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Motor Trend pitches Hyundai's Veracruz vs. Lexus RX
"We want to take on the Lexus, straight up." Those were the words of a confident Hyundai PR man when offered the challenge of pitting the 2007 Hyundai Veracruz up against the 2008 Lexus RX350 in an extensive road test conducted by Motor Trend.
Follow the jump for more.
[Source: Motor Trend]The Veracruz certainly has a tough challenge on its hands. The Lexus beats it on performance, safety and equipment, and also has a 400 pound weight advantage, so it's not surprising that the RX is touted as the "gold standard in the category" by the guys at Motor Trend. The Hyundai, meanwhile, is picked as the better handler of the two, plus its gearbox has one extra cog over the Lexus' five-speeder, and believe it or not, it has a better laid out dash.
The conclusion? Equip the Veracruz properly and you've got a vehicle that comes incredibly close to being the top contender in this market.Gallery: 2007 Hyundai Veracruz
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Mark Ryan 1:08PM (6/21/2007)
I have a feeling Motor Trend was trying to be shocking with this one. If you read the comparo, they say the Lexus is better in all aspects (especially quicker) but the Hyundai has a third row and is cheaper.
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Don 5:23PM (6/21/2007)
I got the very same notion from that article.
XJ 8:08AM (6/22/2007)
Lexus wins in all aspects? Read the article again. Hyundai has a third row seat, the RX doesn't. Hyundai uses regular gas, the RX uses premium. Despite being heavier, the Hyundai has better gas milage. Hyundai has better handling -- it beat the Lexus in the figure 8 test and had better grip. Hyundai had the better transmission -- smoother shifts and extra gear. The editors cliamed the interior's center stack was "a model of logic", while the Lexus' was "okay". Hyundai also has more interior space, a better turning circle and the better warranty. Oh yeah, and it costs 10k less.
Someone mentioned the RX has better safety. ??? Not sure how you can make that assumption, when the RX received a rating of "poor" by IIHS for rear impacts. The VeraCruz hasn't even been tested by the IIHS yet. But Hyundais are quite known for saftey, especially its big cars. The Entourage is the best rated minivan for saftey and the SantaFe just recevied the top honor over all competitors by IIHS.
iamhoff 1:17PM (6/21/2007)
Yeah, the MT article wound up saying that the Lexus was better in just about all categories, but not by so much as to justify that much of a price difference (unless brand status is a consideration). Frankly, when the lease is up on my Grand Cherokee the Veracruz is going to get a hard look.
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VenGenz 1:23PM (6/21/2007)
Motor Trend didn't say it was better in all areas: they like the Hyundai 6-speed tranny. And the Lexus should be better since, it costs $7k more, head-to-head (nav not included). If Hyundai added $7k per vehicle in additional engineering I am quite sure the outcome would be the same--'Hyundai wins'.
Motor Trend did say that a Lexus buyer isn't going to buy a Veracruz because of the status. Personally, I am not so insecure that I need a brand name on my trunk to substantiate my identity. I'd take the Veracruz because it would fit my family much better.
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Mike 1:41PM (6/21/2007)
But that would be the point:
They don't put that extra $7k on the price and don't have better engineering which is reflected in the quality of their product over the life of its ownership. Hyundai has always hedged their reliability against cost of repair. Lexus will use the $500 part and make $100 on it, while Hyundai will use the $200 part, knowing it will have to be replaced once over the cars useful life, still netting them $100 profit. Get it? Their parts will fail more often over the life of the vehicle because of that $7k difference. This costs you TIME and MONEY.
It's not all about name.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR (in this case anyway).
geo.stewart 2:12PM (6/21/2007)
Mike, you are making an inaccurate assumption.
1) I know too many people that have had no issue with their Hyundais from a reliability perspective
2) Your argument only holds water if you believe that the accountants at Hyundai are so inept as to not consider that the car is under warranty for as long as it is so the part would likely be covered under warranty, AND that there would be no labor costs involved in the replacement.
As in much of life, its cheaper to do it right the first time.
All that aside, I'm not sure how much overlap there will be in the two vehicles' demographics and I expect a low rate of poaching by hyundai from lexus. On the other side of the coin, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Ford better watch out.
warsteiner89 1:25PM (6/21/2007)
The verdict must've been a difficult one since the cars weren't in the same class to begin with. The concluding remarks say both are great cars that do what they do very well. But given the $10k price difference, each car represents a different market. It's like comparing a Honda Accord EX with a Lexus ES350-- to try to rank which one is "better" is impossible and the decision comes down to the person's preference and income.
Having said that, I think this comparison was very entertaining because it's sort of like an auto-industry version of david vs. goliath. And I love rooting for the determined underdogs with substance.
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ruggels 3:22PM (6/21/2007)
Hate to break it to you but not everyone shops cars within the same class/market. I spent quite a bit of time considering a Q7 prior to settling on the highlander hybrid - same goes for the camry hybrid vs an a4. I don't know a whole lot of people who just shop within a narrow demographic anymore.
Thomas 1:26PM (6/21/2007)
Motor Trend is going through some tough times, and this review garnered it a lot of media exposure (a couple weeks ago).
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aman 1:27PM (6/21/2007)
isn't this too big a jump? I mean, 3 years ago they were level with Suzuki, and that's being generous. and now they expect to compete with Lexus? Are you kidding?
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David W. 6:31PM (6/21/2007)
Apparently you haven't driven or seen a Hyundai lately, they aren't QUITE a Lexus, but they are sooooooo far above Kia. They are most definitely a top notch manufacturer.
snazzum 3:11AM (6/22/2007)
I agree with David W. I rented an Elantra over the weekend and was stunned by this little econo car's interior, handling, acceleration and over fit and finish. Hyundai spent alot of time improving it from the blue glowing Lexus like gauges to standard XM. If they spent as much time developing an econo car as they did to this SUV, it wouldn't be conceivable that Hyundai compares will with Lexus. And didn't Hyundai get a third on JD Power's Survey - behind Porsche and Lexus I believ
Petey 1:29PM (6/21/2007)
The price difference indicated is there because people are willing to pay more to drive a Lexus. Its not like the Lexus costs 10k more to put assemble.. and if Hyundai could charge Lexus or Toyota prices, they would in a heart beat... but, they can't, and they know it.
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jeffinToronto 1:38PM (6/21/2007)
I didn't read the article, but too many comparisons don't factor in resale value when comparing brands. If people are paying a premium for a paticular brand than the resale of that vehicle will probably still command a premium as well. If the Lexus holds its value better than the Hyundai, the difference in cost for he Lexus becomes less when you add depreciation back in. That has always been an argument for some of the premium brands and an argument aginst some of the domestics. When you compared a Camry to a Taurus for a 4 year cycle and traded them back in, the Camry was often cheaper to own even if it costs more up front.
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Derek 11:45AM (6/25/2007)
Okay, if we are going to compare cars as an "investment" then let's compare apples to apples. Take the $10K you save on the Hyundai and put it in a real investment. Say 5% growth, compounded annually?
After 4 years you now have a little over $12K to add back to the resale value of your Hyundai and I doubt that the Lexus will come out on top especially with its higher gas bill and probable higher insurance cost.
VenGenz 1:55PM (6/21/2007)
Have any of you naysayers driven a Veracruz. I have and it blows my Honda Pilot away. Keep in mind that the RX is a Highlander with a different interior and a bit more refinement...which means sound deadening. Most of you have no clue what a Hyundai is. You live in the past on predisposed notions.
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polar 2:11PM (6/21/2007)
Can't wait for the Genesis...
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felipe 2:14PM (6/21/2007)
i'm with VenGens,
go sit in one, you will be surprised.
std features that will amaze and
a cost that leaves you wondering why the 2.5 cant do it.
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Kevin 2:32PM (6/21/2007)
Thanks but no thanks....
I ll stick to my Lexus...love the comfort, quality an Joy ride I get ....and then the chicks love it too.
what more can I say. I can't tell a lady to come ride in my Hyundai Veracruz. She ll leave before I finished pronouncing the name.
Lexus is the benchmark to for quality and comfort in the luxury segment...
Hyundai copied everything in the in RX350....even the dash and the interior. It's a shame that they couldn't copy the barge too.