2012 Hyundai Veracruz Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Hyundai Veracruz review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Veracruz, and includes Hyundai Veracruz safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The Hyundai Veracruz is a three-row, seven-passenger vehicle sitting at the top of Hyundai’s line of crossover SUVs. The Veracruz competes in the same class as the Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-9, and Toyota Highlander.

Small changes are in store for the 2012 Hyundai Veracruz. The crossover SUV gets a slightly different grille and new 18-inch wheels, and with the Limited trim level you’ll now get heated rear seats as standard equipment. The Veracruz Limited is also available with a fancy new navigation system that includes a rearview monitor, HD Radio and Bluetooth connectivity with Pandora iPhone compatibility. The tunes flow through a 10-speaker Infinity sound system.

Hyundai sells the 2012 Veracruz in two different configurations: GLS and Limited. The GLS is comprehensively equipped with air conditioning, heated power side mirrors, power door locks with remote keyless entry, power windows, a trip computer, cruise control, and a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel with audio controls. The driver perches on an eight-way power adjustable seat facing a dashboard trimmed with fake wood, and the stereo includes six speakers, an auxiliary audio input jack, and a USB/iPod connection. Automatic headlights and a set of fog lights are also installed on the GLS, which rides on 17-inch aluminum wheels. Additional features include a roof rack, dark tinted rear privacy glass, and a backup warning system. And here’s something you don’t see everyday on a non-premium marque: a cooled center console to store your perishables.

If you get the optional AWD system, you’ll get heated front seats as well. There’s also an optional Premium Package, which adds a power tilt-and-slide sunroof, a power tailgate, heated front seats, a windshield wiper deicer, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror that includes a compass and a HomeLink universal remote.

The upscale Veracruz Limited rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and features chrome door handles, but the real changes are on the inside. The Limited’s cabin is swathed in leather upholstery and equipped with a power front passenger’s seat, heated rear seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, memory for the driver’s settings, and upscale lighted front door scuff plates. An upgraded Infinity sound system and a 115-volt power outlet are also included on this model, as well as auto-dimming glass for the side and rearview mirrors, a compass, Hyundai’s Proximity Key system, a HomeLink universal remote, and a conversation mirror. The only option for the Limited is an Alpine navigation system with Bluetooth connectivity.

Providing motivation for the 2012 Hyundai Veracruz, a 260-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6 engine drives the front or all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy is average for this class of vehicle. The EPA estimates the Veracruz will return 17 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive; getting the heavier all-wheel-drive version knocks the numbers down to 16-city/21-highway.

Standard safety features on the 2012 Veracruz include six airbags, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, traction control, and stability control. We like that the base GLS model also has a rear sensing system to detect obstacles while reversing, but if you want a reversing camera you need to get the Limited with the optional navigation system.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has yet to perform crash tests on the 2012 Veracruz, although the government safety watchdog did award the SUV a 4-Star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the Veracruz impressive marks for crashworthiness, with top scores of Good for frontal-, side-, and rear-impact crash protection. The IIHS didn’t test the Veracruz for roof crush strength, precluding it from earning a Top Safety Pick rating.

Reliability predictions are not nearly as impressive. In their most recent round of predictions, both Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates published expectations that the Veracruz would return average dependability over time. Hyundai’s warranty is purposefully generous in order to assuage any fears in this regard, providing powertrain coverage for 10 years or 100,000 miles, and a five-year or 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty with free roadside assistance.

As the saying goes, the devil is in the details, and it may be the details that may make you choose the 2012 Hyundai Veracruz over other better-known, popular seven-passenger crossover SUVs. For instance, do any of those offer a chilled center console? That’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. Can any of them boast an available heated rear seat? That’s a rarity. We also like the warm glow of lights that illuminate as you approach the vehicle. Nice, thoughtful details like these go a long way toward endearing you to a certain vehicle.

With all three rows of seats in place, the Veracruz’s cargo capacity is a paltry 13 cubic-feet, although folding them opens up 40 cu-ft of space. With both rear rows of seats folded, you’ll have access to 87 cu-ft of space.

Interestingly, the Veracruz AWD features an AWD lock button to deliver a steady stream of power to both axles for when you’re driving slowly through the really slippery stuff.

Hyundai’s been on a huge roll lately, with blockbuster introductions and high sales volume for the majority of its product line, which combines eye-catching design with lots of car for the money. The 2012 Veracruz won’t disappoint in the latter. It’s surprisingly upscale, especially when experienced from the driver’s seat, and while its performance and fuel economy ratings are nothing to write home about, you’ll be surprised at the number of features you’ll get for your hard-earned dollar. However, the Veracruz was introduced in 2007 and still bears Hyundai’s previous generic, inoffensive styling themes. Still, if you’re into a nicely equipped, sizable crossover with a generous warranty, the Veracruz is certainly worth a look.

By Liz Kim