The Hyundai Equus, in its second year on the market, receives a number of upgrades to help it compete against full-size luxury car icons, such as the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6/A7 and Infiniti M, including a new V8 engine and an in-house-developed automatic transmission. The 2012 Hyundai Equus is available in either Signature or Ultimate trim, both of which have 4 doors and are rear-wheel drive. Each is equipped with a 5.0-liter GDI Tau 32-valve DOHC V8 engine that achieves 429 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. This premium gasoline V8 engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission (with Shiftronic) and is estimated to get 15 mpg city/23 highway. For buyers looking at the Signature trim, it comes loaded with standard features. These include dual automatic temperature control, cruise control, electro-hydraulic power steering, power windows (with auto-down/up), dual power-folding heated auto-dimming side mirrors (with turn signal indicators), auto-dimming inside rear-view mirror (with Homelink and compass), keyless entry (with push-button start), leather seating surfaces, 12-way heated/cooled power driver seat (with lumbar adjustment and massage system), 10-way power heated/cooled front passenger seat, heated wood-trimmed and leather-wrapped steering wheel (with power tilt-and-telescopic steering column), integrated memory system (for driver’s seat, mirror and steering wheel), leather-wrapped dash and real wood interior trim, microfiber suede headliner and 60/40 power reclining and heated rear seats. Additional standard equipment for the Signature trim includes high intensity discharge xenon headlights (with adaptive lighting system), LED turn-signal indicators, fog lights, front and rear parking assistance system with rear-view camera, power tilt-and-slide glass sunroof, power rear sunshade, 608-watt Lexicon surround-sound audio system (with 17 speakers), AM/FM/HD radio (with in-dash 6-CD changer and MP3 audio system), Bluetooth hands-free system, iPod/USB/MP3 auxiliary input jacks (with iPod connection cable), Sirius XM satellite radio and NavTraffic (with a 3-month trial subscription), navigation system (with 8-inch display, DIS and multimedia controller) and 19-inch chrome alloy wheels (with all-season tires). The 2012 Hyundai Sonata Ultimate has 50/50 split-reclining rear seats (4-passenger seating), passenger-side rear seat (with leg support and massage system), cooled rear seats, rear-seat entertainment system (with 8-inch monitor and DVD player), rear seat center console refrigerator, rear seat power up/down head restraints (with manual tilt), rear seat power side-window sunshades, forward-view cornering camera and power trunk lid. Safety features included standard on the 2012 Hyundai Equus include nine airbags (driver and front passenger front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, driver knee airbag, and roof-mounted front and rear side-curtain airbags), electronic active front head restraints, tire pressure monitoring system, lane departure warning system, 4-wheel disc brakes with antilock braking system, electronic stability control (with brake assist) and vehicle stability management system. Four exterior color choices are available for the 2012 Hyundai Equus: White Satin Pearl, Platinum Metallic, Granite Gray and Black Noir Pearl. The interior leather seats can be configured as Jet Black, Cashmere Beige or Saddle Brown. Wood accents can be set up as either Walnut or Birch Burl. Owners state how good the ride and handling are for the 2012 Hyundai Equus, especially when compared to the higher-priced cars in its class. The Equus’ handling, quiet cabin and luxurious appointments all receive positive reviews, although the steering leaves something to be desired, giving the driver too much play, especially when cornering. The upgraded engine gets high marks as well, presenting drivers with plenty of power off the line and when passing. Price-wise, the Equus is the least expensive car in its class. The changes to the engine and transmission, while ranking neither at the top of the full-size luxury class, should put the Equus on equal footing with higher-priced competitors. That, and the industry’s best warranty (the Hyundai 10-Year/100,000-Mile Warranty), make the 2012 Hyundai Equus a solid option.