2015 Hyundai Azera is refreshed, may still be on life support

[Sal Collaziano]

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedan, Hyundai



What you see above is the 2015 Hyundai Azera. It's slightly refreshed for the new model year, with a new grille, lighting elements and fascia joining some newly standard technology bits inside the cabin. Other than those few updates, this is the same Azera we've known and loved since its most recent redesign for the 2012 model year.

Thing is, we're not sure if the Azera will actually live past 2015 here in the United States. Hyundai has said that it still sees some space above the Sonata midsize sedan and its larger and more luxurious Genesis Sedan for a vehicle sized and priced like the Azera, but just hasn't been able to find many buyers who agree.

Put simply, if you like what you see in the 2015 Azera, now would be a good time to mosey on over to your nearest Hyundai dealer to see if this fullsize sedan suits your specific needs better than competitors like the Chevy Impala, Toyota Avalon and Buick LaCrosse.2015 Hyundai Azera is refreshed, may still be on life support originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Nov 2014 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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[LEVMAN]

They do not even market the car, most people probably even heard of it.

 

[Lawjo1978]

If they market this car more. It would definitely have more sales......

 

[Mark_888]

If they market this car more. It would definitely have more sales......

They tried that a few years ago, and didn't work. TV ads are very expensive, and even if they could double sales of the Azera with more marketing, the ads would probably cost more money that they would make from the extra sales.

 

[BrazGenesis]

They tried that a few years ago, and didn't work. TV ads are very expensive, and even if they could double sales of the Azera with more marketing, the ads would probably cost more money that they would make from the extra sales.

True, and I would add that the 2014 stock of Genesis needs to go to zero to create a real lineup.

Why buy an Azera if a G1 is available at such attractive prices and financing?

 

[Sal Collaziano]

I imagine the Genesis is stealing a LOT of sales from the Azera - from regular customers. But knowledgeable people would never buy an Azera over a Kia Cadenza. The Cadenza is a much nicer car. I imagine to SOME extend - that's another reason the Azera isn't selling. It's a nice looking car on the outside but the inside offers a very plebeian experience compared to the Cadenza.

 

[Lawjo1978]

I have to agree tat the Cadenza drives much better than an Azera. The Azera does have a beautiful exterior....

 

[xiaphin]

Surprisingly one of my older neighbors has an Azera. Not everyday that you find and Azera and a Genesis on the same street. Asked her about the car and she loves everything about it. Also feel like it would sell if people knew it existed.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

I have to agree tat the Cadenza drives much better than an Azera. The Azera does have a beautiful exterior....

I THOUGHT that both cars had the same suspension setup. I could be wrong but I don't know why one would really be different than the other. They're supposed to serve exactly the same purpose. Otherwise, I prefer the exterior of the Azera and the interior of the Cadenza - but the interior by a landslide. The exterior of the Cadenza isn't as bad as the interior of the Azera...

Surprisingly one of my older neighbors has an Azera. Not everyday that you find and Azera and a Genesis on the same street. Asked her about the car and she loves everything about it. Also feel like it would sell if people knew it existed.

Oh, certainly. The Azera is a nice car. But put that woman in a Cadenza and I bet she'd forget all about the Azera...

 

[shagnat]

I'd buy the Azera over the Cadenza if those were my only choices. Hyundai is a little too busy selling the Sonata to really educate the public on their entire lineup.

I believe marketing is killing many sales for the Genny and certainly the Azera. I had a 2008 Azera and it would haul the mail. It seemed to accelerate much harder down low in the RPM range than my 2010 Genny. Now it does poop out slightly above midrange but off the line and below ~4000 rpm it just motors.

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[DRS]

Cough cough bee ess. Who cares... All bee ess.

 

[MIKES3]

Are they still running just a 4 cylinder in the Azera? Thats what made me not even think about that car

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Are they still running just a 4 cylinder in the Azera? Thats what made me not even think about that car

I don't believe the Azera (or the XG300/350) ever used a 4 cylinder engine. The Azera uses a 293-hp 3.3L GDI 24-valve DOHC V6...

 

[amartz]

I don't believe the Azera (or the XG300/350) ever used a 4 cylinder engine. The Azera uses a 293-hp 3.3L GDI 24-valve DOHC V6...

In 2012, when I bought my Genesis, and was test driving different cars, I think the Azera was basically loaded a V6 Sonata.

 

[Pahaska]

I stepped up from a loaded Sonata to an Azera a few years ago. The Azera is a lot more car than a Sonata. The earlier Azera that I had was a great car with the exception of getting addled by poor road surfaces. The car was underdamped and would take a while to settle down after a bump.

 

[amartz]

I stepped up from a loaded Sonata to an Azera a few years ago. The Azera is a lot more car than a Sonata.

They are based on the same front-wheel drive platform, are they not? At least back when I looked at them.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

The Azera has always been a more luxurious car than the Sonata. Softer leather, I believe softer suspension as well. Bigger... Now the new Sonata compared with the current Azera is a different story. But I imagine a new Azera will, again, be a more luxurious car with more room inside...

 

[RickyBobby]

It always looked good but the price is too high, too many more respected entries in this class that buyers will flock too like the new Nissan Maxima.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

It always looked good but the price is too high, too many more respected entries in this class that buyers will flock too like the new Nissan Maxima.

You're correct but naming the new Maxima - I don't know. That's a very, very nice "brand new" generation car. I'm sure the next generation Azera will be quite nice - but still different as I don't imagine it'll have the same type of sporty characteristics that the Nissan Maxima has...

 

[RN2X]

Azera has never been marketed in the Oklahoma region. I bought a 2008 used and I had never even heard of them. Kind of like the Hyundai minivan, we have never seen them here.