Used 2017 Hyundai Azera

The 2017 Azera represents the top-line sedan in Hyundai’s lineup, slotting above the midsize Sonata and compact Elantra. The Azera hasn’t received the same attention as its more popular and lower-priced brothers, but if you take a closer look, the Azera has plenty to like. While its roughly $35,000 starting price is above that of rivals like the Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima and its own cousin the Kia Cadenza, in true Hyundai fashion the Azera brings a lot of car for the money. The Azera comes with loads of features that would cost extra on rivals, from blind-spot monitoring to climate-controlled seats, plus the best warranty in the business. A standard V6 engine and comfort-oriented ride further the cause for Hyundai’s premium sedan.

The Azera is front-wheel drive, which immediately nixes it from the "sports-sedan" category. But that’s not its mission. The Azera prides itself on comfortable and competent cruising. As a freeway commuter or around-town errand runner, it does just fine. The 293-horsepower V6 is surprisingly strong and refined, and matches well to the 6-speed automatic transmission. As with Hyundais of the past, we find the Azera’s electric power steering vague. The suspension could also use refining, with road imperfections making their presence known more than should be expected in a car striving for premium appeal. Otherwise, we found the Azera quiet and easy-mannered.

If you haven’t been in a Hyundai lately, you might be surprised at the attention to detail in this one. The Azera’s 5-passenger cabin is upholstered in leather, and there is good if not great legroom for rear passengers. At 16.3 cubic feet, the trunk is quite large, though no bigger than a Sonata’s. But if you have seen a recent Hyundai, you might notice that this one’s interior feels a bit dated. While the Azera’s controls are easy to see and use, the design looks simple compared to the sophisticated cabin of a Kia Cadenza or even a higher-trim Hyundai Sonata.

Though now five years into its life, the Azera’s clean and fluid exterior style still looks appealing, if not groundbreaking. Compared to the Kia Cadenza — which could pass for a European luxury car — the Hyundai Azera feels understated. Unlike most of its fresher Hyundai stablemates, the Azera doesn’t have a big, pronounced grille — which some buyers may not mind at all. Azera Limited models will light your way better with high-intensity xenon headlights (vs. projector beams on the base model) and LED fog lights.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT
You don’t have to spend extra money or step up to a high trim to get a well-equipped Hyundai Azera. Even the base model comes with a surprising amount of features that would cost extra on rivals (see Standard Equipment for the highlights).

HANDS-FREE SMART TRUNK
Another standard feature, this automotive assist is helpful when your hands are full. Just approach the car from behind with the key fob on you, wait for it to beep in acknowledgment, and presto! The trunk automatically pops open.

The 2017 Azera comes in only two trims, but there’s nothing wrong with that, especially as even a base model is filled to the gills. Even the least expensive Azera has leather interior, blind-spot monitoring, 8-inch touch-screen display with navigation, rearview camera and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, power-folding side mirrors, 12-way-power-adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, power-adjust steering wheel, heated front and rear seats and ventilated front seats. There’s even a kickin’ sound system: a 14-speaker/550-watt Infinity with AM/FM/CD/HD Radio with Bluetooth and USB/auxiliary inputs. And like all new Hyundais, the Azera’s warranty covers 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain.

If you want options on your Azera, it’s called spending roughly $5,000 more for the Limited model. It adds active safety and driver-assist features like forward-collision warning, smart cruise control, lane-departure warning and automatic high-beam assist. Other niceties include a panoramic sunroof, power rear sunshade, electronic parking brake with vehicle hold (handy when you come to stoplights), rear parking sensors and 19-inch wheels in lieu of the standard 18-inch alloys.

The 2017 Hyundai Azera is offered with only one powertrain, but it’s strong and quite efficient: a 3.3-liter V6 with direct fuel injection and 293 horsepower matched to a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual control and what Hyundai calls Active Eco mode, for optimizing engine and transmission controls for maximum efficiency. The combination delivers generous performance in a silky and predictable manner and also returns impressive fuel economy, with an EPA highway figure of 28 mpg.

3.3-liter V6
293 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
255 lb-ft of torque @ 5,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/28 mpg (Azera), 19/28 mpg (Limited)

Note: Due to changes in EPA testing to more effectively reflect real-world conditions, some 2017 models show slightly lower fuel-economy scores than their 2016 versions.