AS the flagship sedan of the Hyundai range, the Azera is certainly large and comfortable enough, if not quite as imposing as one would have expected it to be. It is pleasantly styled but otherwise lacks much of a presence on the road.

Yet, the Azera has come a long way from when it was first launched as a Hyundai luxury model more than 20 years ago. It was called the Grandeur then and was basically a re-worked version of a Mitsubishi model.

Several generations later, the Azera is now a bona fide Hyundai. The level of refinement is impressive. The build quality is good and so is the quality of the plastics used in the cabin. Even the small details are not overlooked. For example, the stowage compartment in the centre console has a slow release cover and plush lining inside. The equipment level is also high, with standard features such as a multi-function steering wheel and cruise control.

The Azera has a 3.3-litre V6 engine driving the front wheels, which powers the 4.9-metre car adequately. On a recent excursion across the Causeway, the unit with variable valve timing was punchy and became more enthusiastic when the five-speed H-matic automatic transmission was shifted manually.

The biggest surprise, though, was the Azera's European-like ride. With its firm suspension and relatively accurate steering, it handles sportily for a car of its size (actually, it is only 54 mm longer than a BMW 5 Series but looks a lot bigger). And because of its spacious back seat and large boot, a family of five travelling up north in an Azera should not have any complaints.

Perhaps the best compliment you can pay this big Hyundai is to say it feels just like a Japanese car. Which it does. That its quality and refinement have risen to a new level is acknowledged by JD Power, which in its 2006 Initial Quality Study, ranked the Azera second in the US large car segment.

But for Singapore, the question is: Will a luxury model from a Korean manufacturer be accepted? Only time will tell.

Engine: 3,342 cc V6
Gearbox: 5-speed automatic transmission
Max power: 235 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max torque: 304 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
0-100 kmh: 8 secs
Top speed: 235 kmh
Price: $98,398 (with COE)
Distributor: Komoco Motors. Tel: 6475-8888