Background

Manufactured in Korea and marketed as a “premium sport sedan,” Hyundai’s Azera shares the marketplace with Toyota’s Avalon, Ford’s Taurus, and Lexus’ LS 350.

The Kit

Engineered to be built without paint or glue, Academy’s Azera seems targeted for the casual builder, beginning modeler, and the full-size Azera owner. Although targeted for less-experienced modelers, Academy has provided ample detail for the more serious or advanced modeler as well.

The body, chassis, and 2 sprues of parts are nicely molded in black, with features, proportions, and detail commensurate with marketing photos on the Hyundai USA website. Likewise, the chrome-plated and clear parts are nicely executed and are consistent with the manufacturer’s online glamour shots. Panoramic sunroof options are offered for closed, full open, and open with glass closed positions. Waterslide and peel-and-stick decal options are offered, and the nice little package is sweetened with steel axles and vinyl tires. Instructions are printed in black and white, flow logically, and contain welcome verbal warnings and cautions throughout to ensure the builder properly orients critical parts.

Building straight from box without paint should provide an hour or two of modeling fun, while the painted and detailed build may take up to anywhere from 5-10 hours, tops.

Conclusion

Academy has done well with this offering of this somewhat obscure high-end sport sedan. It’s crisp, accurate, and engineered for a quick and enjoyable build by beginners, but packing enough detail for the more serious modeler to be enticed into an easy and stress-free weekend build. It goes without saying – this one gets a “highly recommend” for kids and adults of all skill levels.

Thanks to MRC for providing the review sample and to IPMS/USA for the opportunity to share this review.