According to a report in Ward’s Auto, the pale fortunes of the soon-to-depart Hyundai Veracruz aren’t stopping Hyundai from considering another dedicated seven-seat crossover. Although the new Santa Fe will usher in a long-wheelbased sibling that can seat seven, Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik advises Ward’s to “stay tuned for future details on a potential premium crossover” that could be a dedicated – read: Veracruz replacing – CUV for seven.
The question is, what does “premium” mean? The word was applied to the Veracruz but customers didn’t exactly buy it, cross-shopping the Veracruz with mass-market competitors. Ward’s uses a barn-sized brush to lay out the competitive set for this future CUV, from the $18,995 Dodge Journey to the $46,250 Audi Q7. That’s a boggling range, the prime takeaway being that whatever it is will be obviously more “premium” than the Veracruz. According to Ward’s, “Hyundai has expressed a desire to use the rear-wheel drive platform underpinning its premium Genesis and Equus sedans for other models, possibly CUVs.”
Just as important for the moment is that Hyundai believes there’s a fight it can still win in the arena of large crossovers.
Source: [Ward’s Auto]
Comments
6 commentswhy not a Premium Genesis based V8 7 seaters SUV?
why not a Premium Genesis based V8 7 seaters SUV?
I think is a good option
I think is a good option
I'd think it would be good to consider something off of Kia's departed Borrego platform which could hopefully spawn a mid-sized pickup for the US market too. They'd have me for one!
I'd think it would be good to consider something off of Kia's departed Borrego platform which could hopefully spawn a mid-sized pickup for the US market too. They'd have me for one!