Category Archives: 2007

G. Chambers Williams III: Putting the ‘V’ in value

G. Chambers Williams III: Putting the ‘V’ in value

In the late 1980s, when I helped my then-teenage daughter purchase a used Hyundai Excel as a first vehicle, those cars were selling new for about $4,000.

The used one I found for her, which was already 2 or 3 years old, was a quite affordable $1,800.

This past week, I tested the new, 2007 Hyundai Veracruz crossover utility vehicle with a price tag of $38,020 — nearly 10 times as much as a new Excel 20 years ago — and marveled at how far this once-struggling South Korean brand has risen.After some early quality problems that have long since been corrected, Hyundai steadily has been building its reputation and product lineup to the point where the company is almost on the same scale as the top Japanese brands.

In the late ’80s, I couldn’t even envision a Hyundai vehicle in such a premium price range as the Veracruz. In fact, Toyota was just entering that lofty position with its new Lexus line of upscale vehicles, but there were no Toyota-branded vehicles at the starting price of the Veracruz, which is just $26,995 (including freight).

The 2007 Veracruz is an all-new midsize crossover SUV from Hyundai. It comes with a 3.8-liter V-6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission. Designers benchmarked the Veracruz against the Lexus RX 350 luxury crossover.

2007 Hyundai Veracruz

The package: Midsize, five-door, five- or seven-passenger, V-6 powered, front- or all-wheel-drive crossover utility vehicle.

Highlights: This is Hyundai’s new midsize crossover utility vehicle, which comes in three trim levels — including the upscale Limited model that offers more standard amenities than the Lexus RX 350. It is built on the platform of the Sonata sedan and has carlike ride and handling.

Negatives: Can get pricey with all the options.

Length: 190.6 inches.

Curb weight: 4,266-4,431 pounds.

Engines: 3.8-liter V-6.

Horsepower/torque: 260 HP/257 foot-pounds.

Transmissions: Six-speed automatic with manual-shift feature.

Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock.

Electronic stability control: Standard.

Side air bags: Front seat-mounted; side curtain for all rows, standard.

Cargo volume: 6.5 cubic feet (behind third seat); 40.0 cubic feet (third seat folded or not present).

Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds.

Major competitors: Ford Edge, Toyota Highlander, Subaru Tribeca, Suzuki XL7, Honda Pilot, Acura MDX, Nissan Murano.

Fuel capacity/type: 20.6 gallons/unleaded regular.

EPA fuel economy (2007 formula): 18 miles per gallon city/25 highway (2WD); 17/24 (AWD).

Base price range: $26,305-$34,005 plus $690 freight.

Price as tested: $38,020, including freight and options (Limited, V-6, AWD).

On the Road rating: 8.7 (of a possible 10).

Prices shown are manufacturer’s suggested retail; actual selling price may vary.

Inflation is, of course, the reason for much of the increase in car prices during the past 20 years. But that’s not all. You’ll definitely get a lot more vehicle for the extra money in today’s market.

Our test vehicle was the top-of-the-line Veracruz Limited all-wheel-drive model (base price $34,695 with freight) with an options package that ran the total up, making it just about the highest-priced version you could find.

Whether U.S. consumers are ready to pay more than $38,000 for a Hyundai sport utility vehicle remains to be seen, considering that there are a lot of crossover competitors at this price (including a Lexus).

But at the starting price, with very few (if any) options tacked on to the sticker, the Veracruz comes across as a bargain.

Hyundai says that while the Veracruz was being developed, it was benchmarked against the Lexus RX 350, whose 2007 model begins at $38,115 (with freight) for the front-drive model, and $39,515 for the all-wheel drive.

Adding the options that were either standard or included on our Veracruz, though — including leather interior and a rear-seat entertainment system, sunroof, backup warning system and 18-inch alloy wheels, among other things — would push the all-wheel-drive RX 350 into the upper $40,000s.

The problem, of course, is that the Veracruz is not a Lexus, and the Hyundai name is not the attention-getter that Lexus is. But with prices starting $11,000 less than those of the RX 350, and with a similarly equipped Veracruz running $7,700 less than the base RX, Hyundai surely wins the value race.

Granted, those who would buy a Lexus and those who would buy a Hyundai are entirely different customers. But the point is that anyone who does choose the Veracruz can feel good about the purchase. This is a lot of vehicle for the money, no question.

The Hyundai also stacks up well against other popular crossovers that Veracruz shoppers might consider — the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Nissan Murano and Ford Edge. The base Veracruz GLS model with front-wheel drive lists for $3,265 less than a similarly equipped 2007 Highlander, and $3,712 less than the ’07 Pilot.

And while Hyundai might have a hard time taking customers away from Honda, Toyota and Nissan, it can offer a great crossover with lots of standard equipment to those who can’t quite afford one of those Japanese brands. The Veracruz really is on the same level, but with a lower price.

This is the third SUV in the Hyundai lineup. It joined the entry compact Tucson and midsize Santa Fe. The Veracruz is built on a stretched and widened Santa Fe chassis to allow for a roomy third row of seating, giving it a maximum capacity of seven.

There is more cargo volume — 86.8 cubic feet with the second and third seats folded — than in all of the Veracruz’s direct competitors except for the Pilot (87.6 cubic feet).

Under the hood is a 3.8-liter V-6 engine rated at 260 horsepower and 257 foot-pounds of torque. That’s more than the 244 horsepower of the Pilot and 240 horsepower of the Nissan Murano, and close to the power of the redesigned 2008 Highlander. (The 2007 Highlander has just 215 horsepower, however.)

The V-6 engine is connected to a new six-speed automatic transmission, another feature distinguishing the Veracruz from its competitors. Most of them have five-speed automatics, including the Pilot and the Highlander (including the 2008).

The Veracruz automatic comes with a clutchless manual-shift feature, however, which isn’t available with the Pilot, Highlander or Murano.

Fuel-economy ratings are quite decent for a roomy seven-passenger SUV. Using the 2007 EPA formula, the Veracruz is rated at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 25 on the highway vs. 18/24 for the Pilot, 19/25 for the ’07 Highlander and 19/24 for the Murano.

Inside, the Veracruz is quieter than the Pilot, with levels of noise and vibration that nearly match those of the Lexus RX, Hyundai says.

The Veracruz already has achieved the top five-star crash-test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in frontal- and side-impact testing for all front and rear passengers. It scored four stars in the rollover rating, which is the highest any of the crossovers have received.

Among standard safety features are electronic stability control with traction control, four-wheel disc antilock brakes, and side-curtain air bags for all three rows of seats. Hyundai is the leader in providing stability control as standard equipment on its vehicles, with 73 percent of its 2007 models so equipped vs. 42 percent of Honda’s vehicles, the closest competitor.

In designing the Veracruz, Hyundai went with an exterior quite similar to that of several of the newer crossovers, including the RX 350, Edge and Acura MDX, which is an upscale version of the Pilot. The styling was a product of Hyundai’s California studio and was tailored for American tastes.

Luxury abounds inside the Veracruz. There is nothing cheap or cheesy looking. The leather seats are optional on the base model, but standard on the Limited. Our vehicle also had woodgrain interior trim that gave it a premium look.

Standard on our Limited model were several items that usually are found only on premium brands, and then sometimes only as options. Among them were a power rear liftgate, automatic climate control and a backup warning system.

Base models come with a single-disc CD player that is MP3-capable, and it also has an auxiliary jack for connection of an iPod or other audio player. XM satellite radio is standard.

Our Limited model came with the uplevel Infinity audio system with a six-disc CD changer.

The rear DVD entertainment system on our test vehicle was part of the Ultimate Package ($3,200), which also added a premium black and saddle interior, adjustable pedals, power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, 115-volt power outlet and a keyless entry/start system. The key can be left in the pocket, and the doors unlock as the person with the key fob approaches the vehicle.

No navigation system is offered yet with the Veracruz.

All-wheel drive adds $1,700 to any trim level, which means that the Limited with just front drive would start at $32,995 (with freight).

I would expect that most Sun Belt buyers would choose the two-wheel drive model. But the all-wheel drive system is of value even outside the snowy climates.

It can direct up to half of the torque to the rear wheels, and there is a lock switch on the dash that can force it into the 50/50 mode. The Veracruz has 8.1 inches of ground clearance, which makes it suitable for some light off-road use; but as with most crossovers, this vehicle is not designed for rugged off-road use.

Besides the base and Limited models, there is the midlevel SE, which begins at $28,695 (with freight).

09/09/2007
San Antonio Express-News

Hyundai Motor America Reports Best August Ever

Hyundai Motor America Reports Best August Ever

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 09/04/2007 Hyundai Motor America today reported its best August ever with sales of 45,087 vehicles, an increase of one percent over August 2006. Vehicle sales were led by the all-new Santa Fe with sales of 10,570 for the month, up 55 percent over last year, followed closely by the Sonata with sales totaling 10,348. Tucson, with sales up 13 percent and Entourage with sales up six percent, also reported strong August sales. The all-new Veracruz once again had a strong month with sales of 1,739.

“Considering the gloomy economic indicators for August, we are elated that Hyundai was able to record a best August ever,” said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America’s vice president, National Sales.

All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by The Hyundai Advantage, America’s Best Warranty. Hyundai buyers are protected by a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a 7-year/unlimited-mile anti-perforation warranty and 5-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance protection.

Following is the sales breakdown for August 2007:

CARLINE AUGUST/2007 AUGUST/2006 CY2007 CY2006
ACCENT 3,731 4,705 26,092 26,181
SONATA 10,34 13,184 92,808 114,584
ELANTRA 8,812 10,371 66,726 73,065
TIBURON 1,646 1,861 10,614 13,095
SANTA FE 10,570 6,838 62,509 39,054
AZERA 1,992 2,090 15,938 18,577
TUCSON 4,954 4,368 28,756 36,065
ENTOURAGE 1,295 1,218 14,785 4,254
VERACRUZ 1,739 N/A 6,965 N/A
TOTAL 45,087 44,635 325,193 325,875

CarMax Names Sonata One of the Best Cars for College Students

CarMax Names Sonata One Of The Best Cars For College Students

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 08/27/2007 CarMax, Inc. has named the Hyundai Sonata as one of the top 10 cars for college students. To help students and parents find the best car, CarMax, Inc., the nation’s largest retailer of used cars and Driver’s Edge, a national nonprofit organization that provides youth driver education, have teamed up to recommend the top cars based on safety features, cost, reliability and style. These recommendations also take the vehicle’s National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration ratings into consideration.

Sonata is the only midsize sedan under $20,000 with lifesaving Electronic Stability Control as standard equipment,” said Dave Zuchowski, vice president, national sales for Hyundai Motor America. “The American-made Sonata is a smart choice for parents in the competitive midsize sedan segment and the car’s styling and value characteristics will appeal to the students as well.”

This year’s CarMax.com top car recommendations for college students fulfill both the parents’ safety and reliability demands and the young drivers’ requirements for looks and performance.

All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by The Hyundai Advantage, America’s Best Warranty. Hyundai buyers are protected by a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a seven-year/unlimited-mile anti-perforation warranty and five-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance protection.

ABOUT CARMAX

CarMax, a fortune 500 company and one of the FORTUNE 2007 “100 Best Companies to Work For,” is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 81 used car superstores in 38 markets. The CarMax consumer offer is structured around four core equities: low, no-haggle prices; a broad selection; high quality vehicles; and consumer-friendly service. During the twelve months ended February 28, 2007, the company retailed 337,021 vehicles and sold 208,959 wholesale vehicles at its in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com.

ABOUT HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 750 dealerships nationwide.

Hyundai Wins Four AutoPacific 2007 IDEAL Vehicle Awards

Hyundai Wins Four AutoPacific 2007 IDEAL Vehicle Awards

Sonata, Elantra, Tucson And Entourage Earn Top Category Honors

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 09/05/2007 Automotive research and consulting firm AutoPacific announced today that Hyundai has won the 2007 Ideal Vehicle Award in four product segments:

– Most Ideal Premium Mid-Size Car: Hyundai Sonata
– Most Ideal Compact Car: Hyundai Elantra
– Most Ideal Compact Crossover SUV: Hyundai Tucson*
– Most Ideal Minivan: Hyundai Entourage
  *Hyundai Tucson also took home the Vehicle Satisfaction Award

AutoPacific’s second annual Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA) ranked auto manufacturers for how closely their 2007 model year cars or trucks came to matching owners’ expectations and criteria. The vehicles that customers said they would change the least were considered the most “ideal.” Measurements for the award include consumer trust, anticipation, expectations and reality.

Hyundai has done an outstanding job understanding their target buyer and is creating the product that is ‘ideal’ for its buyers,” said AutoPacific’s President, George Peterson.

“These awards are a reflection of Hyundai’s continued commitment to our customers,” said John Krafcik, vice president, Product Development and Strategic Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “The Hyundai brand stands for industry-leading quality, superior standard safety technology, and great value – with these values we’ll continue to work hard to meet the expectations of our customers.”

To determine the winners, AutoPacific asked owners to rate their new car or truck on how close it came to “ideal” in the following areas: exterior size; passenger roominess; cargo space; driver’s seat comfort; driver’s seat visibility; interior technology; power; ease of getting in and out; interior storage compartments; and tires and wheels. The IVA ratings reflect input from buyers of new vehicles purchased from September 2006 through December 2006. Over 24,000 respondents provided input for these awards.

AUTOPACIFIC

AutoPacific is a future-oriented automotive marketing and product-consulting firm. Every year it publishes a wide variety of syndicated studies for the automotive industry. The firm also conducts extensive proprietary research and consulting for auto manufacturers, distributors, marketers and suppliers worldwide. Additional information can be found at www.autopacific.com.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif. is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai cars and sport utility vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced by more than 750 Hyundai dealerships nationwide.

Hyundai Takes on Lexus – Really

Hyundai takes on Lexus – really

Its target is the RX350, a big station wagon with lots of leather and gadgets.

For the consumer, it’s just a Hyundai. It’s a name people still confuse with Honda and it’s a brand that conjures up zero images of upscale, prestigious or even plain luxury automobiles.

Hyundai tries and tries. With its Azera, it’s trying to zip past Toyota’s Avalon and even take a whack at BMW. We had an Azera for a week last year and it was a terrific car. Yet nobody looked at it.

With its Sonata sedan, Hyundai is going after Honda’s Accord or Nissan’s Altima and, to a certain degree, succeeding at the task, for a lot less money.

Now it’s the Veracruz, Hyundai’s new truly luxo SUV, a car that is taking dead aim at that holy of holies, the Lexus RX350, which really is a benchmark for quality big station wagons that smother you in leather and electronic gadgetry.

The Veracruz is apparently named for the state in Mexico (Hyundai, whose other SUVs are the Tucson and Santa Fe, really does have a thing for the Southwest), and it is actually the real item, when it comes to upscale SUVs.

This is not some gussied-up truck, embellished with items plucked from the parts bin of an upscale assembly line. It is, from the ground up, designed to swaddle you in broad seats (yes, leather is available), drown you in silence and make sure you are entertained (the requisite booming stereo for everyone; the optional DVD player for the second- and third-row passengers).

Yes, third row passengers. It’s standard on the Veracruz, allowing the car to carry seven people. And the seats fold easily into their own compartment.

Need more room in back? The second row seats have outboard handles that, when pulled, allow the seatbacks to quickly fold forward, giving nearly 87 cubic feet of stowage behind the front seats.

The Veracruz is a crossover utility vehicle and, as such, has enormous competition, even if it does set its sights mainly on the RX350, which costs thousands more but does have that imprimatur of Lexus, a brand that has surpassed Mercedes-Benz in terms of equation with luxury, valet parking, Ritz-Carlton hotels, etc.

When you get inside the Veracruz, you do see the similarities.

The seats are generously proportioned, the console has the double cubbies – a shallow one, on top, and a deeper one below – that help stow all that stuff you will find you never need anyway, and the steering wheel has electric up/down, in/out adjusting.

The most striking thing about this car – and I use striking advisedly since most of the car blends in with everything else out there – comes at night when you open the doors. On the chrome sill plate, the word “Veracruz” lights up in brilliant blue. On all four sill plates.

Saturday, August 25, 2007
By Michael Taylor
San Francisco Chronicle

Top 10 Safe vehicles for Less Than $25,000

Top 10 Safe Vehicles for Less Than $25,000

Safe bets for low rollers.

Saturn Astra
Scion xB
Hyundai Sonata
Volkswagen Rabbit
Mini Cooper
Toyota Camry
Volvo C30
Dodge Charger
Honda Accord
Mazda CX-7

We live in a nation of unparalleled personal-injury litigation, of warning labels on curling irons that must specify “for external use only,” and of waivers that must be signed before engaging in death-defying activities like roller skating. We are slightly more lax, however, when it comes to transportation. Traffic accidents trail only cancer and heart disease as the leading killer of Americans, and according to a recent New York Times article, we rank 11th in the world for fatalities per mile, more dangerous than countries like Poland and Estonia. This is even with quantum leaps in safety technology made and mandated in the past decade; it’s fairly tough to buy a patently unsafe vehicle nowadays. Some, however, are safer than others.

Like prime real estate and good medical care, the safest cars go first to those who can pay for them. The latest and greatest safety technologies often debut on more expensive marquis models (think BMW 7-series, Volvo S80, Lexus LS460) and migrate downstream and across the market within a few years, as parts-bin sharing lowers costs and these technologies increasingly become worth their weight in marketing gold. Where Reaganomics failed as an example of trickle-down theory, the automotive industry shines. Save the fat-wallets first, and then get those on more moderate incomes later.

Vehicular safety is focused in two areas: accident prevention and crashworthiness. Factors such as handling, braking performance, and stability control play into the first; airbags, chassis deformation, and crumple zones the second.

Stability control uses data such as steering-wheel position and yaw and roll rates to detect a skid and then uses anti-lock braking and traction-control systems for prevention and recovery. Stability-control systems across manufacturers work with greater and lesser levels of complexity, sophistication, and efficacy, but they do work. Thanks to a mandate from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), every vehicle sold in this country by model year 2012 will be equipped with such a system.

The U.S. government dictates a minimum of two airbags protecting the front-seat passengers in a frontal impact; many vehicles also come with airbags to protect occupants in side collisions. To make our list, vehicles must have stability control as well as curtain airbags for head protection, bringing the minimum to six. Most of these vehicles feature six airbags as standard; for those that don’t, we’ve built the option into the price, as we’ve done with stability control. Several cars meet the $25,000 price ceiling in four- or six-cylinder trim, which we’ve noted.

NHTSA and its European counterpart, the New Car Assessment Programme (incidentally, also the name of the NHTSA branch responsible for crashing cars), rate the crashworthiness of cars on a five-star scale, five stars being the best score. NHTSA scores cars for driver and passenger protection in frontal impacts and front and rear occupant protection in side impacts; the European NCAP grants cars a single overall protection rating.

Now that you know, choose well, hang a St. Christopher from the rearview mirror, and remember that the single greatest variable in vehicle safety is the loose nut behind the steering wheel.

Saturn Astra 3-door
Estimated base price: $16,000

It’s tough to contain our excitement about a car that’s actually “Euro tuned.” The only difference between Europe’s best-selling car, the Opel Astra, and what will shortly turn up on Saturn lots are Gulpinator-sized cup holders, inevitably crappy all-season tires, and a piece of plastic on the hatch marking it a Saturn. It would be tough for the Astra to do worse than the Ion it replaces, but we think it will instead do much, much better, offering a premium product, with premium safety equipment, at a solidly ‘Merican price. Compact-car renters rejoice.

Stability control is standard on the sportier three-door, optional on the five at an undisclosed price. NHTSA hasn’t thrown one into a wall yet, but the European NCAP crowned the Astra the safest compact sedan in Europe, earning a score better than even the BMW 1-series. Again assuming parity with the European hardware, the stability control system even features “Understeer Control Logic,” which knows to increase brake pressure on the inner rear wheel. Neat.

Scion xB
Base Price: $16,230

The ’08 xB didn’t get a makeover as much as a redefinition; the result is longer, wider, nicer, and a full 582 pounds heavier. With the boost in proportions came an increase in content, including standard stability control and a bump in engine displacement of almost a liter, meaning the traction control might even have wheelspin to contend with. NHTSA gives the xB four stars in frontal crashes, and a full five for side impacts.

2008 Hyundai Sonata
Base price: $18,195

When it was introduced in 2006, Hyundai’s current Sonata waltzed up to the dons of the family car segment and popped them in the schnoz, offering astonishing quality and style at a price thousands less than a comparably equipped Accord or Camry. Most notably, the Sonata–even in the cheapest possible configuration–comes with standard stability control.

NHTSA handed the Sonata a perfect five stars in both front- and side-impact protection, one of three vehicles on this list to do so. The V-6 model starts at $21,645 and so equipped, makes merging a worry-free operation. A well-maintained car helps ward off equipment failure and resulting accidents; Hyundai’s 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty will help with that.

Volkswagen Rabbit 5-door
Base price: $18,200

Just over $18K will, in theory, have you sitting in a Wolfsburg-built, five-door Rabbit with stability control. Good luck finding one so priced, however: Floor mats aren’t even included at that price. Stability control is a bargain option at $450.

We liked the Rabbit enough to place it at the top of a 2006 small-car comparison, noting its responsive handling and excellent braking performance, both key elements in accident avoidance. The NHTSA hasn’t crashed a three-door yet, but liked the five-door enough to grant it four stars for frontal crashes and a perfect score for side-impact performance.

Mini Cooper
Base price: $19,200

Who says small cars aren’t safe? Newton? Point taken. We’d still rather be in a svelte vehicle like the Cooper than an Escalade. With its superior stopping ability and driving dynamics, you’re less likely to marry your undercarriage with the wheelbarrow sitting in the fast lane. Diminutive proportions aside, the Cooper is a safe machine packed with some of the best construction and safety technologies from parent company BMW. Stability control is a $500 option, whether you select a base Cooper or the turbocharged S model. Sometimes the only way out of a dangerous situation is quick and complete use of your right foot, so the more acceleration that move inspires the better. Make ours an S.

NHTSA has not yet biffed a reworked ’07 Mini, which fared just okay the first time around (four stars, and the rear seat was too small to properly seat the crash test dummy); Europe’s NCAP, however, gives the new model five stars for passenger protection.

Toyota Camry
Base price: $19,740

Refrigerators are safe, so their vehicular equivalent should be too. And it is. Toyota’s best-selling, bread-and-butter sedan has been carefully tweaked over its twenty-four-year lifespan to offer the most family-friendly, innocuous, safe, and least involving experience possible. The only real danger here is falling asleep at the wheel or losing your Camry in a parking lot.

The newly upsized version got perfect marks in NHTSA’s front- and side-impact tests. It’s commendable that Toyota builds a Camry that sells for under $20k, even if we’d never buy a stripper Camry (like eating boiled potatoes and foregoing a pinch of salt). Strangely, stability control is never standard, but a $650 option. You can pick up a LE V-6 model and still come in at under $25K; with 268 horsepower on tap, your forgettable journey will be forgotten that much faster.

Volvo C30
Price: $23,445

No company’s name is more inexorably tied to the word ‘safety’ than Volvo. Okay, maybe Aeroflot, but for different reasons. Innovations that aren’t even thought of as safety features anymore–laminated windshield glass, padded dashboards, and three-point seatbelts–were Volvo firsts. The C30 is essentially a three-door hatchback version of the S40, and shares the sedan’s safety features. Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) is standard, as are six airbags and Volvo’s whiplash protection system.

According to Volvo, the C30 crashes as well as the S40, which means well; the only place it didn’t score five stars was in the driver’s side front impact, where it scored four. Kids, work hard to sell this little barnstormer on its safety merits to your parental units: A 2.5-liter, turbocharged engine pulls the C30 to 15-second quarter-mile times.

Dodge Charger
Base Price: $24,510

The Dodge Charger shares a platform with the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum, which is in turn based on the Mercedes E-class chassis and thus expectedly good. Mercedes sedans crash consistently well, so it’s little surprise that the Charger does too, earning five stars in all categories except for the front seat in side-impacts, where it earns four. Side and curtain airbags are part of the $1235 Protection Group package, which requires the additional purchase of stability control for $1025.

Though traffic laws can perhaps be sometimes followed loosely, the laws of physics are tougher to skirt. While crashing in a small car isn’t inherently unsafe, the Charger’s generous proportions provide ample sheetmetal to crumple and dissipate energy before it’s your body’s turn.

Honda Accord
Estimated base price: $19,000

It’s no secret we’re a fan of this car, which has won more 10Best honors than any other. Of all the family sedans out there, it remains one of the more involving drives, with a nimble character that pays dividends in fluidity and the kind of moves that can help you avoid an accident at speed.

The Accord is all new for 2008 and even the most basic four-cylinder models will come equipped with VSA, or Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control, and our minimum six airbags. Although details on the new model have yet to be released, NHTSA has run a 2008 Accord into a wall already and awarded it five stars for frontal collisions and four for side impacts.

Mazda CX-7 Sport
Base price: $24,345

The CX-7 is the one vehicle on this list to bear the ignominious title of SUV, subset crossover. Don’t worry, it doesn’t suffer the hideous driving characteristics of an SUV; to the contrary, it’s more agile than most vehicles on this list. We had to select the least expensive CX-7, the Sport, to make the $25K cutoff, but it’s like selecting a non-vintage bottle of Veuve Clicquot: still good. Getting in or out of trouble is made easier by 244 horsepower, a necessarily healthy number given the CX-7’s slightly porcine 3710-pound curb weight. The CX-7 joins the Sonata and Camry in earning perfect scores from NHTSA for frontal and side impacts. And despite being categorized as an SUV, the CX-7 has, according to NHTSA, the same probability of rollover in a single-vehicle crash as the Scion xB.

BY JARED HOLSTEIN – August 2007

Hyundai is the Next Target

Hyundai Is the Next Target

Isn’t it thrilling that we live in a day and age when the line between bargain basement and luxury consumer goods is getting incredibly blurry? Take Target, for example. I remember when places like Kmart, Wal-Mart and Target were considered equally low-end retailers. Since then, Target has risen up, and now (at least amongst my circle of friends) it is the cool place for hip moms to shop for designer clothing and home goods on a budget. You get all of this while sipping a latte from the store’s Starbucks.

The Hyundai Veracruz is the Target of the automotive world. Don’t get your hopes up, ladies! There isn’t a Starbucks located inside Hyundai’s cars or even its dealerships (although I like that idea). What I’m trying to say is that the Veracruz is much like that sweet pair of Mossimo wedges I recently purchased: Pewter metallic strappy sandals with cork wedges, and they even have a driving heel — how perfect is that? The point I was trying to make before I so rudely allowed myself to get distracted with euphoric fantasies of shoe shopping was that the Veracruz is a budget-esque crossover masquerading as a luxury one. It does so well that I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the Veracruz is almost as nice (and in some respects even nicer) as the Lexus RX — for a base price of more than $10,000 lower. Meowwww!

During my two weeks in the Veracruz, I was surprised by every new feature I uncovered. Initially, I was just thrilled to be driving the first offering from Hyundai with three rows. Imagine how my excitement rose when I slid one of the rear seats forward to climb into the third row and found an incredibly thoughtful handle perfectly placed on the back of the sliding seat for me to grab and hoist myself into the vehicle. The third row, despite being a bit tight, was certainly more comfortable than the sardine-can seat I’m sitting in right now on the airplane while writing this review. While the seat belt receptors in the third row were easy for my kids to buckle on their own, unfortunately, I can’t say the same about the ones in the second row. I ended up having to buckle in my youngest every time.

The second row seat belt annoyance was quickly forgotten when I found a slew of my favorite car features all standard in the Veracruz, including a backup warning system, power tailgate, a conversation mirror that offers a view of all the rear passengers, steering wheel mounted audio controls, lighted storage compartments and cupholders, a chill zone in the center console to keep my kids’ string cheese cold and — I’m getting way too typeractive here — let me just slow down and collect myself a bit before continuing.

Ahhh. Deep breath. Other fabulous features I found in the Veracruz were an available DVD entertainment system with rear controls so capable backseat passengers could play around with it without distracting the driver for instructions. I also appreciated the under-floor storage bin in the cargo area, good rear visibility and luxuriously tactile fit and finish inside the vehicle.

The main thing that I think would make the Hyundai Veracruz — and, honestly, any Hyundai for that matter — any better would be for them to be on sale at Target. Stick with me on this for a moment. Hyundai could be the next designer brand to pair up with Target. Imagine a world where you could drive up to one store and purchase a new convertible five-point harness to replace the one with the inexplicable odor emanating from it (despite washing the cover three times), a hand vacuum that plugs into a car’s cigarette lighter to suck up the endless supply of loose Cheerios, and the car to put these things into. All this while sipping a latte from the store’s Starbucks kiosk.

*For more information on the Hyundai Veracruz and its safety features, visit Cars.com. With questions or comments regarding this review, write to editor@motherproof.com.


LET’S TALK NUMBERS

Latch Connectors: 2

Seating Capacity (includes driver): 7

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample

Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Great – Excellent

Fun Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove On): Groove On

Specs
2007 Hyundai Veracruz
AWD Limited
 
Base price: $34,005
Price as tested: $38,020
Engine: 260-hp, 3.8 liter V-6
Fuel: 17/24 mpg
Length: 190.6″
Width: 76.6″
Ground Clearance: 8.1″
Turning Radius: 18.3′
Cargo space: 6.5 – 86.8 cu. ft.
NHTSA Crash-Test Ratings
Frontal Impact  
Driver’s side: 5 Stars
Passenger’s side: 4 Stars
Side Impact  
Front occupant: 5 Stars
Rear occupant: 5 Stars
Rollover resistance: 4 Stars

By: Kristin Varela
www.motherproof.com

2007 Hyundai Veracruz

2007 Hyundai Veracruz

Hyundai is successfully changing the way Americans look at their product line.

During the past decade, the Korean automaker’s lackluster build quality and stodgy designs have given way to sophisticated styling and improved fit and finish — the likes of which mimic their Japanese competitors.

“Our company is experiencing the fastest quality improvement in its history,” Hyundai Product Manager Miles Johnson said. “Our entire organization is fanatical about quality.”

Hyundai’s redesigned Sonata sedan and Santa Fe sport utility are current samples that have helped fuel the company’s annual U.S. sales growth from 91,217 units in 1998 to last year’s 455,520 units.

The newest member to join the Hyundai product line is the midsize 2007 Hyundai Veracruz crossover vehicle outfitted in GLS, SE or upscale Limited models.

Veracruz is larger than its Santa Fe brethren with a 4-inch-longer wheelbase and 6-inch overall length increase that yields a car-like ride quality akin to most large sedans. Cabin acoustics and body sound insulation absorbs engine and road noise to whisper levels.

Unlike a sedan however, Veracruz can manage up to seven passengers with a standard third row 50/50 split-folding seat that accommodates adults for short jaunts, but caters best for children. Second row occupants enjoy adult-size head, leg and knee room with split seats that slide and recline to suit their comfort needs.

Second and third row seats easily fold down to create a cargo hold that swallows everything from bicycles to building material.

Up front, user friendly controls greet the driver with easy-to-read gauges that turn to a soft blue hue for nighttime driving.

Supple cloth seat cushions and soft-textured materials create a pleasing and comfortable ride for all passengers. Limited models are available with two-tone leather upholstery.

Veracruz teams a 260-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission that propels its standard front-wheel drivetrain managed by 17-inch, 5-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in all-season rubber. All models are available with all-wheel drive.

Electronic stability control with traction control, anti-lock brakes, front and three-row side curtain airbags are standard.

Veracruz is equipped with power accessories, steering wheel audio controls, air conditioning with separate rear climate controls, cruise control, rear window wiper and a keyless entry system.

Popular option packages include a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, rear-obstacle detection system, power sunroof, heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers and power adjustable pedals. Bluetooth hands-free phone system, auxiliary iPod jack and XM satellite radio also are available.

The 2007 Hyundai Veracruz GLS enters the crossover segment at $26,995, followed by the SE model for $28,695. Limited stretches the bottom line to $32,995. Add $1,700 for all-wheel drive.

Sunday, July 29
BY JIM JACKSON
Times Auto Writer

Veracruz Does it Right

Veracruz does it right

I see trouble on the horizon. Not for you or me, but for the likes at Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc. A few years ago Hyundai was not much of a concern to any car builder since they were not high on quality ratings. All that changed a few years ago, and today they are among the best vehicles made, and presto! They are selling faster than a dime dance at a lumber camp.

Hyundai is perhaps the fastest growing vehicle company now and ranking third in the J.D Power survey for overall quality just behind Porsche and Lexus, which gives potential Veracruz buyers a big incentive to buy that first Hyundai product. Hyundai has added five entirely new models in the past 10 years, and the latest one is an upscale SUV that continues the Hyundai western name theme.

The Veracruz moves Hyundai’s growing line of SUV’s into a more pricy company and a loaded Veracruz could reach around $38,000. As I found out at a Hyundai briefing, the move into the higher-price vehicles is apparently where Hyundai intends to go in the near future. The Veracruz is targeted at the upscale Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot SUV’s. After the testing period, we see trouble for not only them but about everyone else along the SUV road. A lower price and more standard accessories, plus equal or better performance, will be the big selling points for the 2007 Veracruz. Actually the Veracruz should be labeled a 2008.

The styling is safe and should not engender any resentment but still exhibits some excitement at the tail-end with the last pie-shaped side-glass. The wheel-openings have an accented radius that adds to a sporty appearance.

Inside the Veracruz glows with the appointments that are found on SUV’s that cost about another eight to ten thousand more. Nice leather and luxury appearing upholstery abounds, and most of the highly desirable accessories are standard like a 315 watt AM/FM/MP3 compatibility on the base GLS edition.

The top-line Limited can be optioned up to a 605-watt sound system with all of the above, plus a six-disc CD player XM satellite radio and 10-speaker surround sound, supported by a big chest-pounding sub-woofer. Our local movie theater doesn’t even have that fine of a sound system. An optional DVD player with an eight-inch screen is located on the headliner for the rear seat passengers enjoyment.

On that note; all Veracruz come with a third-row seat, something we think is unnecessary for most buyers and maybe a deterrent considering it adds cost to the base price. The third-row seats can be stowed and all but unnoticed; however, it still requires otherwise useful space. With the third-row and second-row seats laid-out there is about 87 cubic-feet of possible cargo room.

My little lady co-tester gives a thumbs, up for the power lift gate that is standard on the Limited model. I like the “proximity key” so I do not need to go digging for the keys to get going down the road. I don’t even need to use the remote to unlock the doors, just have the key thing in my pocket and tap the door handle to unlock and climb-in. The 110-volt outlet is becoming a more frequent accessory, and I could have run my lap-top or blow-dry my hair with it. With summer finally here the duel drink holders will keep your Dr. Pepper chilled from the air-conditioning port located there for that purpose.

Hyundai does not offer a navigation system, and I can see why considering the factory price on most of them is around $2,000. Plus, the advent of the portable navigation at around three hundred bucks, and you can remove it to the next vehicle or even put it in your pocket for a guided walk around Chicago. All three Veracruz models are available with all-wheel drive at $1,700. The Veracruz has a base price of $26,995 and was $33,110 as tested.

The 260 horsepower V-6 engine is linked to a standard six-speed automatic transmission and that combination delivers plenty of performance. You forget how quiet a SUV can be in the Veracruz and that will be welcome on longer trips. Add to that the luxury of a comfortable ride that levels-out the bumps, and while the Veracruz may not corner like a Porsche we will opt for the comfortable ride and take the corners just a little slower. Keep your eye on Hyundai; they are going places.

July 26, 2007
BY ED NOBLE Special to Pioneer Press

Santa Fe Reflects Hyundai’s Pursuit of Luxury

Santa Fe reflects Hyundai’s pursuit of luxury

There has been a trickle-up effect at Hyundai as it takes aim at building luxury-class vehicles.

This engineering is easily seen and felt in the company’s new and largest SUV, the Veracruz. But Hyundai’s pursuit of luxury is also felt in its smaller SUV, the Santa Fe, today’s test vehicle.

It is not as richly appointed as the Veracruz, but the solid engineering is noted in the Santa Fe’s ride quality that is separated from road harshness and engine noise. What is under the skin gives an impression of superior quality. And that refinement is also applied to what users see and touch.

Santa Fe is new for 2007 and a bit less than 3 inches wider and a little more than 3 inches longer. It makes an ideal alternative to a sedan, with roomy cargo space and an option to add a pair of third-row seats.

Front headroom is generous at 40.2 inches, and there’s a commanding view over the hood. Rear-seat legroom is generous at 38.6 inches, the seat backs recline and the center seat position is decent with adequate foot room provided by the low exhaust/transmission tunnel.

Interior design isn’t gimmicky. All switches and controls have ergonomic placement and are easily understood without continual references to the owner’s manual.

And its Santa Fe is covered with the Hyundai warranty of five years/60,000 miles for basic coverage with roadside assistance. And 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain.

A basic front-wheel drive, manual transmission Santa Fe with a 185-horsepower, 2.7-liter V-6 has a starting price of $21,715. Add $1,200 for a four-speed Shiftronic automatic transmission and the fuel economy goes up 1 mpg from the manual in city and highway driving to 21/26 mpg.

As a basic, grocery-getting, kid-hauling or kid-driving transportation, the Santa Fe GLS is well-endowed with standard safety features including electronic stability control, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, traction control and six air bags, including side curtain bags.

Other standard equipment includes remote locking, air conditioning, tilt-telescopic steering wheel, rear privacy glass, six-speaker CD-audio system, power (heated) outside mirrors and windows, and 16-inch alloy wheels.

For another $1,500, the midrange SE is more of a keeper and adds a five-speed Shiftronic automatic transmission and a 242-hp, 3.3-liter V-6. Also included are extras such as 18-inch wheels, an auto-dimming inside mirror with compass readout, fog lights and automatic headlights, steering-wheel audio controls and a cargo net.

The top-line Limited with all-wheel drive – $28,045 – is the choice for those buyers who could afford to buy a larger vehicle but prefer driving richly in a smaller package. There is a little more chrome on the outside, the leather is attractive and the front seats are heated with power lumbar for the driver.

As equipped, the Limited seems almost too well-appointed to allow unruly children to scuff up or to toss bags of potting soil into the cargo area.

About the only option Hyundai doesn’t offer is a navigation system.

Unlike some luxury-brand SUVs, buying the Santa Fe can be justified as a lifestyle need – but it’s classy enough to satisfy a want.

– – –

SPECS

2007 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited AWD

Body style: compact, five-passenger SUV, two- or all-wheel drive

Engine: 242-horsepower, 3.3-liter V-6

Transmission: five-speed Shiftronic automatic

EPA estimated fuel mileage: 19 mpg city, 24 highway; 87 octane recommended

PRICING

MSRP: $28,715; price as tested, $28,810

Options on test car: carpeted floor mats, $95

Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles basic coverage with roadside assistance; 10 years/100,000 miles powertrain; 7 years/unlimited miles for rust protection.

Where assembled: Montgomery, Ala.

Competition: Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander, Saturn Vue, Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4.

By Mark Maynard – Wednesday, July 18 2007