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Azera vs. Montego

Hyundai's smooth Azera wins out over Mercury Montego.

Jun 2, 2006

Hyundai’s luxurious Azera gives you way more for your buying a car buck than Mercury’s masculine Montego.

There's lots to love when buying a car tests out the Hyundai Azera against the Mercury Montego. Hyundai's Azera really built a winner with Azera - its flagship sedan.

First off, the Azera's 3.8 liter MPI-DOHC V6 engine was surprising. It was super smooth and yet bolted down the highway when putting the accelerator all the way down for a passing maneuver. It seems like the electronic stability control, traction control system and active head restraints are working together to make this a cool ride.

The interior styling is luxurious for the Azera, especially when the base price ($26,8935) includes tons of amenities. There's power seats in sumptuous leather, split seats in the rear, wood grain trims, a steering-wheel controlled CD/MP3 audio system, cruise control, automatic headlights and carpeted floor mats. The interior also seems rather roomy for a car in this category and price range.

Azera also gets good marks in safety with eight standard air bags, the aforementioned traction and stability controls, standard ABS anti-lock brakes. And, of course, you can't forget Hyundai's unprecedented 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty and five years of unlimited roadside assistance.

Here are some notes from the male and senior perspectives:

Male: "It's got some zip to it!" I got into the Hyundai Azera and I was immediately impressed. The interior paneling was plush and there was leg room. I step on the gas and, as my grandfather used to say, "I knew I had done something." The Azera zipped down the highway with surprising acceleration and excellent handling. This was a pleasant surprise. I found the car to be quite sporty. I had to ask myself again. Is this really a Hyundai? Because if it is, there on to something here. I drove it on my typical Orange County to Los Angeles run. The classy looking sedan got great gas mileage and I'm told they have a pretty good warranty in place. Ordinarily, I wouldn't think much about a Hyundai fellas, but they got my attention with this one. - Derick Alexander

Senior: Could it be that a car manufacturer has finally given the senior population a break?

Certainly, Hyundai's Azera gets my vote for best buy for seniors. It shouts luxury, but at a price that's thousands less than upscale models.

First of all, the Azera's sleek style definitely says that it has the goods on those pricey sedans and the ride is pure heaven for seniors who wants to feel pampered in their retirement years. After all, they deserve style and comfort at an affordable price.

I used my head-on-headrest test when I rode down a street in my hometown, which is full of ruts and potholes. The Azera came up with a score of nine (one being the lowest) on my Richter Rider scale - my take on how many times my head bangs against the headrest. Now that's almost as smooth as it gets.

I found the interior was exceptionally impressive with finishes and materials that resembled a Lexus or BMW. The seats felt pliable like leather, a touch of the faux bovine without the upscale price tag. The dash panel was senior user friendly, meaning I navigated through the buttons without studying a manual or taking a computer class just to turn on the FM. Also, the Azera had lots of head room for tall people like me and the seats are roomy for us seniors who have gained a few pounds over the years.

As for pick up, there's no problem jumping into the fast lane of the freeway or merging onto an on ramp with the Azera. It really packs more punch than those little compacts. Also, I noticed that the rear view mirrors were large -- a real plus for seniors.

For the budget-minded senior (and who isn't these days), a tank of gas lasted longer than I am normally used to, which gives this near-luxury auto my stamp of "non-gas-guzzling" approval. - Rev. Joanne Tucker

Mercury Montego

At $26,880 (base price), the Mercury Montego is certainly more beefy on the outside and on the inside, but not under the hood. The sluggish 3.0l 4V V6 Duratec engine does not stand up against Azera's glass-like ride and powerful acceleration.

The interior is a study in testosterone, which is good for male buyers. There's heated leather seats, fold down seats and a steering-wheel controlled six-disc CD/MP3 system. The optional navigation and entertainment system are a big plus for big-time commuters and for families.

The copyright of the article Azera vs. Montego in Buying a Car is owned by Sheryll Alexander. Permission to republish Azera vs. Montego in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.