Edmunds Full Test

[YEH]

Flatfoot the gas, though, and the German-built six-speed automatic will deliver a firm downshift or two after some brief hesitation. From a standstill, the standard 4.6-liter V8 can deliver enough of its 385 horsepower to whip the nearly 4,600-pound sedan from zero to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds (or 6.4 seconds with 1 foot of rollout like on a drag strip). It dispenses the quarter-mile in 14.8 seconds at 96.8 mph.

Neither quick nor particularly slow, the Equus never feels twitchy or unrefined. Even at full throttle, the sound of the V8 remains pleasantly subdued, while the transmission slides through the gears without upsetting the cabin in the least. A more powerful 5.0-liter V8 is already in the works along with an eight-speed automatic if you're particularly concerned about adequate power.

Some Sport With Your Plush?
As we noted in our First Drive from Korea, the ride quality of the 2011 Hyundai Equus sits somewhere between the feathery Lexus LS and the firm-footed BMW 7 Series. Instead of floating over the road like the Lexus, the Equus feels heavier on its feet, more like it's pummeling the bumps with its big 19-inch wheels and tires. On the flip side, the Equus has less body roll than the Lexus and feels more buttoned-down through big sweeping corners.

There is a "sport" setting for the air suspension, too. With that setting dialed in, our test driver managed a respectable 0.77g on the skid pad and a maximum speed of 63.1 mph through our slalom. More importantly he found the car stable and predictable as it was pushed harder and harder. "There's definitely a solid chassis under this car," he noted. The brake pedal was reassuringly firm, too, even though the Hyundai's shortest stop from 60 mph was a little long for its class at 131 feet.

http://www.insideline.com/hyundai/equus/2011/2011-hyundai-equus-full-test-and-video.html

 

[TJPark01]

At 60k this is making the V8 Genesis look like even more of a bargain.

 

[wallymn]

MotorTrend had a first take on the Equus this morning..

Back of the pack performance... and tire noise were the complaints... seemed like a luke warm review...

I agree that for 20K it doesn't fell like that much more car.... Same powertrain....... but it gets the floater suspension....

 

[YEH]

^ As a driver's car, you are right, but being a passenger in the rear seat (in particular, the right rear seat in the Ultimate package) is a whole 'nother level (well, at least Autoblog seems to think so).

To begin with, you've got the normal heated and cooled seat, along with a highly adjustable massage system. From there, you can also enjoy a power headrest that tilts inward to comfortably ensconce your cranium, a seat the reclines so deeply you'd swear your spine is going to hit the luggage, and an ottoman that rises up as a footrest. If you want all this luxury to be heaped on you at once, press a button on the permanent center console, complete with HVAC and infotainment controls, and the right front seat moves forward a foot and tilts to accommodate your expansive dimensions. An eight-inch LCD display rises from behind the front passenger's center armrest, and yes, that's a fridge to your left. You can almost hear the tween screams about who gets the royal throne on road trips.

And they'd better be tweens.

As our five-foot, 10-inch frame found while spending the better part of an hour in the right-rear seat, while it's luxurious, there's not too much space to stretch out. Scuff marks from our shoes coated the backing of the front seat, making us momentarily question Hyundai's decision not to import the longer-wheelbase version available in Korea. The execs we talked to said it looks odd and disproportionate, but if we really wanted to get comfortable (or productive), those extra nine inches would be a necessity.

But tactile and driving compromises aside, the level of luxury for the price is completely unmatched. Actually, that's an understatement. It's simply unheard of. There's absolutely nothing in the new car market that matches the Equus on the amenities front for a similar price-point. Add in the (admittedly, yet-to-be-tested) ownership and service experience, and you've just coated a very compelling cake in Valrohna ganache. Then sprinkled some gold leaf for effect. The Equus isn't just the ultimate Hyundai – it's the ultimate four-wheeled value proposition. And while taking that tack might have failed for Volkswagen, in this day and this age, something with this level of luxury without the weight of a traditional luxury badge could be an asset. Hyundai's about to find out, and its dedication to experimentation can only make the automotive world the wiser.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/07/2011-hyundai-equus-first-drive-review-road-test/#continued