Although my tastes have veered toward higher-strung cars lately, somehow the type-B Hyundai Azera never disappoints me. When I got into it last night, I was coming off a stint in a modified Mazdaspeed 3 (story coming soon), probably the meanest front-driver on the market and a car that would try to devour the Azera whole if given the chance. Yet, I was immediately content in the Azera.
I've decided it must be because although this car isn't without flaws, the people who built it took pains to ensure that its various components functioned harmoniously...
These little things make all the difference: Because I feel confident in how the Azera will react to inputs, I can sit back in its wide, well-cushioned seats and relax all the way to my destination -- in this case, Abbot's Pizza. Not all big sedans put me at this level of ease.
Erin Riches, Senior Content Editor, 14,792 miles
stephen987 says:
02:58 PM, 08/ 3/07
It's so funny--nobody seems to mind that the Azera behaves like a top-quality "appliance"--it seems to receive plaudits for the same behavior that garners complaints in the Camry. Could it be that we expect less out of the Hyundai and are thus pleasantly surprised, while we expect perfection from the Toyota and are thus easily annoyed by it?
SubyTrojan says:
03:22 PM, 08/ 3/07
Could be indeed, stephen!
4ron says:
03:42 PM, 08/ 3/07
Yes, the Azera is a comfortable car and very much in sync - except for the suspension which is about 20% too soft. Other wise you could say it is a bargain A6.
eriches says:
04:05 PM, 08/ 3/07
stephen987: If you look at my past comments on our L-T Camry, you'll see that I'm a fan of that car as well (aside from its fit and finish... and the Azera is not perfect in this regard, either). Indeed, I'm an ex-Camry owner and have no qualms driving an appliance on occasion. --Erin
desmolicious says:
05:37 PM, 08/ 3/07
Is that Abbot's pizza joint as bad as the one on Abbott Kinney? I ordered a meat lover's pizza, and then watched as the dood sliced hot dog onto it...
SubyTrojan says:
06:05 PM, 08/ 3/07
LOL! That's pretty funny, Huss! What's funny is the way you worded what you said and not so much what actually happened.
carfreak8394 says:
08:17 PM, 08/ 3/07
Isn't your guys' car an LE Camry, not an LT, Erin?
ewilfong says:
08:42 PM, 08/ 3/07
In case you weren't joking, LT equals Long Term. :)
altimadude00 says:
09:41 AM, 08/ 4/07
"Appliance-ness" isn't always a bad thing. Cars are designed for a specific purpose in life. The Azera is made to be a cruiser...a Korean Buick (like it's been as labled before). The Sedona is a minivan...it carries people and stuff...no more no less. It's also an appliance; it gives no excused for being one. A Camry is an appliance. It's a comfortable conveance from A to B for four people. It makes no excuses for being a commuter. A Miata is a performance car, no more, no less. It doesn't pretend to be a commuter or an appliance. All these vehicles have a specific purpose. If you're looking for a performance car and you bought a Camery, then you shouldn't complain, because that's not what a Camry is built for.
However, there are exceptions...pretenders if you will. If they promise performance, and it comes up short (Porche 928 comes to mind), then you have a valid reason to complain.
You can't get performance out of every vehicle because that isn't what every car's main purpose is. The Azera is a very competent car against it's competition. If you want to say it's boring when compared to a Buick Lucern, Toyota Avalon, Lincoln Town Car, or Cadillac DTS then you're more than welcome to. Soft and squishy is the name of the game in that bracket where the Azera fits in.
stephen987 says:
10:29 AM, 08/ 4/07
My point was that it seems the Camry and the Azera are very similar cars. I wonder if maybe we might see a more explicit comparison between the two. I realize that the Azera is, in theory, aimed more at the Avalon and (as has been pointed out in many venues) various Buicks, but I'm wondering if, considering price and driving dynamics, the Camry might also be considered a competitor (and whether, given those similarities, the Azera might actually be better!)