Compare the2023 Genesis G90VS 2022 Mercedes CLS

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the G90 are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The CLS doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The G90 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The CLS doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The G90 has standard Anti-Whiplash Front Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Anti-Whiplash Front Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The CLS doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The G90 offers an optional Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist-Reverse that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The CLS doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the G90. But it costs extra on the CLS.

The G90’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the CLS.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the G90 has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist and automatically engage the brakes. Mercedes charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the CLS.

Both the G90 and the CLS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Genesis G90 weighs 606 to 901 pounds more than the Mercedes CLS. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the G90 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CLS has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

The G90 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The CLS’ 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the G90 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the CLS. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CLS ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The G90’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the CLS’ (7 vs. 5 years).

Genesis pays for scheduled maintenance on the G90 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Genesis will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CLS.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the G90’s reliability 20 points higher than the CLS.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 19th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Genesis 12 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

Engine

The G90 3.5T’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 13 more horsepower (375 vs. 362) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (391 vs. 369) than the CLS’ 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid. The G90 3.5T e-SC’s standard 3.5 turbo/supercharged V6 hybrid produces 47 more horsepower (409 vs. 362) and 36 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 369) than the CLS’ 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Genesis G90 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The CLS requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the G90 3.5T has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the CLS. The G90 3.5T e-SC’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the CLS.

The G90 3.5T has a standard space-saver spare (not available on 3.5T e-SC) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the CLS; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The G90 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CLS’ suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the G90’s wheelbase is 9.5 inches longer than on the CLS (125.2 inches vs. 115.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the G90 is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than on the CLS.

The G90’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.6% to 49.4%) than the CLS’ (54% to 46%). This gives the G90 more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the G90 3.5T e-SC’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the CLS’ (37.1 feet vs. 39 feet).

Chassis

The G90 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The CLS doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the G90 3.5T e-SC is quieter than the CLS 450 4MATIC:

	G90	CLS
At idle	34 dB	37 dB
Full-Throttle	69 dB	74 dB

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the G90 a Large car, while the CLS is rated a Compact.

The G90 has 16.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CLS (109.2 vs. 93).

The G90 has 2.5 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 2.8 inches more rear legroom and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the CLS.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the G90 3.5T e-SC’s rear seats recline. The CLS’ rear seats don’t recline.

Ergonomics

A power rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are standard in the G90 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CLS doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Both the G90 and the CLS have standard heated front seats. The G90 also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CLS.

The G90 has standard front air conditioned seats and the G90 3.5T e-SC also has them in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The CLS doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The G90 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the CLS.

The G90 has standard massaging front seats. Massaging front seats cost extra on the CLS. The G90 3.5T e-SC also has standard massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the CLS.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Genesis G90 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console and one for the rear passengers. Wireless charging costs extra on the CLS.

The G90’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The CLS’ automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.