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| 2006 Hyundai Azera Review | |||
| Whether you're about to spend $40K on a brand new car, or half that on a used car, it is always important to learn as much as you can about the used car. Read these car reviews to learn about all aspects of the vehicle. Each of the usedcar reviews cover interior and exterior features, options, road tests, and more. | |||
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Introduction
| Road Test
| Inside & Out
| Other Thoughts
| Last Word
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| Inside & Out | |||
Any Hyundai shopper that cares about image should know that our sage green Azera got more admiring glances than a car like this can normally hope for. These eyes find also it the best-looking Hyundai of the moment and maybe the best in its segment: appropriately generic without looking like a blatant carbon copy of someone else's car (et tu, Kia Amanti). The dual exhausts and LED taillights are pretty nifty, and the 0.29 Cd pretty slippery.And despite what we've witnessed in the recent wave of Tucson, Accent, and Sonata, the Azera also proves Hyundai really can make an attractive interior. First of all, the items in the center stack actually line up for once. Low-grade plastics were kept off the order sheet and the low-shine dashboard exudes restraint and good taste. The electroluminescent gauges blend color with class, and the aluminum surrounding the shiftgate looks unique. The undefined motions of the locks, seatbelt latches, and steering wheel buttons serve as minor pockets of cheapness and the leather strikes me as medium quality, but the overall effect got called "nice" (several times) and "cool" (once) by various 20- and 30-somethings. The plastic wood also looks good as far as that stuff goes, though it really wasn't necessary to stick it on the steering wheel of every Limited model. I fail to see how holding hands with a petrified piece of plastic makes anyone feel special; all it did for me was suck even more pleasure out of the already numb steering. How about at least making a physical negative of this steering wheel, where the fake wood's on the sides and leather covers the regions where your hands actually go? There are a few more flaws on the ergonomic front, like the oversupply of similar flat-faced climate buttons and the omission of preset/CD track changers on the audio side of the steering wheel buttons (even lowly Daewoos and brother Kias have them; why not a top-of-the-line Hyundai?). Otherwise, everything's perfectly easy to see, reach, and operate, and there are storage pockets aplenty. The compass and trip computer were nice, and feature fetishists will delight at the dual-zone climate controls, heated seats, and power rear sunshade (which lowers itself when you shift to Reverse). One feature that had me panting in anticipation was the 315-watt 10-speaker Infinity stereo. Sadly, my test car did without, leaving me with the 172-watt 6-speaker base system. It's easy to use, plays MP3s, and gets all the notes out, but the sonic quality of the delivery might remind the Azera's audience a little too much of their 8-track upbringing. How you feel about the comfortable front seats depends on personal preferences. The driving position certainly isn't wanting for space or adjustments, which are both in abundance, and the padding and side bolsters are soft. Two differences you'll surely notice: the head restraints jut out forward more than usual (they're also of the "active" kind that leap forward to cushion you in crashes), and for a sedan the seats seem to be mounted high - really high. Well, at least the day has arrived when Hyundai drivers can look down on others. Those who brag about back seats can now look down on a whole bunch of cars. 123.5 cubic feet of interior room makes the Azera one of the most spacious sedans in the world - well into Large Car territory and a foot or two up on the Avalon. The bench is comfortable, set at the right angle, has enough room to stack both of your feet in a straight line... what can I say? It doesn't get much better for five than this. Doubly amazing is that they managed to stuff it all into the shell of a mid-size car: 192.7 inches long, 72.8 across, 109.4 in wheelbase. Excellent packaging. Hyundai enthusiasts will note that the increases over the already-roomy Sonata never exceed one inch in any measurement, though. The trunk is also a big, tall box with 16.6 cubic feet to spare, and the back seats tumble down on all models. |
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