Hyundai's luxury sedan will take many by surprise, as the company has a strong focus on the economy market. But the Equus, with its bargain-basement price, will appeal to budget-conscious buyers who still want a car that looks like a million bucks.
Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Hyundai sets its sights high with the Equus luxury sedan. Although potential buyers would not expect a car of this caliber from Hyundai, the company sets its price so low that people will likely give it a chance next to other luxury sedans, such as the Lexus LS 460 and Mercedes-Benz S-class.
Hyundai forgoes its fluidic sculpture styling on the Equus, opting for a more conservative design. The grille's chrome surround gives it a stately bearing, and pronounced rear fenders give the Equus a unique look. LED parking lights are pretty much a must-have these days.
To power the big sedan, Hyundai takes a simple approach with this 4.6-liter V-8. Power and fuel economy are about what can be expected from a big displacement variable valve-timed engine. Lacking are modern technologies such as direct injection or forced induction.
