Hyundai Terracan
The general consensus that modern 4x4s are overweight and lazy is absolutely shattered by the Hyundai Terracan. It’s an absolute monster of an SUV that can dominate any type of terrain it encounters with ferocious ease; it almost scares mountains and rivers away and nonchalantly drives over where they used to be. Hardcore designs, mind blowing performance and a manically low price tag means it’s one of the best 4x4s money can buy.
It was originally released in 2001 and conquered everything from the roughest terrain to all manner of city streets until 2007, when most likely it was locked in a cage for being too savage. Comically, the target market was actually suburban housewives who wanted a cheap SUV to rival big name brands; Hyundai obviously thought it best to provide them with one of the hardiest and most muscular off road machines ever.
To look at the Terracan is quite brutal with a snarling front grille, bonnet mounted air intake and tank like proportions. It’s clearly armed for every eventuality, and really doesn’t look like it would surrender easily. A refined ‘Chelsea tractor’ it most certainly isn’t. Featuring 5 doors and 5 seats, it’s spacious and practical inside with quite a tame design, although the fake wood and carbon fibre might be a bit too ambitious. There’s a lot of equipment on offer, and everything comes to hand easily, which is exactly what you’d want when trying to negotiate tough terrain. The boot space is cavernous and it’ll eat anything that’s fed to it. Clearly the Hyundai is a brilliant family car.
As with most heroic off-roaders, the handling is a bit limp when on the tarmac, and the ride isn’t particularly comfortable either. But none of that matters because it’s truly awesome when you head into the wilds. The Hyundai has a lot of pulling power thanks to a big 2.9 litre diesel engine, so that makes it ideal for towing caravans or extra camping supplies on expeditions. Yes it’ll do everything you ask without complaining, including laughing at icy roads and snowy conditions in winter, but if you aren’t going to use it to its full potential then just go for a regular soft SUV.
You can find a load of excellent deals on used Hyundai Terracan cars at Motors.co.uk. It’s without doubt one of the best second hand auto websites in the UK and is home to an inordinate amount of cars for sale listed at monstrously discounted prices. You’ll come across a bargain at every turn, and that’s good news for people on tight budgets especially.
So, all you need to know about the Hyundai Terracan is that it’s a supreme 4x4 that lives to venture into the most arduous environments and come out the other end feeling happy with itself. It’s a fantastic workhorse of a car that’s superb for agricultural use and makes a mean family car for those living in areas with difficult terrain. To dominate everything from nature to traffic, this South Korean revelation is just the ticket!