by Cheryl Eldridge
There’s nothing like driving a luxury automobile that has everything that a driver could imagine!!!
My one week tester with the white satin pearl exterior 2014 Equus Ultimate and saddle interior definitely made me feel supreme and among the elite.
This quintessential vehicle, which puts you in the mind of a Mercedes Benz, is definitely for those who desire the finer things in life. I agree that it would fit in my category because I am impressed with full-size luxury sedans with personality. There was a presidential-size backseat; supremely quiet, serene ride; phenomenal sound system and the list goes on.
My son and my daughters really enjoyed the Equus as well as I did. They could look in the mirrors – to make sure that their appearance was presentable – which were located in the top of the roof of the rear seats and my son could watch a DVD on the screens which are located behind the driver and passenger’s seat.
Technically speaking, the 2014 Hyundai Equus is a rear-wheel-drive, full-size luxury sedan available in two trim levels, Signature and Ultimate, both of which seat five.
The Equus Signature comes standard with 19-inch wheels, and adjustable air suspension, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, LED fog and running lights, power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors, a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert systems, automatic wipers, a windshield wiper de-icer, a power-closing trunk, a sunroof and keyless ignition and entry.
Inside you get tri-zone automatic climate control, rear seat climate controls, heated and ventilated power front seats (12-way driver and 10-way passenger), driver seat memory functions, heated power-reclining rear seats, leather upholstery, extended leather interior trim, a heated power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a power rear sunshade and an auto-dimming mirror.
Electronic features include Hyundai’s BlueLink telematics system; Bluetooth phone connectivity; a navigation system with a 9.2-inch display and real-time traffic information; and a 17-speaker Lexicon audio system with discreet surround-sound capability, satellite radio, HD radio, a six-CD/DVD changer, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio interface.
The Equus Ultimate adds power-actuated soft-close doors, a power trunk lid, a full LCD instrument panel, a head-up windshield display, forward-facing and surround-view cameras, power-operated rear-seat sunshades, power lumbar adjustment for the outboard rear seats, rear-seat head-restraint adjustment, ventilated rear seats, rear vanity mirrors and a dual-screen DVD entertainment system.
The 2014 Hyundai Equus comes standard with a 5.0-liter V8 that produces 429 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission are standard. According to EPA estimates, the Equus returns 15 mpg city/23 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined with everything included: a sticker price of $68,920.
On the safety side, the 2014 Equus comes standard with antilock brakes; stability and traction control; lane-departure, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems; a pre-collision warning and preparation system (using the adaptive cruise control sensors); front and rear side airbags; side curtain airbags and a driver knee airbag. The BlueLink telematics system provides emergency assistance, remote vehicle access, stolen vehicle recovery and geo-fencing. On the Equus Signature, you also get front and rear parking sensors and a rearview camera, and the Ultimate adds both a forward-view cornering camera and a surround-view camera system to make the big sedan less intimidating to maneuver in tight spaces.
In Edmunds brake testing, the Equus came to a stop from 60 mph in 131 feet, which is longer than average for this class.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Equus its highest rating of “Good” in its moderate-overlap frontal-offset, side-impact and roof strength crash tests.
The interior of the Equus never was an unlivable place, but upgrades to the instrument panel and dash deliver a higher-tech look in the 2014 version. Both versions of the Equus come with a 9.2-inch display for the navigation system. It’s pretty easy to use, too, as most infotainment functionality is controlled via a rotary knob on the center console.
The Ultimate model looks even more cutting-edge, as it gets a full LCD instrument panel: The speedometer and tachometer look like traditional analog dials, but they’re digital in reality. Another feature that’s rare even in this class is the Equus Ultimate’s standard head-up display (HUD). It projects basic information such as speed on the windshield, but really finds its place in displaying turn-by-turn instructions from the navigation system.
The front seats could stand more support, but if you prefer softer, cushier seats, you probably won’t mind them. The ventilation feature for the front seats actually provides chilled air, which is a total treat in muggy weather.
The leather, wood trim and plastics in the 2014 Hyundai Equus are all of acceptable quality for a car in this price range, but they’re not in the same league as the materials used in costlier competitors. At least there’s plenty of space: Rear occupants will have plenty of legroom in any Equus, and in the Ultimate trim, which now seats three instead of two, there’s a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system and lumbar adjustment for the outboard seats; alas, the massage feature has been discontinued. Trunk capacity is a respectable 16.7 cubic feet.
Until next week, drive safe, buckle up, don’t text and drive and be a courteous driver; you never know who’s watching.
