2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: Wrap-Up [w/videos]

[Sal Collaziano]

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Luxury, Long-Term Garage

What A Difference A Year Makes



There was a point in time where if we read one more lede that started with "Hyundai sure is on a roll these days," we would have clawed our eyes out. Fact of the matter, though, is that those words were absolutely true. Hyundai has really come a long way here in the United States, especially in the past couple of years. And the only reason people have stopped writing about Hyundai's forward momentum is because, frankly, we expect nothing less now. Every new product blows the doors off of the one that came before it, and brand-new ventures like the Genesis line or funky-fresh Veloster are nothing short of impressive.

But every family has its black sheep, and unfortunately for Hyundai, that might be the largest one in its herd. You see, while Hyundai has worked hard to create a unique brand identity here in the United States by offering cars that are designed specifically with our market in mind, the Equus was simply a vehicle hauled over from Korea with a few minor Americanized tweaks. Don't get us wrong, the Equus is a plenty good car, and through its faults, we praised it in both our initial first drive and follow-up review as being a tremendous value that's pretty darn up to snuff with its competitive set. But over time, can something that's simply a good value work in the highly competitive full-size luxury set?

That in mind, we ordered a White Satin Pearl 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate for our long-term garage in order to see if after one year of day-to-day use, the big flagship would be able to stand tall with the rest of its Modern Hyundai kin, or simply be another budget-minded also-ran from the days of Old Hyundai. 52 weeks and 22,638 miles later, all we can say is, man, what a difference a year makes.
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[BacktoHyundaibychoice]

Having read many of the interim reports, the only thing I can say is this:
When you have numerous drivers, most of whom don't read the OM, you're going to have silly reports. This is especially true re the Lexicon and Navigation.

I guess their overall conclusion is "fair", but I don't agree with the methodology.

Btw, saw the Sales Manager at my dealer when I was in for a wash today. He has an '11 Signature and an '11 Ultimate, both of which he'd sell for $10K off sticker to make room for the 2012. The Sig has 3500 miles on it (demo), the Ultimate none. Both gray, Sig black interior, Ultimate cashmere. Send me a PM for details (Chicago area).