MM Review: 2011 Hyundai Equus
#31
As usual MM, a very good, indepth balanced review.
Hyundai did a pretty good job on most things w/ the 2nd gen Equus (the 1st which was co-developed w/ Mitsu), but they messed up on a no. of areas.
1st off, the good things - the ride, handling, power (esp. w/ the upcoming 5.0), etc. are competitive in the class and additional fine-tuning will make it better (despite being developed as a sedan to ferry around senior-level Korean execs, its ride/handling is similar to the S Class/LS segment of the class).
The bad thing, styling, both for the exterior and interior.
The exterior styling isn't bad, it's just too bland (but then again, this segment is filled w/ bland looking sedans, the least bland being the new A8).
The greenhouse/C-pillar treatment is reminiscent of that of the current Azera which isn't that great to begin w/ and the rear fascia is on the bland side - mostly due to the overly bland taillight shape.
The best part about the exterior styling of the Equus is the front fascia, w/ headlights and a grill that give it a bit more of an aggressive look than what is typical in this segment.
The interior is also a mixed bag. The rear passenger compartment is pretty nice, otoh, the dash/center stack design and materials used is a bit of a disappointment.
It's not a good thing when the new Azera, much less the Sonata, have a better dash/center stack design (there's absolutely no shape to the center stack of the Equus and that plain instrument gauge panel is just bleh).
Also, that "silver"/aluminum trim on the center stack is just ghastly and the buttons feel no better than the ones on the Kia Sorento and Optima (the ones on the Kia Sorento and Optima are pretty nice - for THEIR price range; they feel nicer to the touch than say, the Mercedes GLK).
Just bland styling and not up to par materials likely arose out of the fact that (1) the market that the Equus was developed for tends to be pretty conservative and (2) they pretty much will never sit at the wheel of an Equus.
I would suspect the next gen Equus, unlike the current one, will be developed w/ both the US and European markets in mind, so it should address these shortcomings.
Anyway, this segment really needs a kick in the pants. The 7 Series is the most fun drive, but even that is quite the drop down from the 5 Series (well, before the F10 5 Series) and the current 7 Series design is bland w/ that awful headlight/pig snout that BMW is tacking onto all their designs lately.
It's really no wonder that the Panamera is selling so well (probably mostly eating into sales of the 7 Series).
Having said that, it would be smart for Hyundai to stick to the "heart" of the F segment which is the luxo-cruiser rather than trying to go sportier; the sportier end of the segment is not only smaller, but is continually getting new entrants.
Hyundai did a pretty good job on most things w/ the 2nd gen Equus (the 1st which was co-developed w/ Mitsu), but they messed up on a no. of areas.
1st off, the good things - the ride, handling, power (esp. w/ the upcoming 5.0), etc. are competitive in the class and additional fine-tuning will make it better (despite being developed as a sedan to ferry around senior-level Korean execs, its ride/handling is similar to the S Class/LS segment of the class).
The bad thing, styling, both for the exterior and interior.
The exterior styling isn't bad, it's just too bland (but then again, this segment is filled w/ bland looking sedans, the least bland being the new A8).
The greenhouse/C-pillar treatment is reminiscent of that of the current Azera which isn't that great to begin w/ and the rear fascia is on the bland side - mostly due to the overly bland taillight shape.
The best part about the exterior styling of the Equus is the front fascia, w/ headlights and a grill that give it a bit more of an aggressive look than what is typical in this segment.
The interior is also a mixed bag. The rear passenger compartment is pretty nice, otoh, the dash/center stack design and materials used is a bit of a disappointment.
It's not a good thing when the new Azera, much less the Sonata, have a better dash/center stack design (there's absolutely no shape to the center stack of the Equus and that plain instrument gauge panel is just bleh).
Also, that "silver"/aluminum trim on the center stack is just ghastly and the buttons feel no better than the ones on the Kia Sorento and Optima (the ones on the Kia Sorento and Optima are pretty nice - for THEIR price range; they feel nicer to the touch than say, the Mercedes GLK).
Just bland styling and not up to par materials likely arose out of the fact that (1) the market that the Equus was developed for tends to be pretty conservative and (2) they pretty much will never sit at the wheel of an Equus.
I would suspect the next gen Equus, unlike the current one, will be developed w/ both the US and European markets in mind, so it should address these shortcomings.
Anyway, this segment really needs a kick in the pants. The 7 Series is the most fun drive, but even that is quite the drop down from the 5 Series (well, before the F10 5 Series) and the current 7 Series design is bland w/ that awful headlight/pig snout that BMW is tacking onto all their designs lately.
It's really no wonder that the Panamera is selling so well (probably mostly eating into sales of the 7 Series).
Having said that, it would be smart for Hyundai to stick to the "heart" of the F segment which is the luxo-cruiser rather than trying to go sportier; the sportier end of the segment is not only smaller, but is continually getting new entrants.
Last edited by YEH; 02-12-11 at 01:12 PM.
#32
Hyundai used Mitsu-sourced drivetrains, powerplants and other components for quite a while; and not surprisingly, once they started to use their own components, their reliability ratings went up whereas Mitsu's stayed the same.
Same applies to Kia to a lesser extent, going from Mazda sourced components to Hyundai sourced.
Not true, while the GenCoupe engine shares the same block (initial design of the block was done by Hyundai, btw) as the engine in the Evo/Ralliart, they are quite different.
Chrysler also uses the same GEMA block for a no. of their engines.
Maybe not BMW M or Cadillac V diff., but it should be noticeable.
#33
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Thanks.
I accept the fact, though, that not everyone here agrees with me on the interior. I tend to be a sucker for nice wood-tone paneling, though, and to like interiors (like the Equus) that have a lot of it. I do notice cheap flimsy plastic, though, when I see it. I just didn't think the plastic in the Equus was that bad...but I accept the fact that others do.
Its road manners are already a good (but not perfect) alternative to the LS460.....it could use slightly softer tires and some additional sound insulation. Whether it needs two additional gears in the transmission, like the LS has, is, of course, open to interpretation....IMO it would just be overkill on Amereican roads.
If by "bland" you mean the styling conservative......yes, it's conservative, but that's the general way I like it.
BTW, IMO, you are an excellent poster...courteous, level-headed, informative, intelligent, and seem to know your stuff. I may not always agree with your findings, but I'm impressed by your posting style and general level of knowledge. Keep up the good work.
I accept the fact, though, that not everyone here agrees with me on the interior. I tend to be a sucker for nice wood-tone paneling, though, and to like interiors (like the Equus) that have a lot of it. I do notice cheap flimsy plastic, though, when I see it. I just didn't think the plastic in the Equus was that bad...but I accept the fact that others do.
1st off, the good things - the ride, handling, power (esp. w/ the upcoming 5.0), etc. are competitive in the class and additional fine-tuning will make it better (despite being developed as a sedan to ferry around senior-level Korean execs, its ride/handling is similar to the S Class/LS segment of the class).
The bad thing, styling, both for the exterior and interior.
The exterior styling isn't bad, it's just too bland (but then again, this segment is filled w/ bland looking sedans, the least bland being the new A8).
The exterior styling isn't bad, it's just too bland (but then again, this segment is filled w/ bland looking sedans, the least bland being the new A8).
BTW, IMO, you are an excellent poster...courteous, level-headed, informative, intelligent, and seem to know your stuff. I may not always agree with your findings, but I'm impressed by your posting style and general level of knowledge. Keep up the good work.
#34
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Otherway around, the Precis was a rebadged Excel.
Hyundai used Mitsu-sourced drivetrains, powerplants and other components for quite a while; and not surprisingly, once they started to use their own components, their reliability ratings went up whereas Mitsu's stayed the same.
Hyundai used Mitsu-sourced drivetrains, powerplants and other components for quite a while; and not surprisingly, once they started to use their own components, their reliability ratings went up whereas Mitsu's stayed the same.
Same applies to Kia to a lesser extent, going from Mazda sourced components to Hyundai sourced.
According to reports, the tuning on the R-Spec Genesis (both suspension and steering) are going to a bit sportier than the run-of-the-mill Genesis.
Maybe not BMW M or Cadillac V diff., but it should be noticeable.
#36
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
the equus seems quite straightforward. it may be cheaper than an LS, but you can easily tell why it's cheaper. you get what you pay for.
#37
Lexus Fanatic
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Wow, only FOUR exterior colors for a car in this class? Absurd indeed .
That's the difference between the true luxury competitors and an imitator. If I was looking at an Equus, I would feel insulted to know there are only 4 exterior colors. That alone would probably be a deal-breaker for me.
Also regarding the thin sheet metal comments, that too is somewhat absurd for a car in this price range. Maybe that's how Hyundai is able to make their new cars quite light, by using such thin sheet metal. Hyundai it seems is becoming very known for this. Well, you get what you pay for.
I agree, details matter a lot with luxury cars. Hyundai is just releasing cars on a "check list" or "paper spec" basis. They try and match the luxury competition in terms of paper specs and listed options, but they fall short on execution, and a lot of the small details.
I also agree with your interior comments. The center stack reminds me of a Chrysler 300C.
Wood-trim alone does not make an interior a true luxury interior. Seems that was Hyundai's thinking, as apart from the woodtrim, IMO the interior is otherwise lacking and mediocre in execution for a car of this class. I'm not just referring to fit and finish, but material quality, and interior design. The dash plastic also looks like something out of a Toyota Camry.
That's the difference between the true luxury competitors and an imitator. If I was looking at an Equus, I would feel insulted to know there are only 4 exterior colors. That alone would probably be a deal-breaker for me.
Also regarding the thin sheet metal comments, that too is somewhat absurd for a car in this price range. Maybe that's how Hyundai is able to make their new cars quite light, by using such thin sheet metal. Hyundai it seems is becoming very known for this. Well, you get what you pay for.
I also agree with your interior comments. The center stack reminds me of a Chrysler 300C.
Very simple. There's a whole lot more to the Equus interior than just black plastic. In fact, the black plastic isn't that widespread at all. And the wood-trim coverage is excellent. Most cars have only a small amount of wood-tone inside...the Equus has tons of it, over many areas, as befits a luxury-car.
#38
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Well, yes, to some extent. The Equus paint job and stereo, though excellent, isn't quite the equal of the LS460's. Or is the road-noise control (also excellent) quite as effective. Nor does the transmission have as many gears. And the four-color exterior-paint choice is a joke. But, considering the 15K difference in price, I think the Equus is as good, or better, a dollar-for-dollar value than the LS.....and the Equus warranty and Free-Maintenance plan easily trumps that of the LS.
#39
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Also regarding the thin sheet metal comments, that too is somewhat absurd for a car in this price range. Maybe that's how Hyundai is able to make their new cars quite light, by using such thin sheet metal. Hyundai it seems is becoming very known for this. Well, you get what you pay for.
Wood-trim alone does not make an interior a true luxury interior.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-14-11 at 06:20 AM.
#41
Lexus Test Driver
And that is the thing, what is the true value? Many things are over priced but for those that are not, you really do get what you pay for.
Hyundai has not found some ground breaking method to build cars cheaper or have some source of materials that is cheaper than everyone else with the same quality, they are cheaper for a reason………
#42
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Good post
And that is the thing, what is the true value? Many things are over priced but for those that are not, you really do get what you pay for.
Hyundai has not found some ground breaking method to build cars cheaper or have some source of materials that is cheaper than everyone else with the same quality, they are cheaper for a reason………
And that is the thing, what is the true value? Many things are over priced but for those that are not, you really do get what you pay for.
Hyundai has not found some ground breaking method to build cars cheaper or have some source of materials that is cheaper than everyone else with the same quality, they are cheaper for a reason………
Although automation has now taken over many of the functions that were once performed manually in auto plants, (such as painting, mounting tires, welding, etc).....labor and employee benefits are still a major portion of the budget of most auto companies. That's why the U.A.W., here in America, had to agree to significant pay and benefit cuts a couple of years ago, during the restructuring and buyouts of the domestic car companies.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-14-11 at 08:34 AM.
#45
Steve