Lexus has been leading the charge in the affordable and reliable Luxury segment for over three decades with the release of the phenomenal Lexus LS. The brand has set itself to be the go-to luxury option outside its German rivals. Five generations later, and the Lexus LS has built a solid reputation for itself. But in that time, technology and features on flagship luxury cars have improved and the LS is no longer the sole alternative in this space.
Genesis has been around for less than two decades and has set their sights on de-throning Lexus. The new G90 flagship luxury sedan seems to be the vehicle for that task. Now in its second generation, the G90 has improved on everything that made the first car good and has much more improvements and features that will give the LS a run for its money. The Genesis G90 may be a new name in the Luxury segment but it is fast becoming one of the best alternatives for an affordable luxury sedan.
Elegant Genesis And An Aggressive Lexus
The G90 is a stunning automobile from every angle you look at it. Its design clearly states what its intentions are and that is to be a comfortable, luxury vehicle and nothing else. The dual LED strips in front are very reminiscent of the current Genesis design and work very well with this car. The front grille may be massive but are have a simple mesh chrome design that fits the opulence this car was going for. Lexus has maintained its design language with the spindle grille which makes the LS look sporty instead of luxurious with updated headlights giving it a better look than the pre-facelift car.
Genesis has added a few touches to the side profile of the G90. The LED strip design is also found on the front fenders just before the doors. Door handles are flush and pop out only when unlocked which is a feature more upscale luxury cars are incorporating. Lexus hasn't bothered with any of these so the LS has just a simple side profile with normal door handles. 20-inch wheels are standard on the G90 and the LS is a bit smaller with 19-inch wheels. Genesis also went to great lengths to make cool wheel designs that add to the sophisticated beauty of the car. The LS has more simple-looking wheels which aren’t bad either.
Vehicle Dimensions
Vehicle | Lexus LS | Genesis G90 |
|---|---|---|
Length | 206.1 inches | 207.7 inches |
Wheelbase | 123 inches | 125.2 inches |
Width | 74 inches | 76 inches |
Ground Clearance | 5.8 inches | 5.8 inches |
Wheel size | 19-inch | 20-inch |
Weight | 4,700 pounds | 4,861 pounds |
The rear ends of both vehicles couldn’t be any more different. Lexus has stuck with the normal LED light design which looks good but the Genesis took it up a notch. Light bars are the new trend these days and the Genesis G90 has two full-width light bars integrated with its tail lights giving a unique look. Both cars have dual chrome exhaust tips that complete the rear-end look.
Korean automotive design has come a long way over the past two decades and designer, Luc Donckerwolke has done a great job of making the G90 look very beautiful and have its own identity. It has an air of opulence similar to a Bentley or Rolls-Royce without the enormous price tags of those vehicles. While the LS is good-looking, it shares a lot of design with the other cars in the line-up which is not bad because the Genesis does the same. But the LS doesn’t have that sophisticated beauty of the G90, it is more edgy and sporty than grand and luxurious.
The Genesis G90 Is More Luxurious Than The Lexus LS
- The G90 has more interior space at 109.2 cubic feet while the LS has 97.6 cubic feet.
- The LS trunk space is bigger at 15.2 cubic feet with the G90 at 10.2 cubic feet.
The G90 appears to have the more luxurious feeling interior of the two cars. Inside the G90, it has a simple dashboard design with sleek AC vents that run across it. There are two 12.3-inch displays for the gauge cluster and center infotainment screen which look like one big screen. You also get a separate climate control in the center of the dashboard.
The entire car is lined with leather with wood, aluminum, and glass finishes making the interior feel very expensive. Even parts you interact with like the gear selector has the glass effect which looks good. The overall design, layout, and use of materials make the G90 feel expensive which is what you want in a car like this.
The Lexus meanwhile doesn’t lag too much behind the G90. It has swooping lines across the dashboard, and it also gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The center console is simple with a few controls and a gear knob. Most surfaces are lined with leather and wood trim to give them a luxurious feel and have this layering effect on the door panels which look cool. The F-sport model gets a sporty interior than the normal trim levels.
Standout Features In The Genesis G90 And Lexus LS
Luxury cars are usually packed with an exhaustive list of features to make your onboard experience relaxing and stress-free. The G90 gets rear-wheel steering which helps the car feel nimble around town and stable at speed. It also has Preview ECS (Electronic Control Suspension) which reads the road and constantly adjusts the suspension for ultimate comfort. This feature also helps self-level the car on uneven surfaces and inclines.
The mood generator is also handy when you want the car to reflect how you feel. Pick one of the pre-selected moods and the car will adjust everything from the screen display, music, and ambient lighting to help reflect that mood. The ambient lighting in this car is very bright and customizable and on par with the lighting from Mercedes. Being a big vehicle, the doors can sometimes be hard to reach, the G90 has buttons to close the door similar to what you'd find in a Rolls-Royce.
Lexus has updated the interior of the LS, but there are no new gimmicks like the G90. The latest feature here is the new touchscreen which is great because just the trackpad alone made using the infotainment a bit of a chore. Other features available in both sedans include:
- Heated and cooled seats
- Power-adjustable seats
- Heated steering wheels
- Memory seats
- Apple car play
- Keyless entry
- Start-stop functionality
The Audio systems in these cars are some of the best units available. The G90 gets a 23-speaker Bang and Olufsen 3D premium system which is a well-known audio system associated with high-end luxury cars. But the Mark Levinson unit, found in the Leuxus, also has a 23-speaker system and is worth every penny spent on it.
Similar Powertrain But The Lexus LS Produces More Power
Both the G90 and LS make use of twin-turbo V-6 engines as standard. They both had V-8 engines in the previous models but are no longer available for either vehicle. Hybrid engine options are also available for both cars with the G90 making 490 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. The LS hybrid has less power than even its standard engine with 354 horsepower and 257 pound feet of torque.
Engine Specifications
Vehicle | Lexus LS500 | Genesis G90 |
|---|---|---|
Engine | Twin turbo V-6 | Twin turbo V-6 |
Displacement | 3.4 liters | 3.5 liters |
Power | 416 horsepower | 375 horsepower |
Torque | 442 pound-feet | 391 pound-feet |
Transmission | 10-speed automatic | Eight-speed automatic |
Drivetrain | Rear/All-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
Fuel Economy (city/highway) | 18/29 MPG | 18/26 MPG |
While the G90 retains the same transmission for both engine variants, the LS features a CVT Transmission for its hybrid unit which may make such a heavy luxury feel very lazy. The G90 is all-wheel drive only but the LS does have the option of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
The G90 Is The Better Luxury Car
The Genesis G90 is by far, one of the best looking luxury cars in its class, its design is very sophisticated, and instantly associates it with luxury. It has the latest features and gimmicks that most luxury cars above its price point tend to have which is great. The simple interior design is reminiscent of the simplicity and sophistication which brands like Rolls-Royce aim for, and it is well executed. Everything from the smart suspension and opulent interior has been made to give comfort to its occupants.
Although the LS looks good, it also looks a bit too busy and sporty instead of luxurious. It is also an evolution of an already existing model while the G90 is newer and has had time to improve in every area. The G90 has a higher MSRP than the LS starting price of $78,535; but it keeps its overall price around the $100,000 mark while the LS can easily go higher once you opt for the hybrid option. The one thing the LS has going for it is its reputation and bulletproof reliability but the G90 is just better at being a Luxury car.