2015 Hyundai Equus: Full-Size Luxury from Hyundai

In a world full of very expensive luxury sedans from the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW, the Hyundai Equus asks “why?” Offering a full list of luxury features along with the ride that pleases and a style that shouts success the Equus shows up costing a lot less than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Lexus LS and Audi A8, making it the most affordable flagship luxury sedan on the market. Even with the lower price tag, the Equus doesn’t go cheap on comfort or features and of course this model is at the top of the Hyundai pricing line.

With the power, amenities, ride comfort and size desired on a high end luxury sedan at a great price the Equus attracts a lot of attention as a no-nonsense choice for the shoppers in this category. With only two trims to choose from and no optional features to add to the car, this car is easy to buy, knowing it is fully packed with goodies to enjoy. After a major refresh just last year the Equus shows up for 2015 with no new changes to it, making it a great car going for another year of excitement and glory.

With a sophisticated and luxurious driving experience the Equus aims to please even the stodgiest of drivers along the way. A local Hyundai dealer tells us that this is accomplished through the use of an air suspension that is pillow soft and dispels any road defects with an ease and deftness of a car that normally costs more than double the price of the Equus. The steering smooth and enjoyable, especially in the Normal or Snow modes with the Sport mode giving much more feedback and requiring a bit more effort to drive. The cabin is quiet and relaxed and offers and oasis from the road surrounding the Equus on the daily grind.

Only one engine can be found in the Equus and it’s a doozy. This engine is a 5.0-liter V8 that makes up to 429 horsepower and 376 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is mated to a highly dynamic eight-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual shifting control. Even though this beast is a heavy handed monster at over 4,550 pounds this engine can make 60 mph in less than six seconds to surprise many other car owners with is amazing acceleration. The Equus is only available in rear-wheel drive, with no all-wheel drive option, probably one of the only real knocks this car has and it offers a fuel mileage of 15 city/23 hwy mpg for owners to take full advantage of and enjoy.

When you step into a luxury sedan, especially one that is at the highest level of luxury the feeling expected is one of pure luxury and overdone details. The Equus has all of that and more, making many shopper double check the badge on the car to be sure it really is a Hyundai. With a five-passenger set up, the Equus is covered in sumptuous leather upholstery and wood accents to give the car the full feeling of a luxury sedan. Unlike many cars, including luxury models, the Equus did not forget about the back seat, knowing this is where executives do a lot of business. This area is equipped with very generous legroom, climate controlled seats, window shades and power lumbar supports to allow high class business professionals to ride in style and comfort.

On the outside the Equus is sleek, stylish and simply beautiful. With long lines that run the length of the car, and easy and smooth transition from the hood to the roof and a front fascia that features a large horizontal grill and two shapely headlights the Equus offers a full look and feel of a high end luxury sedan. Continuing a look that is similar to many high end luxury models, the Equus has a generous smattering of chrome accents in the right places to make the exterior pop with sophistication. Add a full set of many spoked wheels to carry the load and this car drives into the market as one that is ready to stand out at the top of the line of luxury cars but still offers a price the is much less.

Being available in only two trims and with no stand-alone optional features gives Equus a shopping advantage over much of the competition. The standard trim is the Signature model but it by no means is a normal base model of a car. This model is equipped with a navigation system with a 9.2-inch command screen, tri-zone climate control, a 17-speaker Lexicon audio system, smart cruise control, blind spot monitoring, premium leather upholstery, a suede headliner, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel and a power rear sunshade. All this gives the Equus Signature the feeling of being one of the top luxury models on the market today.

The second model offered for the Equus comes in with a few more features and a price tag that matches that increase. This model is known as the Ultimate trim of the Equus and it adds forward and multi-view cameras, a power operated trunk, a 12.3- inch TFT LCD instrument panel and head-up display, cooled rear seats, a rear-seat entertainment system with two 9.2-inch monitors, power lumbar support, vanity mirrors and a power door closure feature. At this top end of the luxury line for Hyundai it’s evident they put everything into the Ultimate trim for enjoyment and comfort on the road.

Finally, the pricing, which is what you have been waiting for since it’s been, mentioned more than once as the biggest selling point. The Equus Signature model comes in at a very reasonable $62,450 with the Ultimate showing up just a bit more at $69,700. With these two prices the Equus stays under the $70,000 mark where much of its competition just begins to get going with their prices. The Equus makes a very smart choice for anyone looking for high-end luxury at a reasonable price they can fully enjoy.