Family-Romper Roundup: 2009 Honda Pilot Meets Its Competition
2008 Hyundai Veracruz
Honda and Hyundai both got their starts in this country catering to folks looking to get around cheaply. Of the two brands, Honda has grown into a much more prestigious label than Hyundai, so it’s a bit ironic that in this group of crossovers, Hyundai’s Veracruz takes the most upmarket posture, with snobby, Lexus-esque styling and a baroque interior that renders the Pilot blocky, plain, and, dare we say, economical in comparison.
With the smaller Santa Fe in the Hyundai lineup also offering three rows of seats, the Veracruz is comfortable occupying this decidedly higher rung. Like the Pilot (and unlike the Santa Fe), it offers an adult-rated third-row seat, as well as luxury features galore.
It also nearly matches the Pilot under the hood, albeit with a bit less high tech in the fuel-management department. The Veracruz’s quiet, 260-hp V-6 is mated to a six-speed autobox with manual control, and its fuel economy of 16 city/23 highway is more or less equal to that of the Pilot. The same can be said of its price, which starts a bit below $30,000, rising to the high $30,000s when well equipped. Of course, the Veracruz comes with Hyundai’s legendary warranty, which is intended to impart a sense of security, something that generally comes standard on any Honda as well.
The choice between the Veracruz and Pilot might come down to one’s taste in wrappers and labels.
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