Item: Used Hyundai Terracan 4x4 2003 - 2008
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

TERRACAN

It's one of the cheapest big 4x4s, but not one of the most complete packages

Used Hyundai Terracan 4x4 2003 - 2008

The Terracan may be a bargain next to cars of a similar size, but it's not cheap, and it will have bills to match.

Just take fuel economy, for example: even with a manual gearbox, the car only returns 32.4mpg, and the automatic model isn't even as good as that. That may be acceptable for a car of this size, but a diesel Nissan X-Trail returns nearer 40mpg, and is not much smaller inside.

Insurance, on the other hand, is pretty good. A diesel X5 is in group 17 and a diesel Grand Cherokee just one group lower, but the Terracan is in group 12.

Likewise, you should have nothing to fear from routine running costs, and even if you need some unscheduled work, it shouldn't be too dear. Figures from Warranty Direct show that Hyundai dealers have among the lowest labour rates, and that average repair costs for Hyundais are also pretty cheap.

It's one of the cheapest big 4x4s, but not one of the most complete packages

You don't really have a choice. The Terracan only ever came with one engine - a 2.9-litre turbodiesel - and one trim. However, it's worth getting a car from late 2004 onwards, because these have a more powerful version of the engine.

The 2.9-litre engine isn't exactly quick, but it does a very good job of hauling around such a big car. However, the optional four-speed automatic 'box does rather take the edge off the performance.

Otherwise, if you want a Terracan, your most major choice is what colour you want. Mind you, it's no great hardship choosing the basic trim, because it comes with a generous helping of standard equipment, such as climate control, alloy wheels, a CD player and all-round electric windows.

There were never that many options, but among those you might think about looking out for are an automatic gearbox, leather upholstery and sat-nav.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement. A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.

The Mazda CX-5 is firmly road-focused, but its 2.0-litre petrol engine is a strong, refined performer, making it looks good value for less than&nbsp;£25k. If you can stretch the budget a fair bit, the Audi Q5 provides a combination of comfort, driving prowess, quality and space that's hard to beat. Unlike some rivals, it can't be had with seven seats, though.

A more affordable, yet well-equipped alternative is the Peugeot 5008. It’s more than capable of coping with family life&nbsp;– and all versions have seven seats as standard.&nbsp;

Large SUV

The Terracan is a rough and tough off-roader, which seems able to withstand anything. We have heard of no major problems, and it has had no recalls.

Owners are almost all positive. They like the towing ability, the low prices and most seem very happy with the mpg they're getting from such a large car. The Terracan has also found favour with those who use it off-road.

Even in the future, we expect few problems from the Terracan, and thanks to the five-year new-car warranty, even the earliest vehicles still have some cover left on them.

To cap it all, figures from Warranty Direct show that claim rates on Hyundais are only a little worse than those of Mazdas and Toyotas, and the performance of other Hyundai 4x4s in JD Power surveys has always been good - the Santa Fe finished in the top 20 in 2005, and the top 40 a year later.

Size is everything with the Terracan. It's longer than a BMW X5, almost as long as a Jeep Grand Cherokee, but considerably cheaper than either.

Other than the centre rear seat being a little uncomfortable, there's little to complain about in terms of accommodation. The dash is simple and clear, the driving position basically sound (although reach adjustment on the steering wheel would help) and there's more than enough head- and legroom front and rear. Likewise, the boot is huge, with almost 2000 litres of space. Access to the boot is easy and the rear seat splits 60/40.

The car is also excellent off-road thanks to high- and low-ratio gearboxes and good ground clearance. However, it's not so good on-road, with loads of body roll in bends and slow steering that's short on feel. The car's shape also kicks up a lot of wind noise at speed, while the engine is noisy under hard acceleration.

Used Hyundai Terracan 4x4 2003 - 2008 review

Every 2021 Electric and Hybrid Car Awards winner

Used Hyundai Terracan 4x4 2003 - 2008 review

Ownership cost

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