RXSF

certainly much better personality than the avalon or anything american. However, that is one small nav screen

I8ABMR

I think if you can get a decently equipped version for around 30k then I think many will be leaving their V6 Accords and Mazdas. In a segment where the styling leaves a lot to be desired this car will stick out

IS350jet

I've been waiting patiently for the new Accord sedan design. With this kind of competition, I hope Honda sees that they really need to hit this thing out of the ball park, however, I don't see it happening. Honda just doesn't seem to care anymore.

Lexuslvr91

Hyundai did a pretty good job on this. They should have kept the 3.8 as some reviews complained about lack of low end torque which is understandable since its such a tiny engine. I'm not exactly sure how it compares to the Avalon or ES or Lacrosse in real life but style and feature wise it's surely at or near the top.

IS350jet

I love this car. Very, very, elegant. I particularly like the LED ambient lighting in the doors and dash. Awesome!

spwolf

The Azera is still not a match for the Lexus ES350. To be sure, the Azera is competitive with the “Big Four” full-size sedans mentioned above. But a loaded Azera, at $36,825, is only $775 less than the base price of a Lexus ES350. Hyundai can compare this car to the Taurus and Lacrosse as much as they want, but the public at large, looking superficially at the pricing structure (base price is $32,825, including destination. The Technology package, the car’s sole option, commands a $4,000 premium), and Hyundai’s newly minted premium image, will inevitably compare this car to the big front-drive Lexus.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...hyundai-azera/

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

<ridiculous review

Hyundai doesn't say it competes with lexus es, only this and apparently other journalists in vegas.

And comparing fully loaded price to near base (read, stripped and can't get anyway) es is flat stupid.

spwolf

hyundai itself markets their cars against lexus... it happened with veracruz, it happened with genesis, it happened with equus... it will happen with azera.

speedflex

Let's just forget the whole Azera vs. ES - Hyundai vs. Lexus thing for a moment. All that is just distracting from the true point anyway and causing people to react to things on an emotional level. Let's talk about the car on its own merits. It is an attractive alternative from Asia to what is out there and Hyundai does have a growing market share... this car will probably find a lot of garages to live in.

I've seen this car live and it looks good and the interior is handsome, if a bit off in some of the materials. But when a review talks about wind noise in a car at this price I see a problem and it has nothing to do with Lexus as a reference point. A car like this just shouldn't have that annoyance. Basic things like that are an issue.

Lexuslvr91

The Veracruz flopped because it was a very anonymous car that really didn't outdo the competiton nor had leading powertrains or features. but I see nothing wrong with the Genesis and Equus. Genesis sales have been on the rise since its debut and Equus sales far exceeded expectation so wouldn't call them a fail yet. Lets not forget how hard GS sales nosedived after the 3rd year. It seems to early to tell if you ask me.

Blackraven

Sales of Veracruz aren't that great globally though (which for me is unfortunate because I like Veracruz more than the Santa Fe)

Btw spwolf, did they start selling the ix55 (name for Veracruz in Europe) already? At least where you're from? (I assume there is Hyundai in Croatia)

Anyways, you knows it's funny cause even if Veracruz sales are low, I actually considered the Veracruz to be the first Korean car that I considered as world-class. The Veracruz was the first Korean vehicle that made me start to really like Korean cars.

Anyways, the Azera looks nice. I wish I have money to buy one

LexFather

Ridiculous b/c they make good points in Lexus favor? I mean look at the car its like an ES, aimed at the ES, sized like the ES etc etc but in Hyundai's flavor. Its a big market and they want their piece. There is nothing ridiculous in noting how superior the ES is in some aspects.

What does the GS have to do with this? You want me to post up Hyundai sales in the 80s or 90s? Talk about nosediving. Some of you find hard work posted in regards to sales threads then spin and use the data to crap on the car. Why not mention other cars that have nosedived? Hyundai marketing.

I8ABMR

The Azera is absolutely Hyundai's attempt to build an ES fighter. Pretty clear to me. In the imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

not at all, the points are legitimate. ridiculous comparing a fully loaded car which will have TONS more features than an unavailable base ES but which we all know has a higher quality materials interior.

i simply disagree. lots of ES sized cars. regardless, it's not going to eat into ES sales. if anything, it's more aimed at avalon, although that's due for new model which will up the ante again.

also, the azera is strongly targeted to their DOMESTIC market (s.korea).

there is if the cars don't compete. i don't see them comparing an azera to A6, another fwd luxo car either.

again, my comments are not to disparage the ES so don't take it that way.

spwolf

yes... it is very expensive though and you dont see many of them on the road.

here they sell i10 and i30 the best, as they were cheapest car on the market by far. Now i40 comes out with premium price and i dont know how well will it sell, if at all. It is nice, but you can get base Passat for cheaper.