2007 Hyundai Azera in Phoenix, Arizona

Remarkable for both its ambition and its achievement, Azera is Hyundai's entry into the full-size, near-luxury segment. Azera is a worthy alternative to the Toyota Avalon and Nissan Maxima. Introduced just last year as a 2006 model, Azera has already out-scored the highly regarded Toyota Avalon to earn second place in the segment in J.D. Power and Associate's 2006 Initial Quality Study. It was also rated the Most Appealing Large Car in J.D. Power's Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, and has received the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety's (IIHS) top crash test rating for frontal offset impacts. That's an impressive combination of accolades.

In design and styling, in creature comforts, powertrain and in safety features, Azera offers as much or more than anything else in the class, and at a lower price.

Azera's powertrain is the state of the art. The 3.8-liter V6 engine features variable valve timing for low emissions and a broad power curve, while the five-speed automatic gives the driver the option of shifting semi-manually, competitive features with Lexus, Infiniti and Acura. While there's nothing especially striking in Azera's design or styling, take off the Hyundai badge, and it could pass as family among any of the top-rated Japanese nameplates.