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2008 Hyundai Veracruz Review

STYLING | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Dual chrome exhaust outlets, a rear spoiler and available 18-inch wheels don't impart a sporty appearance as much as they defend against blandness.
Kelley Blue Book

you’ll be hard pressed to easily distinguish this Hyundai from the Lexus.
MyRide.com

The curved roofline limits the Veracruz’s rear head room a bit
MyRide.com

The Veracruz's center stack is a model of logic.”Reviewers couldn’t resist the Veracruz’s visual appeal, which has been compared to that of the much pricier Lexus RX 350. Hyundai reportedly benchmarked the Lexus RX 350 when designing and engineering the Veracruz, even though it’s priced against more affordable models such as the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. It shows in the Veracruz’s styling, as it has the same more streamlined shape along with similar design details.
Truck Trend

Reviewers couldn’t resist the Lexus comparisons. Some, such as the Washington Post, actually thought the Hyundai the more attractive of the two. “It has a longer, more elegantly sculpted body than the RX350. Inside and out, it simply looks better,” beamed the Post reviewer, who continued: “Inside, it also feels better—more spacious, less cramped than the RX350.”

They weren’t gushing, however. Kelley Blue Book, also comparing the Veracruz to the RX 350, said, “Dual chrome exhaust outlets, a rear spoiler and available 18-inch wheels don't impart a sporty appearance as much as they defend against blandness.” Still looking at its exterior, KBB added, “Side mirrors with integrated turn indicators and puddle lights are a nice touch.”

The compliments were piled on regarding the Veracruz’s interior. Truck Trend appreciated the stylish looks and logical function and said, “Each portion of it is dedicated to its respective function: HVAC, audio, etc. The knobs and buttons are easy to understand and do what you want them to in an intuitive way.” Popular Mechanics singled out the overhead mood lighting and illuminated doorsill plates, while MyRide.com applauded the interior design as inviting and warm, and also saw plenty of hints of the Lexus, but noticed that the dash’s flattop reflected glare in daylight.

As TheCarConnection.com found in firsthand experience with the Veracruz, its curvy silhouette comes with a sacrifice compared with boxier models: its more aggressively arched roofline does restrict space at the back of the vehicle, behind the third row seat especially.

Conclusion

The Veracruz’s curvier sheetmetal brings a little less practicality, yet avoids the boxy, traditional SUV look, and its Lexus-like interior styling might just fool you into thinking you’re in a more expensive vehicle.


Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Although the Veracruz was designed to rival the RX 350, it really takes on more modest, mainstream competition such as the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot. Compared to those models, the Veracruz has a different style that’s not quite as simple and stark. And although it’s closer in appearance to the Edge and CX-9, those two models are sportier than the comfortable, feature-oriented Veracruz.

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See the Hyundai Veracruz in Other Years:

2009 | 2008 | 2007

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