Hyundai Veracruz
"A crossover for every purse and purpose," seems Hyundai's current mantra, so it put the Santa Fe into a taffy puller, stretching the wheelbase 4.1 inches, length 6.5 inches overall, width by 2.2 inches, and height by an inch. The payoff is Honda Pilot passenger room with more cargo capacity than the SUOTY-winning Mercedes GL-Class. Power comes from a 3.8-liter V-6 that makes over 260 horses and reportedly does so more quietly than Lexus's 3.5-liter. Keyless starting, a power liftgate, and all the latest mod-cons will be offered.
TO SUM UP: Selling Saturn Outlooks and GMC Acadias just got harder.
KIA Kue concept
THE corporate puppeteers controlling Hyundai and Kia realize the two brands need greater differentiation or they'll always cannibalize each other. Don't read this racy 186-inch-long crossover on 22s as a warning shot across the Infiniti FX45's bow, but rather as an indication that Kia will henceforth aim for sportiness while Hyundai targets classy refinement. No one's laughing at Kia anymore.
TO SUM UP: Possible preview of a Veracruz-based CUV.
Chevrolet Equinox Sport & Pontiac Torrent GXP
Two more models benefit from GM's increasing 3.6-liter DOHC V-6 production capacity. Combined with the six-speed automatic, the Sport and GXP can hit 60 mph in 6.9 seconds. They have stiffer suspensions, lowered one inch, plus 18-inch wheels and sportier interiors with nicely bolstered front buckets. Both are available in front- or all-wheel-drive forms, with or without a roof rack. Chevy is upgrading its standard for SS packages, which is why the Equinox is called "Sport," while the Torrent gets Pontiac's proliferating GXP badge.
TO SUM UP: These sportiest Equinox/Torrent models from General Motors are worth considering for their 78-horse advantage over 3.4-liter models.