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Hyundai Azera vs Hyundai Sonata

32 messages,  Last post on Oct 24, 2008 at 2:16 PM

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#1 of 32 Conpare Azera with Sonata by oskidunker1 May 27, 2007 (4:01 pm)
I currently am leasing a 2004 Audi A6 2.7T. The lease is up in October. Since the A6 equiped the way I want it is now $55,000( was $45,000 last time) I am probably going to buy either the Sonata or the Azera. I have been unable to really find comparisons. I do like the looks of the Azera more. are the seats more comfortable than the Sonata(many reviews say the Sonata seats are bad on long drives).I know the gas milage will be less but probably no worse than my A6.I am more into luxury than sportyness.Like a real quite car with no rattles. Also I have heard that the servicing required is frequent and costly. I have been unable to find the reccommended services anywhere.what kind of combined gas milage are you getting? does this car corner any better than the Sonata?Are the radio controls easier to reach? Replies to this message: joe97 (May 27, 2007 4:41 pm) cobrazera (May 28, 2007 3:03 am) pahefner01 (May 28, 2007 5:52 pm) drdonrs (May 28, 2007 6:47 pm) njalan (Jul 07, 2008 7:39 pm) wobbly_ears (Jul 07, 2008 9:06 pm) joezera (Jul 08, 2008 3:57 am) pekelopd (May 29, 2007 10:00 am) sonaz (Oct 11, 2008 6:56 am) budh (Oct 14, 2008 3:16 pm) cobrazera (Oct 15, 2008 2:55 am) and 9 more...
#2 of 32 Re: Conpare Azera with Sonata [oskidunker1] by joe97 May 27, 2007 (4:41 pm)
Replying to: oskidunker1 (May 27, 2007 4:01 pm) Coming from an A6 and based on your criteria, I would go with the Azera, based on your criteria. Both cars are super quite, based on my test drives, Azera, as expected, is better. Take a test drive of both, and then find out which one would fit you the best.   Comparisons - try http://www.hyundaiusa.com, or here on Edmunds for starters. I am sure current owners will chime in and give you their reports. Also, there are other related Sonata/Azera forums regarding the questions you have, such as fuel economy. Take a look around.   Good luck and keep us updated.
#3 of 32 Re: Conpare Azera with Sonata [oskidunker1] by cobrazera May 28, 2007 (3:03 am)
Replying to: oskidunker1 (May 27, 2007 4:01 pm) All you have to do is drive the two, back to back. We walked into the Hyundai dealership with three vehicles on our list: Sonata, Sante Fe, and Azera. I had seen the first two on the road, but had never seen an Azera. We were blown away by Azera's interior design and materials, only the fake wood on the steering wheel and door pulls was anything but top notch. After test drives in all ( with the Azera last ), we drove away with an Azera - no contest. So quiet, luxurious and smooth. Absolutely unbelievable to most of us who equate the name Hyundai with econobox. Our trade was a Jaguar X-Type and the Azera flat blows it away in every regard but the snob appeal nameplate. 7000 miles later and happier every day with this car.
#4 of 32 Re: Conpare Azera with Sonata [oskidunker1] by pahefner01 May 28, 2007 (5:52 pm)
Replying to: oskidunker1 (May 27, 2007 4:01 pm) We have an 06 Azera with 22K miles on it. The dealer required service is not until 30K miles. It did go to the dealer for the first two oil changes because there was no aftermarket filters were yet available. Now the local Valvoline oil change has aftermarket filters so the oil change every 3 to 4 thousand miles is the same as for our Jeep. I believe a tuneup and transmission flush is due at 30K but my dealer, Suntrup Hyundai, has competitive pricing. I'm not sure why a tuneup is due and I will ask if they can put in platinum tipped plugs. We love the car and have had no problems. We have had it on several trips and gotten close to 30 mpg on these highway trips, a little over and a little under on all the trips. For the luxury at the price I think you will find it a great value and be pleased with the car. My boss had a BMW 5 series and the Azera impresses me much more, especially the interior. The seat belt bracket that you buckle into was broken on his beamer when it was less than one year old and I was not at all impressed with the interior. It looked cheap for a BMW, cheaper looking than what you would even find in a Chrysler 300, more like the leather interior in the Chevy HHR I recently rented on a business trip. Drive them both and see what you think.
#5 of 32 Re: Conpare Azera with Sonata [oskidunker1] by drdonrs May 28, 2007 (6:47 pm)
Replying to: oskidunker1 (May 27, 2007 4:01 pm) I have both, an 06 Sonata LX6 and an 06 Azera Limited. We are seniors and still desire to have 2 cars. I previously leased Acura TL's (6 in all over the years). When my lease on my 03 TL was coming to an end we decided that it would not be advisable to have leased automobiles anymore. I did my due diligence, tested the 06 TL, Camry,Accord all fully equipped. Not being swayed by badge snobbery, it was a no brain-er to purchase the Sonata. 6 months later my wife's TL was coming off lease and I test drove the Avalon, Chrysler 300 and a Lexus. Again a no brain-er and purchased the Azera. The cars are two distinctly different vehicles. The Sonata is like a "mustang" in its energy level. Yes my wife found the passenger seat less than ideally comfortable (leather seats but only the driver's seat is electric. I drive that car mostly during the week. Our Azera is the "family" car. It is a true "boulevard" car. Rides like a dream, has all the bells and whistles, and is thousands less than our friends Lexus and handles just as well. By the way it is the first car that we have owned that my wife doesn't find fault with as regards comfort. Some folks have an extreme case of "badge snobbery" and so they never give Hyundai a chance. As an aside my son whose Honda CRV just came off lease was adamant in leasing another CRV, but finally succumbed to my pleas to test drive a Santa Fe. The results are that he now has a beautiful Santa Fe. Bottom line, I think you would probably be happier with the Azera if it's the only car that you will be driving. We just took a trip to Boston and back from Westchester, north of NYC, and we averaged 26 mpg on regular gas. If you are as fortunate to find a dealer as good as mine, have a talk with the service manager and tell them you don't want the "full menu" that they present. Know what is required for warranty, and I do not think the servicing requirements are any more costly than say your Audi. All in all having 2 Hyundai automobiles has been a pleasure for me. Quality, comfort, all the inclusive options, and an exceptional price point, make the choice easy to make. Go with the Azera if you are a one car family. Replies to this message: njalan (Jul 07, 2008 7:39 pm) wobbly_ears (Jul 07, 2008 9:06 pm) joezera (Jul 08, 2008 3:57 am)
#6 of 32 Re: Conpare Azera with Sonata [oskidunker1] by pekelopd May 29, 2007 (10:00 am)
Replying to: oskidunker1 (May 27, 2007 4:01 pm) Since your lease isn't up until October, I think you should consider the Hyundai's new top of the line model due for an '08 launch, the Genesis, RWD luxury sedan.   rockylee, "2008-2009 Hyundai Genesis" #1, 6 Apr 2007 9:13 pm   http://www.hyundaiconceptgenesis.com/
#7 of 32 Re: Conpare Azera with Sonata [drdonrs] by njalan Jul 07, 2008 (7:39 pm)
Replying to: drdonrs (May 28, 2007 6:47 pm) I just got promoted to a senior and need your honest advice since you own a 06 Sonata and a 06 Azera for close to 3 years. I test-drove a 09 Sonata L-4 Limited with nav and liked it a lot but my wife did not like it. She likes the 08 Azera Limited with nav better. I like the Azera too but concern about its 3.8 engine (not good on gas) and the easy chipping on the wood steering wheel. So, my wife gave me 3 choices: Acura RL with nav, Mercedes E350 4matic with nav or Audi 6 with nav. We had ownership or leasing experience with all 3 cars. I still have a 2002 Acura RL in addition to a 05 Montego and a 97 Pathfinder (cannot get rid of it).   Reliability, durability, and comfort are the main concerns of my wife, but I want to add fuel efficiency to my preferred list. Somehow I have a tough time convincing my wife a Sonata (or any Korean car for that matter) is a car good enough for us. I would settle for an Azera if it gets 26 mpg (highway) and 18 mpg (local), and the chipping problem is resolved. Replies to this message: wobbly_ears (Jul 07, 2008 9:06 pm) joezera (Jul 08, 2008 3:57 am)
#8 of 32 Re: Conpare Azera with Sonata [njalan] by wobbly_ears Jul 07, 2008 (9:06 pm)
Replying to: njalan (Jul 07, 2008 7:39 pm) I have a 2007 Azera with about 9500 miles on it & it has been my best car buy ever. No rattles, squeaks or anything. No wood-chipping at all. I am quite active on this & other Azera forums & I honestly can count on my fingers the number of people who claim to have had the wood chipping issue. I think it may be their wedding bands scratching & it would happen in a lowly accent to a Rolls Royce.   Considering your criteria, I would go with a 2009 Azera with Nav rather than Sonata. Azera is luxurious, fit & finish is fantastic, loaded with tech goodies. I get 19-20 in city traffic (Houston traffic!!!) and easily get 27-30 on highway. And I don't drive gingerly either!!   Another very very important differentiation between Sonata, Camry, Accords and Azera is safety. Among all these, only Azera has Side Thorax airbags for rear seat passengers. All others only have roof mounted air bags for rear passengers.   If you happen to carry passenegrs in your rear seats, I think this extra set of airbags alone should convince you.   And, as for your other choices, going with Azera would save you atleast 10k in savings! (Btw, this is totally offtopic, but what is your opinion on the Acura's new grill design?)
#9 of 32 Re: Conpare Azera with Sonata [njalan] by joezera Jul 08, 2008 (3:57 am)
Replying to: njalan (Jul 07, 2008 7:39 pm) Our Azera has 6K miles now. Our average fuel economy is 27.4 mpg and occasionally bumps up to 27.5 mpg. We are seniors too and I drive pretty conservatively. Most of our driving is about 25 miles one way over farm to market roads plus some state and US highways at 60 mph. or so. Our best mpg. was on a 150 mile trip at around 4K miles and we got 29.3 mpg. After we have about 10K miles on the car I plan to change to synthetic 5W20 oil.   The '09 Sonata has either an I-4 or a V-6. The '09 I-4 is now available with a 5-speed automatic and has better acceleration than the older models with 4-speed automatic transmissions. Our decision to go with the Azera was based partly on more comfort features (passenger side power seat, heated seats, more comfortable seats etc.).   Drive them both and decide. You will both want to be happy with your decision. Good luck.   Joe
#10 of 32 by moocow1 Jul 09, 2008 (9:59 am)
We've got both an Azera and Sonata here. I've never driven the Azera, but riding in it is certainly a comfortable and smooth experience. Personally I would have voted for having two 2009 sonata's now instead for the extra fuel economy and money savings, but at the time that wasn't an option. It would certainly be one now though. I feel the Sonata is a much bigger bang for the buck, but the Azera is a good car nonetheless. Based on your criteria, both cars would suit. Really a matter of wanting the car for your wife it seems. Sonata's got a pretty large fuel economy advantage though. And both are large interiors, so I would assume space and comfort won't be an issue. Replies to this message: njalan (Jul 09, 2008 3:00 pm) auld_dawg (Jul 09, 2008 6:05 pm) bhmr59 (Jul 09, 2008 6:37 pm) drdonrs (Jul 10, 2008 5:04 am)

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