Easy access?
My tester came with a feature that I thought would make ingress and egress easier: integrated side steps. Well, I was wrong. Because they're essentially molded into the rocker panels, I was unable to put a solid foot to get on board. And when I wanted to get off, my leg didn't even touch the side step, though my pants did and they got dirty. Clearly, a lot of improvements can be made in that area. I should point out, however, that tubular side steps can be found on the list of accessories.

My tester came with a feature that I thought would make ingress and egress easier: integrated side steps.

Behind the wheel
The driver's seat, steering wheel and pedals of the Veracruz Limited are all power-adjustable, allowing you to find an ideal driving position. The controls are easy to locate, while the various gauges and displays are easy to read and grasp. Hyundai really put a lot of efforts into ergonomics. On a negative note, though, I accidentally hit the brake pedal on multiple occasions.

The windshield wipers are effective, the headlights project powerful beams and the mirrors are decently sized. As a result, you enjoy great visibility at all times.

On the road
The all-wheel drive system of the Veracruz nicely teams up with the powertrain, which consists of a 3.8L V6 and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle proves surprisingly easy to drive considering its size. My wife particularly liked how easy parking maneuvers were. Stability is great on highways and decent on winding country roads, where weight comes into play. I'm happy to report that the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is pleasantly subtle.

While accelerations from 0 to 100 km/h are convincingly spirited (8.5 seconds), passing maneuvers from 80 to 120 km/h are average at best (7.5 seconds). Hyundai is not known for offering fuel-efficient V6 engines and the Veracruz is outrageously thirsty: 19 liters per 100 kilometers.

As for braking performance, this Korean CUV puts many rivals to shame. Equipped with all-season tires, it took 41 meters to stop from 100 to 0 km/h.

A serious contender
Hyundai no longer seems to make compromises. That's why you'll find a base Veracruz at $36,995 and a top-of-the-line Limited model (as tested) at $48,909, including delivery and destination charges. It's a very interesting, high-value alternative to American and European SUVs


Photo Credit : Philippe Champoux