hyundai Terracan road tests and consumer car reviews

Hyundai Terracan 2004

Terracan my first 4x4 - puchased March ’04. Hobbies shooting / fishing so some off road. Impressed - in low ratio will climb a wall! (AT tyres - not noisy). Initially mainly motorway / A roads 28 mpg and annual mileage 32K but since retiring much less. Now coming up to 6 years old 100,000 miles and apart from minor replacements - all taken car of under warrenty - trouble free. Due for MoT and I know some suspension wear (rattle} but if this cost me a few £100 so what as my only expense to date is serving costs - far too high at main dealers. I’m now using local garage 1/2 the price. Overall I’m greatly impressed with my Terracan and as it’s current trade price is less than 1st years depreciation on new intend running to death.

Hyundai Terracan 2005

I purchased from new, complete with all toys, leather, blacked windows etc. It cost around £22000. Superbly comfortable whilst motorway cruising and easy to drive around town. However taken off road and its a different story. Have been bogged down in mud, it struggled to go up a gentle muddy grassy slope and it struggled in a few inches of snow. Despite being in low ratio, no power is being transferred to the front wheels. I returned to dealer but unfortunately it had changed hands and no longer ’Reekie’ who were great. The dealer found nothing untoward. Unfortunately I do a bit of off road driving during the shooting season and I no longer have any confidence in this motor’s off road ability. I’m now on the lookout for something more suitable, like a scrappy old Ford Maverick which my friend uses without fault.

Responses to this review

Not sure if you have got the problem sorted but I had the same thing with my 05 Terracan, the front wheels would not engage. The mechanism used to engage the front wheels uses a vacuum run from a pump on the alternator, when the switch is put into 4wd it activates a solenoid which in turn actuates the vacuum and engages the front wheels, it may take a few feet for them to work as a splined shaft has to align in the front dif. If there is even the smallest of holes in the pipe going from the CADS (Centre Axle Disconnect System) to the actuator then you will not get 4wd, mice chewed a hole in mine. Main dealer charged £75 to replace pipe and the car works fine. Any further info needed then email me - sub-one@tiscali.co.uk, i have an electronic manual. Cheers - Dave Piper from Aberdeenshire

Hyundai Terracan 2.9 diesel, auto 2005

I purchased my Terracan in May 2005 with 20,000 on the clock from a main dealer. It’s spacious, extremely comfortable, 100%reliable, economical,a pleasure to drive, very well built and superb on tyres. It came with factory supplied Kumho tyres; 35,000 on clock when I had to replaced them the front pair; chose the with same tyres, which were very reasonably priced. Back tyres are still original and now at 40,000 on clock now with still plenty of meat left on them. Wife loves comfort and privacy glass in back and there is plenty of space in the rear for larger items. I drove mercedes prior to this car, no more though,really gone down hill since chrysler bought them. Would I buy another terracan? YES, but at the moment very happy wth the one I’ve got.

Hyundai Terracan diesel 1993

Hi. Bought the car new 01/08/93, great motor, no problems, never let me down, usual trade and caravan towing, done 55,000 miles to july 09 had four services, paid £17,500 on the road including tow bar, over mats, full tank, road tax. Still worth around £3,850-00 turned down offer, decided to keep as second car.

Hyundai Terracan 2007

Exchanged my Nissan X-Trail for the Terracan. The X Trail should have easily handled towing my 1500kg caravan but it struggled so I went looking for a suitable vehicle. Went to Land Rover agent in Christchurch who did not show any interest in my needs. Across the road was a Hyundai agent who recommended the Terracan for my requirements. This is the best advice I have ever been given! It’s a great car, good fuel returns and a great towing vehicle. This has been Land Rover’s loss and Hyundai’s gain. It’s a shame the car is no longer in production.

Hyundai Terracan 2.9 t/diesel ltd ed auto 2007

Bought new in 07 for a great price of £17,500 after looking at all the other manufacturers who were charging thousands more for very little extra other than name badge. Have had 2 years trouble free motoring and returning 30/35 to the gallon on runs (not bad for a 2.9 engine). Build quality is very good with masses of space to carry loads and she is very comfortable to drive. Downside is the servicing cost which are high for what you get but you can cut these charges by half at normal garages and still maintain your 5 year warranty as long as genuine Hyundai parts are used and your service record book is stamped. Take a test drive and see what you get for the money.

Hyundai Terracan Manual Limited 2007

What a car for the money! I needed a heavy duty towcar... badge kudos who cares? 36 miles to the gallon for a 3 litre turbo diesel... how do they do it? What a shame that they have stopped making it.

Hyundai Terracan ltd auto 2007

Was in market for a replacement for wife’s Hyundai 2.7v6 auto Santa Fe (fabulous car - 5 years trouble free motoring... only problem was high fuel consumption) when we saw the Terracan LTD Auto... looked great in black with full leather interior and after a drive and bit of bartering we got her with a discount and a decent trade in for the Santa. Two (trouble free) years later we still can’t fault it. She’s comfortable, easy to drive and adaptable (I’m 6ft and wife is 4’11’’) and surprisingly economical... On a good run 35/36 mpg - shame they stopped making them for the UK from 2008 as I would probably buy another for my son and his family in a few years (but they’re so reliable he’ll probably have a second-hand one).

Hyundai Terracan 2005

You certainly get what you pay for! I got a second hand 2005 last year for under £9000; outstanding value for money. Ride height - excellent, consumption - very reasonable considering the engine size; it looks the part too. The only worry I have is when the UK government start to hammer us 4x4 users for extra road tax. For a government that takes a 75% profit at the pumps and just throws my hard earned tax money at every problem I have serious misgivings. But enjoy this car if you can get one. You’ll feel the difference stepping down from a Land Rover but the savings more than make up for it.

Hyundai Terracan 2006

We bought our Terracan Ltd edition brand new in 2006 after wife had an accident, we had Shogun but the wife could not get in it. I must be honest I was a bit nervous of the change, but I was in for a shock - our Terracan came out better on running costs - a lot more to the gallon and I had a manual Shogun and we have the auto in the Terracan. I would recommend the Terracan to anybody that is looking for a 4x4 that is priced £18750.00 that has got to be value for money for a new motor loads cheaper than the rest of the 4x4s on the market. It gives a good ride, good driving position, also good for towing 24ft caravan with no problems, the only quibble that I have is that the Aussies get a 7 seater version and we don’t. Also the wife loves the car and if she’s happy so am I. Ha Ha, nice quality leather seats, and the question I have been asked would I buy another Terracan? The answer to that is yes - like a shot, why pay more for a badge on another make like BMW X3, X5, Shoguns and others...

Hyundai Terracan 2007

Had the car from new, up to now only the glove compartment catch has broken in that time, other than that hassle free. I thought the price new was very good value for money. Had four Nissan Terranos before the Terracan and I think that the Terranos are still a better stylish looking motor, but I had lots of trouble with them, door catches, leaking windscreen washers etc, even though they weren’t very old motors. Up till now I would highly recommend the Terracan.

Hyundai Terracan 2007

Love the car. Warranty service at Hyundai dealer was expensive, that is really my only complaint.

Hyundai Terracan Highlander 2.9CRDi 2006

I am in Sydney, Australia. I have the 2.9 diesel in the Highlander version, which is no longer available. Its got the leather, albeit not great leather, and a variable 4WD that cuts in automatically when required. Its very versatile with the fold down third row of seats. Powerful, remarkably quiet for a diesel, and far less thirsty than the petrol version. Its a shame with Hyundai pushing the Sante Fe and Tucson so much that the Terracan never gets a mention as its a solid, value for money, reliable vehicle.

Hyundai Terracan 2005

I bought the car after owning a Sante Fe for two years. The Terracan is a lot of motor for the money. A Range Rover it is not but you must consider that you could buy 3 Terracans for the price of a Rangey! It has been a totally reliable, very adaptable car, cruises very comfortably but gets a little noisy once you exceed the legal limit of the British motorway. The ride is a little hard when the vehicle is lightly loaded but that is not a problem when flying up the M6. Overtaking is never a problem - in fact when I last had it serviced the petrol powered courtesy car felt like a slug on sleeping tablets. I am looking to replace mine now with a ............. Terracan! but this time I will go for the autobox and leather options.

Hyundai Terracan Limited Edition 2007

This is my 2nd Terracan; upgraded to Ltd Ed. I previously had Range Rovers and thought they were the bees knees, a friend bought a Terracan to tow heavy plant about, he was so pleased he advised me to change. I had a test drive and was so surprised; it was GOODBYE Range Rover and hello Terracan. I have got to concede they are a fantastic vehicle and what a great price! How do they do it?? And it comes with 5yrs unconditional warranty. My advice - if its a 4x4 you want, get yourself what I consider (after 12 Range Rovers) to be the best 4x4 on the road today, for value and performance. Be careful though, they are very fast and accelerate like a car.

Hyundai Terracan 3.5V6 7 seater 2004

We currently live in Perth, Australia and bought a Terracan with the 3.5V6 petrol engine, auto, 7 seats and Tow n Trek pack. This transforms the lumpy suspension. The 3.5 engine is brilliant - smooth, powerful, but drinks fuel like its going out of fashion. Not a problem in Oz, but we’re thinking of shipping it back to the UK, and would be an issue there. Servicing here is cheap, which is good because it needs servicing every few thousand miles. Brilliant off-road: use it a lot in the bush and it takes pretty much anything you throw at it. Its an old Shogun underneath that has been fitted with additional off-road protection, so its a proven chassis etc. The auto + v6 power make it great on sand: many a Landcruiser / Patrol driver has had a shock as I’ve driven past them, and with my tyre pressures still on normal ! 7 seats are really useful, but not an option in the UK apparently. If they could sell this version in the UK with reasonable fuel consumption would be amazing value for money. They’re a similar price over here, but can be imported: note the Aussie warranty won’t be valid though, and parts for the engine would need to come from Korea. Great no nonsense off-roader that’s OK on road with the Tow n Trek pack fitted.

Hyundai Terracan ltd edition auto 2007

Bought new march 2007 at a brilliant price of £18000 including reversing sensors and metallic paint just had first service at 9800 miles by Hyundai agent (£280) very expensive for a basic oil and filter change. The car itself is a joy to drive with its high driving position and very comfortable seats, road and wind noise is minimal although on B roads the ride can be lumpy due to the suspension being rather firm but A road and motorway driving pose no problems . The engine is very responsive and accelerates readily overtaking at high speeds is no problem, build quality is good no rattles or bits breaking off, a full load of passengers plus luggage pose no problems the boot area is huge. MPG averages between 30/35 per gallon not bad for a 2.9 ltr 4+4. All in all a lot of vehicle for a very reasonable outlay.

Hyundai Terracan 2007

We are now on our second Terracan, a great car for the money and as we have a horse and do a lot of towing we needed something on the large side. Tows very well although on the auto gearbox when towing the fuel consumption is quite a bit lower. Highly recommended.

Hyundai Terracan 4x4 2.9 CRDT 5dr 2006

We have 2 children and two lab dogs so needed something with a good amount of space. I didn’t want to be paying over the odds for a plush interior that was going to get some severe punishment, so the basic interior you get with the Terracan was perfect for us, but may not suit everyone. For the price it’s an amazingly adept car and seems to take everything in it’s stride. I’ve had no problems with it at all and have now had it for 12 months. Very good cost effective car to buy and run.