Compare the2024 Genesis G90VS 2023 Mercedes S-Class

Both the G90 and S-Class have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The G90 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The S-Class’ child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

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 S-Class 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 S-Class doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the G90 and the S-Class have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The S-Class has not been tested, yet.

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 S-Class’ 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 S-Class. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the S-Class ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The G90’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the S-Class’ (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, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the S-Class.

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 S-Class.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 above average in initial quality. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below 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 2024 Auto Issue reports that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Genesis 11 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

On the EPA test cycle the G90 gets better mileage than the S-Class running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Genesis G90 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The S-Class requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The G90 has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the S-Class 580e’s standard fuel tank (19.3 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The G90 stops shorter than the S-Class:

For better traction and acceleration, the G90 has larger rear tires than the S-Class (275/40R20 vs. 255/45R19).

The G90 3.5T’s standard 275/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S-Class’ standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the G90 3.5T has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the S-Class.

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 S-Class; 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. Some tire options on the S-Class don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the G90 3.5T e-SC is quieter than the S 500 4MATIC:

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the G90 has standard extendable sun visors. The S-Class doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 S-Class.