Few car companies have been more ambitious of late than Hyundai. The Sonata moved from a footnote to being a direct rival to the biggest names in the family sedan segment. The Elantra small sedan is a strong seller and a CR Top Pick in its class. And the Genesis sedan has firmly muscled its way into the luxury sedan market.

But Hyundai has even bigger prey in its sights. Its Equus aims to rival ultra-luxury sedans like the Lexus LS, BMW 7 Series, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Of course, this being Hyundai, they’re doing it for (many) thousands of dollars less. Our 2011 Equus Signature stickered for $58,900--or about the same as the last Lexus LS we tested, assuming you also threw in a loaded Hyundai Sonata Limited turbo.

Our Equus has a 4.6-liter V8 and a six-speed automatic. You also get an iPad that contains an owner's manual (there’s also a paper manual) and lets you book service appointments. The 2012 Equus moved to a 5.0-liter V8 and an eight-speed automatic but you don’t get an iPad anymore. Hyundai giveth, Hyundai taketh.

So, does the Equus stack up against its lofty competition? Watch our video to see.