G. Chambers Williams III: Putting the ‘V’ in value

In the late 1980s, when I helped my then-teenage daughter purchase a used Hyundai Excel as a first vehicle, those cars were selling new for about $4,000.

The used one I found for her, which was already 2 or 3 years old, was a quite affordable $1,800.

This past week, I tested the new, 2007 Hyundai Veracruz crossover utility vehicle with a price tag of $38,020 — nearly 10 times as much as a new Excel 20 years ago — and marveled at how far this once-struggling South Korean brand has risen.After some early quality problems that have long since been corrected, Hyundai steadily has been building its reputation and product lineup to the point where the company is almost on the same scale as the top Japanese brands.

In the late ’80s, I couldn’t even envision a Hyundai vehicle in such a premium price range as the Veracruz. In fact, Toyota was just entering that lofty position with its new Lexus line of upscale vehicles, but there were no Toyota-branded vehicles at the starting price of the Veracruz, which is just $26,995 (including freight).

The 2007 Veracruz is an all-new midsize crossover SUV from Hyundai. It comes with a 3.8-liter V-6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission. Designers benchmarked the Veracruz against the Lexus RX 350 luxury crossover.

Inflation is, of course, the reason for much of the increase in car prices during the past 20 years. But that’s not all. You’ll definitely get a lot more vehicle for the extra money in today’s market.

Our test vehicle was the top-of-the-line Veracruz Limited all-wheel-drive model (base price $34,695 with freight) with an options package that ran the total up, making it just about the highest-priced version you could find.

Whether U.S. consumers are ready to pay more than $38,000 for a Hyundai sport utility vehicle remains to be seen, considering that there are a lot of crossover competitors at this price (including a Lexus).

But at the starting price, with very few (if any) options tacked on to the sticker, the Veracruz comes across as a bargain.

Hyundai says that while the Veracruz was being developed, it was benchmarked against the Lexus RX 350, whose 2007 model begins at $38,115 (with freight) for the front-drive model, and $39,515 for the all-wheel drive.

Adding the options that were either standard or included on our Veracruz, though — including leather interior and a rear-seat entertainment system, sunroof, backup warning system and 18-inch alloy wheels, among other things — would push the all-wheel-drive RX 350 into the upper $40,000s.

The problem, of course, is that the Veracruz is not a Lexus, and the Hyundai name is not the attention-getter that Lexus is. But with prices starting $11,000 less than those of the RX 350, and with a similarly equipped Veracruz running $7,700 less than the base RX, Hyundai surely wins the value race.

Granted, those who would buy a Lexus and those who would buy a Hyundai are entirely different customers. But the point is that anyone who does choose the Veracruz can feel good about the purchase. This is a lot of vehicle for the money, no question.

The Hyundai also stacks up well against other popular crossovers that Veracruz shoppers might consider — the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Nissan Murano and Ford Edge. The base Veracruz GLS model with front-wheel drive lists for $3,265 less than a similarly equipped 2007 Highlander, and $3,712 less than the ’07 Pilot.

And while Hyundai might have a hard time taking customers away from Honda, Toyota and Nissan, it can offer a great crossover with lots of standard equipment to those who can’t quite afford one of those Japanese brands. The Veracruz really is on the same level, but with a lower price.

This is the third SUV in the Hyundai lineup. It joined the entry compact Tucson and midsize Santa Fe. The Veracruz is built on a stretched and widened Santa Fe chassis to allow for a roomy third row of seating, giving it a maximum capacity of seven.

There is more cargo volume — 86.8 cubic feet with the second and third seats folded — than in all of the Veracruz’s direct competitors except for the Pilot (87.6 cubic feet).

Under the hood is a 3.8-liter V-6 engine rated at 260 horsepower and 257 foot-pounds of torque. That’s more than the 244 horsepower of the Pilot and 240 horsepower of the Nissan Murano, and close to the power of the redesigned 2008 Highlander. (The 2007 Highlander has just 215 horsepower, however.)

The V-6 engine is connected to a new six-speed automatic transmission, another feature distinguishing the Veracruz from its competitors. Most of them have five-speed automatics, including the Pilot and the Highlander (including the 2008).

The Veracruz automatic comes with a clutchless manual-shift feature, however, which isn’t available with the Pilot, Highlander or Murano.

Fuel-economy ratings are quite decent for a roomy seven-passenger SUV. Using the 2007 EPA formula, the Veracruz is rated at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 25 on the highway vs. 18/24 for the Pilot, 19/25 for the ’07 Highlander and 19/24 for the Murano.

Inside, the Veracruz is quieter than the Pilot, with levels of noise and vibration that nearly match those of the Lexus RX, Hyundai says.

The Veracruz already has achieved the top five-star crash-test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in frontal- and side-impact testing for all front and rear passengers. It scored four stars in the rollover rating, which is the highest any of the crossovers have received.

Among standard safety features are electronic stability control with traction control, four-wheel disc antilock brakes, and side-curtain air bags for all three rows of seats. Hyundai is the leader in providing stability control as standard equipment on its vehicles, with 73 percent of its 2007 models so equipped vs. 42 percent of Honda’s vehicles, the closest competitor.

In designing the Veracruz, Hyundai went with an exterior quite similar to that of several of the newer crossovers, including the RX 350, Edge and Acura MDX, which is an upscale version of the Pilot. The styling was a product of Hyundai’s California studio and was tailored for American tastes.

Luxury abounds inside the Veracruz. There is nothing cheap or cheesy looking. The leather seats are optional on the base model, but standard on the Limited. Our vehicle also had woodgrain interior trim that gave it a premium look.

Standard on our Limited model were several items that usually are found only on premium brands, and then sometimes only as options. Among them were a power rear liftgate, automatic climate control and a backup warning system.

Base models come with a single-disc CD player that is MP3-capable, and it also has an auxiliary jack for connection of an iPod or other audio player. XM satellite radio is standard.

Our Limited model came with the uplevel Infinity audio system with a six-disc CD changer.

The rear DVD entertainment system on our test vehicle was part of the Ultimate Package ($3,200), which also added a premium black and saddle interior, adjustable pedals, power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, 115-volt power outlet and a keyless entry/start system. The key can be left in the pocket, and the doors unlock as the person with the key fob approaches the vehicle.

No navigation system is offered yet with the Veracruz.

All-wheel drive adds $1,700 to any trim level, which means that the Limited with just front drive would start at $32,995 (with freight).

I would expect that most Sun Belt buyers would choose the two-wheel drive model. But the all-wheel drive system is of value even outside the snowy climates.

It can direct up to half of the torque to the rear wheels, and there is a lock switch on the dash that can force it into the 50/50 mode. The Veracruz has 8.1 inches of ground clearance, which makes it suitable for some light off-road use; but as with most crossovers, this vehicle is not designed for rugged off-road use.

Besides the base and Limited models, there is the midlevel SE, which begins at $28,695 (with freight).

09/09/2007
San Antonio Express-News

Hyundai takes on Lexus – really

Its target is the RX350, a big station wagon with lots of leather and gadgets.

For the consumer, it’s just a Hyundai. It’s a name people still confuse with Honda and it’s a brand that conjures up zero images of upscale, prestigious or even plain luxury automobiles.

Hyundai tries and tries. With its Azera, it’s trying to zip past Toyota’s Avalon and even take a whack at BMW. We had an Azera for a week last year and it was a terrific car. Yet nobody looked at it.

With its Sonata sedan, Hyundai is going after Honda’s Accord or Nissan’s Altima and, to a certain degree, succeeding at the task, for a lot less money.

Now it’s the Veracruz, Hyundai’s new truly luxo SUV, a car that is taking dead aim at that holy of holies, the Lexus RX350, which really is a benchmark for quality big station wagons that smother you in leather and electronic gadgetry.

The Veracruz is apparently named for the state in Mexico (Hyundai, whose other SUVs are the Tucson and Santa Fe, really does have a thing for the Southwest), and it is actually the real item, when it comes to upscale SUVs.

This is not some gussied-up truck, embellished with items plucked from the parts bin of an upscale assembly line. It is, from the ground up, designed to swaddle you in broad seats (yes, leather is available), drown you in silence and make sure you are entertained (the requisite booming stereo for everyone; the optional DVD player for the second- and third-row passengers).

Yes, third row passengers. It’s standard on the Veracruz, allowing the car to carry seven people. And the seats fold easily into their own compartment.

Need more room in back? The second row seats have outboard handles that, when pulled, allow the seatbacks to quickly fold forward, giving nearly 87 cubic feet of stowage behind the front seats.

The Veracruz is a crossover utility vehicle and, as such, has enormous competition, even if it does set its sights mainly on the RX350, which costs thousands more but does have that imprimatur of Lexus, a brand that has surpassed Mercedes-Benz in terms of equation with luxury, valet parking, Ritz-Carlton hotels, etc.

When you get inside the Veracruz, you do see the similarities.

The seats are generously proportioned, the console has the double cubbies – a shallow one, on top, and a deeper one below – that help stow all that stuff you will find you never need anyway, and the steering wheel has electric up/down, in/out adjusting.

The most striking thing about this car – and I use striking advisedly since most of the car blends in with everything else out there – comes at night when you open the doors. On the chrome sill plate, the word “Veracruz” lights up in brilliant blue. On all four sill plates.

Saturday, August 25, 2007
By Michael Taylor
San Francisco Chronicle

Hyundai Is the Next Target

Isn’t it thrilling that we live in a day and age when the line between bargain basement and luxury consumer goods is getting incredibly blurry? Take Target, for example. I remember when places like Kmart, Wal-Mart and Target were considered equally low-end retailers. Since then, Target has risen up, and now (at least amongst my circle of friends) it is the cool place for hip moms to shop for designer clothing and home goods on a budget. You get all of this while sipping a latte from the store’s Starbucks.

The Hyundai Veracruz is the Target of the automotive world. Don’t get your hopes up, ladies! There isn’t a Starbucks located inside Hyundai’s cars or even its dealerships (although I like that idea). What I’m trying to say is that the Veracruz is much like that sweet pair of Mossimo wedges I recently purchased: Pewter metallic strappy sandals with cork wedges, and they even have a driving heel — how perfect is that? The point I was trying to make before I so rudely allowed myself to get distracted with euphoric fantasies of shoe shopping was that the Veracruz is a budget-esque crossover masquerading as a luxury one. It does so well that I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the Veracruz is almost as nice (and in some respects even nicer) as the Lexus RX — for a base price of more than $10,000 lower. Meowwww!

During my two weeks in the Veracruz, I was surprised by every new feature I uncovered. Initially, I was just thrilled to be driving the first offering from Hyundai with three rows. Imagine how my excitement rose when I slid one of the rear seats forward to climb into the third row and found an incredibly thoughtful handle perfectly placed on the back of the sliding seat for me to grab and hoist myself into the vehicle. The third row, despite being a bit tight, was certainly more comfortable than the sardine-can seat I’m sitting in right now on the airplane while writing this review. While the seat belt receptors in the third row were easy for my kids to buckle on their own, unfortunately, I can’t say the same about the ones in the second row. I ended up having to buckle in my youngest every time.

The second row seat belt annoyance was quickly forgotten when I found a slew of my favorite car features all standard in the Veracruz, including a backup warning system, power tailgate, a conversation mirror that offers a view of all the rear passengers, steering wheel mounted audio controls, lighted storage compartments and cupholders, a chill zone in the center console to keep my kids’ string cheese cold and — I’m getting way too typeractive here — let me just slow down and collect myself a bit before continuing.

Ahhh. Deep breath. Other fabulous features I found in the Veracruz were an available DVD entertainment system with rear controls so capable backseat passengers could play around with it without distracting the driver for instructions. I also appreciated the under-floor storage bin in the cargo area, good rear visibility and luxuriously tactile fit and finish inside the vehicle.

The main thing that I think would make the Hyundai Veracruz — and, honestly, any Hyundai for that matter — any better would be for them to be on sale at Target. Stick with me on this for a moment. Hyundai could be the next designer brand to pair up with Target. Imagine a world where you could drive up to one store and purchase a new convertible five-point harness to replace the one with the inexplicable odor emanating from it (despite washing the cover three times), a hand vacuum that plugs into a car’s cigarette lighter to suck up the endless supply of loose Cheerios, and the car to put these things into. All this while sipping a latte from the store’s Starbucks kiosk.

*For more information on the Hyundai Veracruz and its safety features, visit Cars.com. With questions or comments regarding this review, write to editor@motherproof.com.

LET’S TALK NUMBERS

Latch Connectors: 2

Seating Capacity (includes driver): 7

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample

Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Great – Excellent

Fun Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove On): Groove On

By: Kristin Varela
www.motherproof.com

2007 Hyundai Veracruz

Hyundai is successfully changing the way Americans look at their product line.

During the past decade, the Korean automaker’s lackluster build quality and stodgy designs have given way to sophisticated styling and improved fit and finish — the likes of which mimic their Japanese competitors.

“Our company is experiencing the fastest quality improvement in its history,” Hyundai Product Manager Miles Johnson said. “Our entire organization is fanatical about quality.”

Hyundai’s redesigned Sonata sedan and Santa Fe sport utility are current samples that have helped fuel the company’s annual U.S. sales growth from 91,217 units in 1998 to last year’s 455,520 units.

The newest member to join the Hyundai product line is the midsize 2007 Hyundai Veracruz crossover vehicle outfitted in GLS, SE or upscale Limited models.

Veracruz is larger than its Santa Fe brethren with a 4-inch-longer wheelbase and 6-inch overall length increase that yields a car-like ride quality akin to most large sedans. Cabin acoustics and body sound insulation absorbs engine and road noise to whisper levels.

Unlike a sedan however, Veracruz can manage up to seven passengers with a standard third row 50/50 split-folding seat that accommodates adults for short jaunts, but caters best for children. Second row occupants enjoy adult-size head, leg and knee room with split seats that slide and recline to suit their comfort needs.

Second and third row seats easily fold down to create a cargo hold that swallows everything from bicycles to building material.

Up front, user friendly controls greet the driver with easy-to-read gauges that turn to a soft blue hue for nighttime driving.

Supple cloth seat cushions and soft-textured materials create a pleasing and comfortable ride for all passengers. Limited models are available with two-tone leather upholstery.

Veracruz teams a 260-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission that propels its standard front-wheel drivetrain managed by 17-inch, 5-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in all-season rubber. All models are available with all-wheel drive.

Electronic stability control with traction control, anti-lock brakes, front and three-row side curtain airbags are standard.

Veracruz is equipped with power accessories, steering wheel audio controls, air conditioning with separate rear climate controls, cruise control, rear window wiper and a keyless entry system.

Popular option packages include a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, rear-obstacle detection system, power sunroof, heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers and power adjustable pedals. Bluetooth hands-free phone system, auxiliary iPod jack and XM satellite radio also are available.

The 2007 Hyundai Veracruz GLS enters the crossover segment at $26,995, followed by the SE model for $28,695. Limited stretches the bottom line to $32,995. Add $1,700 for all-wheel drive.

Sunday, July 29
BY JIM JACKSON
Times Auto Writer

Veracruz does it right

I see trouble on the horizon. Not for you or me, but for the likes at Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc. A few years ago Hyundai was not much of a concern to any car builder since they were not high on quality ratings. All that changed a few years ago, and today they are among the best vehicles made, and presto! They are selling faster than a dime dance at a lumber camp.

Hyundai is perhaps the fastest growing vehicle company now and ranking third in the J.D Power survey for overall quality just behind Porsche and Lexus, which gives potential Veracruz buyers a big incentive to buy that first Hyundai product. Hyundai has added five entirely new models in the past 10 years, and the latest one is an upscale SUV that continues the Hyundai western name theme.

The Veracruz moves Hyundai’s growing line of SUV’s into a more pricy company and a loaded Veracruz could reach around $38,000. As I found out at a Hyundai briefing, the move into the higher-price vehicles is apparently where Hyundai intends to go in the near future. The Veracruz is targeted at the upscale Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot SUV’s. After the testing period, we see trouble for not only them but about everyone else along the SUV road. A lower price and more standard accessories, plus equal or better performance, will be the big selling points for the 2007 Veracruz. Actually the Veracruz should be labeled a 2008.

The styling is safe and should not engender any resentment but still exhibits some excitement at the tail-end with the last pie-shaped side-glass. The wheel-openings have an accented radius that adds to a sporty appearance.

Inside the Veracruz glows with the appointments that are found on SUV’s that cost about another eight to ten thousand more. Nice leather and luxury appearing upholstery abounds, and most of the highly desirable accessories are standard like a 315 watt AM/FM/MP3 compatibility on the base GLS edition.

The top-line Limited can be optioned up to a 605-watt sound system with all of the above, plus a six-disc CD player XM satellite radio and 10-speaker surround sound, supported by a big chest-pounding sub-woofer. Our local movie theater doesn’t even have that fine of a sound system. An optional DVD player with an eight-inch screen is located on the headliner for the rear seat passengers enjoyment.

On that note; all Veracruz come with a third-row seat, something we think is unnecessary for most buyers and maybe a deterrent considering it adds cost to the base price. The third-row seats can be stowed and all but unnoticed; however, it still requires otherwise useful space. With the third-row and second-row seats laid-out there is about 87 cubic-feet of possible cargo room.

My little lady co-tester gives a thumbs, up for the power lift gate that is standard on the Limited model. I like the “proximity key” so I do not need to go digging for the keys to get going down the road. I don’t even need to use the remote to unlock the doors, just have the key thing in my pocket and tap the door handle to unlock and climb-in. The 110-volt outlet is becoming a more frequent accessory, and I could have run my lap-top or blow-dry my hair with it. With summer finally here the duel drink holders will keep your Dr. Pepper chilled from the air-conditioning port located there for that purpose.

Hyundai does not offer a navigation system, and I can see why considering the factory price on most of them is around $2,000. Plus, the advent of the portable navigation at around three hundred bucks, and you can remove it to the next vehicle or even put it in your pocket for a guided walk around Chicago. All three Veracruz models are available with all-wheel drive at $1,700. The Veracruz has a base price of $26,995 and was $33,110 as tested.

The 260 horsepower V-6 engine is linked to a standard six-speed automatic transmission and that combination delivers plenty of performance. You forget how quiet a SUV can be in the Veracruz and that will be welcome on longer trips. Add to that the luxury of a comfortable ride that levels-out the bumps, and while the Veracruz may not corner like a Porsche we will opt for the comfortable ride and take the corners just a little slower. Keep your eye on Hyundai; they are going places.

July 26, 2007
BY ED NOBLE Special to Pioneer Press