Can you name a few suvs in india? well most would say; scorpio, safari, x trail, crv, etc. but these are NOT suvs. They are just cars which have the looks and build of an suv, which handle well in cities but CANNOT drive off road. It is for space and luxury.
Okay now can you name a few suvs in india? um.. just the pajero recently the prado. The prado is priced at well above 30 lakhs. So it is out of the discussion. But the pajero is priced at around 19 lakhs, at the same range of the terracan. So if someone wants to buy one of these, which should he buy? This is not a comparision test. I am just mentioning the Pajero here and there to compare.
Looks and Build- the terracan definitely looks purposeful and rugged. I just love the front. the superb headlamps and bumper make it look brutish. It is really tall. In the front there aren’t any corners and everything is smooth and curvaceous. But once you come to the side, that image goes. It is not smooth and curvy in the side .
Viewed from the side, the terracan looks even more rugged. it has alloys. that is not a problem at all. but the tyres look small. afterall this is an suv, so why not 17’’ or so?. It is the only disappointment. The rear is nice. The tail lamps look cunning and mean. it hides the terracan’s rather flat rear end. Hyundai has now become a brand which makes cars of good build unlike its recent past. The terracan has very good build quality.
Interior- the terracan is priced at more than 15 lakhs and so it has to have a luxurious interior. you cannot really call the interior luxurious except for the oodles of space it offers. Maybe also the leather seats. But other than this it is normal. the steering is leather wrapped (you get this even in a zen). the speedo and tacho dials are very normal. The dash has wood finish which looks fake all right. The rear also has good legroom. The air con is quite effective. So even if it does not have very good features, what it does offer you is space and a few luxuries. Compared to the pajero, the interior of the terracan is a bit bland.
Engine and Performance- the terracan has an amazing 2.9 liter crdi turbo charged intercooled engine which has a power output of 150 bhp. yes, a crdi engine. this technology has been used in the accent and elantra already. so this engine is quite refined and has good power and torque. torque is an absolutely collosial 34 kgm @ 2000 rpm! that is 4 kgm more than the pajero. the engine of the terracan is obviously better and more powerful than that of the pajero. but it weighs 2130 kg which is in no way light. the power to weight ratio is 14 bhp every kg. the performance is still good. there is good power and torque available lower down. the engine is not too noisy. as the terracan accelerates, you can feel the enormous amount of torque available. 0-100 comes in less than 15 seconds. this is much faster than the pajero. even at high speeds, the terracan shows no sign of losing breath. the top speed is a good 165 km/h. the crdi turbo charged unit does an excellent job. turbo lag is very slight.
Ride and Handling-the terracan is an suv, but still handles well in cities. ride is also very comfortable. there is good pickup of course. but it does understeer a little when made to challenge steep turns. this is because of its weight and because of the fact that it is an suv. the pajero gains a slight advantage here. the terracan’s off road capabilities must be good. because it has all the factors required for that.
Fuel Economy- the terracan weighs more than 2 tonnes. It has a 2.9 liter diesel engine. And it is an suv. So is it efficient in fuel consumption? Maybe not very, but for an suv; definitely good. In city driving conditions, it gives around 7 km/l. On the highway it gives a good 12 km/l. In mixed conditions though it gives less than 10 km/l. If you compare the terracan with its other sedan competitors, it is good. Moreover it runs on diesel which is cheaper than petrol.
FINAL VERDICT- the terracan is priced at more than 18 lakhs. Unlike other uvs in india, this is a true blue suv. It looks good, is built well and has excellent performance. But the interior is not the best of its kind. Here the pajero gains an edge. Performance wise, the terracan is very good. It also handles well in cities even if it is an suv. It is the only suv of hyundai, and it is definitely good. If you want an suv and have the money, go for the terracan. It is a real suv and can keep you happy on road, off road, at the petrol bunk and while you see awe strucken faces staring at it.
LOOKS-9/10
BUILD-9/10
INTERIOR-8/10
ENGINE-9.5/10
POWER-9.5/10
PERFORMANCE-9.5/10
RIDE-9/10
HANDLING-8.5/10
FUEL EFFICIENCY-9/10
VALUE FOR MONEY-9/10
GRAND TOTAL-90/100
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