Review: 2014 Hyundai Equus Is Luxury, Elegance And Refined Performance

2014 Hyundai Equus  Front_Upload

The 2014 Hyundai Equus is an even greater challenger in the luxury car market with a refresh that gives it more of the finesse and elegance that the segment demands.

STATS Starting Retail Price As Tested Price HP / Lb-Ft
2014 Hyundai Equus $61,000 $68,920 429 / 376
EPA Rating MPG As Tested MPG
Rating: BUY IT! 15 / 23 Combined 18 18.2 Combined

Changes start on the outside with a new and very grand grille and new front bumper as well as LED front fog lamps as a standard feature. It looks a little Lexus with a dash of Mercedes thrown in for good measure. There are also turbine-blade wheels and new side mirrors and rear graphics. The 2014 Hyundai Equus truly looks like what it is, an elegant luxury car.

The interior sees design changes that again improve it’s appeal with a more streamlined instrument panel and center stack. It’s less cluttered and sleeker as it blends with ample amounts of top- notch leather and wood trim. It manages luxury without crossing the line and becoming vulgar.

Since it’s a luxury car, it comes with all the expected comfort and convenience features that go with the label. The heated and ventilated front seats have a ridiculous amount of adjustability. There’s also all the space you could ask for when you’ve got rear passengers. Legroom, headroom and comfort are simply not an issue no matter where you sit.

2014 Hyundai Equus Dash_Upload

It’s also loaded up with safety features like airbags and stability control as well as front and rearview parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning. New for this model year is a collision-warning system and blind-spot monitors.

One thing that didn’t change is the powertrain. You’re still getting a 429 horsepower 5.0-liter V8 monster hidden beneath the pretty package. It’s got an 8-speed automatic transmission with smooth shifts you’ll hardly notice throughout the range, even when putting the pedal to the metal which is nothing short of thrilling.

That direct injected V8 will take you from 0-60 in roughly six seconds, all of which you’ll spend pushed back into the supremely comfortable leather seats. It’s right up there with the competing Lexus LS. Just remember to take your foot off the gas before you get yourself in trouble no matter how much fun the experience.

2014 Hyundai Equus Interior_Upload

For a luxury sedan, there is an exceptional amount of driver’s appeal in the 2014 Hyundai Equus. It has the expected comfort and warmth of steering a beautiful living room down the road with a plush and very quiet interior, but when pressed, there is a rebel hiding beneath all the finery.

The engine sound is generally subdued, but all that power rumbles nicely through the cabin at speed. No, it’s not like driving a sports car.  You are not going to hear it loud and strong, but you do hear it and that’s nice. Flip it to Sport mode, watch the instrument cluster turn red, and hear it even more.

The air suspension is well-calibrated with a noticeable difference as you switch between driving modes. Normal is comfortable and just soft enough for everyday driving or cruising through the country to the hunting club to meet with Buffy for lunch.

Flip it to Sport, and you’ll not just hear it like I mentioned above, but also immediately feel the whole car hunker down and get ready to move. This is first an foremost a luxury car, so if you’re looking for more sport in your drive, then dig deeper into your wallet and consider a Jaguar XJ or a BMW 7-Series.

2014 Hyundai Equus Side_Upload

Handling is easy and carefree on highways and along side roads, but cornering at higher speeds shows its weakness. There’s a bit of body roll here that reminds you that you’re driving a mighty big sedan around the corner. The more of its power you use in that corner, the more you’re going to want to let up on the gas.

Gas is one thing the 2014 Hyundai Equus loves too much with MPG ratings that are disappointing. You’ll get 15 city/23 highway for a combined rating of just 18 MPG. It’s definitely not a slow sipper at the pump.

2014 Hyundai Equus Rear

This is a luxury car, so you’re going to be paying a premium for the ride. Nonetheless, the base model is impressively well-equipped and far more affordable than competing cars. The 2014 Hyundai Equus starts at $61,920 which is a bargain compared to something like a Lexus LS 460 which starts at $72,140.

The base Equus includes leather upholstery with wood trim, three-zone climate control, heated and cooled front seats, and adaptive cruise control just to name a few features. The base model is by no means stripped down.

Take that sticker up to $68,920 for the Ultimate and you’ll add on features like a heads-up display, rear seat entertainment with dual 9.2″ monitors, a 12.3″ LCD instrument cluster display, and power rear and side-window sunshades. You are paying a premium, but you are getting a fully-featured luxury car for an incredible price.

On the TFLcar scale of:

  • Buy it!
  • Lease it!
  • Rent it!
  • … or Forget it!

I give the 2014 Hyundai Equus a Buy It!

Take a look at this fun TFLcar review of the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid:

Also, check out the reveal of the Equus’ cousin – the 2015 KIA K900 – from the 2013 LA Auto Show:

Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.