The Good
:) Silky
smooth ride, like a electric vehicle. Quiet interior.
The Bad
:( Soft
and cushy driving feel. Paint quality is low. Two wheel drive model offers
little traction.
Engine
V6, 3.8 Liters
Output
260 hp / 257 lb-ft
Weight
4266 lbs
Price As Tested
$26,294
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Hyundai is undergoing a major renovation lately offering
stylish and well developed vehicles in all its segments. Their vehicles have
been styled by fancy Italian design houses and inside they offer everything
that more expensive German makes would charge triple for. The value in a
Hyundai is quite impressive. But can their driving feel compare with the
best of the competition?
"Veracruz is an exceptional vehicle at the right time for this developing
segment," said Steve Wilhite, chief operating officer of Hyundai Motor
America. "The vehicle's designers recognized that the needs and desires of
traditional SUV buyers weren't being met and focused on meeting those needs
in an elegant and ingenious way. The result is a spacious crossover that
delivers both refined style and first-rate performance."
"We are very proud of Veracruz and feel this design will not only reinforce
our design direction as a company, but also greatly enhance our escalating
brand image on a global basis," said Joel Piaskowski, chief designer at the
Hyundai Design Center in Irvine, Calif. "Fluid lines combined with the
integrated headlights and taillights envelop Veracruz to create a unified
aesthetic."
The exterior style is modern with smooth body panels that flow seamlessly
from front to back. The front has three beam projector style halogen
headlights adorned with fog lamps that are built into the lower bumper
fascia. The smooth flow of the front end blends nicely into the side profile
that gracefully flows to the rear of the Veracruz. Large 18 inch wheels give
a bold appearance. The design of the windows and body panels gives the rear
end a slight upward lift, similar to a Lexus RX350. On either side a non
painted body panel is used which may serve a good purpose but we think it
should have been painted. Exterior mirrors offer repeater turn signals and
approach lights for a well lit area at night. The rear end is styled with
nice tail lamps which flow along the side, similar to the front headlights.
Dual exhaust tips in a bright chrome finish gives the Veracruz a small touch
of sportyness in an otherwise luxuriously designed vehicle. A spoiler on top
of the rear end and roof rack also gives the car a sport utility feel. Dark
tinting on the rear windows looks particularly nice on the Veracruz giving
it a sexy feel.
The interior is styled quite nicely with a smooth and even flow in the front
and rear cabins. The designers have done a good job of using quality parts
throughout the cabin. The upper dash is a leather-like soft material similar
to that used on German makes. Door panels are also styled nicely using a
soft leather grained material on top and perforated leather in the center of
the panel with a wood look material in the panel as well. We did not like
the visible screw in the armrest on the door however. The scheme is carried
out nicely to the rear cabin as well with the same designs on the door
panels and equally soft materials.
The central console is smooth and flowing while controls are placed up high
and easily accessible, in a design that is similar to the Lexus RX SUV. A
good amount of faux wood trim used throughout the cabin gives you a
surrounded feeling that is very luxurious. The instrument cluster is clean
and glows a nice blue color at night. The center gauge offers a small trip
computer which is quite helpful. The steering wheel is equally impressive
with lots of controls onboard for the stereo system and cruise control. Lots
of storage spaces are hidden in the center console which also houses cup
holders which are lit at night. Most spaces are lined with a soft material
for a upscale feeling and no noise when things move around while driving.
Three variations are offered for sale from the lowest priced GLS, to the SE
and the Limited. All versions offer all wheel drive as an option. The GLS
offers 17 inch wheels while the other two versions get larger 18 inch wheels
for a bolder look. What is great about the Veracruz is that you can have all
the new features found on costlier vehicles for a fraction of the cost. For
example, things like automatic headlights, backup warning sensors, a power
tailgate, leather seats, heated front seats, rear seat DVD player, a high
end stereo system, and a cabin air filter are all available in the Veracruz.
Front seats were two-way heated in our model and only the driver's seat was
power adjustable which was odd and we thought it could not be lowered down
enough for the best seating position. The passenger seat up front is not
height adjustable and this could cause problems for passengers who want the
best driving position. We would like to see this both front seats power
adjustable for and aft and up and down. There is no reason this should not
be standard when so many other high-end features are offered.
The stereo system is quite good with an Infinity AM/FM/XM/CD-changer audio
system that includes a 605-watt external amplifer, 10 speakers, and Logic 7
surround sound. We found it to be easy to use and it offers built in XM
satellite radio and a 6-Disc changer in the dash. It was also easy to use an
iPod with an input port placed in a area at the bottom of the stereo console
which also has a place to put your iPod.
On the roof mounted console we liked the built-in Bluetooth hands free
system which was easy to set up. It is called Blue Connect with a voice
prompt similar to that of the OnStar systems in GM vehicles. This along with
a mood light and an easy to use one touch sunroof made the Veracruz a very
enjoyable ride.
The climate control system on our model featured a zone for the front cabin
and one for the rear cabin with separate controls for the rear. An automatic
system with temperature settings is also available which offers a dual zone
front system. Airflow in the back is quite good with vents on the ceiling
and on the side pillars as well as at your feet.
Front seats were quite comfortable on long journeys where you really get to
tell if they pass the back ache test or not. In the rear we even were able
to say good things about the third row on long journeys. Access to the third
row is just a step away with the flip of a lever to slide the second row
forward. Although there is not much room to get into the back, it should be
easy for most children. The rear seats can fold down for a long cargo area
and can also recline for a more relaxed position for passengers. Add a
foldable front passenger seat and you have a very long cargo space for
larger items like ladders. Sit back and watch a nice movie on the large
widescreen DVD player that comes with two headphones and a remote control as
well.
Inside you also get a cooled center console up front which is great for soda
cans. Soft leather adorns the steering wheel and shift knob though it was a
bit slippery for our tastes. Perhaps Hyundai should have used a perforated
leather version which would have allowed more grip but still feel great to
the touch. A really handy feature we found was the conversation mirror which
allows you to see people in the backseat without turning your head. The
Veracruz also has a 115 volt power outlet in the rear cargo area so you can
have a great tailgate party or recharge your computer while on the road.
Overall the interior is very impressive with all the modern day comforts and
luxurious you would find in a vehicle twice this price. It is luxurious,
smartly designed, easy to use and simply great in this price range.
The quiet and smooth powerplant found inside the Veracruz is a 3.8 Liter
Lambda DOHC 24 valve V6 engine. It delivers an estimated 260 horsepower and
257 lb-ft. of torque. It is mated to a six speed electronic transmission
with the ability to shift manually. The engine uses an aluminum block and
cylinder heads for light weight and thermal efficiency, and features timing
chains with no scheduled maintenance. Veracruz has less idling vibration and
noise than the Lexus RX350 as well. While it was quite pleasant to have six
gears, the power output of the engine is a little low to try to do some
passing on a one lane road. We simply didn't have the confidence that we
could get away with passing even one car unless the road was clear of any
oncoming traffic even a mile away. Stomping on the gas all the way down does
achieve the desired result, however, who wants to do this every time when
they need to pass. If there is one drawback to the Veracruz, it would have
to be its slightly underpowered or unresponsive engine. Considering how
people use their vehicles, we don't believe this will be a concern for many
people. Driving around town or cruising at 75 mph on the highway is quite
enjoyable.
The feeling behind the wheel is quite luxurious while not being as soft as
some other SUV's. We liked the smooth start and quiet engine. The Veracruz
sounds more like an electric vehicle rather than a gasoline powered one once
you turn the key. It is almost an eerie silence. Every major component of
Veracruz has been designed to reduce cabin noise below the whisper-quiet
Lexus RX350. To isolate outside noise, Hyundai applies acoustic dampening
sheets to the doors and unibody, a steel plate beneath the engine and four
layers of carpet padding. Engine noise is reduced through electronically
controlled engine mounts, a multi-curvature dash, custom hood insulation and
a pillow tripod joint which lessens vibrations from the driveshaft at idle.
Front nose dive is well controlled however body sway is noticeable and could
be a little better controlled with stiffer springs. The Veracruz also has a
tighter minimum turning radius than the shorter Lexus RX350 and Nissan
Murano. We would suggest buying the four wheel driver version of the
Veracruz as the two wheel drive vehicle did not make it up our slight
incline, perhaps it was due to the tires used but most vehicles can make it
up our incline easily.
Fuel economy is a great concern today and while the Hyundai Veracruz is
listed on the window sticker as 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the
highway, we managed to get 18.2 in the city and highway combined. Even when
driving on a long four hour highway trip, we only managed about 19 mpg. Our
vehicle was loaded with 4 people and even resetting the computer on the
highway did not achieve results that were close to 25mpg, and yes we did
check the tire pressures. With the level or horsepower in the vehicle and
the light weight of all doors and parts, we would think 25mpg would be
easily achievable on the highway. We think Hyundai should look into Hydrogen
injection by putting an on board water electrolizer in the vehicle. Hydrogen
has been shown to reduce emissions by 80% and increase fuel economy by 50%.
Check this out on the net and on our site in other articles. You will be
impressed by the number of home grown people making hydrogen vehicles using
their internal combustion engine.
"Electronic Stability Control, six airbags including side curtain airbags
protecting all three rows, and active front head restraints are found
standard in Veracruz and are some of the industry's most effective
technologies." They are standard on the Veracruz. In addition, Veracruz adds
large four-wheel disc brakes with a 10-inch tandem brake booster and
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
for impressive stopping distance for a vehicle of its size. Brake Assist
maximizes braking force when an emergency stop is detected. Veracruz has
been designed and tested to receive the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration's (NHTSA) top five-star crash test rating for front and side
impacts.
Hyundai offers an excellent warranty with a 10 year or 100,000 mile
powertrain protection and a five year or 60,000 mile new vehicle limited
warranty. 24 hours of roadside assistance is also offered.
Our vehicle starts of at a base price of $28,005. Optional is the premium
and leather packages for $3,350 which includes most things inside that you
find to be luxurious. The rear entertainment package costs $1,600 and
includes the 115 volt outlet. Floor mats are a additional $125. With freight
adding $690, out total came to $33,770. Most parts are from Korea while only
about 6% of parts are from the US. The final assembly point is Ulsan, Korea
with the engine coming from Korea and Transmission coming from Japan.
The Veracruz is a amazing vehicle for the price. Why buy a Lexus RX when you
can have this for so much less money. While the Veracruz is no Porsche
Cayenne behind the wheel, for most moms going to school and picking up kids,
the luxury offered inside will surely make up for the loss in driving feel
at this price range. We like where Hyundai is going with their vehicles.
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