Review: 2011 Hyundai Azera Limited

[Sal Collaziano]

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Reviews

Refresh Fails To Meet Brand's Own High Bar

2011 Hyundai Azera Limited - Click above for high-res image gallery
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Even five years ago, Hyundai was widely considered to be a bargain-basement marque. After all, anyone interested in checking out the brand's lineup could visit a rental company within five miles of any major airport. But why dwell on the past when the Korean automaker is kicking butt and taking names in the here and now? Hyundai has been on a roll these past few years, with hits like the Genesis, Genesis Coupe and 2011 Sonata. With those successful entries, Hyundai has clearly established itself as a prime player in the U.S. market, but the company's improved standing has also substantially raised the public's levels of expectation. Where qualifiers like "for a Hyundai" were once the norm, we're now measuring each and every new entry donning the italic H against the best from Toyota, Ford, General Motors and Honda.

Hyundai's most recently refreshed product is the 2011 Azera. When the Azera first arrived on U.S. shores as a 2006 model, it came came close to nixing the "for a Hyundai" stigma with an impressive level of standard equipment and a lower price tag than its competition. But even with a strong value equation and plethora of amenities, that original Azera still wasn't as refined as the current crop of winners coming out of South Korea. Can the freshly redesigned 2011 Azera, with an improved powertrain and increased level of luxury equipment, truly succeed like its all-star siblings?

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Gallery: Review: 2011 Hyundai Azera Limited



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Review: 2011 Hyundai Azera Limited originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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[BacktoHyundaibychoice]

Looks like a mini-Gen.

 

[ctrcbob]

To me, it looks the same as the previous Azera.

 

[equetefue]

agree with above statement. Can't really see a leap forward here. One thing that concerns me about Hyundai is that the cars are not all following the same type of "lines" as their other cars. Every car for the most part looks completely diferent than each other.

Take for example the new Elantra, looks like its big brother the Sonata, as to where the new Azera dont seem to bridge the Sonata to the Genesis.

ahh maybe is me but I feel they could have done better.

 

[BacktoHyundaibychoice]

agree with above statement. Can't really see a leap forward here. One thing that concerns me about Hyundai is that the cars are not all following the same type of "lines" as their other cars. Every car for the most part looks completely diferent than each other.

Take for example the new Elantra, looks like its big brother the Sonata, as to where the new Azera dont seem to bridge the Sonata to the Genesis.

ahh maybe is me but I feel they could have done better.

In fairness, this is only a 'refresh' and not the remake that's coming.
Though I'm not sure I agree that something between the Sonata and Gen is needed, especially if the next gen Gen will have 4-wheel drive (for Sonata drivers afraid to move to RWD).
But who am I to argue with their success?

 

[Rich GV70]

In fairness, this is only a 'refresh' and not the remake that's coming.
Though I'm not sure I agree that something between the Sonata and Gen is needed, especially if the next gen Gen will have 4-wheel drive (for Sonata drivers afraid to move to RWD).
But who am I to argue with their success?

To me it looks like a phase out. After a test comparison drive last week it seems the Sonata has become so sophisticated, there's little need for something in between. The whole design of the instrument pod looks like Elantra stuff. I don't get it.
Sorry.

 

[SunnySD]

I agree. This is probably going the way of the Entourage.