This is the 2021 Hyundai Azera, a Korean luxury sedan that aims to steal customers away from the Chevrolet Impala, Nissan Maxima, and Toyota Avalon. Fresh out of a facelift, let’s us take a look at all that has changed and find out if it is worth its 164,000 Dirham price tag.
Drive
Now for those of you who aren’t quite familiar with the Azera, it is the brand’s flagship sedan that sits at the very top of the food chain. It’s the largest, most expensive, and most luxurious sedan available from Hyundai, before stepping into its luxury brand Genesis.
Powering this stunning sedan is a 3.5-liter V6 engine that pushes out 286 horsepower and 338 Nm of torque. Keeping the numbers aside, it is extremely smooth to drive and it genuinely does feel like a high-end luxury sedan in every way. The sound insulation is impeccable, the 8-speed automatic transmission is silky smooth, and the suspension is tuned so well that is near impossible to feel any of the bumps or imperfections in the road.
When you do want to have some fun, there are paddle shifters and 4 drive modes including a Sports mode that makes the steering heavier, holds onto gears longer and even changes the color scheme and theme on the instrument cluster. Mash the accelerator pedal to the floor and the Azera wakes up, with wheel spins all through first gear and accelerating from 0-100km/h in just 7.4-seconds.
In terms of driving aids, the Azera is fitted with Hyundai’s Smart Sense technologies, which include blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision avoidance, blind-spot collision avoidance, a driver attention monitor, and one of the best adaptive cruise control systems on the market.
Interior
On the inside, the designers haven’t gone with the tried and tested approach, they have pushed the boundaries, come out of their comfort zone, and the risk has definitely paid off. The dark blue leather interior is different and it both looks and feels very, very expensive.
Complimenting the navy leather is an Alcantara headliner, black and silver trims, and fine details such as an Azera badge on all door panels. The minimalistic design is made possible by a Mercedes-Benz inspired 12.3-inch instrument cluster screen, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, and a smaller touch screen that is used solely for the climate control system; not to forget the transmission buttons that give a much neater look and feel.
For those having withdrawal symptoms during the ongoing pandemic, the backseats in the Azera are bound to remind you of the business class cabin on your favorite airline. There is an ample amount of space both in terms of headroom and legroom, along with privacy shades on either side, cup holders, A/C vents, and two charging outlets.
Features
Like all Hyundais, the Azera comes with a long list of comfort, entertainment, and safety features, including heated and cooled seats for the driver and front-seat passenger, a full-length panoramic roof, a 64-color ambient lighting system, wireless charger, 360-degree cameras, and a 10-speaker Infinity audio system.
For the younger generation, there’s also Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and the ability to play video off a USB, but by far the most interesting feature is something known as Sounds of Nature. To help you relax after a tough day at work, the Azera helps you de-stress by playing soothing sounds such as a lively forest, the sound of raindrops, or that of a warm fireplace. The only thing missing to give you a complete spa experience is a set of massage seats.
Exterior
Like many new Hyundai models, the Palisade included, the styling of the Azera is rather controversial. Some people love it, others absolutely hate it, and I for one think the designers should be given credit for thinking out of the box. In broad daylight, the plastic grille which makes up nearly 90% of the front of the car isn’t a particularly beautiful sight, but at night it’s a completely different story.
The diamond pattern that starts in the grille continues all around the car, including the headlamp clusters, the wheel caps of the 19-inch alloy wheels, into the tail lamps, and on the indicator and wiper stalks as well. The glass-enclosed Hyundai logo adds a touch of class and hides all the necessary sensors for safety systems such as the adaptive cruise control and collision avoidance systems. There are also functional vents on either side of the bumper to improve aerodynamic efficiency and to help keep the brakes as cool as possible.
In the back, there is a full-length LED light bar that also gets the diamond design treatment and an extremely neat diffuser that gives you the impression of four exhaust outlets. The boot can either be opened from the key or from the hidden button inside the Hyundai logo and due to its deep layout; it offers plenty of storage space.
Verdict
The 2021 Hyundai Azera is far, far superior to its American and Japanese rivals. It is built better, it drives better, and it offers significantly more tech, but the real question is: are you willing to pay 164,000 Dirhams for a Hyundai? If you are, then you'll probably need to start looking at insurance options, and there simply is no one better than the leading insurance provider in the region InsuranceMarket.ae™.
