Hyundai Veracruz – 2007 First Drive: There’s one common element that ties the U.S. car market to the Indian caste system: Each strictly limits the social confines within which its “citizens” may exist. Toyota, Nissan and Honda realized this, and therefore created luxury brands to sell luxury products, a point Volkswagen would’ve been well served to heed with its Phaeton. Ignoring that lesson, Hyundai is stepping deeper into the premium pond with the all-new 2007 Veracruz crossover, upping the ante with top-notch materials, a hospitable cabin, and a well-equipped price that screams entry-luxury. Time will tell if shoppers are ready for a near-$40,000 Hyundai, or if the Veracruz is destined to sleep with the fishes, or Phaetons, as the case may be.

In developing its largest crossover to date, Hyundai stretched and widened the tested and proven platform of its current Santa Fe model. The Veracruz’s engine was borrowed from the Azera sedan, albeit with a little bit of tuning for heavier crossover duty. Much of what’s left is unique to the Veracruz, unless you’re comparing it side-by-side with a Lexus RX 350. Engineers used that Japanese luxury vehicle as their model, and those with an eye for detail will notice many of the interior parts are nearly identical in their look and feel. However, unlike the Lexus and its own U.S.-built Sonata and Santa Fe vehicles, Hyundai will build and export the 2007 Veracruz from its factories in Korea.

With a starting price of $26,995, including a $690 destination charge, the front-wheel-drive, seven-passenger GLS is the least expensive 2007 Hyundai Veracruz available. Included on the list of standard features are 17-inch alloy wheels, heated power mirrors with integrated turn signals, cloth seats with manual height and lumbar adjustments for the driver, and a sound system that features an MP3 player and XM satellite service (first three months free). In addition, the GLS buyer gets faux wood grain and leatherette trimmings, a manual tilt and telescoping steering wheel, a tire pressure monitoring system, and the basic array of powered goodies. Of course, we can’t forget about the keyless entry, the front-side and side-curtain airbags, and the 260-horsepower V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

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