The 2012 Hyundai Equus Ultimate is a Rear-wheel drive Sedan. It can accommodate up to 5 passengers. It has 4 Doors and is powered by a 5.0L V8 DOHC 32-valve engine which outputs 429 hp @ 6400 rpm and is paired with 8-speed automatic transmission with manual mode gearbox. The 2012 Hyundai Equus Ultimate has cargo capacity of 473 Liters and the vehicle weighs 2052 kg. In terms of ride assists, the 2012 Hyundai Equus Ultimate has stability control and traction control in addition to anti-lock brake system (ABS). The vehicle has an optional engine as well It offers Front and rear Park Assist sensors and Rear view camera. Safety features also include Driver-side front airbag and Passenger-side front airbag. The front suspension is Independent front suspension while the rear suspension is Independent rear suspension. The car also features a Yes It has 19'' alloy wheels as standard. Electronic features include Cruise Control. For convenience, the car has Power windows and Power door locks. There is also a remote keyless entry feature. Moreover, the car has. The steering wheel has audio control buttons. In terms of performance, the car has 469 N.m of torque and a top speed of 277 km/h. The 2012 Hyundai Equus Ultimate accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and hits quarter mile at 13.6 seconds. Fuel consumption is 13.7 L/100km in the city and 8.6 L/100km in the highway. The car price starts at $ 71,999
| Name | Ultimate | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $ 71,999 | |
| Body | Sedan | |
| Doors | 4 Doors | |
| Engine | 5.0L V8 DOHC 32-valve | |
| Power | 429 hp @ 6400 rpm | |
| Number of Seats | 5 Seats | |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic transmission with manual mode | |
| Cargo Space | 473.0 L | |
| Maximum Cargo Space | 473.0 L | |
| Wheel Type | 19'' alloy wheels | |
| Series | ||
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive | |
| Horsepower | 429 HP | |
| Torque | 469 N.m | |
| Top Speed | 277 km/h | |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph) | 5.6 s | |
| Fuel Type | ||
| Fuel Consumption (City) | 13.7 L/100km | |
| Fuel Consumption (Highway) | 8.6 L/100km | |
| Gear Type | auto | |
| Weight | 2,052 KG | |
| Brand | Hyundai | |
| Model | Equus | |
| 0-400m (Quarter Mile) | 13.6 s | |
| 0-400m (Quarter Mile) - Speed | 168.6 km/h | |
| 0-800m (Half Mile) | 22.6 s | |
| 0-800m (Half Mile) - Speed | 189.8 km/h | |
| Modifications (MODS) | ||
| Modifications Cost | $ 0 |
| Used Condition | Trade In Price | Private Party Price | Dealer Retail Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding | $ 9,949 | $ 12,977 | $ 15,283 |
| Clean | $ 9,237 | $ 12,051 | $ 14,187 |
| Average | $ 7,814 | $ 10,198 | $ 11,996 |
| Rough | $ 6,391 | $ 8,345 | $ 9,806 |
The 2012 Hyundai Equus' comprehensive features, comfort and affordable price make it one of the most compelling contenders in the class of large luxury sedans.

Just a few years ago, the idea of Hyundai launching a full-size premium luxury sedan in America seemed whimsical. Yet the 2012 Hyundai Equus, with its refined manners and notable value, will likely make you a believer.

The Equus carries over into 2012 largely unchanged. There's still a wholesale list of standard features and interior refinement on par with the best from Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. But there are two welcome changes for this year's Equus: a new 5.0-liter V8 engine and an eight-speed transmission. The former makes more power than nearly every other V8 from the German and Japanese rivals, and the new transmission helps the 429-horsepower V8 achieve 18 mpg in combined driving.

Inside you'll find creature comforts and tech that includes a massaging driver seat, adaptive cruise control, a 17-speaker sound system and even a rear passenger footrest. It's enough to make the Hyundai Equus a legitimate challenger to similarly priced (but smaller) luxury cars like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, as well as similarly sized (but pricier) flagship sedans like the BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS and Mercedes S-Class.

Against the flagships, the Equus does come up short in a couple areas. The quality of the interior materials, for instance, isn't as high, and the V8, even though it's more powerful this year, still doesn't quite provide the low-end muscle that's often expected for this class of car. Some other shoppers might be put off by its bland styling. Still, the Equus represents a high water mark for Hyundai. Whatever it may lack is made up for with solid engineering, comfortable indulgence and an earthly price. You don't normally buy a Hyundai to impress your friends, but that just might happen with the 2012 Hyundai Equus.

The 2012 Hyundai Equus is a large luxury sedan available in Signature and Ultimate trim levels. The Signature seats five and includes 19-inch wheels, an adjustable air suspension with adaptive dampers, a lane-departure warning system, adaptive cruise control, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, foglights, automatic wipers, a windshield wiper de-icer, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors, a sunroof and keyless ignition/entry.

Within the plush cabin you'll find dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats (12-way driver, 10-way passenger) with driver massage and memory functions, a heated and power-adjustable tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, leather upholstery, wood and aluminum accents, a microfiber faux-suede headliner, heated and reclining rear seats, rear-seat audio and climate controls, a power rear window shade and manual rear side window shades. In terms of electronics, the Equus comes standard with a navigation system with real-time traffic, Bluetooth and a 17-speaker Lexicon surround-sound system with an iPod interface, satellite radio and six-CD changer.

The Equus Ultimate seats four, as the rear bench is replaced with a pair of reclining bucket seats with heating/cooling/massaging functions and a passenger-side power footrest. A rear center console includes storage bins, a mini refrigerator and separate controls for the climate and rear seat DVD entertainment systems. A power trunk lid, power rear side window shades and a forward-view cornering camera are also included with the Ultimate.

The rear-wheel-drive 2012 Hyundai Equus comes standard with a 5.0-liter V8 making 429 hp and 376 pound-feet of torque. A new eight-speed automatic transmission is also standard. According to EPA estimates, the Equus returns 15 mpg city/23 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined.
In performance testing, the Equus went from zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, which is average for a V8-powered luxury sedan.
The 2012 Hyundai Equus comes standard with stability and traction control, antilock brakes, active front head restraints, a lane-departure warning system, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, a driver-side knee airbag, front and rear side airbags and side curtain airbags. In brake testing, the Equus came to a stop from 60 mph in 131 feet, which is about 10 feet longer than average.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Equus its highest rating of "Good" in frontal-offset and side-impact crash testing, as well as roof strength tests.
Silence. That's one of the first things you notice after taking the wheel of the 2012 Hyundai Equus. At idle, it's about as quiet as a hybrid with the engine shut off. Things aren't much louder once underway, with the engine just a whisper and only a slight tire howl from the four corners. Still, the Equus isn't some sleepy-handling limousine. It floats a bit in default suspension mode, but hit the Sport dynamic button and the Equus firms up over bumps and road irregularities. It doesn't have the speed or reflexes of luxo-sport sedans like the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series or Jaguar XJ, but the Equus remains stable and predictable when pushed.
While rated power from the new 5.0-liter V8 meets or beats most of the competition, the Equus still lacks the low-end thrust of the German flagship nobility. It's one of the few traits that keeps the Equus from the ranks of elite luxury sedans. But if history is any indicator, this may be a short-lived deficiency.
The Equus quiets skeptics by packing nearly every luxury and convenience found in other premium-badged cars and wrapping them in a first-class design. Interior quality does fall short of the high-end cabins of flagship luxury sedans, but is every bit as good as that of less expensive Acura or Infiniti cabins. One minor question mark is durability; we've noticed stretched and sagging leather seat upholstery in an Equus test car of ours with fewer than 20,000 miles on the meter.
Overall interior room is quite impressive, and both front and rear passengers are treated to sky-high levels of comfort. For the full VIP experience, we recommend the Equus Ultimate for its unique four-passenger configuration. The extending La-Z-Boy footrest will impress your friends, but it isn't really long enough for most full-size adults to enjoy. In terms of trunk space, the Equus is pretty respectable, with 16.7 cubic feet available.
The Equus features a knob-based multimedia controller that operates the navigation, climate, vehicle and entertainment systems (there are also simple, redundant climate controls in the center stack). Overall, it works OK, with certain tasks like Bluetooth phone pairing made particularly painless. However, commonly used functions like selecting a radio preset or controlling your iPod take too much effort. This is a shame, since the Lexicon sound system is one of the best available in any car, period.
No one in the know will ever mistake the driving characteristics of the 2012 Hyundai Equus sedan with those of a BMW 7 Series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but the average buyer probably won't notice much difference. The Equus cabin is amazingly quiet and its air suspension ride is modulated to eliminate road imperfections while still returning a slightly sporty feel on winding roads. The 2012 Hyundai Equus sedan holds the line very well in corners and is more than capable of reeling in its substantial weight on twisty roads. Steering feel is good and, though not as responsive as a 7 Series, it's a bit better than the Lexus LS, which is probably right about where Hyundai planners want the car to be.
Power reclining rear seatsWho wouldn't love the ability to recline in a car with your feet up and watch a movie while someone else drives? The seat massagers are a nice touch as well. Lexicon 7.1 Discrete Logic 7 surround sound systemWhile 2012 Hyundai Equus sedan's 17 speakers might seem like overkill, we applaud their superb sound quality, which completes the luxurious in-cabin experience.
Some cars, like the Maybach 62S, are far more fun to ride in than to drive. In the case of the 2012 Hyundai Equus luxury sedan, it's a 50/50 toss-up between the two choices. The Ultimate trim features executive-style rear seating for two, with wide, comfortable heated and cooling seats separated by a center console containing a refrigerator and controls for the flip-up rear-seat entertainment system. Even more impressive is the passenger-side rear seat that features a power-operated leg support, turning the 2012 Hyundai Equus luxury sedan into a mini first-class cabin. However, while we find this feature a nice touch, it really works better on a stretched wheelbase car, such as the Audi A8L, that allows plenty of room to extend long legs. A rear bench seat comes standard in the Signature trim level, which provides ample accommodation for three adults. No matter which Equus trim you choose, you'll find a car with sufficient headroom and legroom for everyone and an interior laced with rich, warm wood and fine leathers.
In designing the 2012 Equus luxury sedan, it is clear that Hyundai took a page from the Lexus story book. Just as the first LS heavily resembled the Mercedes Benz it was gunning for, the Equus has several visual cues from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi. From Mercedes, the 2012 Hyundai Equus luxury sedan gets it defining character arches and wide front grille, while BMW can be seen in the tail lights and Audi is in the LED Daytime Running Lights beneath the headlamps. Despite the similarities to other premium sedans, when all the styling elements are combined, the look actually works. The 2012 Hyundai Equus premium sedan doesn't look like any other Hyundai, which is enough to get it the attention it needs from the well-to-do car enthusiasts. Although it might have benefited from the fluid and flowing lines that make up the Sonata sedan, the 2012 Hyundai Equus sedan forgoes the family resemblance, relying instead on its pronounced wheel arches, oversized ribbed grille and high beltline to make its mark. Highly-styled 19-inch alloy wheels round out the Equus' exterior.
The 2012 Hyundai Equus Signature sedan, the "base" model in the Equus family, comes with a host of impressive standard features. The most notable include a 5.0-liter V8 engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, electronically-controlled air suspension with damping control, a 608-watt Lexicon 7.1 Surround Sound system with 17 speakers, a navigation system, a 12-way power driver's seat with massage system, and heated and cooled front seats. Other touches include a dual automatic temperature control system and 60/40 power-reclining and heated rear seats.
There actually aren't any options available for the 2012 Hyundai Equus premium sedan, just the two trim levels. The upper-level Equus Ultimate model includes all the luxury features that come on the Signature Equus as well as a goldmine of upgrades, almost all of which are dedicated to turning the rear seats into a first-class experience. A 50/50-split cooled and reclining rear seat replaces the bench seat, making the Equus a four-seater, and the passenger-side rear seat adds leg support and a massage system. Other additions include a rear entertainment center with an 8-inch screen, a thermoelectric rear console refrigerator, a forward-view cornering camera and a power trunk lid.
The 2012 Hyundai Equus is powered by a new gasoline direct-injection 5.0-liter V8 engine that's matched to Hyundai's own in-house 8-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual-shift control. In addition to providing smooth acceleration and enough power to scoot the large sedan to 60 mph in about six seconds, the potent V8 returns impressive highway mileage numbers on par with both the BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes S-Class.5.0-liter V8429 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm376 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpmEPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/23
The 2012 Hyundai Equus Signature starts at a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of just under $ 60,000. Stepping up to the Ultimate trim level brings the price just shy of $ 67,000, a number that's well under any of the 2012 Hyundai Equus sedan's competitors in the flagship sedan category. These competitors include the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. If you're looking to get the best deal on your Equus, be sure to check out kbb.com's Fair Purchase Price before going to the local Hyundai dealership. As far as resale value, the 2012 Hyundai Equus fares well against its competition, with projected values on par with its European rivals.
| Engine | Standard in Trim | Power | Torque | Fuel Consumption - City | Fuel Consumption - Highway | 0-100 km/h | Quarter Mile | Half Mile |
|---|
| AM/FM stereo radio | AM/FM stereo radio with auxiliary input jack |
|---|---|
| Air Conditionning | Dual-zone automatic climate control |
| Bluetooth Wireless Technology | Yes |
| Courtesy Dome Light | Courtesy lights |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive cruise control |
| Driver Vanity Mirror | Driver-side vanity mirror |
| Front Wipers | Rain-sensing variable intermittent windshield wipers |
| Garage Door Opener | Homelink universal garage-door opener and remote |
| Heated Steering Wheel | Heated steering wheel |
| Illuminated Entry | Yes |
| Intelligent Key System | Yes |
| Interior Air Filter | Cabin air filter |
| Multi-CD Changer | In-dash 6-CD/DVD-Audio/MP3 changer |
| Navigation System | Navigation system with touch-screen |
| Number of Speakers | 17 speakers |
| Passenger Vanity Mirror | Front passenger-side illuminated vanity mirror |
| Power Door Locks | Yes |
| Power Windows | Power windows with one-touch up/down feature |
| Premium Sound System | Discrete Logic 7® surround sound |
| Reading Light | Front and rear reading lights |
| Rear Heating | Auxiliary rear-seat heater |
| Rear Seat Vanity Mirrors | Rear-seat illuminated vanity mirrors |
| Rear Side Sunscreens | Power rear-door sunshades |
| Rear Sunscreen | Power rear window sunshade |
| Rear View Mirror | Auto-dimming day/night rear view mirror |
| Remote Audio Controls | Steering wheel-mounted audio controls |
| Remote Keyless Entry | Yes |
| Special Feature | IPod / iPad / USB and auxiliary input jacks |
| Special Features | Power Trunk Lid |
| Steering Wheel Adjustment | Power tilt and telescopic steering wheel with position memory feature |
| Trunk Light | Cargo area light |
| Trunk/Hatch Operation | Remote trunk release |
| Wiper Defroster | Windshield wiper defroster |
| Cargo Capacity | 473 L |
|---|---|
| Curb Weight | 2052 kg |
| Front Headroom | 982 mm |
| Front Legroom | 1145 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 77 L |
| Height | 1490 mm |
| Length | 5158 mm |
| Rear Headroom | 967 mm |
| Rear Legroom | 989 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3045 mm |
| Width | 1889 mm |
| Exterior Folding Mirrors | Folding mirrors |
|---|---|
| Front Fog Lights | Fog lights |
| Headlight Type | Xenon headlights |
| Headlights Adaptive Headlights | Adaptive (Auto-Cornering) headlights |
| Headlights Leveling Headlights | Automatic levelling headlights |
| Headlights Sensor With Auto On | Automatic headlights |
| Heated Exterior Mirrors | Heated outside mirrors |
| Power Exterior Mirrors | Power-adjustable outside mirrors with integrated turn signals |
| Rear Window Defroster | Yes |
| Sunroof | Power glass sunroof |
| Compass | Yes |
|---|---|
| Driver Info Center | 3.5-inch TFT LCD vehicle information monitor |
| Floor Console | Thermoelectric rear console refrigerator |
| Floor Covering | Carpet floor covering |
| Front Seats Active Headrests | Front electronic active head restraints |
| Front Seats Climate | Climate front seats |
| Front Seats Driver Headrest | Driver's seat power headrest |
| Front Seats Driver Lombar | Driver's seat lumbar support |
| Front Seats Driver Massage | Driver's seat message feature |
| Front Seats Driver Power Seats | 12-way power driver's seat |
| Front Seats Driver Seat Memory | Position memory feature for driver's seat and outside mirrors |
| Front Seats Front Seat Type | Bucket front seats |
| Front Seats Heated | Heated front seats |
| Front Seats Passenger Power Seats | 10-way power front passenger seat |
| Instrumentation Type | Electroluminescent Cluster (Supervision) |
| Luxury Dashboard Trim | Woodgrain dashboard trim |
| Luxury Dashboard Trim (Option) | Genuine Birch Burl Wood interior trim |
| Number of Cup Holders | 8 cupholders |
| Rear Massaging Seats | First-class rear seat with air cell massage system and leg support (right side only) |
| Seat Trim | Leather seats |
| Shifter Knob Trim | Leather-wrapped shift knob |
| Special Feature | Rear seat 8-inch LCD screen monitor |
| Steering Wheel Trim | Leather-wrapped steering wheel |
| Drive Train | Rear-wheel drive |
|---|---|
| Engine Name | 5.0L V8 DOHC 32-valve |
| Stability Control | Yes |
| Start button | Yes |
| Traction Control | Yes |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic transmission with manual mode |
| Body | Sedan |
|---|---|
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine | 5.0L V8 DOHC 32-valve |
| Fuel Consumption | 13.7 (Automatic City)8.6 (Automatic Highway) |
| Power | 429 hp @ 6400 rpm |
| Seats | 5 |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic transmission with manual mode |
| Warranties | Bumper-to-Bumper100000/km, 60/Months Emissions130000/km, 96/Months Powertrain100000/km, 60/Months Roadside AssistanceUnlimited/km, 36/Months Rust-throughUnlimited/km, 60/Months |
| Anti-Lock Brakes | Anti-lock brakes |
|---|---|
| Anti-Theft Alarm | Alarm system |
| Brake Assist | Brake assist |
| Brake Type | 4-wheel disc |
| Driver Airbag | Driver-side front airbag |
| Electronic brake force distribution | Electronic brake force distrbution |
| Front Seat Belts | Height adjustable |
| Ignition Disable | Theft-deterrent engine immobilizer |
| Knee Airbags | Driver-side knee airbag |
| Lane Departure System | Lane-departure warning system |
| Parking Distance Sensor | Front and rear Park Assist sensors |
| Passenger Airbag | Passenger-side front airbag |
| Rear Airbag | Rear side airbags |
| Rear View Camera | Rear view camera |
| Roof Side Curtain | Side-curtain airbags |
| Side Airbag | Front side airbags |
| Front Anti-Roll Bar | Front stabilizer bar |
|---|---|
| Front Suspension | Independent front suspension |
| Front Tires | P245/45R19 |
| Power Steering | Direction à assistance électrohydraulique |
| Rear Anti-Roll Bar | Rear stabilizer bar |
| Rear Suspension | Independent rear suspension |
| Rear Tires | P275/40R19 rear tires |
| Suspension Category | Driver-selectable SPORT mode |
| Suspension Self-Levelling | Electronically controlled air suspension, Continuous Damping Control |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System | Yes |
| Turning Circle | 11.49-meter turning circle diameter |
| Wheel Type | 19'' alloy wheels |
Discussion and Comments
Share Your Comments