2012 Hyundai Equus Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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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.
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2012 Hyundai Equus Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones · Rear air conditioning: with independent controls · Single rear air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: element · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · In-Dash CD: DVD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Lexicon · HD radio · Rear audio: separate rear audio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 3 subwoofers · Surround audio: 7.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 16
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 14.2 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.4 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Center console trim: wood · Dash trim: wood · Door sill trim: illuminated scuff plate · Floor Material: carpet · Interior accents: wood · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: wood
Convenience Features
Adaptive stop and go cruise control: semi-automatic · Assist handle: front · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: side mirrors · Multi-function remote: keyless entry with panic alarm · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Rear power outlet: 12V · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: seatback · Sunshade: power rear window · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.54
Exterior Features
Body side moldings: chrome · Door handle color: body-color with chrome accents · Exhaust: dual exhaust tips · Front bumper color: chrome accents · Grille color: chrome · Mirror color: body-color with chrome accents · Rear bumper color: chrome accents · Rocker panel color: body-color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: HID
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power folding
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: one-touch open/close
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Parking sensors: front · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat manual adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: leather
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim type: aluminum alloy
Steering
Steering ratio: 15.5 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.90
Suspension
Driver Adjustable Suspension: height · Front Arm Type: lateral links · Front Spring Type: pneumatic springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 29 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Spring Type: pneumatic springs · Rear Stabilizer Bar: diameter 18 mm · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: chrome alloy
Wheels
Wheel spokes: 9
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Laminated glass: acoustic
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones · Rear air conditioning: with independent controls · Single rear air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Rear side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: element · USB auxiliary audio input · In-Dash CD: DVD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Lexicon · AM/FM radio · Rear audio: separate rear audio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 3 subwoofers · Surround audio: 7.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 16
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 14.2 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.4 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: dual front · Center console trim: wood · Dash trim: leather · Door sill trim: illuminated scuff plate · Floor Material: carpet · Interior accents: wood · Shift knob trim: wood · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Adaptive stop and go cruise control: semi-automatic · Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: side mirrors · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Rear power outlet: 12V · Rear view camera: multi-view · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Sunshade: side window · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminated rear seat
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 12
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.54
Exterior Features
Body side moldings: chrome · Door handle color: body-color with chrome accents · Exhaust: dual exhaust tips · Front bumper color: chrome accents · Grille color: chrome · Mirror color: body-color with chrome accents · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: power operated · Rocker panel color: body-color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment screen size: 8 in. · Video monitor location: rear · Video monitor size: 8 · Video system: DVD player
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: HID
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power folding
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Rear Seats
Type: 50-50 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: power glass
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Parking sensors: rear · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat: cooled · Rear seat manual adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: leather
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim type: aluminum alloy
Steering
Steering ratio: 15.5 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.90
Suspension
Driver Adjustable Suspension: height · Front Arm Type: lateral links · Front Spring Type: pneumatic springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 29 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Spring Type: pneumatic springs · Rear Stabilizer Bar: diameter 18 mm · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: chrome alloy
Wheels
Wheel spokes: 9
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Laminated glass: acoustic