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2008 Hyundai Veracruz Preview

If you hadn't noticed, the crossover craze is now in full swing. This already crowdedsegment is about to get a lot of new company. Almost all the major manufacturers have already launched new crossovers or are getting ready for their big debuts – Ford had the Edge (and will have the Fairlane), Mazda has the CX-9, and Toyota and Honda will be releasing the new versions of the Highlander and Pilot models soon. But perhaps the biggest news comes from Korea’s biggest automaker, Hyundai, which is gearing up to set an example with their new Veracruz 7-seat crossover. Hyundai’s conversion from plebian automaker to near-luxury brand has been a steady work in progress, but the Veracruz is the vehicle that will to vault Hyundai into the higher ranks The Azera, and to a lesser extent the new Sonata and Santa Fe, have helped escalate the Korean brand into the luxury field to compete directly with the likes of the Lexus ES 350, Lincoln MKZ and Buick Lucerne. With the Veracruz, Hyundai’s setting even higher goals to produce a vehicle destined to become a benchmark.

In terms of styling, it’s easy to see where Hyundai got theirinspiration

"Styling is strong, and interior quality is even stronger. You won't believe how good this crossover is," Trevor Hofmann. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

from – the Lexus RX. It’s got the same general shape and the same sinking rear profile and window line, but the Veracruz’ body is larger. It may hit a little close to home, but considering the RX is the vehicle that got the whole luxury crossover/SUV market rolling in the first place, the fact that Hyundai is capable of putting together a vehicle that looks as elegant and ritzy is nothing but praise. It’s far from a direct copy, though, as the Veracruz has a unique nose with aerodynamic projector beam headlamps, and a different rear end. Customers who prefer their crossovers to be sleek and sporty are sure to admire the Veracruz, as it falls into the same lineage as the Nissan Murano rather than the boxy Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot. The Veracruz looks ritzier than most other

Hyundai took the sleek route when styling the Veracruz. (Photo: Hyundai)

Hyundais, through the use of a more brightwork and a color palette that’s more sophisticated with an available two-tone finish. Base Veracruz models ride on 17-inch alloy wheels, with 18-inchers available to upscale models.

At the vehicle’s North American debut, Hyundai displayed the Veracruz withan impressive burgundy on black color scheme, plus contrasting stitching; a sign that Hyundai is really changing things up for its interiors. Inside, there’s greater use of brushed metal and wood trim, creating a more upscale ambience. It almost seems as if Hyundai is experimenting with new designs for the center console; the Veracruz’s has a touch of Acura to it, particularly the large knob that controls the HVAC unit; it reminds us of the sprouting knob that controls the nav system on the RL, MDX and RDX. At night, the dials, LCD displays the overhead ambience lighting and even the Lexus-style kickplates glow a cool shade of blue. Like the Santa Fe, the Veracruz is a

Profile reminds us of the RX. That's not a bad thing, mind you. (Photo: Hyundai)

seven-seater with three rows. The third row’s seats fold flat into the floor and include full head rests and seat belts. Even access into the third row is easy, as Hyundai has installed a simple lever mechanism that tilts and slides the seat forward. Add that to extra legroom and it’s conceivable that seats six and seven could be used for more than just emergencies. And if you don’t need the space, when the second and third rows are folded flat there’s more space inside than Mercedes’ mammoth GL-Class SUV, even though it’s almost ten inches shorter.

It’s just about impossible to talk about luxury without going into thefeatures and the details. Hyundai’s already established that it can build quality cabins that are not only well made, but crafted from high-end materials. You can tell that Hyundai was gunning for the absolute best, as they’ve fitted the Veracruz with keyless ignition; a first for the brand. Keyless ignition used to be an exclusive to high-end Benzes just a couple of years ago, and now it can be found here. As exciting of an addition

Luxury and Hyundai, two things you'll be hearing a lot of... (Photo: Hyundai)

this is, there are many other crossovers and affordable vehicles that have this feature. But the list goes on to include a rear-seat entertainment system with an 8-inch screen, digital climate control, power liftgate, parking sensors, auto-dimming rear and side-view mirrors, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel with a return memory setting, and even automatic headlights and windshield wipers. The top-spec sound system is a sock-knocking 605-watt Infinity unit that has AM/FM/XM/MP3 capabilities and even includes Logic7, the digital surround sound processor system that can be found on BMWs, Land Rovers and Mercedes-Benzes. Yep, it’s the good life in a fully-stocked Veracruz, except if you want an OEM navigation system. Hyundai still hasn’t fitted one yet, but the word on the block is that they’re working with LG to develop one.

Being Hyundai’s largest ‘ute, the Veracruz gets the biggest engine that thebrand offers in North America. Under its hood is a 3.8-liter V6 – the same engine as featured in the Azera – with variable valve timing and a variable intake manifold, which nets an estimated 260 horsepower and 257 lb-ft of torque. This engine just about turned the Azera

Seating for seven, in the lap of luxury no less. (Photo: Hyundai)

into a sleeper; with a heavy right foot one could get the jump on unsuspecting BMWs and Audis with its 0-60 mph time of 6.4 seconds. As for the Veracruz, it’ll be less of a hotrod, but still a quick vehicle given that its power to weight ratio is amongst the best in class. It’s also bound to be one of the most refined vehicles in the crossover class. For instance, the engine is mounted on semi-active engine mounts that cancel out vibrations and noise thanks to an engine RPM sensor. In addition, the Veracruz debuts Hyundai’s first six-speed automatic gearbox, developed by Aisin, that features Shiftronic manual mode. Hyundai is making a big point with this new powertrain, claiming that the Veracruz not only idles smoother and quieter than the more costly Lexus RX 350, but it’s also more efficient than the smaller, less powerful Honda Pilot.

Because the Veracruz is a strict on-road crossover vehicle, the all -wheel drive system is more or less road biased. The system can shift power around through its multi-plate clutch system; the amount and the location of which is decided by in-wheel speed sensors. When traction is lost, the system automatically redistributes power to the wheels that have the most grip. The driver can also lock down the all-wheel drive system into a 50-50 front rear split for when the going gets

Hyundai is arming itself well for battle against a new generation of crossovers. (Photo: Hyundai)

slippery. Backing up this all-wheel drive system are a host of other safety features including standard ESP stability control, ABS brakes with four-wheel discs and EBD plus a half dozen airbags. Hyundai hopes to achieve a full five-star safety rating from the NHTSA due to its strong monocoque chassis and passive safety features.

Hyundai’s entry into the crossover segment is going to be important for the brand in the coming year. Its sales have been steadily increasing, and now that its in on the growing luxury crossover segment, things can only get better. Currently, with its sales lumped together with Kia, 750,000 units puts it in seventh spot on the U.S. sales chart, snapping closely at Nissan’s heels (it past Nissan globally last year for sixth place). We could see Hyundai gaining big ground this coming year, with its newly launched Elantra and the Veracruz, especially due to Nissan’s projected sales slump. Truly, it might not be long before Hyundai hits number six in the U.S.

According to our Editor-in-Chief, Trevor Hofmann, who took the opportunity to thoroughly check over the Veracruz at the Detroit show, it's a clear winner. The exterior panel build quality, and even more impressive, its top-tier interior quality, that truly rivals luxury brands, will give more expensive crossovers a run for their money. Any way you look at it, the Veracruz is another big step in the right direction for Hyundai.

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