2012 Hyundai Equus

The Equus is Hyundai's luxury flagship, aimed directly at top models from other luxury brands--including the Lexus LS and Jaguar XJ--but costing thousands less. The new V8 in the Equus, at 429 horsepower, is Hyundai's most powerful engine ever--and more powerful than the engines in the Lexus LS 460 and Mercedes-Benz S550. And the new 8-speed automatic transmission enhances the Equus' performance while still managing to return great highway MPG. There are yet other reasons why the Equus stands out from the luxury pack, and they're not all value-related. According to Hyundai, the Equus has more leg, head, and shoulder room, both in front and in back, than the Lexus LS 460. It's also a standout for safety features, and an IIHS Top Safety Pick.