Guzzle-free Luxury Hyundai Veracruz

So, did you check how much a barrel of oil costs these days? If your next luxury SUV purchase includes reasonable fuel economy as a parameter, Hyundai would like you to check out their Veracruz. The biggest and priciest SUV in their lineup packs a 3-liter CRDi V6, a 6-speed automatic, four-wheel drive, and more than enough features to make CFO-types and the like looking good when they roll up at the club for tee-off. Using a stretched platform of the already-impressive Santa Fe (likely also explaining the visual similarity), it’s a 7-seater SUV positioned against the likes of the Honda Pilot, Mitsubishi Pajero, and Ford Explorer. Unfortunately, the premium you pay for a diesel and all-wheel drive might have impacted too greatly on the price. It’s priced at P2.798M versus P2.588M for a Pajero (diesel inline-4, 4WD), P2.295M for an Explorer (gas V6, RWD), and P2.6M for a Honda Pilot (gas V6, 4WD), which could explain why the Veracruz is a relative rarity on Metro Manila roads.

In its defense, it boasts a level of refinement that, in the main market US, competes more with Lexus and Acura. High-quality leather is used for the seats, and the cabin uses the expensive kind of plastic for the dashboard and such; soft to the touch, very minimal shine, and difficult to scratch. All the switches and dials, from the wiper stalk down to the shifter, have a satisfying, tactile feel that elevates it above lesser SUVs. The soft-blue lighting at night is soothing to the eyes, and there’s even a “mood light” you can switch on or off; a very minor detail, but it’s the thought that counts. About the only thing I would change would be the instrument gauges, which use an elongated oval shape that makes the numbers on the speedomer and tachometer look out of focus.

However, the heart of the Veracruz turns out to be a real gem. Hyundai has always been known for its diesel prowess, and here it’s a tour-de-force in their flagship SUV. After the initial clatter at start-up that gives it away as a diesel, the V6 quiets down and hums invisibly, smothered by a ton of insulating materials and vibration dampeners. At speed, you can be mistaken for thinking it’s a gasoline engine as it works up the range like a turbine. And it’s a very strong engine: 240 horsepower at 3,800 rpm, and 46 kg-m of torque between 1,750 to 3,500 rpm. That’s enough to humble more than a few gas V6 drivers, and if they want to challenge you, they’ll have to rev their steeds hard while the Veracruz barely cracks 3,000 rpm. In my city/highway stint, I averaged 7.6 kilometers to a liter.

The 6-speed Aisin gearbox is similarly impressive, delivering just-in-time shifts and zero shift shock. The forward-for-upshifts, backward-for-downshifts movement of the manumatic is counterintuitive, but once you’ve gotten used to it, it’s a system that’s enjoyable and useful in the zigzags.

As luxury SUVs go, the Veracruz is one of the most satisfying to drive. The driving position is excellent with good all-around visibility (except, as usual, at the thick A-pillars), the soft suspension evades the wallowy-feel, the steering feels hefty and communicative, and the brakes have a lot of bite. Drive it sedately and it moves along with a silken grace, drive it quickly and it responds with surprising alacrity. It’s not a BMW X5, but it’ll do the dance to the limits of its abilities. It’s happiest as a cross-country touring machine, where the long wheelbase, responsive chassis, and smooth powertrain will let you gobble up the miles without noticing the passage of time.

Helping fulfill the luxury SUV role to the hilt is a roster of features you won’t find as a whole in the others. Power adjustable seats with pre-set memory function; auto-dimming rearview mirror; 8-speaker Infinity sound system; dual-zone full auto climate control; cooled console box; front-and-back parking sonar; power moonroof; High Intensity Discharge headlamps; headlamp washers; Smart Key; dual front, side, and curtain airbags; ABS; stability control and traction control; and a power tailgate that’s guaranteed to impress your friends. The latter is a boon to those who are short of reach or simply hate the lifting and pulling of heavy tailgates. However, probably because of liability issues in the litigation-happy US, it will not work with the engine running. Thus, you will have you kill the engine to open the tailgate every time you enter a facility where security guards must look in the cargo area.

So, yes, it’s pricey, but it also brings a lot to the party. The premium you’ll pay over its rivals is something to consider, but if you value smooth performance, a high level of refinement and comfort, and relish the thought of driving like a demon without having to deal with a guzzler, the Veracruz beckons.

The Good: Understated good looks. Immensely smooth and satisfying powertrain. Highly refined cabin. Excellent build quality. Loaded with luxe features.

The Bad: Expensive. Looks too similar to the cheaper Santa Fe. Instrument panel is hard on the eyes.

The Verdict: A premium-priced SUV that’s well worth considering.