Consumer Guide's Impressions of the 2011 Hyundai Portico

It's all set to go, but Hyundai's fourth SUV could be derailed by the credit crisis and other economic woes. And does a distressed U.S. market really want a "new Chrysler Pacifica?"

What We Know About the 2011 Hyundai Portico

There's as much uncertainty about this long-rumored Hyundai as there is about the global economy. South Korea's largest automaker signaled its plan to offer another crossover SUV with the 2005 Portico concept, but has been slow to develop the production version. Now the "touring" wagon is ready--it's lately been spied testing in the desert Southwest--but the market isn't, not with new-vehicle loans increasingly hard to obtain and so many consumers reluctant to buy much of anything amid fears of losing jobs, homes, and retirement nest eggs. And the Portico might be a tough sell even in good times, as it follows the less-than-successful design outline of the late Chrysler Pacifica.

Small wonder, then, that available intel here is contradictory. While some sources expect Portico to launch in late 2009 as a 2010 model, trade weekly Automotive News reported in early September that Hyundai was still debating whether to proceed--and that was before the financial crisis really hit. With the economy now so much worse and recovery seemingly months or even years away, the Portico could well be delayed to model-year 2011, which is our bet, or 2012, at least for the U.S. Heck, it might even be cancelled altogether. Automotive News says any of these scenarios would allow Hyundai to give priority to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, which are about the only ones moving off dealer lots these days.

Interestingly enough, one key change has already occurred. The Portico will now apparently be sourced from South Korea rather than Hyundai's plant in Alabama, which would have been the logical point for a product aimed mainly at the American market.

Assuming it does reach showrooms, the 2011 Hyundai Portico will be a low-rise midsize 4-door wagon with two-row seating for up to six passengers, V6 power, and a choice of front-wheel drive or full-time all-wheel drive without low-range gears. It's said to share a unibody structure and underskin components with Hyundai's Santa Fe SUV, but will split the size and price difference between Santa Fe and Hyundai's larger Veracruz midsize SUV.

Judging from spy photos we've seen, the 2011 Hyundai Portico resembles a lower, sleeker rendition of the Chevrolet Traverse midsize SUV. Distinctions include a wedgy profile with a downsloped nose; large triangular side windows behind fairly long rear doors; and a roofline tapering to a rear liftgate, finishing with a jaunty spoiler. Test prototypes look to be wearing 18-inch wheels. Those would likely be standard, with 19s and possibly 20s available, depending on Hyundai's marketing strategy.

Two engines are expected. The Santa Fe's available 3.3-liter V6 should be base power for the 2011 Hyundai Portico and tuned for about the same 242 horsepower. A 3.8-liter V6, borrowed from Veracruz and likely matching that model's 260 horses, will be optional. We understand a 6-speed automatic will be the only transmission offered, though cost reasons may dictate a 5-speed automatic for the smaller V6.

We can only guess at other features right now, but the 2011 Hyundai Portico will likely mirror its showroom sisters with standard ABS, antiskid system and traction control, front side airbags, and curtain side airbags covering both seating rows. Trim levels should follow other Hyundai products, with base GLS, mid-level SE, and top-line Limited. The last will probably include leather upholstery, heated seats, and perhaps a power tilt and telescope steering wheel and power-adjustable pedals.

Sources suggest three seating options for the 2011 Hyundai Portico: a six-passenger package comprising a front and rear bench with pull-down center armrests; a five-place layout with twin front buckets and a rear bench; and a possible four-passenger setup with front buckets and twin rear captain's chairs. Buyers looking for third-row seating will evidently be advised to consider a Veracruz.

Hyundai has been moving up in sales and buyer esteem with ever-more appealing products, so the Portico should be just as professionally executed and keenly priced. The big question is whether it can be any more successful than the Chrysler Pacifica or the Mercedes-Benz R-Class, another "touring" SUV that hasn't caught on. After all, Portico enters an already crowded class at a time when overall vehicle demand is tanking. This may be one of those cases where events have outrun best-laid plans and the manufacturer can't afford to pull the plug so late in the game. Then again, for all we know, the Portico could prove a surprise hit despite the lousy market. Hey, stranger things have happened.

A Notable Feature of the 2011 Hyundai Portico

The 2011 Hyundai Portico may sport an unusual feature or two, like the two-row bench-seat package, but don't look for major technical or design innovations. Originality is not Hyundai's strong suit. This company got to be South Korea's largest automaker--and now a global industry power--by selling me-too products with more features-per-dollar than the competition and by making great strides in build quality, sophistication, and overall professionalism. Today's Accent subcompact car, for example, is a far cry from the humble Excel that introduced the brand to American consumers some 20 years ago. And Consumer Guide's auto editors have been sufficiently impressed by the new Genesis premium large sedan to give it our Recommended endorsement. Add in Hyundai's generous warranties and the Portico looms as a "safe" buy and maybe even a compelling one, provided you like what it has to offer.

Buying Advice for the 2011 Hyundai Portico

Barring a sudden market recovery, which seems unlikely anytime soon, the 2011 Hyundai Portico should launch with one or more deal-sweeteners such as cash rebates or, if the company can swing it, low-rate financing. Even then, Portico will struggle for attention in an already crowded market class that includes Hyundai's own Santa Fe, a 2009 Consumer Guide Recommended pick. The Dodge Journey, Ford Flex, and Toyota Highlander are also in that mix. Best Buy alternatives include the Chevrolet Traverse, the related GMCAcadia and Saturn Outlook, the just-redesigned Honda Pilot, and the Mazda CX-9. All these choices have their attractions, but some will fit your needs better than others. Consumer Guide has everything you need to know to make an informed, value-wise decision, both here online and in the pages of our Car and Truck Test magazines.

2011 Hyundai Portico Release Date: As noted, some sources insist that Portico will launch in late 2009 as a 2010 entry, but a postponement of one or even two years remains a distinct possibility, based on what we know now.

2011 Hyundai Portico First Test Drive: Depending on what Hyundai decides, journalists could get initial seat time as early as next spring or summer. Otherwise, media previews might not be slated until early or mid-2010.

2011 Hyundai Portico Prices: As noted, the 2011 Hyundai Portico is expected to price between the smaller Santa Fe and larger Veracruz SUVs. Trouble is, there's already some overlap in those models at around the $30,000 mark. In other words, said sum buys either a loaded top-line AWD Santa Fe or a base-trim front-drive Veracruz. Assuming no big changes for either of those models, we'd expect Portico's before-option stickers to range from $26,000-$27,000 to $32,000-$33,000.

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