Veracruz - The luxury sport utility vehicle, according to Hyundai

MANILA, Philippines - Hyundai folks responsible for creating the models names of their SUVs were probably inspired by a few southwestern cities of North America. Their compact Tucson is named after a city in Arizona; Santa Fe is a city in New Mexico while their flagship SUV, the Veracruz, has a city in Mexico for a namesake.

The nomenclature is probably a clever way for Hyundai to make their SUVs more identifiable to the world’s largest SUV market – America. And it probably works, as the Korean carmakers are enjoying the best growth at a time of global economic crisis.

The sales success of the Tucson and Santa Fe in our local market has been obvious as well. But what about the Veracruz? At P2.8 million, it dwells far beyond the price points most car buyers are used to for Korean-made cars. Of course the bottomline is, is it worth the money?

Looks-and size-wise, it stacks up against the similarly priced Mazda CX-9 and Jeep Commander and is priced just 10 to 15 percent lower than the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, and Mitsubishi Pajero – all established, high-profile, and highly capable competitors. All but the Pajero have big gas-guzzling gasoline engines, though.

Style-wise, the Veracruz looks closest to the CX-9. The Veracruz has clean lines and a curvy silhouette with a gracefully arched roofline. It doesn’t have the aggressively arched fenders or exaggerated character lines that we’ve seen in many other Hyundais.

Dual chrome exhaust outlets, a rear spoiler and 18-inch alloy wheels impart a sporty appearance while side mirrors with built-in signal lights and downward-pointing puddle lights are a nice upscale touch.

Inside, more upscale touches come from overhead mood lighting, illuminated doorsill plates and auto-dimming rear-view mirror with an integrated digital compass. The interior design is warm and inviting, thanks in part to the leather seats’ unique color which looks like a mix of maroon and chocolate brown. Wood trim that’s much better rendered than the formica-like fake wood in earlier Hyundais adorns the dashboard while metallic accents brighten up the console and steering wheel. The knobs and buttons for the climate control and audio systems are easy to understand and very intuitive.

The biggest disappointment would be the MP3/6-CD in-dash Infinity audio system. It just doesn’t have the thumping bass oomph you’d expect from a popular audiophile brand. Even the mids and the high ranges seem to lack ideal equalization.

The front seats are easily the best in the house. They’re wide yet supportive and have softly padded armrests. The miles will easily pile on without road fatigue setting in. Head, leg, and elbow room for the front and middle-row passengers are generous, although the third-row seat – like in most three-row SUVs – is best for children or for short trips only. At least the rear door openings are large and access to the third row is easy. Another caveat is the tiny seven-cubic-feet of cargo space that’s left when you put up the third-row seat. In any case, overall refinement and fit and finish are top notch. It’s a cabin that feels comfortably luxurious but falls a bit short on being opulent.

So how’s the hardware? The Veracruz’s all-wheel-drive system sends power to the rear wheels when needed or can lock 50 percent of engine power to the back. I wasn’t able to test the system off road, but when was the last time someone you knew actually brought his or her P2.8-million SUV trail-bashing? The six-speed automatic transmission has Shiftronic, which has a shift gate by which drivers can manually select the gears for better control or for spirited driving.

The Veracruz comes with a smooth and impressively quiet 3-liter common-rail diesel V-6 engine generating an adequate 240 hp and an absolutely whopping 450 Nm of torque. The vehicle’s sheer curb weight and the automatic gearbox saps a bit of the monster torque, though, making acceleration – especially from a standstill – a bit leisurely. At-speed acceleration, say for overtaking, is excellent, though.

Just like most big SUVs (with the exception of the BMW X5 and X6), the Veracruz’s handling dynamics aren’t sporty or exciting; its smooth ride and safe, stable handling are commendable though. Suspension tuning favors ride quality over handling response. Still, the Veracruz never feels unstable, even on slick roads. The four-wheel ABS disc brakes possess plenty of stopping power. Belying its exterior size, the Veracruz is easy to park, thanks to its surprisingly small turning circle.

The Veracruz receives a “Good” rating in all of the crash tests conducted by America’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – including its seat-based rear-impact test, which gauges whiplash protection. The Veracruz also achieves a top five-star rating in all of the U.S. federal government’s frontal and side crash tests. Impressive. Standard electronic stability control, side and head airbags, front active head restraints, and ABS, among other features, make up the extensive active and passive safety features list.

All things considered, the Veracruz is rolling evidence that Hyundai doesn’t just have what it takes to play in the million-peso (Tucson) and P1.6-million (Santa Fe) SUV stakes, it also has the smarts to take on the world’s best in the rarefied P2.8-million arena – and acquit itself magnificently.

THE GOOD

• Clean, understated styling

• Torquey, yet fuel-efficient common-rail diesel engine

• High levels of refinement/low NVH

• Spacious, luxurious cabin

• Lots of safety features

• Impressive build quality

THE BAD

• Understated styling might be too understated for some

• Disappointing sound quality from the Infinity audio system

• Small cargo space with third-row seats up

THE VERDICT

• Hyundai rolls the dice in the P2.8-million class and ends up with a big SUV that surprisingly feels and performs more like an American SUV than a Japanese one.