2008 Hyundai Veracruz

Our tester is a 2008 Veracruz Limited AWD that starts at $36,445.

There's power everything, including front seats, tailgate, adjustable pedals, and steering wheel. And if you need more juice, there's a 115-volt outlet. Safety also is covered every which way, with six standard airbags and active head restraints, traction and stability control, and ABS-all helping the Veracruz achieve five-star front and side crash ratings. Tack on the navigation package ($1750) and carpeted floormats ($125), and the as-tested price hits $38,320.

At the heart of the Veracruz is Hyundai's 3.8-liter DOHC V-6 pumping out 260 horses, mated to a six-speed automatic. The engine has just enough grunt to propel the 4620-poundvehicle in most any situation, and the six-speed never seems out of sorts. It's not exactly the most fuel-friendly combination, however, with EPA ratings of 15 city/22 highway.

Straight-line numbers are decent for a vehicle of this size, with 0 to 60 coming in eight flat, and the quarter mile clocking in at 16.3 seconds.

The gauge cluster and multifunction steering wheel are nicely done. The center stack is easy to manage and features arguably the best XM radio display on the market-making it easy to find your favorite Eddie Money song.

Yet, Loh feels more than just love for the Hyundai: "What bugs me most is the slow startup time for the nav system-after firing it up, pressing the 'agree' and 'nav' buttons, and doing the rest of my pre-drive routine (seat position, seatbelt, mirrors, sunglasses, radio, garage door), I had to wait 10 to 15 seconds for the 'map loading' screen to disappear."

On a trip to Arizona, copy editor James Dryden observed that the Veracruz "sails like a boat down the freeway but doesn't wobble or feel floaty at the same time-breezy is the word that comes to mind." Plus, with its AWD system, the Veracruz "plowed right through the thick-as-meatloaf mud we came across, even after everyone warned we'd get stuck."

Adoration aside, Dryden did find some nits to pick. "My sister doesn't think this SUV is built for short people, as she couldn't adjust the seat high enough for good visibility nor the steering wheel low enough for a comfortable driving position. The placement of the power-rear-hatch button on the lower left of the dash-it's just about at knee level and twice I accidentally bumped it, prompting the rear hatch to inadvertently open."

"We piled six people into the Hyundai, plus a half-dozen hiking backpacks and a big load of groceries. It was tight, to say the least, but everything fit. We had two people in the front row, three in the middle, and one in the third row, with the right side of the third row folded flat. We slid the left side of the middle row up a bit (it sits on adjustable tracks) to give the third-row passenger a bit more breathing room."

"Perhaps what's most impressive about the biggest Hyundai sport/ute ever offered in the U.S. is the smooth and polished transmission. This six-speed might be the best automatic in the class, and even at wide-open throttle it transitions up or down to the next gear with almost no noticeable upset to the chassis. Paired with the 3.8-liter V-6, the Veracruz hauled our full load up the steep, long grade north of Bishop, California, at a steady 85 mph, with plenty of power to spare."

... the Veracruz gets even better for 2008, adding an all-new navigation system, designed for Hyundai by LG, one of the world's leading electronics manufacturers.

Also for 2008, the Veracruz Limited model adds several high-demand features to its long list of standard equipment. This equipment includes: memory settings for the power driver seat, exterior mirrors and steering wheel, power tilt/telescopic steering wheel, adjustable gas and brake pedals, proximity key with immobilizer, rain-sensing wipers, 115-volt power outlets and lighted door scuff plates.

A unique blend of substance, luxury and style, the 2008 Hyundai Veracruz targets the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander, while offering the kind of upscale amenities and premium craftsmanship found in the Lexus RX350 and Mercedes-Benz ML.

This big, seven-passenger crossover sport/utility further solidifies the upstart South Korean manufacturer's reputation for providing quality and luxury at bargain prices.

The topline Limited trim model has a long list of features, including a leather-wrapped, power-adjustable steering wheel and plenty of front-seat storage bins for phones, iPods, parking cards, and all the detritus we carry around these days.

Most of the exterior styling is okay, although the rear-end is a bit droopy, probably designed to avoid a minivan-like tailgate.

The 3.8-liter engine isn't as powerful as the smaller V-6s among our contenders, however, and it feels lazier in its responsiveness and delays downshifts too long under hard acceleration.

We observed up to 14.7 mpg on the dash readout, the closest we got to Hyundai's EPA numbers.

Editor-at-large Arthur St. Antoine, a lover of fine cigars, spirits, and gadgets, says, "I almost hate to admit how much I like this Veracruz -- so much for my Pennzoil-fed enthusiast's heart. It goes down the road expensively. It shifts expensively. It rides expensively." Yet, at $38,320, it's not as expensive as comparably equipped seven-seat crossovers. He adds that "the nav system -- hooray -- lets you input addresses while on the fly, and the controls work without fuss or needless complexity."

The Veracruz is the latest and most impressive in a lineup of larger, fancier, more powerful, quieter and pricier vehicles from Hyundai. While some might question whether buyers will pay this kind of money for a Hyundai, we suggest waiting until you've driven the Veracruz before venturing an answer. Hyundai is expanding its lineup and moving upscale, ever so slowly and cautiously, but with determination. Quality and owner satisfaction surveys indicate Hyundai is doing things right. The Veracruz is a practical and enjoyable crossover SUV that's an affordable alternative to the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander.