Hyundai Terracan 2001 test drive - 2004 SUV
A large jeep in Korean
Terracan masters the new market segment for Hyundai.At first there was Galloper. And it was created on the basis of the previous generation of Mitsubishi Pajero. Sold (and sold) well. They know him in the Russian market. However, only now, with the advent of the Terracan model, can we say that the South Korean company acquired its own SUV in the full sense of the word. Because Terracan was created, as they say, from scratch. This is a large, comfortable and passable car that can support in its owner a sense of confidence both on city streets and on country roads. But he has a character that needs to be adapted.
Already the appearance leaves no doubt that the machine is designed recently. Modern lines, meanwhile, do not look too modernist and do not take solidity. The hood line is lowered quite low, and the windshield is located almost perpendicularly, but this is not a virtue and a disadvantage, but a feature of the design that you just need to get used to. But lighting equipment is made with taste. In each of the front blocks of three lenses and three lamps. Plus, fog lights mounted in the bumper, the light of which seems to break out of the turbines of a jet aircraft. The rear large lights look spectacular: the red and yellow sectors are located around the round rear lamps. The spoiler above the trunk lid completes the picture, which gives the car a sports view.
Inside, as in an expensive European or, rather, in an American SUV. There is a hint of luxury. Even the handle of automatic checkpoint is finished with wood and skin. The only thing that does not fit into the laws of the audio system. It is somewhat unusual, you see, to see in the kingdom of black leather and dark wood, namely, these materials dominated the design of the Terracan test salon, an ordinary cassette radio. Not even the possibility of managing the CD-chin-jer is not provided. Everything else is at the level of high standards: the gaps are ideal, the details are firmly driven, nothing will fasten and noise. Numerous adjustments of the front seats, along with a steering column moving up and down, allow you to get a job with comfort. The instrument shield is perfectly read, and the unobtrusive yellowish backlight does not tire the eyes in the dark.
Places on the back sofa are enough for three people. At the same time, the volume of the luggage compartment will be 1170 liters. If the rear seats are folded entirely (or in parts), then it will increase to 1955 liters! At least a snowmobile of Georgia. Climate control, in turn, copes with the task, quickly warming up a large salon. Moreover, it is equipped with a dust filter and a special sensor, which, if the level of CO in the air exceeds, say, in traffic jams, will automatically block its access to the salon.
Manners of behavior
I conquer the motor, simultaneously noting the silence in the cabin, and smoothly leave the dealer parking. A light steering wheel with a decent number of revolutions from edge to edge was somewhat alerted. At first, it generally got the impression that the car was clumsy, but, as it turned out later, this is not at all so. With the speed of speed, the steering wheel is noticeably heavy, although to say that the feedback is magnificent, it would mean to praise the controllability of the car. On the other hand, a lot depends on the tires, and not the best, in my opinion, all -season tires of Kumho were installed on Terracan.
The future owner will not find an additional lever in the cabin responsible for the transmission modes. It is replaced by a compact selection switch type of drive located on the tunnel between the driver and the passenger. Moreover, expensive versions of Terracan are equipped with Active Torque Transfer (ATT). It was such a car with the most powerful gasoline engine with a volume of 3.5 liters and went to the test. With this system, the transmission switch has two provisions -Auto or Low. The latter is intended for serious off -road, while the first is used for everyday ride. Under ordinary conditions, the entire engine power is transmitted to the rear wheels. If the slip, then up to 40% of the torque is redistributed to the front wheels. Electronics are in charge of all this process. And it should be considered with its settings.
We stand at a traffic light. Under the wheels, the mixture of ice and snow. Green, full gas. The box does not suffer from particular thoughtfulness, and therefore it immediately feels that the rear wheels begin to slip. Electronics understood everything and instantly threw part of the torque in advance. It turned out very well, and Terracan to envy many briskly rushed forward. But it was torn, and this jerk when connecting the front bridge was very tangible. Of course, the smoothly press the accelerator pedal, the softer the acceleration will be, the more inconspicuous the moment of turning on the four -wheel drive will be. In a word, there is no doubt about the direct transmission.
Another thing when driving along a slippery road in corners. Here you have to be on the alert. As soon as the back of the rear axle begins, and you immediately adjust the trajectory of movement by turning the steering wheel, the front wheels are connected. It would seem that they should help and pull the car out of the drift. In fact, if you do not have time to return the steering wheel to its original position, the car can be spinning or incur with all four wheels out of turn. It is quite easy to get used to this nature of the car, but it is necessary to clearly feel the moment when it turns from the rear -wheel drive into all -wheel drive. Moreover, Terracan has no stabilization systems. However, in vihi on slippery coating, much depends on the quality of rubber again. But in any case, in situations similar to the described, it is better not to rely on the ABS and not to slow down sharply. The anti -lock system comes into operation quite late when the machine is already in drift. It can be said that ABS is configured in sports. But this is a plus, and so minus, since a sharp braking in skidding can even lead to overturning the car.
The rest of the running qualities of TerraCan deserve praise. On an even asphalt, this is a completely comfortable car, on the off -road a real jeep. A clearance of 21 b mm mm, a body set on a powerful frame, and huge moves of pendants, allow you not to notice the irregularities of the road. At the same time, at the same time, unnecessary rolls are not felt.
Market prospects
Hyundai Terracan, equipped in the highest category (leather, climate control, electric hatch), costs $ 44,995. The same model, but in the basic configuration (with a mechanical gearbox), which includes a full electric package, air conditioning, ABS, two airbags and cast discs, is sold 8 thousand cheaper for $ 36,998. There will be no less on the new model market. It is not easy, since there are many competitors. This is Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Nissan Patrol, and Opel Frontera, and Chevrolet Trailblazer. BSE they have somewhat similar all-wheel drive systems and motors comparable in power. But still differ significantly in detail. So, Terracan will find his buyer.
