2011 Hyundai Equus Reviews

The 2011 Hyundai Equus, a large, $60,000 premium sedan that will no doubt raise a few eyebrows from both consumers and rival car companies alike.

The 2011 Hyundai Equus looks to do the same, offering far more space and equipment than other competing luxury sedans. Standard Hyundai Equus features like a massaging driver seat, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and a 17-speaker surround-sound audio system are usually options on even high-end luxury cars. Hyundai even plans to supply Equus owners with an Apple iPad as a standard feature, which will function as a sort of interactive owner's manual and maintenance minder.

Even with this minor demerit, the 2011 Hyundai Equus is a genuine competitor to other luxury sedans, both midsize cars like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class and flagships like the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class. The 2011 Hyundai Equus is a large luxury sedan available in Signature and Ultimate trim levels. The Hyundai Equus Ultimate seats four, as the rear bench seat is replaced with a pair of reclining bucket seats with heating/cooling/massaging functions and a passenger-side power footrest. This rear-wheel-drive car is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. In Edmunds performance testing, the Hyundai Equus went from zero to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, which is slower than other V8-powered luxury sedans. According to Hyundai estimates, the Hyundai Equus will achieve 16 mpg city/24 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined.

The 2011 Hyundai Equus comes standard with stability and traction control, antilock brakes, electronic seatbelt pre-tensioners, active front head restraints, a lane-departure warning system, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, a driver-side knee airbag, front and rear side airbags, and side curtain airbags. If you're wondering whether a value-oriented brand like Hyundai can produce a luxury car, the cabin of the Hyundai Equus will put your mind at ease.

Enter Hyundai and its new flagship sedan, the Hyundai Equus. Having already garnered praise for the Genesis, allegedly competing against cars like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class, the Equus takes aim at the top of the luxury ladder, the S-Class and 7 Series, vehicles synonymous with the world’s elite.

Can Hyundai, a company that seems to be doing absolutely everything right, pull off another Lexus?
Hyundai even made its best effort to hide the car’s origins, with just one “H” badge on the trunk.
Whether driving or riding in the back, the Hyundai Equus continues to deliver successfully against competitors. With a car as comfortable as the Hyundai Equus, you’ll already feel rested and at home, long before you’ve arrived.

We were disappointed, however, to discover that our test model did not come with the iPad owner’s manual, despite Hyundai having pumped-up the bonus feature, complete with its own Equus app and related services. Absolutely. As a flagship, the Hyundai Equus brings new technology and features to Hyundai, but hardly to the segment. The rear passenger seat gets a reclining function and can operate the seat ahead to make more room. Upgrading to the Ultimate Package (the only option and priced at $6,500) brings with it a four seat arrangement with an 8-inch screen for rear seat passengers, plus the passenger side rear seats gets a recliner-like leg support, massaging function, as well as a cooling function for both rear seats.

Nineteen-inch alloy wheels are standard. Although the Hyundai Equus shares its cohort's platform, it measures 7.2 inches longer.

Backseat options include power-reclining seatbacks, heated and cooled upholstery, side and rear sun visors and a massaging rear seat with a power-extending ottoman. Hyundai also plans to distinguish the Hyundai Equus shopping and ownership experience with valet service appointments, at-home test drives and Equus-specific sections at select Hyundai dealerships.

The rear-wheel-drive Equus uses the same 4.6-liter V-8 from the Genesis.-Hyundai says the Equus has a 52/48 percent (front/rear) weight distribution — favorably balanced for handling dynamics.