| The Azera is Hyundai’s new flagship sedan which offers a blend of style, safety, luxury and performance of a premium sedan but at a more attainable price. The Azera offers the roominess and luxury of cars that normally cost considerably more and delivers on Hyundai's promise of superior safety and value. Azera offers segment-leading standard safety features, including electronic stability control, traction control, projector headlights and bright LED taillights with 132 individual fast-acting lighting elements for better visibility. Hyundai's flagship car is a sedan that comes in SE and uplevel Limited trim. Both have a 263-hp V6 and a 5-speed automatic transmission. ABS and traction/antiskid control are standard. So are front and rear side airbags and curtain side airbags. Also included are a 60/40 split folding rear seat and dual-zone climate control. Limited adds leather upholstery and heated front seats. A sunroof is optional. A navigation system is unavailable. The Azera features a 3.8L V6 engine that produces 263 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque. Completing the powertrain is a five-speed automatic transmission. Standard features on all models include a theft deterrent system, dual-zone climate control, leather steering wheel, and a stylish front air dam. The Limited trim adds leather seats, a power sun shade, electroluminescent instrumentation gauges, heated front seats, and additional interior appointments. Under all that passenger space is an independent suspension system with unequal-length control arms up front and a multilink system at the rear, and it provides a ride that is supple without being floaty. The body itself is as tight as a vault, and sound levels are exceedingly low, particularly wind noise. Triple door seals and careful mirror design are major contributors here. The Azera is a front-wheel-drive car, but there’s almost no evidence of that fact in the driving experience. Zero torque steer and no tendency to spin the inside wheel when exiting a corner leave you wondering exactly where the engine puts down its power. Okay, there’s a little thrum in the rack-and-pinion mechanism along highways, hinting at front-wheel drive, and the wheel rim is too remote to compete with serious sports sedans, but at least it has the isolation part of the luxury equation down. As usual in Hyundais, the equipment level is comprehensive. There are eight airbags, leather seats, a 315-watt stereo with an in-dash six-CD changer and 10 speakers, electroluminescent gauges, and a manumatic five-speed automatic with a smooth action.
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