Today I'm in Portland, Oregon, to drive the all-new 2013 Lexus ES. My review is still a few days away -- embargoes, dontcha know -- but I will tell you that more than a few of us hacks were discussing the new 2012 Hyundai Azera. One of the Toyota staffers from Japan seemed surprised that we would consider the Azera a serious threat to the Lexus ES, and considered it more of a competitor to the Toyota Avalon. And that brings up an interesting question: The Azera certainly rivals the ES for its luxurious design, but would buyers who are thinking about a Lexus even consider a Hyundai? So I figured I'd ask you.
Let's set aside issues like quality, value-for-money, resale prices, etc., and just stick with the issues of design and brand name.
Let's set aside issues like quality, value-for-money, resale prices, etc., and just stick with the issues of design and brand name.