2007 Hyundai Veracruz Review

This is not a Lexus.

We say this for two reasons. First, Hyundai has done a credible job of making its Veracruz crossover look like that company’s RX 350 inside and out, at least at first glance, so we figure a little clarification is in order. Second, while the Veracruz does a credible job of offering up a near-luxury alternative to vehicles like the more workaday Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Highlander, we’re not sure it matches the Lexus in terms of overall refinement. Still, we can safely say that if you’re seeking prime rib on a hamburger budget, it’s definitely worth a look.

By Keith Buglewicz Photo Credit: Ron Perry

Page 2

For 2008, Hyundai repackaged the Limited model to include more standard features than our 2007 test car. With adjustable pedals, seat memory, power tilt and telescope steering wheel and keyless ignition now standard equipment, the starting price of a 2008 Limited is $34,745 including the $695 destination charge; this is $1,780 higher than the 2007. To equip a 2008 to the same level as our tester, add the $1,500 rear seat entertainment system, $205 roof rails and $125 floor mats, bringing the total to $36,575, only $50 higher than our 2007. Also for 2008, a $1,750 navigation system is available.

Page 3

With 260 horsepower and 257 lb.-ft. of torque routed through a smooth and quick six-speed automatic, the Veracruz has little trouble accelerating to a comfortable cruising speed, but only got a so-so 17.2 mpg during its time with us. The engine is notably quiet, but sound quality counts as much as sound quantity sometimes, and the Veracruz lacks the auditory refinement of the Lexus V-6 in the RX 350 thanks to an uncomfortable groan as it approaches redline. The transmission downshifts quickly for passing, and avoids hunting in uphill grades. The manual mode is handy if you want to hold a certain gear, but its slow shifts aren’t much fun.

Page 4

Veracruz buyers are probably more interested in ride quality than handling prowess, and the big Hyundai does an OK job. The ride is comfortable and controlled, but sharp impacts like freeway expansion joints are transmitted harshly to the cabin, and it gets annoying fast. Usually that kind of ride sharpness indicates good handling, but the Veracruz lacks that payoff. It’s not a bad vehicle to drive quickly, just not very inspiring, with too much lean in corners, and too-light steering with a too-aggressive turn in.

Page 5

With so much glass, you’d think the Veracruz would be downright airy inside. Instead, it’s surprisingly pinched. That steeply raked windshield may look great from the outside, but the windshield pillars intrude on the driver’s vision so much that navigating a twisty road involves craning your neck to see around them. The big outside mirrors are helpful for seeing what’s behind and to the side, and drivers will rely on them a lot thanks to the miserable rear view. The small rear window and extremely thick rearmost pillars conspire to make reversing difficult, and the limited range on our test vehicle’s reverse sensors rendered them nearly useless.

Page 6

Trying to have fun behind the wheel of a Veracruz is like casting Bob Newhart as the hero in an action movie: It just doesn’t work. It can go quickly if you ask it to, but there’s little reward in doing so, and the Veracruz’s protests make it easier to just cruise. Do that and it’s fine, as long as the road isn’t too pockmarked. There’s some fun in telling people that your new crossover is actually a Hyundai, and not a luxury Japanese brand, but enthusiasts will want to shop elsewhere for their driving thrills.

Page 7

We had mixed opinions on the Veracruz’s front seat comfort. Some of us found the multi-adjustable seat to be very comfortable, even if it took some fiddling with the controls to get there. Others could never find that magic “sweet spot,” no matter how hard they tried. All of us thought that the soft leather on the seats, center console and steering wheel, and soft touch plastics on the door panels were of exceptional quality, better than many of its competitors at this price point. Still, a larger bottom cushion would go a long way toward improving the comfort for taller drivers.

Page 8

The second row seating in the Veracruz is excellent, with a well shaped bottom cushion, adjustable backrest and soft touch surfaces nearly everywhere you’d wish to rest an elbow. The front seatbacks are hard, but covered in padded vinyl, so if your knees rub it’s not bad. The third row is a different story. Hard to get to despite the tilt-and-slide second-row seats, the seat itself is cramped for adults. If you want to put your kids back there, be warned that Hyundai subtly discourages the practice by not providing a LATCH point for child seats.

Page 9

Get in, close the door, turn on the Veracruz, and you really are treated to Lexus-like quiet, so much so that at least one of us tried starting it after it was already running. However, get the works rolling down the road and things change. Road noise gets intrusive at speeds above 50 mph, and wind whooshing around the outside mirrors becomes clearly audible at 55. It’s never to the point where you’ll want earplugs, but it’s a noticeable crack in the Veracruz’s near-luxury veneer.

Page 10

With the third row in place, cargo room in the Veracruz is extremely limited; a good-sized gym bag maxes it out. Fold the third row and you have plenty of room, a flat floor with recessed cargo hooks, and an acceptable liftover. The second row folds nearly flat for even larger objects, and doing so is quick and easy. The slow power hatch is the only real negative. The 10-plus seconds it takes to fully open after you hit the keyfob button feel endless, and we think shorter drivers will have a hard time reaching the close button on the hatch’s edge when it’s fully open.

Page 11

One area where Hyundai has indisputably hit a Lexus-like stride is with its excellent build quality, and the Veracruz is the best example we’ve seen. Inside, everything fits as precisely as you’d expect in a car costing much more, with only a couple of very minor fit issues to mar an otherwise excellent assembly job. The same is true of the exterior panels, and overall it gives the impression of a very high quality vehicle. Little touches like the lighted sill plates are something buyers will notice outright, while the build quality says “luxury” on a more subconscious level.