- The redesigned 2012 Hyundai Azera starts at $32,875, reflecting a $6,605 price increase over the outgoing model.
- The 2012 Azera pricing puts it in line with the 2012 Ford Taurus Limited FWD, which starts at $32,450.
- But the base Azera is cheaper than what may be its chief Japanese competitor, the 2012 Lexus ES 350, which starts at $37,600.
COSTA MESA, California — The redesigned 2012 Hyundai Azera starts at $32,875, reflecting a $6,605 price increase over the outgoing model. The price includes an $875 destination charge.
The uplevel 2012 Hyundai Azera with Technology package starts at $36,875, including shipping. The redesigned Azera goes on sale in April.
The base 2011 Hyundai Azera GLS starts at $26,270, including a $775 destination charge. The 2011 Hyundai Azera Limited starts at $30,870, including shipping.
The 2011 Azera is equipped with a 260-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 engine linked to a six-speed automatic transmission. The 2012 Azera gets a 293-hp 3.3-liter GDI V6 engine linked to a six-speed automatic transmission.
The redesign and the pricing strategy of the 2012 Azera indicate that Hyundai is intent on taking the sedan upmarket, pitting it against such contenders as the 2012 Ford Taurus Limited FWD and the 2012 Lexus ES 350.
The 2012 Ford Taurus Limited FWD starts at $32,450, including a $795 destination charge. The 2012 Lexus ES 350 is more expensive than Azera, however, with a base price of $37,600, including an $875 destination charge.
Standard equipment on the 2012 Azera includes 18-inch alloy wheels, electronic stability control, front fog lights, integrated dual exhaust, heated side mirrors, leather seating with heated front and rear seats, leather steering wheel and shift knob and cruise control.
The $4,000 Technology package adds such items as 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, HID xenon headlights, power rear sunshade and ventilated front seats.
Inside Line says: With these kind of prices on the Azera, isn't it about time for Hyundai to start its own premium brand to compete with the likes of Lexus, Acura and Infiniti?
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ras5 says:
08:16 AM, 02/19/2012
I agree with blowngtp. no reason to increase overhead with a seperate division. The Azera is competitive in price and features to it's intended competion. A person cross shopping an Accord or Camry is going to compare to a Sonata..not an Azera.
blowngtp says:
01:04 PM, 02/18/2012
I hope Hyundai keep selling out of one dealership and not get caught up in the Luxury hype BS. Cadillac are being sold right next to Chevy now without people getting bent out of shape.
That money can be invested in keeping there models fresh and updated.
The price is right. A loaded Azera will still be cheaper than a base ES and about 2k less than a loaded Buick Lacrosse. It will also be about 1800 less than a similar equipped Buick Regal GS
megadethmartyr says:
02:59 PM, 02/17/2012
@ nefariousnigel, the Azera never competed with an Accord. Think you have your classes slightly mixed up.
tbone85 says:
07:46 AM, 02/16/2012
""God forbid Hyundai steps up and goes head-to-head with Lexus.
God forbid they have the maracas to live out their dream.""
I seriously doubt that execs at the Japanese companies have this same attitude. They more likely remember when everyone said precisely the same thing about their luxury divisions competing with the Germans.
nefariousnigel says:
05:51 PM, 02/15/2012
More expensive, still no cachet or model recognition. I don't know from where the conquest sales will come.
If Hyundai pulls this off, more power to them - but at these prices, you're not competing against Accords anymore....
blackdynamite1 says:
04:18 PM, 02/15/2012
ctl
Hyundai sales reps get this PR spin in their pump-up sales meetings
Don't de-program him!
BD
ctl says:
02:15 PM, 02/15/2012
Equus OUTSOLD the LS? Genesis OUTSOLD the GS yes, but for the price range ES is its competitor, taken away Genesis coupe the sedan is doing... not so well.
j2j says:
01:26 PM, 02/15/2012
@bd1
Uhh, BMW isn't taking away the V8 from the 5 Series.
And who cares about the 2% fleet last July?
Honda's fleet sales % was even lower last July and they haven't been dumping cars into fleet this year like Toyota is.
Plus, the Corolla sold over 240k units last year and yet, the Corolla did NOT hit the 200k mark in retail sales - so that means over 40k Corollas went to fleet in 2011 - so let's not try to make it out as if Toyota didn't sell to fleet last year.
As for people avoiding Hyundai's luxury offerings - that may be in comparison to BMW and Mercedes, but not compared to Lexus since the Genesis and Equus sedans OUTSOLD the GS and LS and they don't even have AWD.
Heck, Toyoda wanted to cancel the GS b/c it was such a miserable FAILURE for Toyota, but they kept it around but ditched the V8 since barely enough people were buying the V6, much less the V8.
Meanwhile, Genesis sedan sales are going strong (still increasing) despite the new Genesis sedan being set to launch in 2013 (with AWD), including sales of the V8 Genesis.
Meanwhile, w/o the Camry-based, "pseudo luxury" ES and RX, Lexus sales would be at the level of ...Lincoln. lol
blackdynamite1 says:
07:42 AM, 02/15/2012
j2j
You avoided the original question, of course......
When will Hyundai have the maracas to grace us all with it's luxury presence
Not this garbage luxury car sale event they're putting on, that everybody's avoiding?
BD
blackdynamite1 says:
07:39 AM, 02/15/2012
j2j
When Toyota sold 2% fleet last July, you didn't say anything about that, did you?
It all evens out.......
BD