Redesigned fullsize sedan sets its sights high


The 2012 Azera is more proof that Hyundai is on a roll.

Hyundai and its sister company Kia are taking the automotive world by storm, offering up new and revised models that are so much better than before, it’s hard to believe they are coming from the same South Korean manufacturers. While their cars and SUVs were once affordable but uninspired, their lineups now look great, drive well, get even better mileage — and are still relatively affordable.

The success has apparently prompted Hyundai to raise its sites even higher, with three new or heavily-revised car aimed at luxury markets. The 2012 Azera — the subject of our test drive — seems to have Acura and Lexus in its sights. The larger Genesis sedan appears aimed at entry-level Audi, BMW and Mercedes models, while the all-new Equus is taking on the more expensive ones.

Even more surprising, the upstart Hyundai models are close to hitting their marks, even though they cost thousands less. The Azera only falls a little fell a little short of the standards set by Acura and Lexus, but not for lack of trying.

First the good news. The new Azera features the same aggressive but flowing styling that characterizes the current Hyundai line, making it a natural step up from the subcompact Accent to the Compact Elantra and midsize Sonata. It slots in just below the equally stylish, top-of-the line Genesis sedan.

More good news. The construction quality is impressive. Our test car felt equally solid around town and on a long weekend trip. The interior was roomy and the materials were high grade and well fitted, including the optional heated and cooled front leather bucket seats. The guages and controls were logically laid out and easy to use, including the seat-shaped adjustment switches mounted high on the front doors.

Even more good news. The overall performance was impressive. The suspension soaked up most imperfections and the 3.3-liter V6 provided good accelaration. The six-speed automatic transmission shifted smoothly, both up and down through the gears, and featured a manual shift mode for more spirited driving. The Active Eco mode reduced throttle response to increase mileage, but did not make it feel as sluggish as those offered by some competitors.

But wait, there’s more. Much more, in fact, when you start adding up the impressive list of standard and optional features offered on the new Azera. Standard features include 18-inch wheels, automatic headlights, foglights, heated mirrors, leather upholstery, a 10-way adjustable driver seat, an eight-way adjustable front passenger seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front and rear seats, a chilled glovebox, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, 60/40-split-folding rear seats, a navigation system, BlueLink telematics and a 10-speaker sound system with a CD player, an iPod/USB audio interface and HD radio. Standard safety features include antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front and rear side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, a driver-side knee airbag and active front head restraints. Hyundai's BlueLink — which is similar to GM's OnStar service — also provides SOS assistance and automatic crash notification. And our test car came with a Technology Package that included a panoramic sunroof, rear parking assistance sensors, power rear and manual side sunshades, and an Infinity premium audio system.

Now for some qualifications. At lower speeds around town, the Azera was was less than totally inspired, however. The body bounced around a little too much over broken pavement, while the engine seemed too reserved. With 293 horsepower and 255 foot-pounds of torque on tap, the Azera should have felt like it was ready to pounce at all times. Instead, it was more like the Hyundai engineers wanted it to feel soft — sort of the way big cars from Detroit used to drive.

A few more qualifications. Although the performance improved as the speed increased, our test Azera never quite seemed to live up to its full potential. It could corner well at high speeds, but did not provide enough feedback to be exhilarating. Freeway accelaration was good enough but not overly impressive. Even equipped with dual exhaust tips, sport bucket seats and the optional 19-inch wheels, it’s clear the Azera is not intended to be a genuine sports sedan. There are no optional engines or transmissions, after all. Maybe Hyundai figures all those buyers will opt for the Genesis sedan, which offers a more powerful base V6 and two V8 engines but also costs a few thousands dollars more.

All things considered, though, the 2012 Azera is another breakthrough car for Hyundai. The company has already proven it can build good small cars and SUVs. Now Hyundai has proven it can build a premium large car for the large block of buyers who want luxury, room and enough on-demand performance to stay entertained on long commutes. If Acura and Lexus aren’t worried, they should be.

Facts and figures

Model: 2012 Azera.

Manufacturer: Hyundai.

Class: Full-size sedan.

Layout: Front engine, front-wheel-drive.

Style: Five-passenger four door.

Engines: 3.3-liter V6 (293 hp, 255 ft-lbs).

Transmissions: Six-speed automatic.

EPA estimated city/highway mileage: 22/29.

Price: Beginning at approximately $32,000; as tested, $36,875.