Hyundai has announced plans to drop the Azera in the United States.
According to the automaker, the Azera has been a “successful” part of the company’s lineup for years as it offered a combination of style and comfort at an affordable price. However, Hyundai notes the car was facing stiff competition from the Sonata and the Genesis G80.
A mix of slowing sales and product overlapped pushed the company to decide to stop offering the Azera and simplify its lineup.
The 2017 Azera starts at $34,100 and is powered by a 3.3-liter V6 engine that produces 293 hp (218 kW) and 255 lb-ft (345 Nm) of torque. The car comes nicely equipped with leather upholstery, heated / ventilated front seats, and GPS navigation.
Despite all these features, Azera sales have dwindled as Carsalesbase reports the company only sold 4,942 units in the United States last year. For comparison, Buick sold 27,582 LaCrosse models in 2016 while Toyota sold 48,079 Avalons.
Besides announcing the decision to drop the Azera, Hyundai confirmed there will not be a 2018 Veloster. Instead, the vehicle will have a “long 2017 model year”, likely as a result of the redesigned model which is still under development.
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