automotivebriefs
11:04in productionCh. 1 · What It Is/ 11:04 · ceiling 15 min
Saloons & estates

Genesis G90

Genesis launched its luxury identity not with a designer’s signature, but with a full-size sedan built to replace the Equus — and it worked.

The Genesis G90 is Genesis’ first flagship sedan — a full-size, four-door replacement for the Hyundai Equus. It launched in December 2015 and went on sale globally in late 2016. Development spanned four years with ~1,200 researchers. The second generation arrived in 2021 with new powertrain and chassis technology. Peter Schreyer’s design legacy is well documented at Audi and Kia — but the sources make no connection to the G90.

Chapters & takeaways4
  1. 0:56
    What It Is

    The G90 is Genesis’ first flagship sedan — a full-size, four-door replacement for the Hyundai Equus.

  2. 2:28
    How It Got Here

    It launched globally in late 2016 after four years of development by ~1,200 researchers.

  3. 3:56
    What It Is Now

    The current model is the second generation, released in 2021 with new powertrain and chassis tech.

  4. 5:42
    Who Did Not Design It

    Peter Schreyer shaped Kia’s Tiger Nose and co-created the Audi TT — but the sources say nothing about his role on the G90.

Worth your time?

Yes. Drive the whole thing.

3.5/ 5
What works
  • establishing Genesis as a standalone luxury brand
  • replacing the Hyundai Equus with a dedicated flagship platform
  • delivering scale, refinement, and feature density
What does not
  • Peter Schreyer designed the G90
Drive it if
  • buyers who prioritise cabin space, ride comfort, and equipment density over driving dynamics or stylistic signature
Skip it if
  • buyers seeking a designer-led statement, a compact footprint, or a vehicle tied to a named creative vision
The written brief1 min read

What the car is and where it came from

The Genesis G90 is a full-size four-door sedan. It is the flagship model of Genesis, the luxury division of Hyundai Motor Company. It launched in December 2015 as the EQ900 in South Korea. It succeeded the Hyundai Equus. It was Genesis’ first flagship sedan.

How it works, in terms someone would actually use

It is a full-size four-door sedan. It offers rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It launched with 3.3-litre turbocharged and 5.0-litre V8 powertrains. The second generation added a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 with 48V mild hybrid, multi-chamber air suspension, and Active Rear-Wheel Steering.

What it gets right

It gets scale right. It delivers a full-size luxury sedan platform with long-wheelbase variants, adaptive suspension, and high-end audio. It signals intent: Genesis would not enter luxury with a scaled-up mainstream car.

What it does not

It does not carry Peter Schreyer’s direct design authorship. The sources confirm his influence on Kia and Audi but contain no link between him and the G90’s styling or development.

What it changed

It established Genesis as a standalone luxury brand with its first flagship sedan. It replaced the Hyundai Equus. It shifted branding from Hyundai’s corporate identity to a dedicated premium architecture.

Who it is for, and who it is not

It is for buyers who prioritise cabin space, ride comfort, and equipment density over driving dynamics or stylistic signature. It is not for buyers seeking a designer-led statement, a compact footprint, or a vehicle tied to a named creative vision.

Is it worth your time

Yes — if you need a large, quiet, feature-rich luxury sedan built to compete in markets where presence and refinement are non-negotiable. No — if you seek driver engagement, compact proportions, or design distinction rooted in a known hand.

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