2011 Hyundai Equus: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

The 2011 Hyundai Equus makes its North American debut as this Korean brand's new flagship sedan. This premium-large car is rear-wheel drive. It's about 4 inches longer in wheelbase and 7 inches longer overall than the Hyundai Genesis sedan, the vehicle with which Equus shares its basic design. Also derived from the Genesis is Equus' powertrain, a 4.6-liter V8 engine that pairs with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The engine produces 385 horsepower when used with premium-grade gas and 378 horsepower when used with regular. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front- and rear-side airbags. Lane-departure warning is standard. Equus trim levels include base Signature and uplevel Ultimate. Leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, a heated power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, keyless access/engine start, a navigation system, rearview camera, and heated power rear seats are standard. Equus Signature seats 5. Ultimate models have a two-place split rear bench for 4-passenger seating and a center-mounted chilled storage box. These versions also have a reclining rear-passenger seat with massage function. Also standard on the Ultimate are cooled rear seats, DVD entertainment, power trunk lid, and a front-mounted camera.

COMPETITION

Consumer Guide Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. Premium-Large Cars are top-of-the-line sedans in size and luxury. Many are manufacturer flagships and/or showcases for the newest automotive technology. Some have six-figure price tags.

Our Best Buys are the Hyundai Equus, Hyundai Genesis, Lexus LS, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

New or significantly redesigned models include the Audi A8, Fisker Karma, Hyundai Equus, Jaguar XJ Series, and Mercedes-Benz CL-Class. The BMW 7-Series gains a new gas/electric hybrid model and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class gains a new diesel model for 2011.