CD Article: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz Limited

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:


Now in its second year, the Hyundai Veracruz offers a lot of luxury and a beautiful interior, says Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh.  "It's wonderfully smooth and quiet on the highway, but it doesn't do as well on rougher roads," she says.

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Read the article | View the photos | All the First Drives

[Honda Owner]

I am sure with fuel economy like this, it will fly out of the stores.

[sailor723]

I was turned off by the ride when I test drove last year....It felt like a big,softly sprung van to me. That,combined with the fact you're paying 10K extra over the same vehicle Stateside was enough to send me elsewhere.

[Rampage]

Kudos to Jil and pointing out the ongoing price discrepancies between U.S. and Canadian vehicles in her recent articles.  After a year of parity the price gap is still huge on some cars. 

[Thinking Out Loud]

The pricing discrepancy won't hamper sales these vehicles - they are priced relative to their Canadian competition, which are similarly set for 'assume Canadians are ignorant'.  The VC will have better features etc etc at a lower price, tho, a Hyundai tradition.

Fuel ecomomy; a $48,000 sticker price; and marque-branding will be problems.

If the Azera is any indication, the upcoming Genesis and Veracruz will have problems crashing the $35,000 and up party.  Lots of tony competition there.

VW, for example, has a story and a history and a mystique that they had to carry them into the pricing echelons with those that were raised on Beetles and first gen Rabbits as their demographic climbed through the corporate ladders - so a $40,000 Passat is an easier transtion, for comparison purposes.

Hyundai doesnt have that panache or history - and competition is pretty fierce and selection broad. 

Showing up with DIESEL engines, in a marketplace lacking in them, is a page they could steal from VW's playbook with ease, and differentiate them from the masses.   

[swishguy]

I took one out for a test spin at our closest US dealer. it was a Black Limited AWD with Navigation. Nice Hi-way cruiser. Out the door price in the US with rebates to dealer was $30,995!

[airbalancer]

I do think the US price should be mention in a review at all, has it always takes the review off couse
This thread should be moved to the US-Canadian pricing section

$4gs to step up to GLS does seems pricey

[Thinking Out Loud]

The pricing discrepancy won't hamper sales these vehicles - they are priced relative to their Canadian competition, which are similarly set for 'assume Canadians are ignorant'. 

My point exactly - all else being equal, what's the point?  Interesting, true, but as (likely) 90% of the population wouldn't go to the other end of town to buy their car - unless you are a real wheeler and dealer - it just becomes a scab to constantly pick at....

Manufacturers know that unless you are on a border town, the dollar difference is an issue for only a minority, and even fewer act on it....

Hyundai - be different, go diesel.  PLEASE.  You've a history of building other maufacturer motors under licence...please resume, if necessary!

[safristi]

aren't aboot! 90% of Canadians IN A BORDER TOWN??   something about a PARALLEL UNIVERSE !!!!!

[carcrazed]

I like the fact that they introduced a GL model with FWD.
More choice is better

[jww]

When the 3.0 l diesel hits our shores in 2010, you better believe it'll fly outta the showrooms.

I liked the VeraCruz the very first time I saw one up close and personal. The only interior issue I have is the stupid - and I do mean stupid DVD player. It looks like it's held up with velcro - an afterthought at best and the only downside to an excellent vehicle. If I had my way, they'd replace the DVD player with a sat-nav system instead. Yeah - that would be for me.

Otherwise it's another excellent Hyundai value leader. I don't think it'll be a true competitor for Lexus RX sales - but it certainly will go head to head against the Highlanders, Pilots and Muranos and do a pretty decent job against those big boys.