Long-Term Road Tests
2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
October 1, 2008
Our 2008 Hyundai Veracruz has a great interior, plenty of features and an attractive price. It's very competitive against other midsize or large crossovers, and I'd fully recommend it to someone shopping in this segment. But when I wonder if I'd buy one, the answer keeps coming back "no."
I think it's the styling. The soft and inoffensive curves put the Veracuz in the bland category, and the rear three-quarter look reminds me of an egg. This might seem like a petty thing to bring up, but if everything else is pretty much equal, I'd pay a bit more to get the classy look of our long-term Enclave.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor
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- Posted by: Brent Romans October 1, 2008, 10:07 AM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
September 26, 2008
I took our 2008 Veracruz in for service today. Just like the last time at 7,500 miles, service was prompt and courteous at Lithia Hyundai in Fresno, Calif. An oil change and tire rotation this time set us back $54.64.
Due to a scheduling conflict on my part, I couldn't let the dealer spend enough time with the Veracruz to fix the horn.
As always, remind your friends and family that Edmunds has a nifty Dealer Ratings and Reviews feature, where you can write and read reviews about sales and service.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor
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- Posted by: Brent Romans September 26, 2008, 1:00 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
September 24, 2008
I was thinking the other day (always a dangerous proposition, I know) and wondering how all the current (or really, really recently departed) Edmunds/Inside Line long-term vehicles stack up against each other in fuel economy, at least the fuel economy we've been recording during their time with us. So I made a list. For you and for me. In case we were both wondering.
The only current vehicles missing from my list are the Audi R8 and the Dodge Grand Caravan, and that's because no one has entered any fuel data into the tracking spreadsheet for those vehicles yet. The very top and the very bottom of the list aren't going to surprise anybody (I don't think), but the middle is kinda interesting. Seeing the Rondo and the WRX so close to each other made me raise my eyebrows. Ditto the Ford GT's spot above the Veracruz. Ready to check it all out? Follow the jump with me.
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- Posted by: Bryn MacKinnon September 24, 2008, 10:06 AM
- Categories: 2002 BMW M3, 2004 Toyota Prius, 2005 Ford GT, 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI, 2006 Lexus RX 400h, 2007 Chevrolet Silverado LT, 2007 Ford Edge SEL, 2007 Honda Civic GX, 2007 Honda Fit Sport, 2007 Kia Rondo, 2007 Saturn Aura XR, 2007 Toyota Tundra SR5 Double Cab, 2008 BMW 135i, 2008 BMW X5 4.8i, 2008 Buick Enclave CX, 2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI, 2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe, 2008 Honda Accord EX-L V6, 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD, 2008 Mazda CX-9, 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR, 2008 Pontiac G8 GT, 2008 Scion xB, 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe, 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, 2009 Ford Flex Limited, 2009 Nissan GT-R
September 22, 2008
Back in July, we reported that our Hyundai Veracruz's horn still wasn't working but that the dealership had ordered a part for us. Two and half months later, the Veracruz is still beepless. It seems that the Hyundai dealership never called to tell us the part was in, and we absent-mindedly let the issue fall off our radar.
Meanwhile, it seems we also, uh, forgot to get the 15,000-mile service done. At least the dipstick's easy to find and pull (oil: A-OK and dirty). A dealer visit will hopefully occur later this week.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor @ 17,167 miles
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- Posted by: Brent Romans September 22, 2008, 11:49 AM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
September 15, 2008
People seem to feel strongly about HVAC controls. Well, actually, people seem to feel strongly about anything we write about the Aura. Two weeks ago I wrote this blog about the Aura's knob-free temperature controls. Today I'm pointing out a design I prefer -- three knobs, three buttons (for the primary controls). The Hyundai's HVAC system isn't an auto-climate-control design like the Aura's, but it also doesn't require punching a button six times to make a quick and significant temperature change.
Josh Jacquot, Senior road test editor @ 16, 851 miles
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- Posted by: Dark Helmet September 15, 2008, 2:47 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
August 26, 2008
The picture at left is how the Veracruz's gauges look when the headlights are off. On the right is how they look with the headlights on. Both photos were taken in the same location at the same time with the same camera light setting.
While I don't need all the extra cobalt blue instrument lighting throughout the interior in daylight, it would be nice if the gauges remained fully lit during the day and then dimmed at night like most electroluminescent clusters.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 15,640 miles
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- Posted by: JRiz August 26, 2008, 11:45 AM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
August 21, 2008
This photo is proof that the full-size back door and frame I bought for my house this morning fit in our long-term 2008 Hyundai Veracruz. I had a hard time believing it myself. For the record, I did have to shove the passenger seat as far forward as possible, but the rear door did close for the 15 mile drive home from the door store.
Lets see my beloved BMW X5 do that.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham August 21, 2008, 2:47 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
August 20, 2008
I keep finding more things to like about the Hyundai Veracruz - the Infinity stereo sounds good and I like this hidden storage area in the rear cargo area. Whatever you put back there has to share the space with the jack but it works out well for stuff you don't want sliding around, like say glass bottles of tea. Now that I see the pic that seems like a lot of tea - OK, I have a problem, it's a cry for help.
Brian Moody, Road Test Editor
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- Posted by: Brian Moody August 20, 2008, 10:13 AM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
I hopped into our Veracruz to run some quick errands and was immediately struck like everyone else by the cool lighting in our dark garage. It was a short lived awestruck moment.
As I started rolling along I noticed I had a very high level view of the car and I'm not even all that tall. I just thought it was a previous drivers setting and I hadn't fully adjusted the seat. But no, it was just the seat. I felt very uncomfortable at such altitude, like I was sitting on some large puffy cushion.
The power adjustments did nothing for me. It turned out to be my Nigel Tufnel moment of the day.
The seat would go none more lower.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer
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- Posted by: August 20, 2008, 10:10 AM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
August 11, 2008
There was a time when you could see a Hyundai coming from a block or two away. It was usually identifiable by a huge cloud of white smoke billowing out from the tailpipe. They were the laughing stock of the highway. The parking lot pariah. I wouldn't have driven one if you paid me.
Fast forward 20-something years and here I am, getting paid to drive a Hyundai. Not only is there not any smoke, but there's leather, a decent stereo, climate control, heated power seats and a comfortable ride. In the old Excel you could count how many times the pistons smashed into the valves before punching them out of the head, but in the Veracruz, you'd have a heck of a time noticing if the car was idling. It's very smooth and very quiet.
Our Hyundai does not stand out or distinguish itself from any other CUV on the road. It has the manners of any other decent car. It blends in. And looking back at Hyundais of old, I think this is exactly what it needs to do.
Kurt Niebuhr, Photo Editor @ 15,208 miles
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- Posted by: Kurt Niebuhr August 11, 2008, 10:50 AM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
August 6, 2008
Just got back from a 2,000-mile round trip to Sunriver Oregon and have a few thoughts and photos to share. Things got off to a rough start as we were to enjoy a three-day rafting/camping excursion starting in Happy Camp, Calif. As the moody photo above shows, the wild fires still raging in Northern California put a kybosh on the Klamath trip. We discovered the Veracruz's recirculation mode on the HVAC system was up to the task. We didn't smell any smoke until we popped the door open to phone the rafting company (there's no cell service in Seiad Valley). With only a grey-white sky and an orange sun at noon, we had no choice but to push on.
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- Posted by: Cee-Dubya August 6, 2008, 3:53 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
July 21, 2008
Remember how we said our Veracruz was less expensive than the 2008 Buick Enclave? Well, we might have been hasty. Because while the Veracruz does have a lower sticker price than its American-made competitor, our Hyundai just hit a new all-time low for fuel economy.
In the past month we've had two tanks averaging 11.7 miles per gallon, each with different drivers. At first we thought our calculations might be off, so we double-checked our math. It was right. (And it turns out one of those tanks was on a road trip with the car full of kids and luggage.) Those runs helped to drop the Veracruz's overall gas mileage to below that of the Enclave's 17.52 mpg.
So if you're looking beyond sticker price at overall cost of ownership, bear in mind that in the long run, a difference of a mile or two per gallon can really add up.
Current mileage: 12,636
Best tank over life of test: 20.3
Worst tank over life of test: 11.7
Overall average: 16.3
Official EPA estimate: 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway
Laura Burstein, Automotive Editor @ 12,652 miles
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- Posted by: Laura Burstein July 21, 2008, 12:53 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
July 7, 2008
There's a lot that I like about our Hyundai Veracruz. We could start with its ride quality. The SUV feels luxurious on the road, with a suspension tuned to make bumps, ruts and other road irregularities disappear like they were part of a Houdini magic trick. The going is soft but not too soft; there's enough road feel to keep it from feeling like a cruiser for the geriatric set.
In fact, the Veracruz's universal attention to luxury had me thinking of another favorite SUV of mine, our Buick Enclave. Both are similarly impressive in their competence, but there's one big difference that separates them: price. A base Veracruz goes for $29,900, while a base Enclave will set you back $33,220.
Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor @ 12,431 miles
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- Posted by: Warren Clarke July 7, 2008, 3:27 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
July 3, 2008
What?! The horn on the Veracruz is still busted? (Oh, the part has been ordered from the dealer and it will be here soon. Any day now...) I discovered the broken horn during last evening's commute as I tried to alert a fellow motorist of my presence when he to tried to occupy the same parcel of Interstate 10 that I currently inhabited. I pounded the center of the wheel and - Crap! - got nothing. In non-confrontational Japan the horn is used to say Hello!, Goodbye!, and Thank you! The auto horn is never used in an aggressive manner, or as a punitive measure. This isn't Japan.
Albert Austria, Sr Vehicle Evaluation Engineer @ 12,403 mi
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- Posted by: Snake Doctor July 3, 2008, 11:09 AM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
June 24, 2008
The Hyundai Veracruz seems like a forgotten player in the large-ish crossover game. This isn't surprising given its badge and that it has to contend with the excellent Mazda CX-9 and three excellent triplets from GM (with a quadruplet on the way) -- and not only in the marketplace, but in our long-term fleet as well. Quite telling is the Veracruz's fewer amount of miles compared to our Enclave and CX-9 (they all showed up around the same time). However, the number of miles isn't an exact science, so perhaps we've just been overlooking the Veracruz.
If the Hyundai has a major weakness it's size, specifically in regards to the third row...
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- Posted by: JRiz June 24, 2008, 9:06 AM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
June 9, 2008
Almost a month ago now, Joanne reported that the horn in our long-term Hyundai Veracruz wasn't working. We changed the fuse and were back in honking business, that is, until this weekend, when the horn went MIA again. We're starting to think that this isn't a fuse issue anymore. Sounds like it's time for a dealer visit...
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- Posted by: Bryn MacKinnon June 9, 2008, 5:06 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
May 27, 2008
We've passed the 10,000 mile mark on our Hyundai Veracruz.
Some thoughts on this large crossover SUV:
• drives like a minivan
• seats are comfortable
• easy to get in and out
• good visibility in all directions
• A/C works quickly and no longer hums
• no AUX port
• nice power liftgate in a car this price
• gulps gas
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor @10,003 miles
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- Posted by: Donna Derosa May 27, 2008, 5:05 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
May 22, 2008
I don't understand why our 2008 Hyundai Veracruz has the manual shiftgate away from the driver. To engage this function you have to push the gearshift away from you instead of toward you. This doesn't make sense to me because when you use the manual function, that means you'll be shifting a lot so wouldn't you want that closer to you so that you have more control? And that center console makes me position my arm high up so that I'm holding the shifter in a way that feels awkward to me...
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- Posted by: Caroline Pardilla May 22, 2008, 11:12 AM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
May 14, 2008
More on our California coastal trip in the Hyundai Veracruz.
We were about to head home from gorgeous Carmel when we discovered the horn wasn't working. Not making a single sound, no matter how hard or where you smacked it...
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- Posted by: Joanne Helperin May 14, 2008, 4:37 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
May 13, 2008
Strawberry fields forever. The Hyundai Veracruz was great for taking in the sights, but not the sounds.
There's a lot to love about the 2008 Hyundai Veracruz. On my recent trip from L.A...
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- Posted by: Joanne Helperin May 13, 2008, 4:28 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
May 12, 2008
I recently took a road trip in our 2008 Hyundai Veracruz, and did the "Wow, cool!" thing when I discovered the "Cool Box" in the front row's center console.
We opened the vents to test it out. But our "test sandwich" covered the vents, which prevented the cool air from circulating, defeating the purpose...
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- Posted by: Joanne Helperin May 12, 2008, 5:11 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
April 29, 2008
After several days in our long term 2008 Hyundai Veracruz I've come to appreciate some of the crossovers surprise and delight features. Yesterday I mentioned the Hyundai's many rear A/C vents, which are a good example of this truck's well thoughtout details. I also like the truck's felt lined storage bins in its dashboard and console, its 110 volt plug and powerpoint in is cargo bay and really appreciate the lighting mounted under is exterior mirrors (pictured). They illuminate when you unlock the truck and cast just enough glow around the vehicle...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham April 29, 2008, 10:30 AM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
April 28, 2008
With Los Angeles in the throes of a heat wave, I reluctantly signed out our long term 2008 Hyundai Veracruz for the weekend. The crossover's air conditioning woes have been well documented in this blog, and the last thing I wanted was weaksuck A/C when the mercury is cresting the century mark. If I did, I would have signed up for the Ferrari 308, which is better looking and more fun to drive than the Hyundai.
But I was assured the Veracruz's air conditioning was no longer a problem, so I took the chance...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham April 28, 2008, 12:53 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
April 23, 2008
I took our 2008 Hyundai Veracruz in yesterday for its 7,500-mile service. The maintenance schedule calls for an oil and filter change, and thankfully the dealership's service advisor wrote me up just for that without trying to add anything else on. An hour later, the job was done. The final bill was $31.62...
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- Posted by: Brent Romans April 23, 2008, 1:59 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
April 14, 2008
When I hop into a new vehicle I usually become more attune to seeing others just like it on the road. But this hasn't really happened yet for my time in our Hyundai Veracruz. So I was wondering: Has the vehicle's conservative styling made it relatively invisible, or is it that there aren't many Veracruzs on the road yet?
Hyundai reports that it sold 3,800 Veracruzs for the first three months of 2008. For comparison, Buick sold 11,712 Enclaves and Mazda sold 6,729 CX-9s during the same period...
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- Posted by: Brent Romans April 14, 2008, 10:01 AM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
April 11, 2008
I'd have a hard time trying to think of recently introduced or redesigned vehicles that don't have auxiliary audio jacks. But here you go – our long-term 2008 Veracruz doesn't have one from the factory.
I tried routing my iPod through the optional rear-seat entertainment system's RCA port, but so far I haven't been able to get that to work. So for now I'm listening to XM Radio and CD-burned MP3s on the Veracruz's 10-speaker, Infinity surround-sound audio system...
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- Posted by: Brent Romans April 11, 2008, 9:30 AM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
April 7, 2008
It's time for a fuel economy update at 6,983 miles:
Best: 20.2 mpg
Worst: 13.3 mpg
Overall combined: 16.2 mpg
And I'm proud to say that through some miracle of physics and new parenthood I managed that "best" tank myself last weekend.
Josh Jacquot, Senior road test editor @ 6,983 miles
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- Posted by: Dark Helmet April 7, 2008, 2:38 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
April 2, 2008
The Veracruz is an excellent effort overall - good looking, roomy and with a fairly decked out interior (not just by Hyundai standards). The Infinity audio system is also very good but I'd like to see a factory installed nav system for our test car's $36,780 MSRP. I'm not against aftermarket systems like this Garmin, it's just that an in dash unit is so much nicer looking - Hyundai does offer one, it adds $1,750 to the price.
Brian Moody, Road Test Editor @ 6,602 miles
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- Posted by: Brian Moody April 2, 2008, 2:03 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
March 24, 2008
It's easy to get caught up in high-visibility issues regarding vehicle design. Do I like the slope of the roofline? Is the drivetrain refined and powerful? Do I have the option of hearing satellite radio?
On our long-term 2008 Hyundai Veracruz the answer to all of these questions is "Yes." But it's the little things, including the controls on the driver's door, that confirm Hyundai's committment in getting this crossover "right." The look and feel of the window switches, power locks and mirror controls transmit a sense of purpose and quality that you don't always get in modern automobiles. I also like the location of these controls, as they are easy to see and reach. It's not uncommon for these items to be scattered about the lower dash and center console, but this is where they should be in my not-so-humble opinion...
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- Posted by: Karl Brauer March 24, 2008, 2:05 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
March 21, 2008
We tracked the decline of the A/C compressor in our Veracruz until it finally croaked. So the other day we scheduled an appointment with Cormier Hyundai in Carson. It was ready for pick up in a few hours.
According to the service tech, a lack of Freon was to blame. Mixed with Freon is a light oil used to lubricate the compressor...
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- Posted by: Mike Schmidt March 21, 2008, 12:20 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
March 17, 2008
It seems like a simple enough detail to nail, and yet it's one that many automakers seem to overlook. I'm talking about the grave business of gauge and display lighting. Many manufacturers take a haphazard approach -- red light here, blue light there, no sense of cohesiveness whatsoever. The end result is a cabin with the nighttime ambiance of a hole-in-the-wall bar whose owners forgot to take down its Christmas lights...
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- Posted by: Warren Clarke March 17, 2008, 2:10 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
March 10, 2008
Our 2008 Hyundai Veracruz has a very noisy interior. But it might be the kinda "noisy" that only bothers the easily irritated like me. When I went for a long drive on the 405 this weekend, there was a constant rattling sound coming from the passenger side of the interior. It sounded through every road imperfection I traveled over...
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- Posted by: Caroline Pardilla March 10, 2008, 10:50 AM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
March 7, 2008
As my colleague Chris pointed out in a previous post, the Veracruz's A/C makes an annoying buzz / groan that's most noticeable at low road speeds. Usually, an A/C unit making noise is not a good thing, and can be an indication that something, like say, a compressor, is getting ready to give up the ghost. Well, it seems that heaven may have welcomed another mechanical soul, as the Veracruz's A/C system was not kicking out any cool air for me.
To verify that I wasn't imagining this, I switched the A/C on and off a few times -- not rapidly, mind you, so as to give it ample time to kick in -- and there was no difference in the air coming out of the vents. It was ambient temperature in both cases. I checked to see if there was a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) for the Veracruz's A/C system, but there was none. As Chris stated, when we bring in the Veracruz for its next service, we'll have this looked at.
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor @ 5,828 miles.
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- Posted by: johnnyturbo March 7, 2008, 2:07 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
February 29, 2008
With plans for a ski day looming, I requested one of our SUVs and was given the Veracruz. Although the forecast for Big Bear (about 115 miles northeast of L.A.) was for clear and sunny skies with temps in the mid-50s and hence theoretically no slippery roads, I wanted to be prepared in case the weather took a turn for the worse. Having skied but four times since my arrival here eight years ago, I was not gonna be denied my skiing fix!
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- Posted by: johnnyturbo February 29, 2008, 4:35 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
February 27, 2008
I took my first drive in our 2008 Hyundai Veracruz last night. The first thing I noticed is that I like walking up to the Veracruz. Its face is pleasant, maybe a little derivative of the current-generation Lexus RX, but still distinct. This is my favorite face in the Hyundai family...
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- Posted by: Erin Riches February 27, 2008, 12:12 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
February 25, 2008
It’s that time of year again. Time for an army of girls dressed in brown and green uniforms to saturate the market with Thin Mints and Samoas, Tagalongs and Do Si Dos. And as Cookie Mom for Brownie Troop 421, it’s time for me to pick up the entire troop’s cookie order from the cookie warehouse.
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke February 25, 2008, 5:39 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
February 11, 2008
I like our new Hyundai Veracruz.
It drives nice and smooth, feels refined and is quiet on the road. The 260-horsepower V6 has sufficient power for its weight. It's seats and driving position are comfortable...
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- Posted by: Donna Derosa February 11, 2008, 4:49 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
February 5, 2008
I'm always amazed by new vehicles that have the latest safety technology but still have terrible sight lines -- as though visibility isn't a safety factor. So I was particularly impressed with the 2008 Veracruz.
The shot above shows the driver's view of the rear window from the rear-view mirror...
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- Posted by: Joanne Helperin February 5, 2008, 5:42 PM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
January 28, 2008
The big question: Is this Hyundai Veracruz as "nice" as the Lexus RX 350 upon which it was benchmarked? My initial (apprehensive) impressions may be found in this first drive, but some more time behind the wheel of our new 2008 Hyundai Veracruz has provided mixed results.
I'm not particularly fond of the ride. Over smooth pavement, the ride is quiet and, well, smooth...
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- Posted by: Cee-Dubya January 28, 2008, 7:50 AM
- Categories: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD
January 22, 2008
Looks cool, but isn't. The backlighting in our 2008 Hyundai Veracruz's interior is a bad idea.
It's said that the rods in humans' eyes are most sensitive to wavelengths in the bluish-green range, which tend to "bleach" out a person's night vision.
I'm not sure how effective night vision is when you've got headlights on, but I can say that the blue illumination in our Veracruz makes things tough to focus on. All of the numbers and letters printed on the dozens of buttons look very fuzzy when lit in blue, making them diffi
