Hyundai Grows Bigger than Ever with New Veracruz
Hyundai is on a growth spurt, having passed Nissan last year to take hold of the sixth largest automaker title, and mirroring this expansion is an all-new model that will make sure we don’t forget that it’s a brand to be reckoned with.
The new 2007 Veracruz, named after the Mexican State of Veracruz, might bring to mind alluring Gulf of Mexico waters, steamy jungles and mouth-watering ocean-fresh seafood to some, but to Hyundai dealers it translates into an opportunity to tap into the lucrative mid- to full-size SUV segment.
Larger than Honda’s Pilot and boasting more cargo capacity than Mercedes-Benz’ hulking GL, Hyundai’s new sport ‘ute is promised to offer “sleek styling, a car-like ride and premium features.”
With seating for seven thanks to the Hyundai Hideaway 50/50 split third-row seat, the Veracruz will offer similar flexibility as others in this class, but its standard 3.8-litre V6 and six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode should deliver better fuel economy than traditional full-size SUVs.
Hyundai is touting an “unprecedented combination of styling, safety, comfort, quality and convenience,” with a full range of standard airbags, including side-thorax and curtain-type for all three rows, plus traction and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and no doubt four-wheel discs with ABS and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), as these items are standard with the lower rung Santa Fe.
The Veracruz will be available in three trim levels, therefore expect the base GL model to be well-equipped with best-in-class fit, finish and materials quality, plus similar premium-like refinements to the superbly-built new midsize Santa Fe in the top-tier GLS version.
While the new Santa Fe can easily compete against some rival models Hyundai is targeting for the Veracruz, such as Honda’s Pilot, Nissan’s Murano, Subaru’s Tribeca and the Lexus RX 350, it appears that only the Pilot will be anywhere near as accommodating as the Korean brand’s largest vehicle. It is also entirely possible that traditional SUV buyers, such as those who have purchased the Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition, Dodge Durango and others in the past, a segment that is experiencing a downturn as of late, may find the Veracruz more suitable to an urban or suburban lifestyle.
Additionally, Hyundai’s more sport-oriented division, Kia, is planning on offering an SUV on the Veracruz’ platform architecture, dubbed Mesa after the KCD-II Mesa Concept from last year’s Detroit auto show, and a pickup truck that may go by the name Mojave, after the KCV4 Mojave Concept from 2004.
Hyundai Canada has not announced when the Veracruz will be available to potential customers, but what is to be the ninth vehicle in the South Korean brand’s 2007 lineup will probably show up at the rescheduled Los Angeles auto show later this year or appear in Detroit in the first week of January, followed sometime during Q1 of 2007 at your local Hyundai dealer.