The latest Genesis G90 is a capable luxury sedan full of sleek design and expensive features fitting for a flagship car, but it may not be enough to compete with key rivals.

That’s the consensus of early reviews by automotive journalists who are thoroughly impressed but doubt the car’s competitive zeal.

Genesis has ditched the 5.0-liter V-8 engine that was a staple of the model. Instead, the 2023 version lowers the power to a choice of two different 3.5-liter turbocharged V-6 engines. Reviewers say the change isn’t a big deal, and that the luxury sedan still feels good under the hood.

The G90’s interior has undergone a major update, with many reviewers noting the effort aims to put the car on par with other models such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

A notable feature is the new phone-as-a-key feature on iPhones that requires only a Bluetooth connection and negates the need for a key fob. Impressions are hit or miss, with some saying it’s not as seamless as the fob option.

Here’s what the reviewers are saying:

“Isolation and comfort dominate the experience. Material choices look and feel expensive, and all controls move with a satisfying slickness. Whether you’re wafting along at 45 mph or 90 mph, the interior remains serene even as the scenery blurs outside.

“Steering efforts are light, and while the roughly 5000-pound G90 isn’t going to be confused with a sports sedan, it moves gracefully and deftly.

“If you’ve always wondered how Dua Lipa or Jimmy Buffett might sound in Boston’s Symphony Hall, the G90 is equipped to answer those burning questions. (They sound great.) Pause the music and start talking and you’ll notice that microphones placed in the headliner pick up your voice and make it sound like you’re standing in a concert hall yourself. The G90 is certainly big inside, at 105 cubic feet, but it’s not theater big.

“Nearly as effortless, smooth, and quick as an electric car from a stop, the V-6 pulls hard when pressed and never raises its voice—unless you turn on the artificial sound enhancements.

“With so much right and comfortable, the G90’s few off-key notes stand out. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto require a corded connection, when wireless phone mirroring—which we consider a must-have—is found on cars costing far less.

“Whether you’re driving or riding in that huge back seat, the G90 is comfortably numb when you want that and refined in a way that reaches well beyond its near-six-figure price. Brand snobs might not be impressed by the Genesis badge, but if we were valets, we’d leave this one out front.”

— Tony Quiroga, Car and Driver

“The G90’s lighting looks good in daylight, but it really makes a statement at night, when the full width of the rear end is illuminated. The unique metal inlays look and feel great, but my favorite part might be the portion above the climate vents, which rises up to straddle and frame the driver’s digital gauge display, something I truly haven’t seen before. The 3D design of the two-spoke steering wheel is another big highlight, for sure.

“The ride is extremely smooth, with this fully loaded tester’s air suspension eating up every inch of bad road between Miami and Key Largo and returning nothing but nautical-grade serenity.

“The stop-start system is smooth when lifting off the brake to leave a stoplight. But if the system kicks the engine back to life while the car is still stationary, it’s definitely obvious.

“Efficiency isn’t too shabby for a vehicle of this size, with the higher-output model coming in at an EPA-estimated 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. The lower, non-supercharged trim does a little better at 18 city and 26 highway.

“The (infotainment) display is responsive and easy on the eyes, with a configurable home screen that makes it easy to bounce between different corners of the system with a swipe and a tap.”

— Andrew Krok, CNET

“I found the G90’s technology considerably less irritating than what you get in the newest S-Class. Sure, the S-Class has more whiz-bang accoutrement, but the Genesis offers the big-ticket stuff and gives you physical buttons to control it.

“With ten forward gears, the car has a lot to manage, but power delivery is remarkably consistent for a first-generation powertrain. Its only hiccup comes when its auto-stop-start system refires the engine, producing a noticeable jolt.

“The one place where the G90 takes a noticeable step forward for the segment — by offering a full phone-as-a-key option that works with iPhones—was also the one part of it that frustrated me. The low-energy Bluetooth connection wasn’t nearly as seamless as a keyfob, even if the promise of not needing to carry one eventually sounds great.

“Surely anyone who sees a G90 will be suitably impressed by the design. Yet, when less than three thousand leave lots every year, it’s hard to imagine the G90 having much of an impact. I’ve noticed roughly two in the wild since the last facelift.

“The G90 is a better value than the Mercedes, better looking than anything in its segment, and more comfortable than anything Lexus builds. But in a segment where that extra 5 percent matters, in a country where we all read a dozen best-of lists just to buy a mattress, the G90 can’t claim to be King. It has to settle for exceptional.”

— Mack Hogan, Road & Track

“This new model is way more interesting than the Benz and actually attractive, unlike the BMW. It combines elegant, flowing lines with familial characteristics.

“With the G90, the luxurious experience starts before you hop inside. While the concept of using your phone as a key isn’t a new one, Genesis makes the process seamless.

“Genesis also borrows a page from the Mercedes-Benz playbook with a Mood Curator function. It’s a bit gimmicky, sure, but each of the four different settings – Vitality, Delight, Care, and Comfort – make the interior feel homey with custom sounds, graphics, and delightful fragrances.

“Here’s the bad news: Genesis discontinued its brawny, lovable 5.0-liter engine. The G90 was one of the last remaining large luxury sedans with a naturally aspirated V-8, and now the species is all but extinct. But here’s the good news: the G90’s new six-cylinder mild-hybrid is a great replacement.

“The top-end G90 certainly isn’t slow. There’s a bit of lag early on, even with the electric compressor, but the twin-turbo engine and e-boost are robust enough to make you want to bury the accelerator at higher speeds.

“The G90 has a lovely and unique exterior design, a properly sumptuous interior, and there’s enough equipment to satisfy both tech-savvy one-percenters and their Gen Z children. Making things especially interesting is the starting price.”

— Jeff Perez, Motor1.com

“Both the grille and available 21-inch wheels make use of a layered design, with tiers of texture for additional nuance and depth. The result is a vastly more elegant car than the outgoing model, with the style and presence necessary to sit at the top of the Genesis lineup.

“Like other executive sedans from the long-benchmarked German and Japanese brands, Genesis generously equips its second row. Features include heated, massaging, and ventilated seats; the best spot in the entire car is the passenger-side rear seat, which can be fully reclined and offers a motorized leg rest.

“On the road, this engine is responsive yet relaxed. The unstressed nature of the drivetrain lends itself to an overwhelmingly calm driving experience. Shifts are smooth and fade into the background as the eight-speed automatic transmission, standard for both engines, shuffles through gears.

“When the pavement gets gnarly, the electronically controlled multilink system does a great job of blunting the impact of bumps or ruts. The steering is numb, as one might expect from a car like this, but it’s accurate and rear-wheel steering provides uncanny nimbleness in parking lots.

“Although the Genesis G90 doesn’t exhibit better, more engaging driving dynamics than most of its rivals, the South Korean luxury automaker’s hyperfocus on luxury and interior appointments make this sedan stand out in its segment, and it’s leaps and bounds ahead of the first-generation model in terms of refinement, opulence, and — most crucially — presence.

“With incredible attention paid to the smallest details, Genesis just may have another winner on its hands.”

— Billy Rehbock, Motor Trend

“Now in its second generation, the automaker’s redesigned flagship is everything the luxury segment disruptor wants it to be: bold, luxurious and different. But even without the yoke of having to live up to long-ago favorites or rigid traditionalism, it’s burdened with an old-fashioned powertrain in an era where EVs are increasingly dominating top-tier automotive luxury.

“If the design isn’t enough to grab your attention, the G90 makes good on its promise to stand out with its very long and broad proportions, dwarfing most cars it parks next to. At 207.7 inches long, it’s bigger than the Lexus LS and about the same size as the Mercedes-Benz EQS. BMW’s new-for-2023 7 Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class are a little bigger, but neither have the sinuous visuals of the Genesis.

“As sleek as it is on the outside, the G90 showcases its best self on the inside. This is done with a swathe of premium materials, thoughtful design choices and an abundance of gadgetry for both drivers and passengers.

“Sitting behind the wheel of the G90 is very commanding. It’s very easy to be dazzled by the array of functions at the driver’s disposal, though many are buried in touchscreen menus and not wholly usable while in motion.

“Its controls and handling make cruising a very pleasurable experience, but any dynamic driving experiences take a back seat to its luxury focus, which is the best place to sit in the G90 anyway. The G90 is a stellar foundation for the future of a brand with very little hindsight to concern itself with as it springs forward to a luxurious future.”

— Alex Kalogiannis, Forbes