TopSpeed reviewed the 2016 Hyundai Equus when the sedan was new and compared it favorably with the original Lexus LS. This isn't an observation to make lightly because a couple of LS superfans are on the staff. While there are some small styling similarities between the South Korean and Japanese sedans, their biggest parallel is that both models demonstrate the plans of their respective brands to occupy a more premium product segment.If you're looking for an excellent deal on a used luxury car, a 2014-2016 Equus with the Ultimate trim can be bought for peanuts compared to its original MSRP. It feels at least five times the price, even by 2025 standards. Here's why we think you would be well-advised to grab one of these sedans before the secret gets out, and the price goes up. A Look At The 2014-2016 Hyundai Equus Ultimate HyundaiThe really cool thing about the Ultimate, and the main reason we'd recommend it over the entry-level model, is the reclining executive chairs in the back. The entry-level trim offers a three-seat bench, which is perfectly acceptable, but it's nothing you can't find in pretty much every other sedan. The executive seats in the back make the Equus the perfect ride to take a few colleagues on a business trip, and, most importantly, they make the car feel a lot more expensive than it really is. The Ultimate is the perfect flexing-on-a-budget choice.The car is still quite nice in the entry-level grade. Three-zone climate control and leather seats come standard, as does a 17-speaker Lexicon sound system and smart cruise control. Additional features for the nicer Ultimate trim include cooled rear seats, power sunshades for the back seats, a heads-up display, power closure for all four doors, and just a lot of neat little touches throughout, such as illuminated vanity mirrors in the back seat. It's More Of A Passenger Car, But It's Not A Total Bore To Drive Hyundai While reviewing the 2016 model, we noted that the steering felt somewhat numb and the suspension was a bit too soft. It's not the most driver-oriented car in its segment, and it might not even be fair to compare it to a new Lexus or BMW. However, riding in a luxury sedan is often more about comfort than razor-sharp dynamics. The Equus offers smooth on the road and has plenty of muscle when pulling away from a stop. The 0-60 mph time is around 5.6 seconds.For comparison, the new Camry is offered exclusively as a hybrid, with a 2.5-liter engine cranking out 225 hp, and a 0-60 time of around seven seconds. There may be more athletic cars than the Equus, but finding one at its price point is a challenge. The Tau V8 Is One Of The Most Underrated Powerplants In Recent Memory Hyundai The heart of the Equus is a 5.0-liter V8. It belongs to the Tau engine family, the successor to the Omega line from earlier Equus models. The Tau is arguably one of the most underrated powerplants of the modern era. It may be that this engine was simply cursed, being a direct-injection V8 at a time when automakers were starting to shift toward smaller engines boosted by turbos and electric motors. Case in point, Hyundai's first hybrid was the LPI Hybrid Avante, released in the Korean market for the 2009 model year, around the same time the first V8 Tau went into development. Alternatively, maybe people just didn't know they could go to Hyundai for a potent V8, and they didn't bother looking.A 2015 update to the five-liter Tau saw the compression ratio increase to 11.8:1. Performance specs among the 2014, 2015, and 2016 Equus are identical, though. The 5.0-Liter Tau Also Found A Home In Genesis And Kia Models The 5.0-liter Tau V8 is the Equus' signature engine, but it also found its way into the 2016-2020 Genesis G80, the 2015-2021 Genesis G90, and the 2012-2021 Kia K900. We can happily recommend any of those cars.We've reviewed them all with strong praise for their brisk takeoffs and luxurious cabins, while noting that none of them are serious competitors to BMW and Lexus when it comes to handling. Here's What An Equus Ultimate Will Cost You In 2026 Hyundai Luxury cars tend to depreciate faster than almost anything else on the market. There are submarine sandwiches that hold their value better after a year than a typical luxury car. This is bad news for people buying new and hoping to get a fair trade-in value a few years later, but very good news for bargain hunters who don't mind driving something a few years out of date.Knowing that a 2014 Hyundai Equus Ultimate first hit the market at an MSRP of nearly $70,000, you might not even believe us when we tell you these cars are selling for less than nine grand now. According to the CarBuzz Marketplace, the fair market value for an Equus is roughly $13,000.When we say "cheaper than a new Camry," we ain't foolin'. An entry-level 2026 Toyota Camry starts at $31,000, meaning you could own a couple of examples of the Equus for the same amount of money. More Miles = Lower Price Kelley Blue Book assumes an average mileage of around 15,000 miles a year, meaning a 10-year-old Equus would have around 150,000 miles on it. Examples with lower mileage are likely going to cost more. If you don't mind shopping around and waiting for the perfect deal to pop up, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to find an Equus with well under 100,000 miles for a reasonable price. We recommend waiting for an Ultimate model because, besides the grunty V8, the reclining seats set this car apart and make it feel more expensive.Sources: Hyundai
