luxury sedan

have been writing automotive reviews since 2001, and in that time I’m sure that I have written about Lexus vehicles more than any other manufacturer. So when I say that the ES has always been my least favorite Lexus, that opinion is based on years of experience and comparison.

The outgoing Cadillac CTS was hard to classify, larger than the BMW 3 Series, but smaller than the 5 Series. Should it be considered a large compact or a small mid-sized luxury sedan? This less-than-world-shattering question has now been answered with the all new 2014 CTS. It’s 4.2 inches longer and rides on a 1.2-inch longer wheelbase than the outgoing car putting it smack dab into 5 Series, Audi A6, and Mercedes E-Class territory.

The Hyundai Equus has two trims: Signature and Ultimate. Neither is priced for the faint of heart. Now before I tell you the price, please hear me out. Admittedly the Equus is not for everyone, but the Equus has qualities and features that are not indigenous to most new cars. For example, owning an Equus means that you will never have to set foot in a service center. Ever. When the time comes for service just phone a Hyundai dealership or go through a downloadable Equus Owner Experience iPod app, and a Hyundai serviceman will come get your car and leave a courtesy replacement.

BMW’s 3-Series is the quintessential sport sedan, setting a tough standard that others struggle to attain. But, it is not perfect.

The Hyundai Equus luxury sedan is as feature-laden as such stalwarts of the full-sized ranks as the Lexus LS 460, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series, and Audi A8; but for many thousands less making it perhaps the number one automotive value that virtually no one knows about, offering more bang for the buck than any car sold in America.