2011 Hyundai Equus Signature: Track Tested

Is this good enough for luxury car buyers? Probably, but most will not even check it out. If it had even one outstanding specification or feature-- like styling-- that would entice more buyers. As it is now, it is just a large, underperforming sedan. Kinda like a Lincoln. Maybe the 5.0 will help.

For me, there are lots of sedans around 30K that can equal or better the performance of the Equus.

Insideline must really like Hyundais, those are pretty horrible #s. What really stands out is the sub-60 mph slalom and the 129 feet 0-60 braking distance. Those are horrible #s and yet insideline still makes them seem fine in their comments, I feel like Hyundai is getting a pass here whereas you guys would have complained had it been another make. Maybe I'm wrong, but those are pretty pathetic #s for a $60k sedan.

385HP, 4500 lb, and 0-60 in 6.7 sec? The evidence just keeps piling up that Hyundai has a tendency to overrate their horsepower figures

That thing leaves the line with no snap or authority at all. Sure it pulls hard to redline but where's that off the line urgency of the old Detroit boats?

Love the commentary: "...but watching a luxo-barge -- be it SUV, coupe or sedan -- navigate the cones and the dragstrip is great. Like a big dog on a linoleum floor."

Mercedes has stolen all of the off-the-line urgency left in the world. All of it. -mm

The numbers seem pretty soft all around for a full-sizer in the luxury segment. I don't have time at the moment to compare, but it'd be interesting to see how this stacks up against the LS460/750i/S550/A8.

Mrsilvia: I try not to be the first person to point stuff like that out, especially since many insideline poster know where my 'allegiances' lie, but I totally agree. Those are bad numbers, and while some contest looks are all that matters in this segment, I'm sure at least a few of those shoppers care about some performance. My wifes insight (totally different mission I know) out handles this thing.

Time to put down the hyundai kool-aid insideline.

We could post numbers from competitors, but unless they were run on that day at the same track under the same conditions, I don't think you can take much from them.

I will say that 6.7 doesn't sound great in the day of many cars nearing 5.0 or so.

Without cheating and looking up the results from old tests, I am very tempted to remind everyone that the 1990 Infiniti Q45 was capable of only slightly lower performance.

I'm not seeing where anyone was gushing over the performance. Seemed like a pretty neutral review in my opinion.

Lexus LS460 Sport
0-60 6.4
1/4 14.5 @ 98.8
30-0 29
60-0 113
Skid 0.81
Slalom 61.7
Price $77,000

Give the Equus the new 5.0L, an 8-speed automatic, and some beefier brakes and any advantages disappear. I'm not sure why Hyundai rushed the Equus to market in the U.S. before the 5.0L and 8-speed were available. I'm pretty sure no one is going to equate most Hyundai's for driver enjoyment anyway.

People we already know the 429 hp 376-lb-ft 5.0 V8 and 8-speed auto are due in a few months so don't get your asses on your shoulders.

How much do other cars of this size weigh? 4500 seems like a lot for a Hyundai. I'm used to them undercutting the competition in curb weight.

Just to point out how bad these Equus numbers are when they are put up against cars sold in relatively the same price bracket....

I paid exactly $3,099 more dollars for my brand-new Caddy 2009 CTS-V with all options and 0% financing for 72 months.

Talk about a "no-brainer" decision....sheesh!

@lmbvette

Sorry, but that was a dumb comment. Obviously Hyundai put their dollars into different parts of the car than Cadillac did. That comment would make sense if the Caddy was also that big and focused on comfort.

@randomlyant10:

It's pretty heavy. It's about 100 to 150 lbs heavier than a Lexus LS460L.

@randomlyant10, for comparison's sake, the last MB S550 that Edmunds tested weighed a (tested) 100 lb. more than this Hyundai, had 3 fewer horsepower, ran 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, and braked 60-0 in 108 feet. Also ran the slalom 3-4 mph faster and pulled 0.87 on the skidpad. Testing conditions notwithstanding, those numbers are hugely superior.

http://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/2009/road-test-specs.html

@frazier500, dumb comment?

So for the same money you'd pick a Hyundai Equus over a CTS-V?

Arumage: no one is saying they applauded the numbers, but insideline has been harsh on cars that are much cheaper than this performing about the same, but the overall review looks to ignore the obvious and play up things like ' feels far more capable than results would indicate'

@lmbvette

If I was in a business that involved driving clients around or if I was wishing to be driven around myself, then hell yes I would pick an Equus over a CTS-V.

Your logic is akin to asking someone if they'd rather buy a Mercedes S550 over a well optioned BMW M5.

i wouldn't care too much if i was a rich business person

i would be in the back seat.

Fraizure500: if that were the case, id be driving something with much more curb appeal and brand snobbiness.

Boxonwheels: if that were the case, id want to be driven around in an audi or bentley, not a hyundai

The numbers are fine, no one that buys this thing is going to know what a slalom speed is

"The numbers are fine, no one that buys this thing is going to know what a slalom speed is"

+1000

It is plenty fast for what it is and nobody cross shops this car with a CTS-V...it is a lot smaller....A DTS maybe....and a DTS is not as fast. So by some of the logic on this thread the Equus is a much better car. Like anybody disputes that last fact.

Poor numbers all around.
Why? It has a big V8, its a luxury car with a $60k price tag after all. It even has almost 400 horses.!

The slowest perfomer of all of his "competitors" definitely.
And probably the worst when it comes to handling, braking and gripping numbers as well.

Oh well, you get what you paid for. No problem ;)

MKS outperforms this car in pretty much every measured test, yet edmunds never has anything good to say about it. hmm

Test Results:
0 - 30 (sec): 2.2 (2.4 traction control on)
0 - 45 (sec): 3.7 (3.9 traction control on)
0 - 60 (sec): 5.7 (5.8 traction control on)
0 - 75 (sec): 8.5 (8.6 traction control on)
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): 14.1 @ 99.1 (14.1 @ 100.2 traction control on)
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 5.4 (5.4 traction control on)
30 - 0 (ft): 32
60 - 0 (ft): 127
Braking Rating: Poor
Slalom (mph): 61.0 (stability control undefeatable)
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.80 (stability control undefeatable)
Handling Rating: Average
Db @ Idle: 41.1
Db @ Full Throttle: 65.9
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 58.4

http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2009/11/il-track-tested-2010-lincoln-mks-ecoboost.html

@bodyblue, "It is plenty fast for what it is and nobody cross shops this car with a CTS-V...it is a lot smaller....A DTS maybe....and a DTS is not as fast."

Let's see how that stacks up. The last DTS tested by Edmunds, handicapped by a 30-year-old platform, front-wheel drive, a 4-speed automatic, and a deficit of nearly 100 HP compared to the Equus, still managed to do 0-60 in 7 seconds. And for that, Edmunds took the time to point out, "which sounds respectable enough until you learn that most V8-powered luxury sedans -- and even a few V6-powered models -- are considerably quicker."

Now, the Equus starts at $12K more than the DTS, is a brand new model with all the other aforementioned advantages, and Hyundai is not only getting a pass on how slow it is, but isn't being called out on the gaping discrepancies between their horsepower figures and acceleration times.

But I might overlook a few inconsistencies and deficiencies too if I were given a free $60K luxury sedan to take to bachelor parties in Vegas.

@bodyblue, "It is plenty fast for what it is and nobody cross shops this car with a CTS-V...it is a lot smaller....A DTS maybe....and a DTS is not as fast."

Let's see how that stacks up to scrutiny. The last DTS that Edmunds tested, despite being handicapped by a 4-speed automatic, front wheel drive, a 93-horsepower deficit, a 5-year-old design and a 31-year-old platform, still managed 0-60 in 7 seconds flat. And for that, Edmunds chastised, "which sounds respectable enough until you learn that most V8-powered luxury sedans -- and even some V6-powered models -- are considerably quicker."

Yet despite the fact that the Hyundai starts at $12K *more* than the DTS, Edmunds fails to point out either how tragic its acceleration times are for its price class, or the growing list of discrepancies between Hyundai's stated horsepower and tested acceleration figures.

But I suppose if I were given a free $60K luxury sedan for bachelor party road trips to Vegas I could overlook a few inconsistencies as well.

I love these 45 minute delays before posts appear.

"Yet despite the fact that the Hyundai starts at $12K *more* than the DTS, Edmunds fails to point out either how tragic its acceleration times are for its price class, or the growing list of discrepancies between Hyundai's stated horsepower and tested acceleration figures."

Clearly Edmunds doesn't editorialize in these track tests, they more or less just post the performance numbers and comments from the test driver. These other factors you mention may come up during the duration of the LT test. The Equus is also carrying around at least 400 lbs more curb weight which no doubt affects its acceleration numbers.

And for the "$12K" extra the Equus Signature comes far better equipped than the DTS. There are dozens of standard features that are not even available on the DTS, it's hardly comparable.