1st Place: Hyundai Azera

Overview:

The Azera, as Hyundai's largest sedan, is traditionally considered to be a class above most of the cars in this group, leaving only Hyundai's smaller Sonata to compete here. But despite its vast interior and position within Hyundai's own lineup, it too runs directly against the class's traditional favorites, with exterior dimension very falling close to the ubiquitous Honda Accord and with a much lower price, one of the lowest in this group at under $25,000. Credit generous rebates with the fantastic value the Azera offers, with excellent interior space and quality, a very comfortable and very quiet ride, effortless power, safe if not sporty handling, and a wide array of luxury features. It combines traditional family sedan virtues of space, safety, and comfort with luxurious ride, refinement, and interior appointments. Some competitors beat its gas mileage, a fair number are more fun to drive, and others get slightly higher safety scores, but overall, it's a near-luxury full-sized sedan squeezed into the footprint and price tag of a bargain-priced family car.

Driving the Azera:

The Azera has a very comfortable and absorbent ride, though some might have preferred it to have been even softer at the expense of some floaty motions. It handles well, but although it doesn't feel like a large car, it's not engaging or fun to drive. The 3.8-liter V6 is quite powerful, offering excellent acceleration without torque steer. Wind, road, and engine noise are very well-suppressed. While not at the level of some competitors here, the Azera's gas mileage is competitive with many of the smaller cars in this group.

Inside the Azera:

The Azera's interior is vast and very well-finished. The high, wide front seats are very spacious and comfortable, though they could offer more lateral support. The rear seat is nearly as roomy as that in the much larger Ford Taurus, and it's better shaped and better padded. The interior is very well-finished with many soft-touch surfaces, and trim pieces fit together very well. Despite a few hard plastics on the center stack, the overall ambiance is more upscale than in almost all other family sedans on this side of $30,000. The gauges are very clear, and the high-mounted instruments are easy to use. Drivers sit high and comfortably with excellent visibility.   High seats, large footwells, and wide-opening doors contribute to very easy entry/exit. The trunk is roomy and well-shaped.

Azera pricing:

The Azera reviewed here came in at $24,972, discounted from a sticker price nearly $5,000 higher. At that price it includes such extras as a power passenger seat, active head restraints, and a power rear sunshade. Selecting the "Ultimate Package" would have added many group-exclusive features like rain-sensing wiper and a power-adjustable steering column and pedals with a memory function while still undercutting most competitors in price.

Conclusion:

Too few consumers have found the Azera for Hyundai to be able to sell the cars near its already competitive sticker price, and this advantage is yours for the taking. At this discounted price of under $25,000, the Azera practically epitomizes the premium family sedan, and also offers more space and more refinement than many pricier cars in this group. Don't miss it.

NEXT PAGE