2008 Hyundai Azera

Hyundai stuffs upscale sedan with features, but settles for too-soft ride

Jul 05, 2008

Special to the Star

You have to say this about Hyundai: there's never been a design it hasn't been too proud to steal.

So if you take the nose of a Mercedes S-Class, the back end of a BMW 7 Series and the overall feel of a Buick, you've pretty much got a Hyundai Azera. The big difference is that the price is much closer to a Buick than a BMW.

Now in its third model year, the Azera was introduced for 2006 as a replacement for the XG350. The 2008 is virtually unchanged from last year's model; available as the GLS or, as my tester, the Limited, it uses a 3.8 L V6 mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode.

In its role as the company's luxury nameplate, the Azera certainly delivers, fulfilling the automaker's mandate of stuffing in numerous higher-end amenities while keeping the price down.

The engine is a very smooth unit, and it takes the car up to speed quickly and quietly. It stays that way throughout its range, and propels the car effortlessly when asked, even at highway speeds. The transmission is also well mated, shifting almost imperceptibly and keeping the engine in its sweet spot almost all of the time, although it hunted for gears on a couple of hills. The ride is equally smooth and silent, with the suspension soaking up bumps and road noise, and preventing intrusion into the cabin.

When a suspension's that soft, though, something's got to give, and here it's the handling. The steering is too light for my liking, and the car requires a lot of minor corrections to hold its straight line on the highway. Torque steer is noticeable, and while the brakes stop the car just fine, they feel spongy. The Azera's target audience is a driver who wants a pillowy ride, and who isn't looking for sports-sedan cornering and response.

The interior is certainly upscale; both trim lines have power-adjustable and heated leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, sunroof, and seat side and curtain airbags, along with active headrests. The Limited adds a six-CD stereo, 17-inch wheels, power tilt and telescopic leather-and-wood wheel, power-adjustable pedals, driver's-side memory, power rear sunshade and, unfortunately, rain-sensing wipers.

Everything is put together very well, and it's quite attractive, including just the right amount of plastic wood, easy-to-use controls, and centre vents that close completely.

The seat cushions are relatively flat – they could use a bit more bolstering and support – and while I liked the driving position and the visibility it afforded me, I'm only 5-foot-4; some taller drivers have complained that the seat doesn't go low enough to accommodate them.

The trunk is big, with a length of 112 cm; the rear seats fold to accommodate longer cargo.

So what's not to like about the Azera? Primarily, it's the view to the south. In the U.S. market, the GLS is equipped with a 3.3 L V6 engine that isn't available here. But in Limited trim, with the same 3.8 L as in Canada, the U.S. Azera is only $28,550, in practically at par American dollars.

You need to add an extra $1,250 to get the upgraded stereo, power steering wheel and pedals, memory and rear sunshade package that is standard on our Limited, but if you pay $2,750 over base, Hyundai also adds a navigation system that can't be ordered in Canada. Fully dressed with the unavailable-to-us electronic map, the Azera is $31,300 (U.S.), to the Canadian Limited's base price of $39,195.

And not only are we paying $7,895 more to get less, but the Canadian Hyundai warranty, a relatively generous five years or 100,000 km on almost everything, pales against the additional 10-year/160,000 km equivalent powertrain coverage given to American owners.

Of course, none of that will help you if you're buying your car at a Canadian dealer, but it is tough to figure why a car that's supposed to be reasonably priced is nine grand more than a comparably equipped version just a toll bridge away.

Against other vehicles in Canada, though, the Azera does offer quite a bit of luxury for the price, and is a great choice for buyers who want old-fashioned luxury and who aren't interested in carving up the hairpin turns you see on television ads.

Toronto Star