Things are heating up in the full-size crossover segment. Honda has tweaked its Pilot a bit, Acura has redone its MDX, and GM has unleashed a trio of all-new rides for delivery to Buick, GMC, and Saturn dealers. Find a spot for the
and you’ve got yourself quite a party. According to company officials, the Veracruz is larger than the Pilot, utilizes a fold-away third-row seat to transport up to seven passengers and will offer car-like comfort and handling. We’ll see about that, but judging from the recent Santa Fe, we’d be inclined to believe ‘em. All-wheel drive will be available, and power will come from a 3.8-liter V6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Why it Matters If a tree falls in the forest, does anyone hear it? Does anyone care? If an automaker debuts a crossover, do people get excited, or do their eyes glaze over? According to Hyundai, car buyers are very interested in the Veracruz, to the point that the automaker brought three focus group families to the Detroit Auto Show; not surprisingly, not a bad opinion in the group. But maybe they’re just being honest. With room for three rows, an interior that borders on a luxury trim and a 260-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6 engine, this Hyundai is certainly going to get competition like Honda, Toyota and GM very excited. About the prospect of lost sales, that is.
What’s Under the Hood
Powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, Hyundai officials claim that the Veracruz will make 260 horsepower and 257-lb.ft. of torque via a standard six-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels. That’s right up there with the Lambda platform-mates Saturn OUTLOOK and the GMC Acadia, not to mention the Toyota Highlander and the Honda Pilot. The Veracruz will ride on a MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension and 17-inch wheels and 245/65R-17 tires; SE and Limited trims ride on 18-inch, five-spoke aluminum wheels and 245/60R-18 tires. Steering is controlled by a rack-and-pinion setup, and safety features include six standard airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), ABS and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD).
What it Looks Like
You can tell that Hyundai’s growing up by the design of its cars. For Hyundai, that’s a look that borders on the luxury class – with a dose of practicality. They’ve come a long way, to be sure, and the Veracruz represents the new Hyundai best of all. Take a gander at the curved lines of the sheetmetal, the careful integration of the grille and headlights into the front end, and the liftgate that completes the design in harmony with the swoop of the roofline. While we’re not big fans of those five spoke wheels, overall we think the Veracruz has a style that will hold up over a good number of model years.
What’s Inside
Comfort is the name of the game with the Veracruz. Comfort and cool blue ambient lighting, just like in the Santa Fe and guaranteed to thrill car shoppers – at least for a little while. Even if you don’t like blue backlighting, having it is a testament to attention to detail, and from the show floor the Veracruz looks to be full of thoughtful touches. Materials feel nice, and legroom is plentiful in the middle row, though as a seven-seater the Veracruz feels smaller than the competing Saturn Outlook/GMC Acadia. The cargo area is spacious, however, and the liftgate liftover height feels nice and low.
What Hyundai Says
“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.”
What We Think
Are there enough crossover vehicles for sale yet?
