Hyundai Azera -- It's What's Inside That Counts

I agree with Aplha01. First of all, the Azera competes with the Avalon, not the Camry. So of course the LE Camry's interior isn't going to be as "stunning" as the Azera's. But when you compare the Azera and Avalon, or as Aplha01 said, the Azera and the Camry XLE V6, then that's a different story. Also, the Azera doesn't offer a navigation system, cooled seats, or keyless access like the Avalon does. So good job Hyundai, you have come a long way in your products, but you aren't up to Toyta standards just quite yet.

I'm not sure it's not so much of an apples-to-apples comparison. The Camry is roughly $23K, optioned up to $27K. The Hyundai Limited (nearly the top model) starts at $27K and ours is optioned up to $29K. To me that's a pretty close comparison, at least in the wallet ($2-4K). The Avalon starts around $26 but quickly goes up to 34K (without the options).

But still, the Camry DOES NOT compete with the Azera, so it's not " apple to apples" for the interior either. Of course the Azera has a nicer interior. It should for the 2,000 extra dollars you spend over the Camry.

A comparison to the Toyota Avalon is more relevant but let's don't forget that the Avalon is built on a Camry chassis.

I agree they are not that comparable. Anyway, I would like to see a comparison after 120,000 miles on each over 8 to 10 years.

4ron- That has nothing to do with the subject. The Avalon is more upscale than a Camry, and an Azera is more upscale than a Sonata. My point is the Azera competes with the Avalon, not the Camry.

Obviously, the whole point of this story was to paint an example of how far Hyundai has come in such a short amount of time. The learning curve this industrial giant has been riding is much, much steeper than what Honda/Toyota experienced throughout the 80's and early 90's. The leaps and bounds truly are impressive, especially considering the upcoming Genesis. How many RWD, V8 Engined cars have the Toyota or Honda badge? Even Acura fails here, and with Lexus, you must step up to the GS to get that option - at roughly twice the anticipated price of the Genesis.
 
However, it would be irresponsible of me to state the only current reason to buy a Hyundai is because of bargain prices - that USED to be the case. Now, they arguably have the goods to compete on a quality basis as well. Anyone intimate with their industrial quality standards (especially their Alabama plant) will tell you that.

Indeed, the Azera represents one of Hyundais increasingly impressive efforts. The Santa Fe, and Veracruz, from what I understand, take this even further. Kudos to Hyundai!|
 
(I'm still wondering about the filthy driver's seat though?)
 
Re my initial point: In general, the Camry LE V6 that edmunds.com chose for its Long Term test is something of an interesting choice, and def. doesn't represent a good value argument for the Camry line - loading up a lower trim model typically isn't in the best interest of the consumer. An XLE - or really, given the complaints about the Camry's soft suspension bias - SE V6 seems like it would have made more sense. Ex - the XLE would have offered a MUCH better interior, IMO, and many more features at about $2000 more with popular options (VSC, Keyless Ignition, Heated seats) or about the same price without any options.
 

Something that some forget when talking about Azera's or Avalon's (even if on a Camry frame), is how much more room there is inside the AA's versus a Camry. If you want a smaller vehicle with more features then a Camry might do (although then it should be compared to the Sonata in price).
  
If you want a large sedan, the Camry is not it. That seems to me to be why comparing a Camry to an Azera doesn't make much sense. At the real world price of an Azera, I would love to see it tested against a comparably PRICED BMW or MB. Then I think you would see the real value of an Azera (of course I think the same would be true of the Camry or the Avalon versus the teutonics). All that would be left would be for the editors to talk about how much better the road feel was for the Germans, not on how they would get kicked in virtually every comparative category.

It's interesting that you keep wondering about the "dirty" seat, alpha01 (http://66.160.188.111/roadtests/.ee9bc31).
 
It'd be nice if we had more updates on issues that are mentioned in blog entries. I'm still curious as to what is going to be done with the Fit's brakes. Sometimes the updates are really good (e.g. when Karl had the one-time stalling issue with his Ford GT, the front windshield crack of the FJ Cruiser, Brian taking the G35 Sedan in to address the clutch issue) whereas other times issues seem to fall through the cracks. Perhaps a log for each car could be kept and looked at with issues each driver hopping into a LT vehicle should be (slightly to very) aware of would help us readers out.