performance pads.

Interestingly, the listed MSRP of $38,500 for the 2.0T Sport model with the manual is more than even the $37,450 base for the AWD 2.0T with an automatic, which is the reverse of what is usually the case.

Automatic transmissions used to pretty much always come with a premium over manuals and offer slightly less than in the way of fuel mileage, but with the G70 it’s just the opposite. The 2.0T the automatic has EPA numbers of 22 miles-per-gallon city, 30 highway and the manual 16/28 mpg.

I’ll sacrifice that.

Standard equipment in the 2.0T Sport RWD includes proximity key and push-button start, LED headlights and taillights, LED daytime running lights, leatherette seating surfaces, 16-way power adjustable driver’s seat with 4-way lumbar, 8-way power adjustable front passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, aluminum interior trim, power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel, 8-inch display screen for audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Lexicon premium sound, Bluetooth hands-free communications, three USB ports, and hands-free trunk with auto open.

Safety features include Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot and Rear Cross-TrafficWarning, lane-keeping assist, rearview camera with parking guidelines, Hill Start Assist control, and a Driver Attention Warning.

The Driver Attention Warning may come in handy on long road trips, but I think that manual models by their nature demand your attention more than automatics. Just another benefit over the automatics!

(For my earlier review of the 2020 Genesis G70, see my reviews from November 2019 using the index on the right.)

What I liked about the 2020 Genesis G70 2.0T Sport R/T: In addition to its great-looking exterior and classy cabin, I loved it coming with a 6-speed manual transmission. It has a high-class premium feel, and the infotainment features are very intuitive to operate.

What I didn’t like about the 2020 Genesis G70 2.0T Sport R/T: A small point, but the manual takes extra care to get into reverse. As with all G70s, the trunk is on the small side (10.5 cubic feet).

Would I buy the 2020 Genesis G70 2.0T Sport R/T: Most definitely. The G70 is the only Genesis offering with a manual transmission, and I love it! You’ll pay a little extra for it over the G70 2.0T with the automatic, but it is worth it.

GENESIS G90 GETS AN UPDATED LOOK,

MORE STANDARD FEATURES FOR 2020

Even though it is only about 3 years old, the Genesis G90 gets a new look for 2020 plus a redesigned 12.3-inch display monitor that incorporates touchscreen controls and more standard features befitting what the company calls its flagship model sedan.

The extra makeover is so extensive, according to the automaker, that except for the roof and doors, every exterior body panel on the new model has been replaced or changed, starting with a new bolder, mesh grille up front that flies in the face of criticism that the previous models were too bland.

It comes in two well-stocked trims with the G90 Premium and G90 Ultimate each unabashedly taking on the best the large, luxury sedans of the class have to offer.

The G90 Premium, which served as my test vehicle, comes with a twin-turbo, 3.3-liter V6 engine while the Ultimate gets a 5.8-liter V8. Rear-wheel drive is standard on both with all-wheel configuration as an option.

The engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters for manual gar selection. The V6 has EPA fuel ratings of 17 miles-per-gallon city, 25 highway highway in both RWD and AWD configuration. The V8 is only slightly thirstier with figures of 16/24 RWD and 15/23 AWD.

The V8 gives the Ultimate the advantage in horsepower over the Premium model’s V6 420 hp to 365 hp, but the difference in torque, which provides get-up-and-go throttle responses, is less. The V8 is rated at 383 pound-feet to the V6’s 376.

Those used to looking to Europe for automotive opulence just might find themselves a new option with the Genesis G90 and save a few bucks as well. Though the base MSRP doesn’t look like a huge bargain on the face of it, the G90 includes a long list of standard niceties that you don’t get on its competitors without adding options that run the final total up.

That standard equipment list for the G90 Premium adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for 2020 as well as including Nappa leather seating surfaces, a microfiber suede headliner, 12-way adjustable driver’s and 10-way passenger seat, ventilated front seats and heated rear, 3-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, adaptable cruise control (dubbed Smart), heads-up display, HD navigation for the 12.3-inch display, wireless charging pad, sunroof, hands-free trunk opener, 17-speaker premium sound system, and LED headlights, daytime running lights, and taillights.

There is the usual array of safety features like blind spot warning and lane-keeping assist and new for 2020 are Lane Following Assist (LFA), Rear Cross-traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (that can now help detect bicycles and vehicles in front of the vehicle), Safe Exit Assist (SEA) to alert driver and passengers with alerts when an object is approaching an opening door, and Highway Driving Assist (HDA).

The company says that HDA assists the driver to maintain the center of a lane on marked interstate highways and keep a safe distance from a vehicle in front. It can act in conjunction with Highway Auto Speed Slowdown, which adjusts vehicle speed to match posted signs.

As noted, there is no real need for options on the Premium, but the Ultimate edition adds a rear-seat entertainment system and ventilated rear seats. The only real decisions left for buyer is to pick are RWD or AWD and the exterior and exterior colors.

G90 Premium models carry an MSRP of $72,200 for RWD not including the $995 destination charge. The Ultimate checks in at $75,700. AWD adds another $2,500 to each. 

What I liked about the 2020 Genesis G90 Premium: The ride is very smooth, quiet and comfortable, and the twin-turbo V6 has plenty of punch. Infotainment features are very user-friendly and offer buttons as well as a console knob and the touchscreen to operate the various applications. A long list of standard features relieves you of the chore of having to pick through options.

What I did’t like about the 2020 Genesis G90 Premium: It’s a bit on the thirsty side. Not sure I care for the mesh grille.

Would I buy the 2020 Genesis G90 Premium? I love all the Genesis sedans, but probably would opt for the G70 or perhaps the G80 over the G90 if I were shopping. My reasoning has more to do with size than anything else. But if a bigger luxury sedan is what you want, certainly the G90 is a great choice.

2020 GENESIS G70 GETS HIGH SCORES 

IN ‘SMALL’ LUXURY SEDAN SEGMENT

In the interest of full disclosure, I should state at the start that I have been a fan of South Korean automaker Hyundai’s products for close to 20 years now. We had a good experience with the 2003 Santa Fe SUV we bought, and it worked well for my daughter and son as well.

So that could be seen as influencing my opinion of the new Genesis G70 sedan, which is no longer a Hyundai but a stand-alone entity, much like Lexus is Toyota’s luxury outlet, Acura is Honda’s, and Infiniti is Nissan’s. (Interesting that they are all Asian products.)

Except a lot of other reviewers feel the same way I do, and analysis by U.S. News & World Report, which is based on different sources, rates the 2019 Genesis G70 No. 4 among luxury small cars behind a couple of Audi models (A5 and A4) and the BMW 2-Series, which is pretty strong company.

It just nudged out its cousin from Kia, the Stinger sedan and was rated ahead of both the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the BMW 3-Series, generally seen as the standard bearers in the segment. In a comparison test, Car & Driver gave the edge to the Genesis G70 over the BMW 340M in its final analysis, noting that the G70 “does everything nearly as well as the BMW, and it even manages to do a few things better.”

Yes, the report said, the BMW holds the advantage in overall oomph, but the G70 “has more than enough performance and handling for 90 percent of drivers 95 percent of the time.”

The price advantage runs well into five figures in the G70’s favor.

With the 2019 Genesis G70 an all-new model, the new G70 gets only a few modifications for 2020, the more significant being some new brake packages for the middle-of-the-pack 2.0T Sport model and a power-operated trunk lid for the top-of-the-line 3.3T trim.

This review is based on my experience in the 3.3T, which logs in with a starting MSRP of $45,645 or just over $9,000 more than the base 2.0T (but still well under the starting price for its Teutonic competitors).

It comes with a 3.3-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine that is rated at 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. The G70 3.3T can cover zero-to-60 in under five seconds and is mated with an 8-speed automatic transmission that can be set to several drive modes starting with Comfort and going on to Sport and Eco.

Mileage figures are about the only shortcoming with the 2020 G70 getting EPA ratings of 17 miles-per-gallon city, 26 highway, and 20 combined. According to the EPA, you’ll spend about $4,750 more on fuel over a five-year period compared to the average new vehicle. Annual fuel cost is an estimated $2,450.

Frankly, I’m suspicious of those kinds of numbers, but it’s the government, so we should trust the government, right? (You do? You want to buy some beachfront property in the Florida Everglades, too?)

The G70 3.3T has a long list of standard features. Among the more significant are Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Driver Attention Warning, Lane-Keep Assist, Rearview camera with parking guidelines (the guidelines make a difference), Brembo Brakes, Sport-Tuned suspension, Proximity Key with push-button start, LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights, sunroof, leather seating surfaces, l6-way power adjustable driver’s seat with 4-way lumbar support, power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, adaptable cruise control (Smart cruise control in Genesis speak), Lexicon 15-speaker audio system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Bluetooth communications.

Optional packages like Elite (rein-sensing wipers, low-beam assist, parking distance control, heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, and wireless charging port) and Prestige (head-up display, surround-view monitor, Nappa leather seating surfaces, power trunk, and suede headliner) add to the niceties.

Those packages are going to fun the final cost to over $50,000, but the Genesis still remains a top luxury vehicle with economic pricing.

What I liked about the 2020 Genesis G70: It looks great, inside and out, and its ride is comfortable and quiet. It has all the bells and whistles you want in a luxury car, and all the systems are very easy to operate.

What I didn’t like about the 2020 Genesis G70: The trunk is a bit on the small side (10.5 cubic feet) and fuel economy is not quite as good as many of its competitors, but it’s not overly thirsty either, though premium fuel is recommended.

Would I buy the 2020 Genesis G70? Most definitely. Genesis also offers slightly larger sedans with the G80 and the all-new for 2020 G90, but for me, the G70 strikes the right chord.

GENESIS ADDS THIRD (AND LAST) SEDAN TO ITS PORTFOLIO WITH INTRODUCTION OF G70

Disposed of the Hyundai label and launched as a separate brand from the South Korean manufacturer three years ago, Genesis continues to expand its portfolio with the introduction of its G70 luxury sedan for 2019.

As you might deduce from the alpha-numeric naming system, it is the smallest of the three sedans now under the Genesis banner following the G90 and G80 sedans that have been around for a couple of years.

Genesis also says it is the third and last sedan of the six new models the company plans to have out by 2020. It should be noted, however, that “smallest” does not necessarily mean “subcompact” or “too small” for comfort.

In fact, at 184.4 inches long and with a wheelbase of 111.6 inches, the G70 virtually matches in size the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (184.5/111.8) and BMW’s 3-Series sedans (182.5/110.6).

For many, the G70 might be “just right.”

The G70 comes in five trim levels (Advanced, Elite, Prestige, Dynamic, and Sport) with either a 3.3-liter, turbocharged V6 or a 2.0-liter turbo-4 mated to a standard 8-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard with all-wheel also available on some trims.

Prefer a manual instead of paddle shifters? The 2.0T-6M/T Sport (RWD only) comes with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Pricing starts at $34,900 for 2.0T RWD models and $36,900 for 2.0T AWD with the various packages adding to the base cost as the trim levels go up. The Elite package adds $5,000 to the base MSRP, and the Prestige, which includes the Elite features, adds another $3,000 to the cost of the Elite and on up the line.

The 3.3T models run from $43,750 for RWD models to $52,250 for the AWD, Dynamic Edition.

Oh. Add another $995 for destination and delivery.

My time was spent in the RWD 2.0T with the Elite, Prestige, and Dynamic packages running the final total to $44,895.

With those packages, in addition to standard features like 18-inch alloy wheels, push-button start, LED daytime running lights, dual climate control, lane-keeping assist and a Bluetooth hands-free phone system, you get such niceties as a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel (replacing the standard manual), 19-inch wheels (replacing the 18s), a navigation system, full LED headlights, parking warnings, heated and ventilated front seats, a sunroof, premium Lexicon 15-speaker sound system, leather seating surfaces (replacing leatherette), head-up display, surround view camera system, microfiber suede headliner and heated rear seats.

Actually, the list of both standard and optional features is a bit longer, but you get the idea. As I wrote in March about the G90 and again last May about the G80, Genesis is a true luxury vehicle with all the trimmings you expect of the segment.

The ride is smooth and quiet, and you may set the G70 in one of five driving modes by  twisting a knob on the console to select Sport, Comfort, Smart, Eco or Custom to match your mood.

When it comes to comfort and convenience, the G70 ranks among the best of them for the passenger, too. Well, at least the rider in the front seat. Adults, especially taller ones, may find the back a bit confining when it comes to legroom.

Genesis may not have the brand cachet of some of the traditional luxury marques, but it has everything else. You’ll be doing yourself a disfavor if you don’t check it out if you’re shopping in the segment.

What I liked about the 2019 Genesis G70: Infotainment functions are very user friendly — thanks in a large part to the use of traditional knob and button controls — and there is plenty of them. The 8-inch display screen is much-appreciated. As I have noted in many reviews of Genesis and parent-company Hyundai’s products, the South Koreans have a knack for taking technology and simplifying it so even techno newbies can understand and operate it. It’s like Mac vs. PC. Finally, the fun-to-drive quotient is high.

What I didn't like about the 2019 Genesis G70: Trunk capacity is stingy (10.5 cubic feet), which makes it impractical as a family vehicle (but fine for empty-nesters). As with its competitors in the luxury small sedan segment, the backseat is on the tight side. Fuel mileage is ordinary in the 2.0T (22 miles-per-gallon city, 30 highway, 25 combined).

Would I buy the 2019 Genesis G70? In a heartbeat. Your only qualm should be the overall size (including trunk capacity). If you need more room for you and your stuff, prepare to step up to the G80.

2018 GENESIS G90 TAKES ON THE BEST

THE LUXURY SEGMENT HAS TO OFFER

The Genesis G90 sedan may not be first on your list if you’re shopping in the full-size luxury segment, but it should be on there somewhere and pretty high up at that.

Don’t let its Hyundai roots throw you off. This is a true luxury vehicle with all the trimmings you expect of the segment.

Good looks inside and outside? Check.

Engine strong enough to provide the kind of throttle response to meet demanding situations? Check.

Option of rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, V6 or V8 power? Check.

Plenty of standard safety features? Check.

Abundant leather and real wood interior trim? Check.

Enough gadgets and gizmos to satisfy all the but the geekiest of geeks? Check.

Smooth, quiet ride with plenty of passenger room? Check.

Nice touches like a hands-free trunk opener and three-zone climate control? Check.

Complimentary maintenance and service valet? Check.

A car you’ll be proud to have sitting in your driveway and taking to the country club? Check.

An MSRP approaching six figures when options are added in? Well, you can’t have everything.

With a base price of $69,325 including the $975 destination and delivery fee, the Genesis G90 isn’t cheap by any means, but it is a bargain when put up against other imports from Asia and Europe. Is it worth $10,000 or more to you, some times much more considering the long list of standard features on the Genesis, to have the brand cachet of a German import?

If so, more power to you. But if you are more interested in product than image, the Genesis G90 offers everything you might desire.

Buy the way, it no longer is the Hyundai Genesis. The company broke it out as its own brand, similar to how Toyota has its Lexus luxury division, Honda its Acura, and Nissan its Infiniti, in November 2015.

I spent my week in the Genesis RWD 3.3T Premium model, one of two powertrains and trims offered for 2018. With 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque coming to its rear wheels from its 3.3-liter, twin-turbo V6, I found this G90 packed plenty of punch for everyday challenges. But you still might want to check out the 5.0 Ultimate edition with a  V8 rated at 420 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque.

Both engines are mated with an 8-speed automatic transmission that can be manually shifted via steering wheel-mounted paddles, and Intelligent Drive Mode allows for setting in four modes — ECO, Smart, Sport, and Individual — to adjust the transmission, throttle responsiveness, suspension, steering and stability control to your liking.

About the only complaint here would be in fuel consumption. The G90 3.3T is rated at 17 miles-per-gallon city, 24 highway, and 20 combined, which puts it at the low end among its competitors. But you can buy a lot of gas with the money you’re saving, even at premium prices!

The G90 looks the part of a luxury car from the outside, and that impression is carried over to the inside. The standard Nappa leather seats coddle you in comfort — they are heated and ventilated — and are adjustable 22 ways for the driver, 16 for the front-seat passenger. If you can’t find a comfortable driving position with that many settings, perhaps you should hire a chauffeur.

Legroom is a generous 46.3 inches in front and a comfortable 37.8 inches for those in back.

Those in the back also get their own fold-down console with its own controls to adjust the A/C, for example, or the new rear-seat entertainment system (available only on the 5.0 Ultimate model).

The 12.3-inch display screen for the navigation system is incorporated nicely into the flow of the dash, not sticking up in the middle as seems to be common on many competing models.  The size makes for easy viewing in split-screen mode.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not offered, but there is a front-seat wireless charging port and USB ports in the rear.

Safety features such as lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, adaptable cruise control, electronic parking brake with auto hold, blind spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert, and a multi-view camera are standard as are front and rear parking sensors and rain-sensing wipers.

Push-button start and head-up display? Of course!

The only extra you’re going to pay for over the MSRP would be the $2,500 for all-wheel drive over the standard RWD. That makes the most expensive Genesis G90 the 5.0 Ultimate AWD model for $74,350. The AWD 3.3T carries an MSRP of $70,850, the RWD 5.0 Ultimate $71,850.

What I liked about the 2018 Genesis G90 3.3T: I loved the big screen and the way it has been placed in the dash. The technology itself is very user-friendly and easy to understand.

What I didn’t like about the 2018 Genesis G90 3.3T: The trunk could be bigger. Cargo volume is listed as only 15.7 cubic feet, which is not a whole lot more than you may find on some midsize luxury sedans.

Would I buy the 2018 Genesis G90 3.3T? Yes, but I’d be tempted to check out the V8 version first.

GENESIS G90 A TRUE LUXURY VEHICLE,

BUT DON’T CALL IT A ‘HYUNDAI GENESIS’

It wasn’t all that long ago that the idea of vehicle coming out of a Hyundai plant carrying a price tag of over $70,000 was as farfetched as the notion of self-driving and flying cars.

Well, today self-driving cars are, if not around the corner, getting closer, Uber has asked a NASA engineer to do research on flying cars, and Hyundai indeed has on the market a sedan that is very worthy of such a lofty price tag.

It’s the Genesis G90, and don’t make the mistake of calling it a “Hyundai Genesis G90.”

The South Korean company has made the Genesis marque its own separate luxury brand, pretty much like other Asian automakers such as Toyota with Lexus, Honda with Acura, and Nissan with Infiniti have done.

The 2017 G90 serves as the flagship sedan of the burgeoning Genesis lineup, the larger of the two models currently offered. The G90 essentially is a new version of what was once the Hyundai Equus, the company’s first luxury entrant in the U.S. The G80 takes over what was the 2016 Hyundai Genesis sedan.

The G90 is offered in two versions with the 3.3T Premium coming with a 3.3-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine for a base price of $69,050 (with the $950 destination and delivery added in) and the 5.0 Ultimate featuring a 5.0-liter turbo V8 checking in at $70,650. That’s for the rear-wheel-drive versions. Available AWD adds $2,500.

The G90 for my test drive was the Ultimate trim with RWD and came with a long list of standard equipment, like a full-color heads-up display for speed and navigation display, a navigation system with a 12.3-inch screen, multi-view camera, blind-spot detection, front and rear park assist, lane-keep assist, surround sound audio system, wireless device charger, Nappa leather throughout, a suede headliner, three-zone climate control, sunroof, and acoustic laminated windows.

The driver’s seat on the G90 Ultimate is power adjustable 22 ways, the front passenger seat 16 ways, the right rear passenger 14 ways, and the left passenger seat 12 ways. All are heated and ventilated. Even the Princess and the Pea would be comfortable in these seats.

You can adjust interior ambient lighting to your liking, and lamps mounted in the exterior side mirrors illuminate the ground as you approach the vehicle.

In other words, the G90 Ultimate with its V8 power offers all the luxury of a top-of-the-line luxury vehicle, including the traditional leaders from Europe but for much less money (competitors check in around $20,000 higher and that’s before you start adding option packages) and is only slightly more than the V6.

Frankly, though I haven’t driven the V6, I’d have to say the V8 is worth it. It is rated at 420 horsepower with 383 pound-feet of torque available. It does drink premium fuel, but does so at a rate of only 16 miles-per-gallon city, 24 highway, and 19 combined, only a mile-per-gallon off that of the V6 with its 365 hp and 376 lb.-ft. of torque. An 8-speed transmission is common throughout the lineup. It is shiftable via steering wheel-mounted paddles, though, quite frankly, I never bothered.

You can set the G90 in one of four different driving modes: Eco for fuel saving, Smart for normal conditions, Sport for a more dynamic performance, or Individual, for customized settings. In any setting, you get a pleasant driving experience with the kind of throttle response, quietness, and smoothness expected — no, make that demanded — of the class. Why shift when the car adapts to your own style so readily?

Passenger comfort is A-plus as the G90’s suspension makes the car virtually glide over bumps or railroad tracks but without a mushy feel. I drove it mostly in Sport mode with its firmer suspension setting and heard no complaints from the right side. In fact, just the opposite.

At least for now, you won’t find standalone dealerships for the Genesis but there are separate showrooms in Hyundai dealer facilities. Customer-driven programs for Genesis buyers include valet service appointments (with a complimentary courtesy car), complimentary scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles and Genesis Connected Services for three years or 36,000 miles. Connected Services includes such cloud-connected features as Destination Search Powered by Google, remote door lock/unlock, car finder and stolen vehicle recovery, among other things.

In other words, typical features of what luxury shoppers/buyers expect these days.

What I liked about the 2017 Genesis G90: I didn’t get into all the technology that comes with the G90, but it’s considerable. The good thing about is that basic systems, like nav and audio, are very intuitive to operate. If it doesn’t develop something from scratch, Hyundai seems to have the knack of taking the best features of the techno stuff its competitors offer and dumbing it down so you don’t need to dive into the owner’s manual to get it to work.

What I didn’t like about the 2017 Genesis G90: The nav system, while pretty easy to set up, wanted to take me on a strange route to at least one destination I inputted. I knew the general area where I wanted to go, but needed the final turns outlined for me. I thought the system was having me avoid tolls, but the settings didn’t require that so I don’t know where it would have taken me. But it would have been longer. Also, the wood trim, though real, has a plastic look about it.

Would I buy the 2017 Genesis G90? Yes. Unless you are a brand snob and just have to have a European import, there’s no reason to skip over the Genesis.