Head to Head: 2007 Hyundai Veracruz vs. 2008 Lexus RX350

I think I will stay out of this one.. but I warned you all this was coming....

Id be scared if I was Lexus.

This will without a doubt steal some sales from the RX350. Hyundai is rising up with a vengace against Lexus and will be a formidable competitor in the next 6-7 years. Its doing exactly what Lexus did in the 90s with the european brands.

Now toyota has to worry about quality problems (to not tarnish its main characteristic) while it mass produces its cars like GM. While Hyundai can focus more on giving lexus a hard time.

Hyundai started with econoboxes just like toyota, now it has some recognition it wants to dump its cheaper models and move upmarket in order to give the brand more prestige. Rags to riches.

I dont think the european brands will have much to worry about since Hyundai this will be a value brand just like Lexus. And dont tell me it isnt because every Mercedes comparable to lexus costs much more.

Toyolex fans dont you think Hyundai has the potential to challenege your company? Youd be foolish to say no, your company did it and so can they.

dear lexus admirer.

you sound like a crazed mercedes fan circa 1989 when lexus launched. there's room in the market for more than one luxury brand. lexus just has more competition now. hyundai took a page right out of the lexus playbook: copy the car you're after (the veracruz and RX are strikingly similar) as closely as possible but come it at a significantly lower pricepoint.

that's EXACTLY what people said about lexus in the beginning. LOL. slowly but surely they raised prices as consumer opinion improved and...voila...lexus is now a legit luxury brand. wasn't so in 1990.

exactly how Lexus succeeded versus Merc and BMW
Lexus is part-copycat - no kidding

Lexus Admirer, You like many (not all) Lexus fans are the biggest hypocrites. In the end you're the only one that makes yourself look like a moron. Now that the tables could turn on your brand you choose to ignore the facts. Is holy Lexus a brand nobody can compete against? Or are you scared that I actually have a point?

Is there not more room for any competition? If Hyundai wants to focus on luxury cars then why not? Of course the Hyndai wins on value DUH, Its not quite there yet but give it some time and you might just be in for a rude awakening. Unlike your useless comments my posts actually make sense to those who know about cars. You are only a fool

lexusadmirer (aka fanatic)

lexus was not considered an alternative to mercedes and bmw when it launched. in fact, it wasn't even remotely in the same price category. in 1990, the LS was priced at $35,000 with tons of standard equipment. that same year, a well-equipped S-class would have run $60k+. people WERE NOT cross-shopping mercedes and lexus back then. lexus was the car for people who wanted an S but had no hope of affording one.

kinda like the veracruz and the RX don't you think?

OK let's compare the Mercedes S Class with the Ford Crown Victoria - oh the Ford is a similar size but much cheaper. Ford wins! Ford wins!

What b/s

Merc, I don't agree with this article, either. But it's not as if these cars are incomparable. Hyundai developed the Veracruz with the RX as their target- they weren't looking to beat Toyota, they wanted to go further. It's a very refined machine, and though it won't be cross-shopped with a Lexus any time soon, it's a very similar vehicle for a fraction of the price.

M&T really should do a review on Sonata vs. BMW 525i. :)

they should compare more lexus models to hyundais and kias since "lexus" quality, performance, and dynamics can be overcome at such a low price lmao

thank goodness the 525i is no more. it was underpowered for a bmw.

06GS300, are you embarrassed?
we're taking about Lexus vs Hyundai. not any german brand.

not sure how accurate that is across the board, but i know of 2 people that the same about lexus, a freind of mines es300 looks like crap the paint has faded, the interior plastics have worn, and he has constant transmission trouble and he isnt one of those owners thatjust lets his car ago hes taken care of it, the same goes for my freind with the ls400

my 90 m3 looks just as good as when i first got it, and there is no exuse for a mid 90's anything having faded paint, poor quality, toyota and lexus have gotten better over the years im sure, but i know first hand from owners they that lexus cars have not always been the best long time, quality, especially wear and tear

well first hand "seeing it myself" experience doesnt lie

Hey formula1 are you aware that Consumer Reports rates the 1998 Lexus LS400 as just as reliable as many new Mercedes models such as the ML? Thought not, you just make stuff up.

My A6 was mint with 87,000 miles on the clock. My S4 hasn't gotten the same abuse because I drive the A3 for a third of the year, but it's still in great condition, too (obtained in April 2005).

lol. I think the dead horse is finally beaten dead again. We summed up that the article never said that the Veracruz was better, just cheaper for the near luxury that the RX can provide.

lexus technically still wins...lol

The Lexus is the clear winner just on styling alone.

Better interior too!

^^^
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I totally agree. When I bought the RX330 for my wife, I would never have considered a Hyundai, nor would I have this year. But I can definitely see why they were rooting for the underdog- Hyundai put so much effort into this car, while it seems to come naturally to Toyota and Lexus engineers. And for two-thirds of the price, it's a great value proposition, but it's no Lexus.

The Lexus should have one this comparison, but the article clearly says to me one thing: Hyundai has figured out how to make a cheaper Toyota and beat them with it. They should be comparing the Veracruz to the new 08' Highlander, its real competition.

What, Admirer, so you don't think the RX should have won? What is wrong with you?

can we get a hyundai vs bmw comparison? i really want to know if the azera has more interior space than the 7 series. according to hyundais commercials, this is true...

Those commercials are all bull s***. Hyundai wants to create a better image for themselves by comparing their vehicles to cars with a lot more class and prestige, when in fact they can't compare.

Just looking at that picture you can tell that Hyundai made the Veracruz to look like the RX. Look at the B pillar and the side windows. They're almost exactly the same.

But it still looks cheaper, obviously (the Hyundai).

Yeah, but that's a Hyundai for you.

Was it just me, or did this review tend to give the Veracruz the benefit of the doubt just because it was a Hyundai? Even so, the Lexus is still the better vehicle, even though it's outdated. Hmmm, the Lexus is better than the Hyundai. Who would have thought? Oh, that's right. Everyone with common sense.

Whats funny is that they modeled their NEW car after a model that has already run its course and is due for a new look next year. This, unfortunately, leaves Hyundai behind once again. And yes, this story was already beaten to death. Guess we had to kick it a few more times to make sure its dead!

But at least we learned from Formula 1 that any Lexus older than a 2004 is broken down and in the junkyard.

Aw, darn, ours is a 2004 so I just missed the deadline. I guess in formula1's world, we have to throw it in the junkyard next year, even though it will still be running perfectly!

I am trading it in next year, but that's a different matter entirely...

So, the RX won just about every comparison point in the article. It's only real loss was in the slalom, where Lexus's collision avoidance systems kicked in. My guess is that buyers in this class appreciate avoiding collisons more than going 75 through the twisties. The only reason the Hyundai won was because of value, but the article negated the vlaue equation due to resale. So what gives? How did the Hyundai win? Where are its advertising dollars going, me wonders....

Veracruz exceeds even MKX, X5, XC90, and Q7.
Do you agree?
This review means it.

Look out Lexus(Hi-lux with leather) your cousin is coming and really why would anyone pay twice the price for a SUV that is crap? except for camryadmirer
no body is that dumb.
What is a lexus SUV? A toyota with fancy (look alike) wood panels and leather....don't waste your money buy a Hyundai.

GO Hyundai, for giving customers an SUV better than a camry at a cheaper price, well done boys.

"Cousin?" Hyundai isn't in the same corporation as Lexus. Perhaps you're confusing them with Toyota.

That, or you're just bashing them like the annoying fanboy you are. It's probably the latter.

The marketing staff at Hyundai are morons!!They are comparing the Sante Fe against the Landrover LR3,the Sonata againts the BMW 3 series,the Azera against the Lexus LS460 and the Veracruz against the Lexus RX350,what are they smoking at Hyundai???

Too many biased fools here...even though I love BMWs and Mercs, I respect Lexus for doing what they have done
"No, Mercedes and BMWs are always in the shop"
"Lexus is the best! It's going to take over the world"
Both untrue - both have their own problems and victories
Have respect for each other

Good luck with that argument Monk. Its worthless here as I have tried many times before to have some people realize each have their own advantages and disadvantages but every thread turns into a war with the occasional town idiot or 2 (forumla1 & friends) coming in to share their intellectual insight on why the BMW he's never driven is the best. I take the same stance as you and respect that you can see that you cannot generalize and judge an entire company because of your misconceptions or predispositions. Possible the quality of this website can improve if there are enough educated people who skim through the pages and can actually contribute something "key word- meaningful".

This website is full of children, why can't we just say congrats to Hyundai and move on.

The Lexus tries to justify its much higher cost by offering useless overpriced extras not available on the Hyundai. The deal-breaker for me is that the steel spare on the RX is currently mounted under the vehicle where it is exposed to winter salt and nasty slush -- it used to be a matching alloy wheel in a proper wheel well inside the vehicle. This is a red flag that indicates cheapening of the vehicle without reducing the price.

Actually, I believe there is a plastic mounting under the car between the wheel and the ground but I'm not 100% sure but i'll check again to make sure i'm right. I believe last time I was under there, it wasn't exposed.

proof?

since when do people cross-shop $35,000 and $65,000 cars? that's what the LS and the 560SEL were priced at back in 1990. would you cross shop a loaded buick and an LS today--same price differential?

lexus was not considered a legitimate luxury brand by consumer on day 1. it took years for them to establish their reputation and raise prices into the luxury realm.

get a grip on reality.

Congrats to Hyundai on the car, but i really think they were better off to just build a new brand for their luxury segment instead of going upmarket.
Everybody associates Hyunday with low end cheap cars. I doubt this car will steal away sales from the RX or anyother luxury SUV.

LEXUS ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

"but i really think they were better off to just build a new brand for their luxury segment instead of going upmarket. Everybody associates Hyunday with low end cheap cars. I doubt this car will steal away sales from the RX or anyother luxury SUV."

Funny you should say that, in Europe i still believe that Toyota should of remained Toyota, instead of trying to kid people that they're something else...as must of us realise that Lexus = Toyota, which would explain the poor sales in Europe. I see far more Hyundais than i used to, and now they offer options such as leather, electric seats, heated seats, sat nav and everything you'd get in a Lexus, they are seen as more upmarket and will eventually move up and up, until one day they most likely will expand into a luxury division. But if they do, they would be wise not to sell rebadged Hyundais, as that can ruin a reputation for many years, eh Toyota?

Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Ford, Pontiac and many more companies sell these products. Leather is standard in so many cars now a days that its not even considered a luxury item anymore. Honda Civics have leather and heated seats. They're far from being a luxury car. All car companies have added all these optional equipments you speak of. Drive a Hyundai and you'll realise that they're far from being in the same league as Lexus. Don't get me wrong, Hyundai has made huge strides is the past 6-8 years. Originally Lexus never paid as much attention to the euro market like they did in north america, a big mistake by them, but they've started correcting that. I'm no Lexus troll but i do happen to know a thing or two about the current situation the industry is in. And currently Hyundai should be concentrating its efforts on Toyota, Honda and VW. And if they wanted to go head on with Lexus, creating a new brand would have been the best road to take.

So the Toyota Altezza wasn't the IS? Or the Toyota Harrier wasn't the RX?

Hyundai is now on the same radar and closing in- quality improving at an impressive rate. Toyota's late news is that quality is beginning to drop as the manufacturing base spreads globally. It will be interesting to see how long this trend continues and where both will stand in five years. It's time for a big "Mission Accomplished Hyundai!" Now get back to building cars worse than the americans again and restore order the junk yards.

Hmm, I thought the Altezza was released in Japan in 1998 under the Toyota, as they didn't have the Lexus brand at that point...although they had Toyota, so they pretty much had a Lexus. Then Toyota released into other countries where the Lexus brand was sold under the name of the IS a year later, 1999.

Hyundai targeted the Luxury SUV class and Lexus specifically. The Veracruz was the intended to be a clone of the RX350. Lexus postponed a 7 seat RX to long and now they will pay for it. This “clone” however has very legitimate improvements over the original. Hyundai is doing very well and the time to buy Hyundai stock is now!