The old Hyundai Azera sedan was solid, although bland. But with swoopy new styling, more power and lots of features, the redone 2012 model that arrived this spring makes the car stand out.
The new front-wheel-drive Azera comes in only one spacious trim level and slots between Hyundai’s Sonata and Genesis models. It looks more expensive, inside and out, than its $32,000 list price might suggest. Its nicely shaped and bumper-integrated tailpipes look as if they came from a top custom-car operation.
Key Takeaways
- Test car: 3.3-liter V-6 with 293 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque, a six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive.
- $32,000 list price, with a single trim level and one $4,000 option package.
- 0-60 mph in 6.7 seconds, at 3,605 pounds.
- 20 mpg city and 29 highway on the original EPA label; EPA restated the highway figure to 28 in November 2012.
- Passing: My test Azera quickly merged into fast freeway traffic and delivered brisk 65-80 mph passing times.
- Cabin: Even the large fold-down rear center armrest, which contains dual cupholders, looks like it belongs in a more costly car.
Pricing and Equipment
The only option is a $4,000 package that contains such items as wider tires on 19-inch (vs. 18-inch) wheels, ventilated front seats and a huge panoramic sunroof with a power sunshade.
The Azera’s long list of standard items include leather upholstery, push-button start, heated front and rear seats, dual automatic climate control and a navigation system with a rearview camera and seven-inch touchscreen. No other car in its market segment offers manual rear-side-window sunshades.
Safety items include nine standard air bags, including a driver’s knee air bag, and an alphabet soup of safety items that include VSM, ESC, TCS, ABS and EBD. Never mind what all that stands for: Azera buyers only need to know they help keep the car safely on roads during trying conditions and give it enhanced braking.
Engine and Performance
The new Azera is powered by a 3.3-liter V-6 with a high-pressure direct fuel injection system, which significantly increases horsepower and torque with a sky-high 11.5:1 compression ratio, likely the envy of 1960s muscle-car fans. The engine generates 293 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque.
The quiet, smooth V-6 has all-aluminum construction, four valves per cylinder, piston cooling jets and dual continuously variable valve timing for a broad power spread. A three-stage variable intake system further broadens the power curve to improve off-the-line acceleration and passing performance.
Power flows through a six-speed automatic transmission with an easily used manual-shift feature. My test Azera quickly merged into fast freeway traffic and delivered brisk 65-80 mph passing times. The 0-60 mph time is 6.7 seconds.
Estimated fuel economy is 20 miles per gallon in the city, 29 on highways. A driver-activated “Active Eco” mode modifies engine and transmission control for improved fuel economy that Hyundai says translates into more than a five percent improvement in real-world economy.
Helping economy, besides agility and performance, is the solidly built Azera’s comparatively light weight. It tips the scales at 3,605 pounds, which makes it more than 200 pounds lighter than the Buick LaCrosse and more than 400 pounds lighter than the Ford Taurus.
Handling and Ride
The steering feels a little artificial but is nicely geared, at 2.9 turns lock-to-lock. And an all-independent suspension smooths out rough roads, although serious bumps can be mildly felt.
The Azera is no sports sedan: it isn’t supposed to be one. But handling is confidence-inspiring. There’s limited body sway at brisk speeds in decreasing radius turns, such as those on expressway entry ramps. Brakes are easily modulated.
Interior and Cargo
Big outside door handles and large front and rear door openings make it easy to quickly enter the Azera, which has a spacious and upscale, quiet interior. Even the large fold-down rear center armrest, which contains dual cupholders, looks like it belongs in a more costly car.
Climate and audio system controls are generally easy to use, although I found the main gauges a little hard to read during the day. And thick windshield posts partly block driver vision, especially when he is turning a street corner.
All doors have storage pockets and bottle holders and a deep console bin with a cover. The Mercedes-style power front seat controls are handy, and controls for the large outside mirrors are easy to use. But driver controls for the power windows are set a bit too far back on the door. At least the windows can be easily stopped at various positions when moving down or up by tapping a window control.
The large trunk uses shielded hinges instead of struts. It has a wide, but rather high, opening. And, when the thick rear seatbacks are flipped forward for more cargo room, the pass-through area between the trunk and rear seat is only moderately large.
The hood glides open via twin hydraulic struts to reveal a crowded engine compartment. Still, fluid-filler area are easy to reach from the front of the car, except for one located behind the engine that must be reached from the side.
2012 Hyundai Azera Verdict
The Azera is another Hyundai winner, delivering more than a buyer would expect.
Pros
Sleek. Roomy. Potent. Economical. Many features.
Cons
Thick windshield posts partially block visibility. Huge Trunk opening.
Bottom Line: The redone Hyundai Azera has become a standout sedan.
Facts & Figures: 2012 Hyundai Azera
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Price | $32,000 |
| Option Package | $4,000 (19-inch wheels, ventilated front seats, panoramic sunroof) |
| Engine | 3.3-liter direct-injection V-6 |
| Horsepower | 293 hp |
| Torque | 255 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive |
| 0-60 mph | 6.7 seconds |
| Fuel Economy (original EPA label) | 20 city / 29 highway mpg |
| Fuel Economy (EPA, restated) | 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined mpg |
| Fuel Type | Regular |
| Curb Weight | 3,605 pounds |
| Air Bags | 9 |
James Raia
A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
