For years, consumers have given either the BMW 7-Series, Lexus LS or Mercedes-Benz S-Class the highest score in J.D. Power’s APEAL survey, but the 2011 award went to a South Korean upstart in the large luxury-sedan category.
“The Equus has the distinction of being the highest-performing model in the 2011 APEAL Study,” said J.D. Power and Associates. “The Hyundai Equus has achieved an impressive introduction into the marketplace from a performance, execution and layout perspective.”
In the J.D. Powers Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, customers rate their level of “gratification” on a variety of vehicle attributes. Unlike J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study, which measures short-term quality, the APEAL Study identifies consumer likes and dislikes about their vehicle during the first 90 days of ownership, particularly regarding vehicle design, content, layout and performance. On the study’s 1,000 point rating scale, the score of the Equus exceeded 900 points, with particularly high marks in the categories of vehicle exterior, storage, and audio/entertainment/navigation.
While a full-size premium car nearly always takes home top honors in the study, it defied expectations for the Hyundai Equus to receive the crown in a segment that typically attracts extremely traditional, loyal customers.
