Building on the success of its 2006 Sonata and Accent sedans, Hyundai offers a near-luxury "large" car that beats the competition in price, equipment, and safety. It does so in a handsome package with a 263-horsepower 3.8 liter V-6 plus standard 5-speed manumatic transmission. The Azera has won awards for safety and quality plus a "best in class" in the annual AJAC new vehicle tests. Starts at $24,335, EPA mileage 19/28.
First Glance: The new large car owner
Back in the 60's your typical "large car" owner was in the late stages of middle-age, had protruding jowls and a beer-belly, smoked (or pretended to smoke) cigars, drove with one hand on the wheel and an arm draped over the seatback. In his mind he owned the road while the rest of us got the finger. He often drove a Buick Roadmaster. I'm exaggerating, of course, but as a sports car driver who survived more than a few run-ins with such characters that was my impression. Fortunately the modern version of large car guy works out at the gym, drinks wine, no longer smokes, is willing to share the road and may drive a Toyota Avalon or a Buick Lucerne. He could even be a she.
And now, he/she might be seen at the wheel of a Hyundai Azera, as I was for two weeks. No cigar. Two hands on the wheel. (At my age, where comfort has become a priority, perhaps I'm in danger of becoming a cliché myself.) Driving the spacious Azera certainly wasn't a hardship and the only real surprise, for some onlookers, lay in discovering a Hyundai badge on the back of such a luxurious automobile.
Continued below...In the Driver's Seat: A nice place to relax
Unlike too many contemporary sedans, regardless of their size, I could slip in and out of the Azera's cockpit with ease. On cool evenings I appreciated the heated leather seats. In back, my three friends could sit cheek-by-jowl without complaint. During this quest for comfort I discovered some nice little touches. Fuel filler cap release and trunk release switches in the door, for example; most manufacturers hide them on the floor. The sound system, in addition to a CD/MP3, included a cassette player, a feature that will be appreciated by those who threw away their cassette machines as they succumbed to the latest technology, only to realise they had no place to play those old favorites. That big smile you saw was me listening to Enya, Lionel Richie, and Stones drummer Charlie Watts leading his big jazz band. (Yes, Charlie loves jazz.)
Overall the Azera's interior is tastefully done, including the obligatory strip of fake wood, though thankfully devoid of the faux-titanium designers are fond of these days. Mind you, because the dash slopes away from the driver, some controls do require a bit of a stretch and bright sunlight tends to obscure the information panels.
On the Road: Pleasant, but not sporty
On the expressway the Azera was surprisingly quick (0-60 mph: 6.1 seconds) thanks to its 263-horsepower 3.8 liter V-6 and 5-speed automatic with manual shift option. And quiet, too, until the sunroof was opened; a sudden banshee-like howl would cause me to look up (I live next to a commercial/military airport), expecting to see a CF-18 fighter pilot hitting the afterburner. While the Azera's aerodynamic figures may be superb the sunroof was useless at anything over 30 mph. Which means that on a delightful 70-degree day I was forced to use the air-conditioner. Mind you, I suspect the majority of large car owners never think of shutting off the climate control (nor of the amount of fuel it consumes).
The Azera would never qualify as a sports sedan though it doesn't totally sacrifice roadholding on the altar of soft ride. It handles competently and if you do overcook it on the corners the combined stability and traction control systems will help keep you on the pavement. If only the steering was more responsive I might have enjoyed BC's winding roads but I was at least reassured by enough airbags to inflate the Fuji blimp, should I ever need them. In all, a car that's pleasant to drive and inspires confidence in its safety.Journey's End: Does everything a large car should
Since the best reason to buy a car this big is to haul passengers I sat in back seat and tried to imagine what it would be like to suffer a couple of hundred miles with a pair of 6-footers who, hopefully, had no obnoxious habits. Not bad, actually: adequate room, big windows, good vision forward since the back seat is higher than the front. Individual reading lamps, storage bins and a power outlet. In all my driving years I never once wished for a power outlet. Then again, during my only attempt at camping I set fire to the picnic bench and watched the tent collapse in the middle of a rainy night.
The Azera impressed one passing biker who shouted "Are you shooting pictures for a car magazine?" Normally I would have explained but as he was almost out of hearing distance I chose not to spoil his illusion. "Great-looking car!" he yelled. If he'd stopped for a moment I might have boasted of the Azera's numerous awards for safety, quality and driveability and perhaps even impressed him with the moderate price. Of course I'd have given him a little lecture about the power of the Internet, but then I'd also need to justify driving a large car when I believe that in today's world, small makes more sense.
