The second-generation Hyundai Equus (VI platform) premiered in March 2009. Built on Hyundai's proprietary rear-wheel-drive luxury architecture, the VI featured an electronically controlled air suspension and commanding exterior styling adorned with a hood-mounted standing ornament. Available configurations included a standard 5.16-meter sedan and a 5.46-meter stretched Equus Limousine.

Powertrains included 3.8-liter Lambda V6, 4.6-liter Tau V8 (385 hp), and a flagship 5.0-liter Tau GDI V8 engine outputting 429 horsepower, paired with Hyundai's home-grown eight-speed automatic transmission. A 2013 facelift introduced adaptive LED headlamps, an updated dashboard with a 12.3-inch TFT display, and shift-by-wire gear controls.