By Cars.com Staff
Cars.com National July 27, 2007Vehicle Overview
The 2008 Veracruz gains a number of standard features on its highest, Limited, trim level, and a navigation system joins the options list for the first time. Though Hyundai says the Veracruz competes with luxury SUVs like the Lexus RX 350, shoppers will likely compare it to less-expensive offerings like the Honda Pilot and redesigned Toyota Highlander.
Based on a lengthened Santa Fe platform, the Veracruz comes with seven seats and a torrent of standard safety features. Trim levels include the base GLS, midlevel SE and upper-crust Limited. A 3.8-liter V-6 is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional.
Exterior
Swooping curves and two-tone bodywork define the Veracruz, which emulates styling themes set by Hyundai's other SUVs. If flowing lines are your thing, the Veracruz will be a hit. Those who prefer blockier forms, like the Lincoln MKX or anything Cadillac, should look elsewhere.
Upscale elements include chrome window and grille surroundings, 17-inch alloy wheels and exterior puddle lamps. Standard on higher trim levels are fog lights, 18-inch wheels and automatically dimming outside mirrors. An optional rear parking system uses proximity sensors embedded in the bumper.
At 190.6 inches long, the Veracruz is slightly longer than the Pilot (188.0) and Highlander (188.4).
Interior
Three rows seat up to seven. Up front, a broad dashboard incorporates vertical air vents and a metallic finish for climate and audio controls. Blue backlighting illuminates the instruments, dashboard controls and even the cupholders.
Standard features in the Veracruz GLS include keyless entry, a six-speaker CD audio system and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel with audio and cruise controls. Ratchet things up to the Limited, and the list includes power front seats, heated leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjusting steering column, a keyless startup system and rain-sensing wipers. A navigation system is now optional; it's packaged with a 605-watt surround-sound stereo.
Hyundai says the Veracruz has more cargo room than a Mercedes-Benz GL450, and its cabin is quieter than that of a Lexus RX 350. The third-row seat folds flush with the floor, as do those in the Pilot and Highlander.
Under the Hood
Hyundai borrowed the Veracruz's 3.8-liter V-6 from its Azera sedan and Entourage minivan. In the Veracruz, the engine makes 260 horsepower and 257 pounds-feet of torque. It works with Hyundai's first six-speed automatic transmission. With the EPA's revised 2008 testing standards, a two-wheel-drive Veracruz is rated at 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. Four-wheel-drive models are rated at 15/22.
Safety
Standard safety features include four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system. Side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags for all three rows are also standard, as are active front head restraints.
Additional Reviews
Cars.com Expert Reviews
| Mike Hanley | Cars.com National | October 9, 2007 |
| Cars.com Staff | Cars.com National | July 27, 2007 |
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