Used 2015 Hyundai Azera

Hyundai excels at offering more style, more features and more power for less money than the competition. With the 2015 Azera luxury sedan, the company’s outdone itself. While one look might have you believing the Azera is a $50,000 high-end European luxury car, the truth is it costs about the same as a nicely equipped Honda Accord or Toyota Avalon. The Azera sedan delivers great power and impressive fuel economy, as well as cutting-edge safety systems such as Blind Spot detection, Lane Change Assist and Forward Collision Warning. While it may not be as sporty as a Nissan Maxima or Volkswagen CC, for the way the majority of people drive their cars, Hyundai’s 2015 Azera luxury sedan is more than sufficient.

We’ll say right off the bat that the 2015 Azera from Hyundai has one of the best 6-speed automatic transmissions we’ve tested, and that its 292-horsepower V6 is a force to be reckoned with. That said, the Azera’s racy good looks don’t translate into the promise of a spirited driving experience. The electric-assist power steering feels vague and unresponsive. The suspension delivers a comfortable ride, but only so long as the road surface remains smooth – over bumps and road distortions, the Azera feels unsettled and even jarring at times. The Limited’s 19-inch wheels might have something to do with the roughness. We’d say it was a fair trade-off if the bigger tires came with improved cornering, but sadly, that’s not the case.

Even when looking at the base trim, the 2015 Hyundai Azera’s passenger cabin pretty much tops its class and even puts pressure on some well-established luxury cars. It offers more convenience and infotainment technologies than any of its competitors, comfortable front seats for both driver and passenger (not a Hyundai trademark) and nine airbags including a driver’s knee airbag. Limited trims include such luxuries as a panoramic moonroof, a power rear sunshade and manual side-window sunshades.

Hyundai calls its current styling theme “Fluidic Sculpture,” and the rakish 2015 Azera premium sedan is a fine example. Aggressive sheetmetal with bold character lines in the flanks, integrated exhaust outlets and crisp LED lighting all around – daytime running lights, taillights, fog lights and side-mirror-integrated turn indicators – contribute to the Azera’s sporty, class-above charisma.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT
The Hyundai Azera sedan for 2015 offers so much standard equipment it almost begs the question why not just buy the base model and be done with it?

CLIMATE-CONTROLLED SEATING
Heated front seats are an option on some sedans, but with the 2015 Azera, heated and ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats are standard fare.

The 2015 Hyundai Azera boasts the most impressive list of standard equipment in its class. Highlights include keyless entry and push-button start, power-folding side mirrors, automatic climate control, a rearview camera, a power tilt/telescoping steering column, a 12-way power driver’s seat with extension, automatic headlights, navigation, 14-speaker Infinity audio, 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, leather seating, BlueLink telematics with safety and convenience services, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, plus iPod/USB and auxiliary audio ports. The Limited adds High Beam Assist, Forward Collision Mitigation, a panoramic sunroof, high-intensity headlights, power rear sunshade, and 19-inch wheels.

We’re big fans of simplified pricing structures, and for 2015, Hyundai’s Azera luxury sedan is about as simple as they come. Basically you can have the base or Limited trim, with a handful of dealer installed options such as a first aid kit, mudflaps, carpeted floormats, and a carpeted cargo tray.

The 2015 Hyundai Azera sedan features a strong and efficient 3.3-liter V6 engine that sends power to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode. It’s among the category’s more impressive powertrains, and one of the most efficient; that EPA highway estimate of 29 mpg, in particular, is notable considering the power of the engine and the size of the car it has to move.

3.3-liter V6
293 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
255 lb-ft of torque @ 5,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/29 mpg (Azera), 19/28 mpg (Limited)