Our 2008 Hyundai Veracruz is identical to the one you reviewed! We have 196,094 miles on it and no problems at all during the 15 years we owned it. besides regular maintenance that I do and doing even brake pads/rotors myself as I am a retired Ryder mechanic. this is my wifes car and she bought it with out me surprising me by coming home with it. I am impressed with its engineering and reliability as well as good gas mileage
I have a Veracruz Limited and I love it. Its my 3rd Hyundai SUV. I’ve found them each to be nice looking reliable, low maintenance vehicles with good features.
I think the Veracruz was a great first attempt by Hyundai to get into the full size luxury SUV market. Unfortunately at the time hyundai had a bad reputation pretty much laughable to put it kindly. It wasn't until 2010/2011 Hyundai REALLY started to turn their image around to get where they are today. I would absolutely love to see you do a side by side comparison of the Veracruz vs Palisade
We bought our 16 year old daughter a 2007 VeraCruz and she absolutely loves it. It had 187,000 miles when we got it and she’s added about 3,000 more to it. It’s very spacious and rides really good.
Russians have a saying about Hyundai, "Продай Хендай, купи машину", which basically means sell the Hyundai and buy a car. Since Hyundais were so bad that they considered it not even a car.
I currently have a 2007 Hyundai Veracruz GLS and I love it! It's very comfortable, easy to drive and drives smooth. I'm still puzzled as to why they stopped producing them.
I have the 2007 Veracruz Limited. Love it!! Have had it now for over 15 years. Got free oil changes for the life of the car, and it's still going strong. I think it failed because they never really advertised it. Don't think I ever saw a TV commercial for it. They didn't advertise it much in the dealership either like they did with their other cars. Haven't had very many problems with it till last year with just a few small parts here and there that need to be replaced. Very roomy, and everyone that has ridden in it has complimented the car. I would buy it again.
I've got a 2007 with 212,000 miles. Replaced, outer tie rods, and front sway bar links. I driven it 100,000 miles and spent less the $100.0 on repairs excluding maintenance. (Brakes,tires, battery).
I always thought these things were pretty good looking, and they are extremely reliable, A very robust engine relatively, and the six speed transmission is made by Aisin, so Toyota, and it is bulletproof. The Kia Borrego was a whole different kind of beast, with a 3.8 L direct injection V6 from the genesis, and the 4.6 L V8 paired with the ZF6HP transmission. The Kia Borrego is an awesome SUV that also has great reliability, and the ZF transmission is top-notch, same transmission in my Jaguars at the time, and BMWs, Rolls Royce’s etc…
No one really took Hyundai or Kia seriously until the 2011 sonata/optima. And even then, it took years for ppl to accept them. I still have friends that say “yeah but it’s a Hyundai” (or “”Kia”) as if it’s a brand they look down upon. If Hyundai had the brand recognition they have today back in 07, this thing woulda sold better. It almost has Lexus RX of the era vibes.
I really don't know why they failed. My head definitely turns when I see one, though. Although, to a lot of other car people, it's just "another Santa Fe".
Isaac24, yeah right, Hyundai could have make it more different from the Santa Fe it was based upon to....... Hyundai must have upgrade it's 3.8L V6 engine into 309 HP (up from 265 HP) as to make it a more upmarket and be Hyundai's real premium SUV since it's their largest SUV in their staple
Pretty spot on review, good job! I own a 2011 Veracruz Limited, all the goodies, and it is a fantastic vehicle. Since my very first "adult" brand new 1999 Elantra, I have owned several Hyundais and KIAs. All have been great vehicles. These two brands have been underappreciated in the US for quite some time, most likely because of the stigma of being cheap vehicles. As of today, I think Hyunday and KIA have proven themselves to produce vehicles that can rival any competition, in features, reliability, and value. But the stigma still persists.
There's a factory recall on the Veracruz due to the failure of valve cover gaskets allowing oil to leak into the alternator, which kills the alternator and can cause a fire hazard. I had the recall done (with some difficulty), then had to replace the water pump. Went ahead and swapped the coils and spark plugs, too. All that happened around 285,000 miles. Those are the only major maintenance items I've had on my 2010 Veracruz and I'm about to hit 316,000 miles. I keep thinking she's going to die any day now, and she just refuses to give up. I trust it more than any other car in my driveway.
We have a 2008 Veracruz with just under 240k miles. Sadly, we have to let her go due to it needing too much work to justify the spending. We absolutely LOVE the versatility it offers, though!
I never bought a foreign car was always American but this is my first foreign car and I love it I love the way it looks very very low maintenance with it they got the muscle to it it does the job for me and very reliable it's very quiet when you started up sometimes I grind up that flywheel because I didn't even know it's on sometimes I think it's a great car for 2008 it has 95000 miles on it and it runs like a top and so I take care of it and you know I'm going to drive this car into the ground I love it and it looks liquid silver beautiful
I currently own 2009 veracruz got a year ago cheap change shocks struts brakes power steering line door handle o2 sensor, i have been pleased with it has alot of options mine has gps and info screen, i cant complain normal things that wear out had to be changed doing ac now at 142000 on clock so normal failures motor is strong pulls hard when needed great pickup stopping comfortable all around great vehicle love it
My mom has one a 2011 has some problems from my parents neglect of maintenance when it was a small problem but all the time ive used it i enjoy it its has good power easy and responsive handling. My mom has tried to replace it but with the features on hers she hasnt really found a good replacement with the same value to cost
I drove one a couple years back, it was very similar to my husband's 2009 Lexus RX350. A big, comfy, plush SUV that is easy to drive! It also had similar features, all of the power options etc. It has to have been brand recognition, it was definitely competitive!
Donguk Shin, yeah right.......the 3-liter V6 diesel Santa Fe was probably the smoothest diesel engine ever built, It's just too bad, they cost so much here in the Philippines Much more expensive that large, Japanese SUVs here too
Yeah, I think this was a good attempt from Hyundai to conquer the SUV/Crossover market. The Santa Fe and Tucson really took off. The Veracruz... not so much. I remember the TV commercials pitching it an "LUV" (Luxury Utility Vehicle). Yeah... no. That classification didn't catch on either. I think back then, people weren't ready to pay big money for a luxury SUV/Crossover from Hyundai yet, they were still moving up as an automaker with more high end vehicles. The styling might be bland and generic, but for a vehicle that's over a decade old, it still looks fairly current.
I had a 2007 Kia spectra that had 240k on the clock when I totaled it, but it was still going strong prior to that. Because of that car, I became a fan of Kia/Hyundai vehicles. They’re the Toyota of Korea. Interior wise, they can use some work as they become dated very quickly, and the plastic is no bueno, but overall, they’re great for the money as far as mechanical reliability goes. I’m currently looking at a very clean 2009 Veracruz to purchase. On my research, they seem to be excellent SUVs.
Im going to help you out here. The reason it didn't sell is because hearing the name Veracruz, people thought it was a more expensive car. They immediately dismissed it as unobtainable and looked elsewhere. That and the fact it was a Hyundai, they looked elsewhere. Also, the Highlander wasa fantastic vehicle, ask anyone! Damn those Highlanders! I guess there can only be one !
When compared to the Lexus RX350 the Veracruz won several comparison tests. I really think it was just the Hyundai name that hurt it. Also, I test drive a Veracruz and a Santa Fe. The Veracruz had a firmer less compliant ride and I think that probably hurt it too.
this thing is a road hog holds the road like a boss driven on all road conditions ice, sand, mud, and highways never been stuck never broke traction or skidded this has been rock solid 178,000 trying to get 200,000 on a 2008 had some electrical issues early on but other than that this thing is a tank
You asked for my thoughts on why it failed so here we go, get ready for the essay lol. Also keep in mind that despite these nitpicks I actually find the Veracruz to be kind of underrated, plus it's always neat to see cars that time forgot like this one Here are my thoughts on why our friend the Veracruz failed #1: Hyundai had a poor reputation back then. Reliability wasn't good at all and even these Veracruz's had some problems. Back in that day there was a joke that KIA stood for killed in action. This poor reputation scares people away from the brand #2: Poor interior quality. I am going to be mentioning the RDX and the RX350, imo this Veracruz's biggest competitors a fair bit (btw I would love to see an RDX from this era on the channel, that way I could also compare that with the Veracruz and that gen RX350 via your channel (: ), look at the interior. Lots of black flimsy plastic in there. Lexus's and Acura's didn't really look as cheap inside. Also a nitpickey thought, there's no infotainment screen in a fully loaded car. Top trim Mercedes Ml's, RDX's, and RX350's or the time had screens. #3: More established luxury brands. Would you rather buy a Lexus or a Hyundai when shopping for a luxury SUV? Yeah I would go for the Lexus as well (or any more established RELIABLE luxury brand). When I think Hyundai, I think stuff like the 80's era Hyundai Pony and the (fun but still basic) Accent. Truth is Hyundai isn't really a luxury brand so it's odd to see them try here. However Hyundai has brought themselves into the land of luxury a lot more these days. Take the excellent new Palisade and the cool new Genesis brand with the spectacular (and very similar to this type of car GV80). I am glad that I got to see a peak at what Hyundai was trying to do with the luxury market back in 07' on the channel! Keep up the good work
It could have been better back then, if Hyundai had made the Veracruz this way: -be a truck-based, ladder-frame built fullsize 8-seater SUV based on the Kia Borrego -it could have been powered by more suitable engines too: the standard 3.8L V6 309 HP and the optional 5.0L V8 400 HP -it could have been Hyundai's answer against the Toyota Sequoia, Nissan Armada, Chevy Suburban, GMC Yukon, Jeep Commander, and Ford's Expedition in short.......as a real, proper Full-size luxury SUV and not as a large Crossover that's just built on a stretched Santa Fe hardware and just packs the same V6 as its smaller kin
I wonder if that's the same Lambda 3.8 V6 that's in my Genesis coupe. I'm always looking to increase my odds of having replacements out there if I need one.
Absolutely the worst car we’ve ever owned and still own the fuel gauge only works when it wants to the sunroof randomly opens, going down the road by itself without pushing any buttons, the ABS traction control and all-wheel-drive have not worked in years because it says it has a dead short in the ABS system that cannot be found, every steel coolant hose on the damn thing. Rust out and leaks, coolant everywhere and you cannot buy the coolant lines. It eats brake calipers like no other. The leaking valve cover recall that dumps oil into the alternator that we have had fixed by a dealer three times and none of the three times has it ever worked?
but it could have been much better if the later versions of the Hyundai Veracruz got a bigger 300 HP, to make it a real flagship fullsize 7 seat crossover, above the Santa Fe,
Our 2008 Hyundai Veracruz is identical to the one you reviewed! We have 196,094 miles on it and no problems at all during the 15 years we owned it. besides regular maintenance that I do and doing even brake pads/rotors myself as I am a retired Ryder mechanic. this is my wifes car and she bought it with out me surprising me by coming home with it. I am impressed with its engineering and reliability as well as good gas mileage
My 2010 has 316,000. I've replaced the water pump.
I have a Veracruz Limited and I love it. Its my 3rd Hyundai SUV. I’ve found them each to be nice looking reliable, low maintenance vehicles with good features.
I think the Veracruz was a great first attempt by Hyundai to get into the full size luxury SUV market. Unfortunately at the time hyundai had a bad reputation pretty much laughable to put it kindly. It wasn't until 2010/2011 Hyundai REALLY started to turn their image around to get where they are today. I would absolutely love to see you do a side by side comparison of the Veracruz vs Palisade
Tom DeVito, maybe because it was more like a stretched and glamorized Hyundai Santa Fe; with the same 3.8L V6 265 HP from the latter too
We bought our 16 year old daughter a 2007 VeraCruz and she absolutely loves it. It had 187,000 miles when we got it and she’s added about 3,000 more to it. It’s very spacious and rides really good.
Russians have a saying about Hyundai, "Продай Хендай, купи машину", which basically means sell the Hyundai and buy a car. Since Hyundais were so bad that they considered it not even a car.
@@Lolskillissuehahaha at a time the Hyundai Solaris is their best selling car
I currently have a 2007 Hyundai Veracruz GLS and I love it! It's very comfortable, easy to drive and drives smooth. I'm still puzzled as to why they stopped producing them.
I have the 2007 Veracruz Limited. Love it!! Have had it now for over 15 years. Got free oil changes for the life of the car, and it's still going strong. I think it failed because they never really advertised it. Don't think I ever saw a TV commercial for it. They didn't advertise it much in the dealership either like they did with their other cars. Haven't had very many problems with it till last year with just a few small parts here and there that need to be replaced. Very roomy, and everyone that has ridden in it has complimented the car. I would buy it again.
I've got a 2007 with 212,000 miles. Replaced, outer tie rods, and front sway bar links. I driven it 100,000 miles and spent less the $100.0 on repairs excluding maintenance. (Brakes,tires, battery).
I always thought these things were pretty good looking, and they are extremely reliable, A very robust engine relatively, and the six speed transmission is made by Aisin, so Toyota, and it is bulletproof.
The Kia Borrego was a whole different kind of beast, with a 3.8 L direct injection V6 from the genesis, and the 4.6 L V8 paired with the ZF6HP transmission. The Kia Borrego is an awesome SUV that also has great reliability, and the ZF transmission is top-notch, same transmission in my Jaguars at the time, and BMWs, Rolls Royce’s etc…
No one really took Hyundai or Kia seriously until the 2011 sonata/optima. And even then, it took years for ppl to accept them. I still have friends that say “yeah but it’s a Hyundai” (or “”Kia”) as if it’s a brand they look down upon. If Hyundai had the brand recognition they have today back in 07, this thing woulda sold better. It almost has Lexus RX of the era vibes.
the Kia burego was cool also.
the Kia Molave/Borrego was so rare in my country considering the fact that they only sold it with Diesel engines.
I really don't know why they failed. My head definitely turns when I see one, though. Although, to a lot of other car people, it's just "another Santa Fe".
Isaac24, yeah right, Hyundai could have make it more different from the Santa Fe it was based upon to.......
Hyundai must have upgrade it's 3.8L V6 engine into 309 HP (up from 265 HP)
as to make it a more upmarket and be Hyundai's real premium SUV since it's their largest SUV in their staple
Pretty spot on review, good job!
I own a 2011 Veracruz Limited, all the goodies, and it is a fantastic vehicle. Since my very first "adult" brand new 1999 Elantra, I have owned several Hyundais and KIAs. All have been great vehicles. These two brands have been underappreciated in the US for quite some time, most likely because of the stigma of being cheap vehicles.
As of today, I think Hyunday and KIA have proven themselves to produce vehicles that can rival any competition, in features, reliability, and value. But the stigma still persists.
It didn’t sell solely because of brand recognition. Hyundai wasn’t new then, but they weren’t all that desirable then and kinda a bad reputation.
There's a factory recall on the Veracruz due to the failure of valve cover gaskets allowing oil to leak into the alternator, which kills the alternator and can cause a fire hazard. I had the recall done (with some difficulty), then had to replace the water pump. Went ahead and swapped the coils and spark plugs, too. All that happened around 285,000 miles. Those are the only major maintenance items I've had on my 2010 Veracruz and I'm about to hit 316,000 miles. I keep thinking she's going to die any day now, and she just refuses to give up. I trust it more than any other car in my driveway.
We have a 2008 Veracruz with just under 240k miles. Sadly, we have to let her go due to it needing too much work to justify the spending.
We absolutely LOVE the versatility it offers, though!
We’ve got a 2012 Veracruz since that year and it’s been great
I have this identical car here in West Africa, it's actually cool but finding spare parts is now a nightmare for me
I never bought a foreign car was always American but this is my first foreign car and I love it I love the way it looks very very low maintenance with it they got the muscle to it it does the job for me and very reliable it's very quiet when you started up sometimes I grind up that flywheel because I didn't even know it's on sometimes I think it's a great car for 2008 it has 95000 miles on it and it runs like a top and so I take care of it and you know I'm going to drive this car into the ground I love it and it looks liquid silver beautiful
I currently own 2009 veracruz got a year ago cheap change shocks struts brakes power steering line door handle o2 sensor, i have been pleased with it has alot of options mine has gps and info screen, i cant complain normal things that wear out had to be changed doing ac now at 142000 on clock so normal failures motor is strong pulls hard when needed great pickup stopping comfortable all around great vehicle love it
My mom has one a 2011 has some problems from my parents neglect of maintenance when it was a small problem but all the time ive used it i enjoy it its has good power easy and responsive handling. My mom has tried to replace it but with the features on hers she hasnt really found a good replacement with the same value to cost
It’s a pretty good car my dad got one and it’s actually decently fast I like it and am going to buy it off him for my first car
I drove one a couple years back, it was very similar to my husband's 2009 Lexus RX350. A big, comfy, plush SUV that is easy to drive! It also had similar features, all of the power options etc.
It has to have been brand recognition, it was definitely competitive!
I love my Veracruz 💜💜💜
This car with 3 litre V6 diesel was a really smooth cruiser
Donguk Shin, yeah right.......the 3-liter V6 diesel Santa Fe was probably the smoothest diesel engine ever built,
It's just too bad, they cost so much here in the Philippines
Much more expensive that large, Japanese SUVs here too
Another well done video Zack; I recently subscribed after watching your Mazda 5(with manual transmission) video; very good content!
Yeah, I think this was a good attempt from Hyundai to conquer the SUV/Crossover market. The Santa Fe and Tucson really took off. The Veracruz... not so much. I remember the TV commercials pitching it an "LUV" (Luxury Utility Vehicle). Yeah... no. That classification didn't catch on either. I think back then, people weren't ready to pay big money for a luxury SUV/Crossover from Hyundai yet, they were still moving up as an automaker with more high end vehicles. The styling might be bland and generic, but for a vehicle that's over a decade old, it still looks fairly current.
It’s 2007 to 2012 my friend 5 years , My 2007 Veracruz GLS has 210K right now clean in and out
I had a 2007 Kia spectra that had 240k on the clock when I totaled it, but it was still going strong prior to that. Because of that car, I became a fan of Kia/Hyundai vehicles. They’re the Toyota of Korea. Interior wise, they can use some work as they become dated very quickly, and the plastic is no bueno, but overall, they’re great for the money as far as mechanical reliability goes. I’m currently looking at a very clean 2009 Veracruz to purchase. On my research, they seem to be excellent SUVs.
Im going to help you out here. The reason it didn't sell is because hearing the name Veracruz, people thought it was a more expensive car. They immediately dismissed it as unobtainable and looked elsewhere. That and the fact it was a Hyundai, they looked elsewhere. Also, the Highlander wasa fantastic vehicle, ask anyone! Damn those Highlanders! I guess there can only be one !
When compared to the Lexus RX350 the Veracruz won several comparison tests.
I really think it was just the Hyundai name that hurt it. Also, I test drive a Veracruz and a Santa Fe. The Veracruz had a firmer less compliant ride and I think that probably hurt it too.
Darn, my 2011 Veracruz didn't come with the second row handles and I have a limited.
this thing is a road hog holds the road like a boss driven on all road conditions ice, sand, mud, and highways never been stuck never broke traction or skidded this has been rock solid 178,000 trying to get 200,000 on a 2008 had some electrical issues early on but other than that this thing is a tank
The Veracruz was called Hyundai ix55 in some countries like the Tucson that was also called ix35
Personally I think Hyundai needs a rebrand like Kia did. New logo and all
This and the Subaru B9 Tribeca were the ugly ducklings of the 3 row SUV segment.
The Tribeca got some sort of refresh/redesign though. And there was the Buick Rendezvous (not sure if that was a three row crossover though).
5:02 that had to be a prank 🤣
You asked for my thoughts on why it failed so here we go, get ready for the essay lol. Also keep in mind that despite these nitpicks I actually find the Veracruz to be kind of underrated, plus it's always neat to see cars that time forgot like this one
Here are my thoughts on why our friend the Veracruz failed
#1: Hyundai had a poor reputation back then. Reliability wasn't good at all and even these Veracruz's had some problems. Back in that day there was a joke that KIA stood for killed in action. This poor reputation scares people away from the brand
#2: Poor interior quality. I am going to be mentioning the RDX and the RX350, imo this Veracruz's biggest competitors a fair bit (btw I would love to see an RDX from this era on the channel, that way I could also compare that with the Veracruz and that gen RX350 via your channel (: ), look at the interior. Lots of black flimsy plastic in there. Lexus's and Acura's didn't really look as cheap inside. Also a nitpickey thought, there's no infotainment screen in a fully loaded car. Top trim Mercedes Ml's, RDX's, and RX350's or the time had screens.
#3: More established luxury brands. Would you rather buy a Lexus or a Hyundai when shopping for a luxury SUV? Yeah I would go for the Lexus as well (or any more established RELIABLE luxury brand). When I think Hyundai, I think stuff like the 80's era Hyundai Pony and the (fun but still basic) Accent. Truth is Hyundai isn't really a luxury brand so it's odd to see them try here.
However Hyundai has brought themselves into the land of luxury a lot more these days. Take the excellent new Palisade and the cool new Genesis brand with the spectacular (and very similar to this type of car GV80). I am glad that I got to see a peak at what Hyundai was trying to do with the luxury market back in 07' on the channel! Keep up the good work
I guess you're trying to talk about the MDX, the RDX is a size below.
It could have been better back then, if Hyundai had made the Veracruz this way:
-be a truck-based, ladder-frame built fullsize 8-seater SUV based on the Kia Borrego
-it could have been powered by more suitable engines too: the standard 3.8L V6 309 HP and the optional 5.0L V8 400 HP
-it could have been Hyundai's answer against the Toyota Sequoia, Nissan Armada, Chevy Suburban, GMC Yukon, Jeep Commander, and Ford's Expedition
in short.......as a real, proper Full-size luxury SUV
and not as a large Crossover that's just built on a stretched Santa Fe hardware and just packs the same V6 as its smaller kin
I wonder if that's the same Lambda 3.8 V6 that's in my Genesis coupe. I'm always looking to increase my odds of having replacements out there if I need one.
Same internals, not sure about about the rest because yours is RWD. This motor was also used in the 2006-2010 Kia Sedona/Hyundai Entourage vans.
Your engine still running Cube?
Beautiful car - question is reliability
Very cool and underrated
Absolutely the worst car we’ve ever owned and still own the fuel gauge only works when it wants to the sunroof randomly opens, going down the road by itself without pushing any buttons, the ABS traction control and all-wheel-drive have not worked in years because it says it has a dead short in the ABS system that cannot be found, every steel coolant hose on the damn thing. Rust out and leaks, coolant everywhere and you cannot buy the coolant lines. It eats brake calipers like no other. The leaking valve cover recall that dumps oil into the alternator that we have had fixed by a dealer three times and none of the three times has it ever worked?
The newer versions of the Veracruz have 270hp
but it could have been much better if the later versions of the Hyundai Veracruz got a bigger 300 HP,
to make it a real flagship fullsize 7 seat crossover,
above the Santa Fe,
@@francocagayat7272 Well, it does use the Genesis Coupe engine so… You can make it fast.
The Genesis did not exist in 2007, so this was the first car that the 3.8 was in
The Hyundai Azera (Grandeur) and Kia Sedona (Carnival) were available for 2006 with the same 3.8 Lambda V6
It looks like a Lexus RX. Thats why it didnt sell.
Huh, youtube sometimes doesnt show ur videos on my feed
THE VERACRUZ REPLACED THE TERRACAN:(
An early attempt at Hyundai going upmarket? It's got all the luxury features but I can feel the cheap plastic from here.
The interior door handles will break if you pull too hard
What a weird way to get that speedometer up to a laughable 150.
I really like cars to
Honda = Hounda
Hyundai = Hondae
😆
This car needs an interior detail 🤢 that brown film on the steering wheel buttons and door handle is disgusting
Has a Pontiac Aztec profile
Nice 🚗
Why does it look like a cheap imitation of a Subaru Outback? Even the interior looks like the same one they used to have from 2007.
This car is on another level for any Subaru. Better to compare it to a Lexus.