Mention well-equipped sedans for between $25-30,000, and you’ll probably get bombarded with a long list of qualifiers such as the Acura TSX, Ford Five Hundred, Nissan Maxima, Toyota Avalon, Volkswagen Passat, and the Volvo S40. Unlike four-wheel-drive supercars, there is no dearth of nice four-door family haulers. However, aside from the Kia Amanti, that long list has been missing Korean vehicles…until now. Enter the 2006 Hyundai Azera, the company’s new flagship that replaces the nondescript XG350 with handsome styling, nearly 70 added horsepower, and a level of refinement seldom seen from anything other than a Japanese or European manufacturer.

The 2006 Hyundai Azera is being built in Korea and will arrive at your local dealer starting in November. Total production is expected to reach 30-40,000 units annually.