2006 Hyundai Azera Photo Gallery

Mention well-equipped sedans for between $25-30,000, and you’ll probably get bombarded with a long list of qualifiers such as the Acura TSX, Ford Five Hundred, Nissan Maxima, Toyota Avalon, Volkswagen Passat, and the Volvo S40. Unlike four-wheel-drive supercars, there is no dearth of nice four-door family haulers. However, aside from the Kia Amanti, that long list has been missing Korean vehicles…until now. Enter the 2006 Hyundai Azera, the company’s new flagship that replaces the nondescript XG350 with handsome styling, nearly 70 added horsepower, and a level of refinement seldom seen from anything other than a Japanese or European manufacturer. The 2006 Hyundai Azera is being built in Korea and will arrive at your local dealer starting in November. Total production is expected to reach 30-40,000 units annually.

Powertrain

Power for the 2006 Hyundai Azera comes from a 24-valve, 3.8-liter V6 with continuously variable valve timing and dual overhead cams. A five-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual control manages 263 horsepower peaking at 6,000 rpm and 255-lb.-ft. of torque spinning at 4,500 rpm. Hyundai estimates a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 6.5 seconds, and the EPA suggests fuel economy ratings of 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

Suspension

Riding on a stretched and widened Sonata platform, the 3,629-lb., front-wheel-drive 2006 Hyundai Azera uses a double wishbone front suspension up front and a multi-link setup in the rear. Front and rear stabilizer bars are standard.

Models

There are two 2006 Hyundai Azera models available: SE and Limited. The SE features premium cloth seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt and telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel, a CD player, power front seats, and the usual array of power features. Limited models add leather seat upholstery, a leather-and-wood steering wheel, a power rear sunshade, heated front seats, and an electroluminescent gauge cluster.

Pricing

Official pricing has yet to be released, but company representatives claim that the starting price for a 2006 Hyundai Azera SE will be less than $25,000, including a $495 destination charge, with the Limited model running at just about $27,000.

Tires

SE versions of the 2006 Hyundai Azera come equipped with five-spoke, 16-inch alloy wheels rolling on 225/60 all-season tires. Limited models get 10-spoke, 17-inch alloys with 235/55, V-rated all-season Michelin tires. All Azeras feature a standard full-size spare tire mounted to an alloy wheel.

Airbags

Hyundai is intent on promoting itself as a safety-conscious manufacturer, and to that end it includes eight standard airbags in the new 2006 Azera. Up front are the two requisite driver and passenger airbags, though added protection comes from front and rear side airbags and side curtain airbags for front and rear outboard passengers.

Safety

In addition to eight standard airbags, each 2006 Hyundai Azera comes with antilock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, active front headrests that adjust fore/aft and up/down, three rear headrests, and three-point seatbelts for all five passengers. There are also front and rear crumple zones, as well as hood creases designed to dissipate crash energy. Though it hasn’t been tested yet, Hyundai expects the Azera to pass all crash tests with flying colors.

Warranty

Like all Hyundai models sold in the U.S., the 2006 Azera is backed by an impressive 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, a seven-year/unlimited mileage rust warranty, and a five-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance program.

Exterior

From a design perspective, the 2006 Hyundai Azera has borrowed styling cues from a number of vehicles, past and present. The sloped rear pillar and resulting short trunk lid conjure up thoughts of the current GS and IS offerings from Lexus, while the bustle-butt rear end mimics that of the BMW 7 Series, a look often maligned when it first debuted several years ago. The shape of the tail end also resembles an older Mazda 929/Millenia, and the front end looks a bit like a previous-generation Toyota Camry. Put them all together, and you have the unique and attractive style of the Azera.

Interior

Inside, the 2006 Hyundai Azera offers 106.9 cubic feet of passenger room and the trunk swallows up to 16.6 cubic feet of cargo. That trunk is lined everywhere – the floor, the side walls, the lid, the trunk roof, and even the hinges. The Azera’s cabin features generous head, foot, and leg room for all passengers and includes a tasteful dash design with logical placement of the most common radio and climate controls. Additionally, the interior is extremely quiet thanks to triple door seals and the 3.8-liter’s high level of refinement.