2011 Hyundai Equus vs 2010 Lexus LS April 6, 2010 AUTORIVALS.NET

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Hyundai is moving up in the world. They seem intent on pissing off a lot of luxury automakers lately. First came the Hyundai Genesis to undercut rivals by thousands of dollars while still being able to offer a high level of luxury and refinement. Now Hyundai has done it again with the Equus. While the level of refinement is left to be determined, one thing is not; the price. Hyundai is pricing the Equus around $55K which undercuts its rivals anywhere from 10 to 50 grand. Will it be able to compete toe-to-toe with all of them? Probably not. But for up to 50 grand less, I'd settle for second best. 2011 Hyundai Equus vs 2010 Lexus LS A little chrome body cladding can't hide the fact the the Equus is a near replica of the LS. The Equus wears similarly styled headlights, grille, and even lower front fascia. It's almost as if the LS got a more aggressive makeover. If Hyundai were to copy an automaker though, the LS is a fine choice as it is attractive but not ostentatious. Hyundai was wise to leave off the Hyundai badge on the front like they did with the Genesis to confuse onlookers where the Equus actually comes from. The Equus takes a few styling cues from Audi as well with LED turn signals inside the headlights which are HID and adaptive. There's also an option to have a camera integrated into the front grille for cornering and parking. Hyundai seems to confuse chrome with luxury but it's not as bad is it could've been. The Equus isn't as sleek as the LS which has a cleaner look and feel to it. Still, the Equus is an attractive first attempt at aiming for the primo-luxury segment even if the design is a bit too derivative. You might need a magnifying glass to notice the differences between these two cars. The LS has a bolder shoulder line going from front to back, door-mounted side mirrors, and better window silhouette which all adds up to a better looking profile. The Equus has sharp edges here and there like on the fenders and wheel arches. The rear fender also gets a subtle character line flowing from the taillight to the rear door. The Equus seems to share the same proportions as the LS with nearly the same length, a relatively short front overhang, and long rear overhang. The Equus is actually slightly longer the standard LS and offers more interior space. The LS has more curves and sculpture than the blocky rear end of the Equus. The Equus takes a styling cue straight off the LS with fully-integrated exhaust tips that look nearly identical. More chrome is added to the trunk and bumper along with LED taillights. A rearview camera comes standard on all models hidden in the trunk. The Equus has a plentiful amount of wood and leather to give the luxury look buyers expect. A long list of features are included such as an electronic air suspension, smart cruise control, and lots of technology. A Lexicon audio system with 17 speakers and 608 watts provide 7.1 audio and is matched with HD radio, XM Satellite, and iPod/USB integration. Navigation and Bluetooth are also included and managed through the LCD screen. Safety features include nine airbags and a lane departure warning system that provides a haptic warning through the seatbelt to alert drivers. Hyundai seems to have done a good job in creating an upscale interior even if the design is unoriginal. The big news is that every Equus comes with an Apple iPad that will replace the user's manual. That's one feature not offered by Lexus or any other automaker.

SPECIFICATIONS PRICE: $55,000 ENGINE: 4.6L V8 HORSEPOWER: 378-385 hp TORQUE: 324-333 lb-ft SIZE (L x W x H): 203.1 x 74.4 x 58.7 in. CURB WEIGHT: 4,581 lbs. 0-60 MPH: 6.4 sec 1/4 MILE: 14.8 sec @ 98 mph ROADHOLDING: 0.84 g BRAKING:   60-0 mph: 123 ft. CARGO CAPACITY:   Unknown FUEL (City/Hwy): 16 / 24 mpg SPECIFICATIONS PRICE: $65,380 - $108,800 ENGINE: 4.6L V8 5.0L V8 Hybrid HORSEPOWER: 357-380 / 438 hp TORQUE: 344-367 / 385 lb-ft SIZE (L x W x H): 199.2-203.9 x 73.8 x 58.1-58.3 in. CURB WEIGHT: 4,350 - 5,360 lbs. 0-60 MPH: 5.4 - 6.2 sec 1/4 MILE: 13.8 sec @ 106 mph - 14.6 sec @ 99 mph FUEL (City/Hwy): 16-20 / 22-24 mpg RECAP RECAP PROS +Attractive inside and out +More aggressive styling +Save your thousands of dollars in case of another recession CONS -Derivative styling -Too much chrome PROS +More original +Better looking profile and rear CONS -10 to 50 grand more

Video Source: Cars.com via YouTube

NOTES

Personally, I don't see the Equus stealing too many sales from its competitors such as the LS, A8, 7 Series, or S-Class. Buyers of these cars are willing to pay a premium for a higher class vehicle with a brand name. However, people might be swayed away from those brand's lower cars such as the GS, A6, 5 Series, and E-Class. They'd be able to pay the same price or less for a larger, well-equipped Equus.

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