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car review

2008 Hyundai Veracruz

Introduced in 2007, Hyundai's upscale Veracruz SUV was larger than its Santa Fe stable-mate but not by much.

Built on the Santa Fe platform, the Veracruz came in three trim levels - GL, GLS, and Limited - and in 2008, could be had with or without full-time all-wheel-drive.

Power for all three models was provided by a 3.8-litre V-6 that developed 260 horsepower and 257 lb-ft of torque. This powerplant was essentially a bored-out version of the engine found in the 3.3-litre V-6 Santa Fe, and propelled the Veracruz adequately, but not much more.

This was not an especially powerful SUV, and its powertrain lacked the sophistication and refinement of some of its Japanese competitors. That said, it did what it was supposed to, and returned reasonable, but not outstanding, fuel economy: 13.9 litres/100 km in town and 9.0 litres/100 km on the highway. There was but one transmission choice: a six-speed transmission only, with Hyundai's Shiftronic manual shift feature.

With the second- and third-row seats folded flat, interior volume was 2,458 litres, compared to the Santa Fe's 2,213 litres. Seating for seven also came standard on the Veracruz, but you could also order a Santa Fe with the same seating capacity.

The 4WD system on the Veracruz was full-time and had a front-drive bias. A dash-mounted knob allowed you to "lock" the system into a lower-ratio 4WD and moderate off-roading was definitely do-able. If you left the vehicle in the locked mode when you got back on terra firma, it reverted back to the default setting once your speed got over 30 km/h. But, like most SUVs, the Veracruz wasn't really designed to be taken deep into the boonies in the first place. Brakes were four-wheel discs all round and the Veracruz had ABS and electronic brake force distribution as standard equipment.

Behind the wheel, you were definitely greeted with an upscale ambience. For example, you could order a port wine-coloured leather interior, and Hyundai designers did a nice job with instrumentation and switchgear. If you stepped up to the top-of-the-line Limited model, "premium" leather seating was part of the package. All models came with heated front seats, and the Limited added a back seat entertainment system and upgraded stereo.

One safety recall to report from Transport Canada, and it's significant. Apparently, on some models, the brake light stop lamp switch may be improperly installed. This can lead to either having no brake lights at all, or having the brake lights permanently illuminated. This recall also ties in with a possible glitch in the brake-transmission shift interlock, which could prevent the vehicle from being shifted out of Park.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also has a couple of safety alerts regarding Thule aftermarket trailer hitches and wiring harnesses. In a nutshell, these could short circuit and cause various electrical problems.

NHTSA also has 19 technical service bulletins for the 2008 Veracruz. Many of these are electrical in nature - the navi system and electronic throttle control system, for example - but there are also advisories on irregular engine speed during warm-up, and various vehicle weight labelling issues.

Not a lot of love from Consumer Reports. This organization gives the '08 Veracruz an "average" prediction rating, and singles out the electrical and fuel systems as potentially problematic. That said, according to the magazine, some 70 per cent of Vera Cruz owners would buy one again. To put that in some kind of perspective, the industry leader in this category is the Kia Sorento, with some 83 per cent of buyers claiming to be potential repeat buyers. The lowest number: the Dodge Journey, with a mere 46 per cent. Some comments from Veracruz owners: "good quality, spacious, great ride," "great SUV except for transmission." Poor fuel economy seems to be a common refrain from Veracruz owners.

Market research firm J.D. Power is equally lukewarm about the Veracruz. This organization seems to have issues with overall mechanical quality and interior design quality and gives the '08 model an "average" rating for predicted reliability. Comfort and instrumentation get top marks.

A three-year-old Veracruz seems to be going for anywhere from the low-$20,000 range, up to just less than $30,000 for a fully equipped Limited. About $5,000 separates the two trim levels these days.

globedrive@globeandmail.com

2008 Hyundai Veracruz

Original Base Price: $35,995; Black Book: $21,295-$27,975; Red Book: $23,900-$26,500

Engine: 3.8-litre V-6

Horsepower/Torque: 260 hp/257 lb-ft

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Drive: Front-wheel/all-wheel

Fuel Economy (litres/100 km): 13.9 city/9.0 highway; regular gas

Alternatives: BMW X5, Mazda CX-9, Subaru Tribeca, Acura MDX, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Highlander, Nissan Murano, Honda Pilot

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