The 2012 Hyundai Accent and 2012 Hyundai Azera were both named to this year’s “Ward’s 10 Best Interiors” list by the editors of WardsAuto.com. Accent also won a Ward’s 10 Best Engines award just a few months ago for the subcompact’s 1.6L Gamma engine.
“The Accent arrived with a $15,925 sticker, which we double-checked for a typo because this interior shows incredible attention to detail, with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, swooping lines on the instrument panel and many of the Hyundai-family center-stack elements that have made interiors such as the Elantra, Veloster and Sonata so appealing,” said Tom Murphy, executive editor, WardsAuto World magazine.
“The previous-generation Hyundai Azera was a decent car, but it lacked style,” continued Murphy. “The all-new Azera corrects that shortcoming. It hails from the Hyundai design studios with flash, sizzle, substance and proof there is no substitute for premium materials. The Azera serves notice to luxury brands everywhere that Hyundai aspires to be known for much more than great value. Our Azera tester stickered at $36,875 with heated and cooled front seats, panoramic roof and motorized rear privacy shade.”
The WardsAuto editorial staff spent two months selecting the 10 winners from a field of 40 vehicles with new or significantly improved interiors. There was no price cap on entries.
“Both Azera and Accent offer roomy, attractive cabins filled with features that offer maximum driver comfort and provide unsurpassed quality,” said Christopher Chapman, chief designer, Hyundai Design Center. “Like the performance and the exterior design of the two cars, the inside also impresses. Quality fabrics, straightforward controls and futuristic styling help the Accent and Azera look sleek and modern.”
The all-new 2012 Accent redefines expectations in the subcompact category by offering the company’s distinctive and upscale “Fluidic Sculpture” design, best-in-class standard fuel economy, exceptional roominess and a full complement of standard safety features. Also brand new for 2012, Hyundai Azera modernizes the large sedan segment, featuring a powerful Lambda II 3.3-liter GDI engine, six-speed transmission, best-in-class combined fuel economy of 23 miles per gallon and a wide range of advanced safety equipment.
Joining Accent and Azera on the Ward’s 10 Best Interiors list are Audi A7, Chevrolet Sonic, Chrysler 300 Luxury, Dodge Dart, Infiniti JX35, Mazda CX-5, Range Rover Evoque and Volkswagen Beetle. The 2012 interior winners will be honored in a ceremony at this year’s WardsAuto Interiors Conference, to be held May 17 at The Henry hotel in Dearborn, MI. An extensive package profiling the winners in more detail will appear April 30 on WardsAuto.com and in the May issue of WardAutoWorld magazine.