Don't look now, but Hyundai just turned 20. If that doesn't set off one spark of surprise, you must not remember the 1986 Excel, a $4,995 nightmare that excelled only at breaking down. And if you don't remember an entire decade of Sonatas and Elantras that only brought such a skill to new price levels, let's just say it was all a rather troubled childhood.
But step by step, they learned to save themselves. Hyundai learned how to make an engine without Mitsubishi's training wheels. The cars started driving better, and a world-leading warranty was added to quell fears about reliability - fears that grew obsolete in the wake of sharply improved quality. New sedans kept coming, followed by their first SUV, then their second, and just last year Hyundai became the world's latest automaker to grow an all-new assembly plant on U.S. soil.
And yet in 2006, it seems like life has just begun. The latest versions of the Accent and Sonata have landed to critical applause, and here to mark the grand finale is the new Azera. Unlike the forgettable XG350, the Azera represents Hyundai's first true attack on the last step before luxury: the near-$30,000 Large Car segment inhabited by Buicks, Fords, and Toyota's Avalon. It's the swankiest and priciest Hyundai ever, and times are a changin when Hyundai stands on ground where Honda and Nissan have never walked.
What a way to kick off your third decade! Let's see how much is worth celebrating.
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