2008 Hyundai Veracruz Review

PROS
Quiet and comfortable ride, Plenty of passenger space, High-quality materials

CONS
Mediocre fuel economy, Sloppy handling, Limited front-seat leg room

If you hadn't noticed, Hyundai is getting into the crossover SUV game big time. In 2005, the South Korean automaker introduced the Hyundai Tucson, a five-passenger compact SUV that competes with vehicles like the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V. In late 2006, Hyundai introduced a completely redesigned Santa Fe. Larger than Tucson, Santa Fe has available seating for seven and competes with vehicles like the Chevrolet Equinox and Nissan Murano.

This past march, Hyundai introduced the Veracruz. It's set to compete with large midsize crossover SUVs similar to GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-9, Saturn Outlook, Subaru B9 Tribeca, and Toyota Highlander. Like Santa Fe, Veracruz seats seven passengers, but it has a wheelbase that's four inches longer and is six inches longer overall.

It also has a larger engine. At 3.8 liters, Veracruz's V6 makes 260 horsepower and 257 pounds-feet of torque and runs on regular-grade gasoline. The V6 mates to a new six-speed automatic transmission that has a separate shift gate for clutchless manual operation. Front- and all-wheel drive models are offered. All feature standard traction control. Veracurz's all-wheel-drive system does not have a low range and, according to Hyundai, is not indented for severe off-road use.

Standard safety equipment includes antilock brakes, stability control, active front-seat head restraints, tire-pressure monitor, and front, front side, and curtain side airbags. The curtain side airbags protect all three seating rows.

Three models are offered: GLS, SE, and Limited. All come standard with front and rear air conditioning, AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system, steering-wheel audio controls, power windows, locks, and mirrors, cruise control, keyless entry, rear spoiler, and privacy glass.

SE adds to GLS power driver seat, auto-dimming rear-view mirror with Homelink, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, automatic headlights, roof rails, fog lights, and a cooled center console. The line topping Limited adds to SE leather seats, heated front seats, power passenger seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, Infinity audio system with CD changer, power sunroof, power liftgate, conversation mirror, and backup warning system.

Key available features include DVD-based rear-seat entertainment system, proximity unlocking and keyless starting, 115-volt power outlet in the rear compartment, rain-sensing windshield wipers, Bluetooth cell-phone connection, and MP3 input jack.

Veracruz is manufactured in South Korea and, like all Hyundai models, comes with a 5-year / 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Base price for the 2WD GLS is $26,900. All models have a destination charge of $690.

Get up and Go
The standard 3.8-liter V6 engine provides acceptable acceleration from a standstill and good passing power. The engine is smooth and willingly revs to redline. Hyundai doesn't quote a 0 to 60 mph time, but it is likely less than 8.5 seconds, which places the Veracruz mid-pack among seven-passenger SUVs.

In most situations the six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly. Occasionally, it rushes to upshift, likely to improve fuel economy, and can leave drivers wanting more power. Downshifts are prompt and the manual shift feature is welcome in hilly terrain.

The all-wheel-drive system isn't intended for severe off-road use and doesn't have a low range. On slippery pavement it does a good job of limiting wheel spin and delivering power to the wheels with the most traction.

Veracruz has a towing rating of 3500 pounds. This is typical of car-based crossover SUVs, but falls short of truck-based SUVs and the new General Motors midsize SUVs.

EPA estimates for the all-wheel-drive Veracruz are 15 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. Those numbers are typical for midsize SUVs. In routine driving, expect to average about 17.5 mpg. If your commute includes a fair amount of gentile highway cruising you might be able to average 19 mpg. Hyundai says that the V6 will run fine on regular-grade gasoline.

On the Road
Hyundai gave Veracruz a car-like demeanor despite its SUV heft. The compliant suspension does an excellent job of filtering large bumps and reducing unwanted additional body motions. It seems as if there is little difference in ride quality between models, even though GLS rides on 17-inch tires and SE and Limited ride on 18-inch tires.

When the road grows twisty, Veracruz doesn't remain as composed as the class-leading GMC Acadia. The suspension is just too soft and allows too much body lean, which leads to unwelcome pitching in quick lane changes. With good road feedback and a solid on-center highway feel, Veracruz steering is better than expected. Turning radius is rather large. Brakes have ample stopping power and an easy-to-modulate pedal.

Hyundai has done an excellent job of quelling road and engine noise. Occasionally, there is a whisper of wind noise at highway speeds and that keeps the Veracruz from matching the quietness of luxury SUVs like the Buick Enclave and Lexus RX.

Behind the Wheel
Veracruz sports a simple and well-designed dashboard. It places all controls within easy reach of the driver and passenger and features soft-touch surfaces that wouldn't be out of place in a vehicle costing thousands more. The large speedometer is directly in front of the driver and easy to read, day or night. Radio and climate controls are placed high in the dashboard. Controls for the rear-seat entertainment system aren't intuitive and take a second or two to master.

Driver and front passenger have plenty of head room, but taller adults will want more leg room. Seats are flat and soft, which means they are comfortable but don't offer a lot of support in spirited driving. Tilt-telescope steering wheel and available power-adjustable pedals allow drivers to custom-tailor the driving position.

Despite a slight blind spot to the rear three quarters, visibility is good. Outside mirrors are large and very useful. Rear park assist is available, but a rear-view camera is not.

Second-row seats are comfortable and offer adult-adequate head and leg room. They also slide fore and aft, creating even more leg room on demand. Third-row seats are roomier than most, but only adult-friendly if the second-row seats are pushed well forward. Otherwise, they are best suited for smaller children.

Step in height is about what you'd expect from a crossover SUV. It is higher than a typical large sedan, but lower than most large SUVs. Doors open wide to ease access and the second-row seats tilt and slide forward at the touch of a button, allowing adequate third-row access.

There's scant cargo room behind deployed third-row seats. However, the seat backs are split and fold individually at the flip of a lever. When folded, there's lots of cargo space. Second-row seats fold flat without removing the headrests, creating a large cargo area with a flat floor. Interior storage is typical SUV with large map pockets and a deep center console bin.

Bottom Line
Hyundai has been able to translate American tastes to its vehicles very quickly. There's no better example than the new Veracruz, which, fresh out of the gate, is competitive with mainstream competition. It might be hard for consumers to swallow a $38,000 Hyundai, but Veracruz offers ample room, comfort, power, and features in a package that, when comparably equipped, it costs thousands less than most rivals.

If you're looking for a seven-passenger crossover SUV that favors a quiet and comfortable ride over athletic moves, Veracruz should be tops on your list. Kudos to Hyundai for matching it's offering with American tastes.