As much as I have raved about the improvements made in vehicles emerging from the Hyundai stable I cannot say more about how great a value the Equus can be. With the features and equipment found as standard equipment and the price hovering around $58,000 the Equus is a vehicle of note.
When this luxury sedan hit the streets of America it was an untried entry. At least for our market. The potential was great, what with all the features, equipment and manner of execution Hyundai engineers and designers applied to the Equus. It was a signal to others in the luxury category that Hyundai was darn serious in their pursuit of market share. The Equus success even surprised Hyundai. They projected 2011 sales to be at about 2,000 vehicles Happily for Hyundai; more than 3,000 buyers put the Equus in their garages.
That was then, now the Equus has become even more refined, with better performance, comfort and handling. The most important change comes under the skin of this elegantly designed automobile. Hyundai has been working on perfecting the 5.0-liter V-8 engine. Placing a version in the Genesis coupe showed that it was a potent and admired power plant.
The 5.0-liter V-8 placed in the Equus produces a potent 429 horsepower an improvement over the 385 HP of the previous 4.6-liter. Just as important is the 376 lb-ft. of torque. Torque improves acceleration and performance. This engine is extremely smooth at putting the power to the road.
Power is one thing, but the addition of a new 8-speed automatic transmission not only allows the power to more smoothly hit the road it also helps in getting better gas mileage. One thing I continue to welcome in all vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission is the ability for the driver to manually shift gears. No matter if its an economy car, luxury car or pickup truck, for those who want more control over their vehicle this is the feature I find important. Fortunately, Hyundai gets it and equips the Equus with Shiftronic their version of this feature. The one thing missing is steering wheel controls for the shifting. I have gotten so used to having these on vehicles I miss them when not there. However, I temper my remarks as Hyundai says “It is not so important to these buyers.”
Driving the new Equus from Las Vegas down to Hoover Dam and beyond showed just how wonderful a superior luxury car can be. The ride was comfortable as the dual-mode continuous damping control suspension system soaked up the irregularities of the road. The passenger compartment kept all the outside noises to a minimum with very little road and wind noise disturbing our conversations in the cabin. I could easily hold a normal level conversation with my passengers even in the rear seat. Of course, the one sitting in the massaging seat paid no attention to my discussion. You’ll understand in the next paragraph.
Available in two models, the Signature or the Ultimate. Even in standard mode the Equus is well equipped, but most will no doubt move up to a package that adds a whole slew of luxury features, most of which most of us do not even think of when we shop for transportation.
Features such as five or four place seating configurations, massaging and vibrating rear seat (just like out of a 1950’s motel, but no quarters involved) and a full complement of passenger controls if outfitted with the four place seating. Order this seating and you keep your rear passengers entertained for hours.
Some of the interesting facts Hyundai folks like to throw out. Remember these are the same folks who want to save the asterisks, so there is a bit of a smile behind these remarks. Buyers of the Equus have a higher FICO score than buyers of the Mercedes-Benz S550. Plus, the residual value of the Equus surpasses the Lexus LS, BMW 7-Series and the S550. That means the folks at ALG believe the Equus will hold more of its value over those other brands.
Although practical may not be behind the thinking when purchasing a luxury sedan, we can look at the practical in luxury terms here. The Equus offers as much if not more luxury features as those more traditional entries in the category. Hyundai may not be considered the height of status in the category. The designers, engineers, as well as marketers have done their homework. The Equus is a vehicle that is every bit a competitor in the luxury class. To get noticed Hyundai has priced the Equus correctly. The entry begins at just under $59,000, where the others are nearly twice that. The Equus is a luxury sedan the industry is watching very carefully.
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