Ten years ago, a luxury vehicle from Hyundai would have seemed absurd, but in a sign of changing times, Hyundai launched its Equus luxury sedan at the 2010 New York auto show.
Hyundai designed a distinct winged logo for the Equus. This logo appears on the front of the car, on the wheels, and in the cabin, though the Hyundai badge is restricted to the rear of the car.
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Hyundai uses a 4.6-liter V-8 to drive the Equus' rear wheels. It produces 385 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque, delivered through a ZF six-speed automatic. Hyundai claims average fuel economy of 19 mpg.
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This big luxury sedan is based on Hyundai's Genesis platform, the basis for the full-size Genesis sedan launched last year. The platform was stretched for the Equus to luxury sedan dimensions.
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Riding on an air suspension, the car adapts its ride to road conditions. The driver can switch the suspension mode to sport for a stiffer ride.
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The cabin succeeds in delivering a luxury experience, using fine materials for control surfaces. Hyundai fits the Equus with the latest cabin tech, including adaptive cruise control.
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The shifter has the Equus logo embedded in it, and the cabin tech interface controller sits further back on the console. The controller uses a layout reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz's COMAND or BMW's iDrive sytem.
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The rear seats provide plenty of room in the Equus, such that the car would work as a chauffeured vehicle. The center console holds audio controls.
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The rear seats are power-adjustable using these door controls, copied from Mercedes-Benz. The front seats have similar door-mounted controls.
