Hyundai Terracan 2005 review

While the Terracan has been around for three years, until now it has only been available with a 3.5-litre, V6 petrol engine.

The new engine is a four cylinder 2.9-litre common rail diesel sourced from Hyundai subsidiary Kia.

Hyundai is set to target outback Australia, particularly Queensland, where Toyota rules the roost with LandCruiser.

Starting at $37,490 for the CRDi manual, Terracan undercuts the three top selling entry level diesels: Nissan Patrol turbo diesel ($49,540) LandCruiser diesel ($52,600) and Pajero turbo diesel ($49,390) by more than $10,000.

And it has a 130,000km/five year warranty.

Hyundai is also offering a $2000 suspension package that takes the vehicle's on and off road performance to new levels.

Developed in Australia for local conditions and expectations the kit is aimed primarily at the serious off-road market and the "grey" army of caravaners looking for improved towing rates.

The kit has a full factory warranty.

Hyundai launched the Terracan CRDi in the Victorian alps on rugged tracks that are the normal terrain of serious off roaders such as LandCruiser, Patrol and Land Rover.

"We know that there is a Toyota-loyal rural market out there, but we will force consideration from customers," said Hyundai's Theo van Doore, speaking atop Mt Blue Rag near Mt Hotham.

It had taken five hours of serious four wheel driving, including 24 river crossings, and steep ascents and descents riddled with culverts, to reach the mountain along narrow four wheel drive tracks.

Terracan is Hyundai's first diesel model locally.

Common-rail diesel has consigned the slow, smelly, smoky and sooty evils of older-tech "oilers" to history thanks to electronically controlled direct injection of ultra finely metered fuel into each cylinder at extremely high pressure from a common fuel rail.

Performance is boosted by a turbocharger force-feeding cooled denser air for a cleaner, higher energy burn.

Fuel economy is a major reason people buy diesel 4WDs and Terracan CRDi delivers with the manual rated at 10.1 litres/100km and the automatic 10.3.

Cruising in overdrive at 110kph in Terracan CRDi is quiet, with the automatic revving at only 2200rpm and the manual at 2600rpm, both well within the engine's fat and flat maximum torque table with ready acceleration immediately on tap.

The CRDi's performance virtually equates with the petrol powered Terracan but is achieved at lower engine revs.

Top torque of 345 Nm from just 1750 rpm through to 3000rpm and power peaking at 120kW at 3800rpm are the outputs of Terracan CRDi's 2.9 litre, twin-cam, alloy head, 16-valve, four-cylinder diesel.

Cool air is fed to a large intercooler through the CRDi's bonnet scoop.

Heavy-duty fuel and air filters are fitted to CRDi Terracan to guard against the sometimes varying levels of diesel fuel purity in Australia and dust.

The Terracan CRDi model line-up mirrors that for the 3.5 litre petrol V6 models.

Terracan CRDi has been available globally for a couple of years but Hyundai Australia waited until low-sulphur diesel fuel distribution was complete across the country.

CRDi's introduction coincides with a new look for the 2005 model Terracan.

All automatic Terracan models incorporate an extra low gearing hill descent facility which kicks in when low range and first or reverse gear is selected and no throttle applied.

Standard kit includes pollen-filtering air-conditioning, cruise control, alloy wheels including a full-size spare, dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, front seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters, MP3- capable CD/FM/AM audio, remote central locking with alarm/immobilizer, electric windows and mirrors, four 12 volt power outlets and roof rails with integrated carry cross bars.

Terracan Highlander uses full-time on-demand 4WD with Active Torque Transfer and even more standard equipment.