The Car Connection Expert Review
Let me start out with a moment of complete candor. There was a time, not all that long ago, when I’d avoid any assignment involving products bearing the Hyundai badge. And among automotive journalists, I wasn’t alone. The best you could say, if you were searching for compliments, was that the brand’s products were “cheap and cheerful.” When friends asked, I’d often recommend they look at a certified used car, instead.
That began to change when the first-generation Hyundai Santa Fe showed up in my driveway. Reluctantly, I took it for a drive, and after a couple hours behind the wheel, I walked away with a big smile on my face. Later in the day, when a colleague asked what I thought, I replied, “Pretty good product.” What I notably didn’t need was the modifier, “for a Hyundai.”
Recently, a second generation
of that game-changing crossover came to market, and it shows the continuing,
rapid evolution of the Hyundai brand – a transformation underscored by the
steady move to larger, more lavish and expensive products, including the Korean
carmaker’s newest crossover, the
Picking up on the Southwest
naming strategy Hyundai has adopted for its truck-like offerings, the
The most stripped-down version
of the
2007 Hyundai Veracruz
Page 2
So that raises two critical questions: is the Veracruz worth the money, and can Hyundai win over the sort of buyers who’d cough up that cash, folks who traditionally opt for from more established alternatives, such as the Mazda CX-9, Toyota Highlander, and Honda Pilot? MORE--
Shapely and sporty
After spending time
with the new crossover, we’re convinced that while the
Indeed, at first glance, you might mistake the Hyundai for Lexus’ curvaceous offering, especially from the side. The styling is subtle yet elegant and also brings to mind the new and toned-down remake of Subaru’s Tribeca. The wraparound head and taillights are a particularly nice upscale touch and we appreciate the fact that Hyundai stylists didn’t feel the need to turn those lamps into overly complicated, sci-fi-like exercises in design excess.
Hyundai tosses in side mirrors with puddle lighting and built-in turn signals. Roof rails are standard, by the way. So are dual exhaust outlets and a rear spoiler.
2001 Honda CR-V LX
2007 Hyundai Veracruz
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Okay, there are no sliding
doors, but with the
Front, middle, or back, seating is comfortable and supportive. For the driver, you get a commanding view of the road with great visibility all around. Most of the seats tilt, slide or fold away, as well, and with everything but the driver’s seat laid flat, there’s a positively cavernous, 86.8 cubic-foot cargo compartment. MORE--
First-rate interior
If you want to get a
sense of how far Hyundai has come, just take a look inside the new
When Hyundai first burst onto the American scene, nearly 20 years ago, the automaker emphasized pricing. But rock-bottom prices don’t make a good deal if quality lags at the back of the pack. The Korean carmaker’s turnaround was triggered by a best-in-the-industry, ten-year warranty, and a surge in the quality charts.
2007 Hyundai Veracruz
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Now Hyundai is pushing design
and value, maintaining segment-best pricing and tossing in a surprising array of
features. With the
2001 Honda Odyssey LX
The
When you move up to the SE and topline Limited models, you get additional features, especially if you opt for the Ultimate Package, with power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, rain-sensing windshield wipers, keyless entry, and remote engine start.
What that means is that you
can load up a
2007 Hyundai Veracruz
Page 5
Soaking up the Veracruz
Of course, all this
looks good on paper. The question is how does the new crossover drive? To get a
feel for the
Fire up the standard, 260-, 3.8-liter V-6 and you’re greeted with a well-balanced exhaust note. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic that also offers manual-shift mode. The powertrain combination is reasonably quick, though not the segment’s 0-60 benchmark. The transmission is worthy of praise. It’s smooth-shifting without any sense of hunt-and-seek. Hyundai claims a towing capacity of 3500 pounds.
Hyundai is offering the
Hyundai engineers spent a lot
of time tuning the
Meanwhile, the four-wheel
with its front and rear , has been set
up for cruising. On highway and smooth, flat roads, it’s absolutely stable.
Throw the
2001 Honda CR-V SE
The
Like the Santa Fe before it, the new Veracruz is likely to take by surprise those who haven’t taken a serious look at Hyundai in awhile – if at all. The reality is that barely one in four American motorists even consider the Korean brand. A decade ago, there was good reason. These days, that’s a mistake.
2007 Hyundai
Base price: $26,995 (base, front-drive GLS) to $38,000 (fully-loaded, all-wheel-drive Limited)
Engine: 3.8-liter V-6, 260 hp/257 lb-ft
Transmission: Six-speed automatic, front- or all-wheel drive
Length x width x
height: 190.6 x 76.6 x 68.9 in
Wheelbase: 110.4 in
Curb
weight: 4266 lb
Fuel economy (EPA city/hwy): 18/25 mpg (FWD);
17/24 mpg (AWD)
Major standard features: Air conditioning; power windows/locks/mirrors; AM/FM/CD/XM; manual tilt/telescope (power on up-line models); puddle lamps; second-row reading lights; climate control
Safety features: Six airbags; anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control; active front headrests; tire pressure monitors
Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
