All-new, affordable luxury, full-size sedan

For 2006, Hyundai replaced the XG350 with the all-new near luxury Azera as its flagship sedan. Azera is meant to compete with near-luxury vehicles like the Buick Lucerne, Ford 500, Toyota Avalon and Nissan Maxima.

The new front-drive Azera is slightly longer, wider and higher than the XG and gets a big boost under the hood with a 3.8-liter V-6 that produces 263 horsepower. The lone transmission is a five-speed automatic with manual-shift mode option.

Fuel economy is rated at 19 miles per gallon in the city, 28 on the highway. That’s less than Avalon, Maxima and 500. I averaged a disappointing 15 to 17 mpg around town.

I tested the Limited version, priced at $27,495 including shipping and handling. Standard equipment includes a power sunshade for the rear window, heated leather seats, 17-inch alloy wheels, dual power seats, AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with steering wheel controls, power windows with auto-up/down feature, side curtain and front/rear seat side airbags. Equipment this comprehensive is rarely seen in a vehicle at this price.

The entry-level Azera SE starts at $24,995 including shipping and handling and comes with the same engine and transmission as the Limited. Standard SE equipment includes dual-zone climate control, power seats/windows/mirrors and keyless entry.

The exterior styling seems very familiar but not enough to say Hyundai stole from another manufacturer. It seems Hyundai is taking styling cues from a number of manufacturers rather than using a unique design.

Up front, Azera resembles an amalgamation of the Toyota Camry and Lexus ES sedans. From the rear the shape takes on a trunk-bump compliments of BMW, Lexus and Acura RS. But while overall the styling is pleasant, it isn’t enough to turn heads. I found the styling rather bland.

Inside, Azera looks decidedly upscale with ample use of soft-touch surfaces, brushed aluminum, convincing fake wood and impressive fit and finish. Small touches like fully enclosed seat bases add to the upscale look.

Front seat room is more than ample with room for three adults in back. Seats are comfortable but I wished for more lateral support. All controls are well placed and easy to operate. Power adjustable pedals are optional. Visibility is excellent.

Azera’s powertrain affords plenty of power. Hyundai says the Azera will cover zero to 60 in just 6.5 seconds. The engine is incredibly quiet, the five-speed automatic smooth and quick with some lag when passing or merging.

Things I didn’t like: Wind noise was pronounced at interstate speeds, the remote lock/unlock plastic key fob continually slapped the hard plastic part of the dash creating an annoying rattling sound.

The suspension system was the most disappointing aspect of the entire vehicle with just too much body movement. The test vehicle dipped, bobbed, leaned and rolled, especially in corners and turns.

Safety features include full-coverage airbags, active head restraints, LATCH child safety seat anchors, ABS brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, stability control and traction control.

In NHTSA crash tests, Azera earned a second-best 4-star rating for both front and side impact crashes. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests, Azera earned the highest “Good” for front impacts and an “Acceptable” score for side impacts.

Like all Hyundais, the South Korean built Azera comes with a five-year/60,000-mile bumper to-bumper warranty, plus a 10-year/100,00mile powertrain warranty.

Overall, I was impressed with the Azera, especially the value-for-the-dollar factor, impressive standard features and overall build quality. For many manufacturers you’d have to spend $35,000 to $40,000 to duplicate the features on Azera.

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