The High Value Luxury Choice
The Azera is Hyundai’s, full-size flagship luxury sedan. It’s a spacious V6-powered, front-wheel-drive four-dour capable of transporting five adults in generous comfort.
Soft lines define the car’s exterior appearance
It’s unlikely anyone will quarrel over the Azera’s styling, it’s sufficiently conservative to be considered inoffensive yet distinct enough to catch the eye; it’s also masks quite effectively the vehicle’s size, which is approximately 2-inches longer in overall length than the “larger for 2008? Honda Accord.
Whether its exterior presentation is exciting enough to induce heart palpitations or not, the Azera is a nicely proportioned, accurately assembled sedan. My guess is that its lines were intended to please a North American market; a market that might otherwise look to Buick in an effort to quench its taste.
Interior design not without flair
“Functionality with a touch of flair,” that’s how I would summarize the Azera’s interior design and layout. All controls and switches are logically positioned and intuitive to use. The gauge cluster is properly positioned and can be read at a glance, day or night.
Seating is sure to please. The front perches are large supple yet supportive, although they do not supply the side-bolstering that one would find in a German sedan (of course, one doesn’t find the same price tag either). Head and legroom up front is suitably generous while rear seat legroom is outstanding for this class.
The “flair” quotient is produced with the use of satin steel appliques and woodgrain trim. These tastefully restrained elements carry the otherwise bland styling upscale by adding a touch of class. Overall, the Azera’s cabin is an exercise in relaxation and comfort.
Same drivetrain powers the Azera for 2008
The same extraordinarily smooth Lambda all aluminum, DOHC 3.8-liter V6 continues to power the Azera, as it has since the vehicle debuted in 2006. The US-built powerplant utilizes Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) to generate 263 of the most refined horses within the Azera’s price segment and above.
Complementing the engine’s civility is a five-speed automatic transmission featuring Hyundai’s SHIFTRONIC electronic manual-mode shifting. During my testing, this wonderbox performed flawlessly. It transitioned from one cog to the next unobtrusively, and in the same manner one would expect from a high-end premium vehicle.
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