2010 Hyundai Veracruz - Review

The Basics:

With a conservative, slightly luxurious look that’s undeniably close to that of the Lexus RX 350 or Nissan Murano, the 2010 Hyundai Veracruz aims for those who want to project ‘luxury’ on a much tighter budget.

On the outside, the Veracruz is no longer a particularly noteworthy vehicle, style-wise. While it was surprisingly attention-getting from new, it now looks quite anonymous, albeit sleek and flowing. The exterior style of the Hyundai Veracruz is sleek and flowing, rather than rugged, from a distance; up close Hyundai has taken its own direction with the details, with upscale interior styling and attractive, soft-touch surfaces.

Shoppers for this type of vehicle probably don’t expect a lot of excitement; in following, there’s not much enthusiasm to be found in the Veracruz driving experience. The 260-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 engine moves the Veracruz quickly if needed, but the six-speed automatic transmission cancels out any remaining eagerness because of hesitant downshifts and lumpy operation. The Hyundai Veracruz handles safely, but the dull steering feel manages to make it feel heavier and than it is. As with most vehicles of this type, the 2010 Veracruz is offered with front- or all-wheel drive.

With three rows of seating, the 2010 Hyundai Veracruz can seat up to seven, though the third row won’t be an option for many adults; kids will be just find back there, though entry and exit is difficult. The first two rows are comfortable, with enough headroom and legroom for all and plenty of storage spaces for small items; cargo space is sacrifices in the name of form, due to the sloped hatch. The Veracruz might be luxury-caliber in design, but it can’t maintain the exclusive feel up close. Materials and trims are pleasant but not of the sort you’d find in a Lexus or Infiniti.

Nearly every vehicle in this class is a top performer, and the 2010 Veracruz follows that trend. Crash-test results from the federal government and insurance industry-sponsored IIHS are all top-notch, and the standard equipment list includes stability control, anti-lock brakes, front side airbags, and side-curtain bags.

Two models of the Veracruz remain—GLS and Limited—and while Hyundai doesn’t make waves with standard equipment here as they do with some of their other vehicles, they come with a pretty respectable feature list. For those willing to option up a bit, the Veracruz is available with an AC power outlet, a handy cooler box, and 605-watt premium sound.