I am interested in buying an SUV to use as an actual utility vehicle. I know most people buy them and put big rims on them. I want one to use for hunting, driving through the mud, etc. Would these fit that role? Does anyone have any links/pics of them actually being used in those situations?

 

look into a nissan.

 

Errr... never really heard of an off-road Santa Fe/Tuscon. Its mainly a soccer mom transportation vehicle. I've driven a Santa Fe, I don't think it would handle the woods very well to say the least. Person that rents a house from my Dad actually blew the engine in the Santa Fe with 12k on it.

Hrm... you don't like trucks? More suited to those situations because they actually have torque. If you must get an SUV, I've had my Mom's Subaru Forester out for fun in the woods a few times. AWD on Subarus own... granted, I never took it through giant mud puddles or climbing rocks... but the suspension handled bumpy fields and little rocks fine...

Get a truck, put a big lift kit and rugged suspension on it and mud tires with a shotgun rack in the back. Then you be a true redneck. smile.gif

 

nissan or jeep. like hamhead said, i think the santa fe/tuscon are very soccer mom orientated

 

well the reason he wouldn't get a truck is, i don't think he'd get rid of the tiburon and this would probally be his wife's car. Plus they have kids. Truck and kids don't mix unless it's 4 door.

 

If gas consumption it's not your concern you could look into a Dodge Ram (I don't live in the US and I don't know about reliability of that truck, but I like that massive front of the Ram).
If it's your second car, it's a good choice, because they are car derived.
I don't think the Tucson or the Santa Fe would have toruble following a Subaru Forester or a Subaru Legacy Outback (bumpy roads I mean, not a cross country race); The Subaru Forester is heavy and not to agile compared to a car, and it has inside noises and rattles (just as in Hyundais laugh.gif: )
If you need to go over really rough roads, climb big hills, and do large portions of the road over sand or mud, you would be better equipped with anything with a transfer case, and not only AWD. However, you pay a price, because those are usually heavy vehicles, not very refined ON the road.

 

Yea, I've never hear of an offroad Tuscan or Santa Fe before..I don't know if plan on modding it or not..if you do, you may want to look into another vehcile that has more aftermarket support.

 

Well, maybe not you guys, but I've seen TONS of Santa Fe's and Tuscon's off road. Everyone does it here in anything.

THey handle just fine, just don't get those huge rims.

There is a perty good aftermarket for Santa Fe's, you just gotta ask.

 

The reasons I was looking into those two are:

[*]Hyundai Vehicles[*]Family can fit in them[*]Owner Loyalty Incentive Rebate $1500-2000[/list]

 

Back to your orginally question,....

Of the 2, if you really want some off roading ability, take the Santa Fe, which is built off of a Truck Chassis, where the Tucson is a raised Elantra.
Mind you, the ESP in the 4WD Tucson is kewl!
For me, I'd personally get the Tucson, cuz I won't be taking anything off road.
But for your hunting and stuff,... get the Santa Fe if those are your only 2 choices