Review: A bigger interior than a BMW 7-series AND a price tag under $28k?

It's getting harder for car buyers to rationalize paying a premium price, even for a premium car.

A good example is the Hyundai Azera. It's a full-size car that has about all the features, poise and punch you'd get in a $35,000-to-$40,000 car for $25,000 to $30,000.

Created by, loosely speaking, enlarging the chassis of the automaker's Sonata midsize sedan, Azera is meant to replace the baroque XG350 in the lineup. And it's an appealing piece of work.

The test car was a nearly loaded Limited version, priced about $28,000. Its amenities included heated seats, power sunshade for the back window, auto-down and auto-up windows, side air bags in the back seat rather than only in front. None of those is breathtaking by itself, but combined they illustrate the high-end attributes available in a midprice machine. And they help make Azera a legitimate alternative to the likes of Buick Lucerne and Toyota Avalon, rather than a wannabe.

Full review here

lewissalem - 4/21/2006 1:23:54 PM

+1 Boost

More choice = Consumers win!

JUGNU - 4/21/2006 3:26:17 PM

+1 Boost

No no believe me,it's a good and very worthy car for that money.
I've checked it,and i can say that hyndai has deffinately upped every single attribute of this car.From performance to quality to consumptions to value for money.Everything

A great car.A Threat to all Mid-size cars especially that form the GM.

JUGNU

JUGNU - 4/21/2006 3:26:17 PM

+1 Boost

No no believe me,it's a good and very worthy car for that money.
I've checked it,and i can say that hyndai has deffinately upped every single attribute of this car.From performance to quality to consumptions to value for money.Everything

A great car.A Threat to all Mid-size cars especially that form the GM.

JUGNU

CarNut - 4/21/2006 4:27:35 PM

+1 Boost

just not the same.... there is the A8, s-class, the 7er, and lexus is trying to come in, but it has always been the great german trio.

Dont get me wrong the hyundai and lexus are also great cars

TheDonII - 4/24/2006 3:40:34 PM

+1 Boost

In response to huu76 comments....."shamelessly copying other companies".

If you look closely at the XG350 and the previous Sonata, you will notice that Hyundai originated this design that everybody is claiming that they are now copying.

If anybody is copying, it is the Europeans..the only difference is that when they introduce their prods, they have the press behind them. Unlike the Japanese and the Koreans.

Matthew1 - 4/24/2006 6:42:11 PM

+1 Boost

And more unbearable than ever.