1
0
Large car; Built in
  • 4-door sedan
  • transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $14,900 – $26,600*


2014 Hyundai Azera


2014 Hyundai Azera


2014 Hyundai Azera


2014 Hyundai Azera

Pros:
  • Acceleration
  • Interior materials
  • Quietness
Cons:
  • Control layout
  • Rear-seat headroom (with sunroof)

The Azera is something of a “step-up” vehicle in Hyundai’s lineup. It’s bigger, fancier, and more powerful than its Sonata sibling–not unlike the relationship of the Toyota Avalon to the Toyota Camry. Azera is executed well enough in every respect that it is a worthwhile competitor to the Avalon, Buick LaCrosse, and Chrysler 300, even if it can’t quite match those cars in ride composure.

Overview

Azera was one of three large cars offered by the Korean brand. Azera was the smallest of the group, the others being the Hyundai Genesis and Hyundai Equus.

Azera arrived in the US for the 2006 model year to replace the dated XG350. It competed against the likes of the Buick LaCrosse, Ford Taurus, and Toyota Avalon.

Aside from its larger overall dimensions, it was hard to tell the Azera apart from the Hyundai Sonata from which this car derived much of its basic design. Azera was more powerful and offered more high-end features than its midsize stablemate.

Aside from updated styling inside and out, Azera was the beneficiary of a new engine and transmission.

The sole engine was a 293-horsepower 3.3-liter V6. It teamed with a 6-speed automatic transmission that put power to the front wheels. The larger Genesis and Equus were rear-wheel drive.

The Hyundai Azera had a standard complement of expected and federally mandated safety features. Rear-side airbags and a driver-knee airbag were standard. Rear-obstactle detection was optional.

Yearly Updates

2012 Azera
Azera was largely unchanged after its redesign for the 2012 model year.
2013 Azera
Azera’s minor updates for 2014 included retuned steering, a new gauge cluster, and additional standard equipment.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

The sole engine was a 293-horsepower 3.3-liter V6. It teamed with a 6-speed automatic transmission that put power to the front wheels.

dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.3/204
Engine HP 293
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 255
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic

 20/29

 19

Road Test

Though Azera is tuned for a smooth “flow” of acceleration rather than snappy response from a stop, its pick-up is pleasingly robust overall. Power is ample in both city and highway driving, and the transmission is cooperative.

In Consumer Guide testing, we averaged 18.6 mpg in mostly city driving. Azera uses regular-grade gas.

Azera absorbs most bumps very well, though its composure over harsh pavement and potholes is not as good as class rivals. Likewise, Azera’s highway ride is not as buttoned-down as its competitors.

Handling is competent and predictable, though Azera is tuned for comfort more than agility. Body lean in corners is minimal for the class. Some testers thought the steering had a velvety, nicely muted feel, but others found it a bit dull.

Quietness is an Azera strong point. Road and wind noise are very well controlled. The engine produces a rich, muted snarl in fast acceleration and quiets down nicely at cruise.

Main gauges are well-lit and easy to read. Some ergonomics are less than ideal, however–tester complaints included the busy center-console control stack, out-of-easy-reach touchscreen, air vents that were awkwardly positioned, and repetitive-step buttons for climate-control temperature and mode.

Azera’s cabin is nicely executed, with lots of soft-touch surfaces and convincingly upscale detailing. It’s a clear step up in quality and materials from Hyundai’s own Sonata midsize sedan.

Front seats are soft, comfortable, and supportive. Passenger space is ample in most dimensions, though the panoramic sunroof’s housing cuts into headroom a bit for tall occupants. The rakish roofline slightly hurts visibility to the corners, but the rear quarter windows and moderate-width roof pillars compensate.

Rear legroom is outstanding, but the sloping roofline means headroom is somewhat stingy. The panoramic sunroof’s housing further compromises the available space; we wish Hyundai would offer it as a stand-alone option separate from the Technology Package. Entry and exit are fairly easy thanks to good-sized door openings.

The trunk and its aperture are both generously sized. The sickle-type trunklid hinges are covered so they don’t crush cargo, and they don’t intrude much on the useable space. The rear seatbacks fold in a 60/40 split, though the pass-through opening they reveal is rather short and the seatbacks angle upward, which will prevent the loading of large items.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2013 Base with Technology Pkg.

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 7
70%
Fuel Economy - 5
50%
Ride Quality - 5
50%
Steering/Handling - 6
60%
Quietness - 8
80%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 8
80%
Room/Comfort Rear - 7
70%
Cargo Room - 4
40%

Other

Value - 7
70%

Total: 63

Specifications

4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
112.0 193.3 73.2 57.9
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
16.3 18.5 5.0
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
40.3 37.6 45.5 36.8
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: N/A

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Front Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Starter
Description: Faulty inhibitor switch may prevent the engine from starting in Park or Neutral. (2012-13)
Suspension problems
Description: In areas where salt is used to clear the roads, the rear lower control arms may corrode and require replacement. (2012-13)

Recall History

2012-13 Azera
Description: The passenger-seat occupant detection system may fail to differentiate if the passenger is an adult, child, or child in a child seat. In a crash the airbag might deploy at a greater or lessor force than appropriate and increase the risk of injury.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on April 20, 2016.
Share this:
, , , , ,