The Hyundai Equus full-size 4-door luxury sedan toddles into its third year unchanged from the 2012, and but for one small exception, owners are quite pleased. Not as buttoned-down as a Bentley, nor as stiffly sporting as a BMW, the Equus nevertheless boasts ample engine power and remarkable comfort in such a way that begs the question: That's a Hyundai?
At a price point thousands lower than the entry fee for the recognized leaders in luxury, Hyundai extends the very same elite service to its Equus shoppers and buyers as those leaders of luxury with an equally compelling product. Although the maker no longer gives every Equus buyer an iPad pre-loaded with its owner's manual app, shoppers can simply call their local Hyundai dealer to bring the test-drive to them. Should they decide to purchase the Equus, all services and maintenance are handled in precisely the same manner.
Sure, it's not really a fashion-forward head-turner, but being so early in the game, would you really want to glaringly announce you've defected from pompous overpricing? Rather than standing out, the Equus takes the road less embellished for its outer shell, preferring subtle streamlining, 19-inch chrome alloy wheels and tastefully limited chrome accents over flair and extravagance. It's the sort of simplicity that makes you feel safe parking it downtown and yet proud of its deserved self-esteem to show up in public without makeup.
The base Signature affords comfortable seating for 5 with virtually zero driver complaints. The only sticking point is in the super luxurious Ultimate 4-seater, where reclining rear seats leave little footroom with the automatic ottoman in use. Oh, what a first-world hell! The only other complaints stem from drivers expecting a loftily tuned suspension to behave otherwise. Like most large luxury sedans, the Equus is rear-wheel drive, but also like most large luxury sedans, don't expect the Equus to be track-worthy, and due to its soft-sprung nature, do expect harsh cross-winds to affect its handling somewhat.
According to drivers, despite the fuel economy loss, Hyundai made a wise decision sharing its Genesis R-Spec direct-injected V8 engine with the Equus. Thanks to the also-new-for-2012 8-speed Shiftronic automatic transmission with a sport shift mode, all 429 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque out of this 5-liter behemoth seamlessly coordinate for a 6-second interval between standstill and 60 mph. Sure, it's not exactly rip-roaringly quick, being a full 2 seconds slower than cars costing $200,000 more, but drivers agree the price-per-pound-foot couldn't be more practical, and fetching 15 mpg city/23 highway on premium fuel isn't too shabby either.
All of that said, sitting inside the 2013 Equus is where you forget it costs only half a hundred grand. Finely stitched soft leathers adorn nearly every surface—a few more in the Ultimate—with warm wood veneers otherwise surrounding user-friendly controls and high-end gadgetry. The Equus feature list is exceptionally long and in some cases beats other luxury makers' offerings, but just to give you a taste, the right-rear passenger seat offers a massage function. Don't pinch yourself too hard!
How many miles is too many miles for a Hyundai Equus Signature, or a BMW, or a Mercedes-Benz? At what point would you say this car has too many miles for the cost? I would want to keep the car for 200,000 miles if I bought it?
Best and most safety features with most luxury feature.
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 · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · 6 disc in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Lexicon · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Surround audio: 7.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 17
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 14.2 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.4 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: aluminium · Dash trim: leather · Door sill trim: illuminated scuff plate · Door trim: leather · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Interior accents: wood · Shift knob trim: wood · Steering wheel trim: leather
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: covered · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: 2 driver · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · 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 · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Front bumper color: chrome accents · Grille color: chrome · Mirror color: body-color with chrome accents · Rear bumper color: body-color · 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: Blue Link · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Warnings and reminders: low oil level
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: integrated turn signals
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 · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Parking sensors: rear · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · 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: 2.8
Suspension
Driver Adjustable Suspension: ride control · 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
Wheel type: aluminum 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: diversity · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · 6 disc in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Lexicon · HD radio · Rear audio: separate rear audio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Surround audio: 7.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 17
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 14.2 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.4 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: wood · Dash trim: leather · Door sill trim: illuminated scuff plate · Door trim: leather · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Interior accents: wood · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
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: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: side mirrors · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Rear power outlet: 12V · Rear view camera: multi-view · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: phone · Storage: cargo net · 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 · Exhaust tip color: chrome · 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: Blue Link · Infotainment screen size: 8 in. · Video monitor location: rear · Video monitor size: 8 · Video system: DVD player
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: low oil 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: one-touch open/close
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: ventilated · 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: 2.8
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
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Wheels
Wheel spokes: 9
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Laminated glass: acoustic