FIRST LOOK
SEPTEMBER 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 19TREND I 09.SEPTEMBER
1990
PRICE: $3.
This issue was all
about bang for
your buck (and
we’re sure head-
aches for our road
test crew) with a
massive 20-vehicle
performance car
test including
everything from the
Chevrolet Beretta
and Camaro Z28 to
the Mazda RX-7 and
Dodge Stealth R/T.
The winner? The
Toyota MR2 Turbo.SEPTEMBER
2010
PRICE: $4.
This was our new
cars issue. Although
the majority of our
pages went toward
that effort, we also
put the new Ford
Fiesta up against the
Honda Fit and Toyota
Yaris, and we took
the new Cadillac
CTS-V Coupe to
Germany to square
off against the Audi
RS 5 and BMW M
Coupe, with the cars
finishing from third to
first in that order.SEPTEMBER
1970
PRICE: $0.
A Mustang Mach 1
was our cover story,
but a remarkably
wrongheaded,
un-bylined editorial
on automotive
emissions was far
more interesting.
“Automakers havedone their part,”
we wrote, pointing
to catalytic
converters as
“enough” to reduce
pollution. With
the benefit of 50
years of data, it’s
safe to say that it
requires more to
reduce emissions
and prevent
further ecological
damage.From the MotorTrend
Archive ...REAR VIEW
S
ince its debut last fall at the Los
Angeles Auto Show, we’ve chron-
icled the remarkably comprehen-
sive midcycle refresh of Korea’s S-Class,
the 2020 Genesis G90. Now, we’ve had an
opportunity to slap our test gear on it and
take the full measure of its refreshness.
Our rear-drive 3.3-liter twin-turbo
G90 proved quicker than all four of the
G90 3.3Ts we’ve tested to date, hitting
60 mph in 5.1 seconds (0.1–0.3 second
quicker) and crossing the quarter mile
in 13.7 seconds at 102.8 mph (0.1–0.
second quicker and 1.7–2.9 mph faster).
Sure, all four 2017 and 2018 G
3.3Ts we’ve run were equipped with
the 150-pound HTRAC all-wheel-drive
system, but at least one of them weighed
slightly less than this 2020 rear-driver.
Those acceleration numbers are within
a tenth or two of our rear-drive 2017
G90 5.0 tester, suggesting that the bigger
engine is primarily required to tug
around the 140 extra pounds of engine
and “Ultimate” rear-seat fanciness.
The brakes also got a refresh, though
a quick glance at the specs suggests
otherwise. The outside diameters of
the rotors are identical, but for 2020,
the iron friction rings are mounted to
aluminum centers (which were steel)
to reduce mass, providing two benefits:
Lowering the unsprung mass improves
ride, and reducing rotational massimproves acceleration and braking. The
2020 model did stop from 60 mph in 117
feet. That’s 1–5 feet shorter than every
previous G90, and every G90 we’ve ever
tested has ridden on the same staggered
19-inch Continental ContiProContact
tires, so traction is perfectly comparable.
But really, who cares? Cars like this
are about effortless, quiet acceleration—
not tenths and pink slips. The new G
delivers this in spades.
Ride quality was always a G90 strength,
and this “refreshed” version marks a baby
step forward here, as well, thanks to more
precise internal solenoid valves, new
internal rebound springs on the ZF Sachs
adaptive dampers, and new rear suspen-
sion crossmember bushings that better
isolate rear occupants from vibration.
The G90 boasts class-leading front seat
space, S-Class-trumping rear passenger
space, and midpack trunk space. Another
luxe feature: all-inclusive pricing with no
nickel-and-dime optioning.
The G90 starts at $73,195 for the V-
rear-drive car you see here. Add $2,
for all-wheel-drive and/or $3,500 for the
V-8 and ultimate rear seat gear (12- and
14-way left and right rear seat adjustment
with ventilation, memory, and rear-seat
entertainment). The only other (no-cost)
options are light- or dark-finish wheels
and a choice of eight exterior and five
interior color schemes. Frank Markus2020 Genesis G
SPECS Base Price $73,195 Price As Tested $73,195 Layout Front-engine, RWD, 5-pass, 4-door
sedan Engine 3.3L/365-hp/376-lb-ft twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6 Transmission 8-speed
automatic Curb Weight (F/R Dist) 4,720 lb (51/49%) Wheelbase 124.4 in Track, F/R 64.6/64.5 in
L x W x H 204.9 x 75.4 x 58.9 in Cargo Volume 15.7 cu f t 0-60 MPH 5.1 sec Quarter Mile 13.7 sec
@ 102.8 mph Braking, 60-0 MPH 117 ft Lateral Acceleration 0.85 g (avg) MT Figure Eight 26.
sec @ 0.72 g (avg) EPA City/Hwy/Comb Econ 17/25/20 mpg Energy Cons, City/Hwy 198/
kW-hr/100 miles CO2 Emissions, Comb 0.98 lb/mile On Sale Currently