A new study has revealed that Americans are feeling adventurous this summer, eager to get away from civilization and enjoy some off-roading. Of those surveyed, the overwhelming majority would take a combustion-powered vehicle over an EV.
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Hankook Tire’s latest Gauge Index survey found that 64 percent of respondents are interested in taking an all-terrain or off-road driving adventure this year. That’s a huge jump from the 34 percent who expressed interest in doing the same last year.
But, as is often the case with studies like these, there’s more than meets the eye. Last year’s survey asked a different question. The 34 percent figure didn’t measure people planning an off-road adventure at all; it counted respondents who named “off-roading proficiency” as the top recreational driving skill they wanted to learn.
74 percent of Gen Z and 72 percent of Millennials want to take an off-road trip this year. However, it’s not just younger folk who want to make the most out of summer, as 57 percent of Gen X drivers and 42 percent of Baby Boomers want to do the same.
ICEs Rule Over EVs
The study also sheds light on what types of vehicles motorists think are best for these trips. 52 percent believe an SUV is best, while 36 percent would go with a pickup truck. Unsurprisingly, most people still favor combustion engines over EVs, with 79 percent preferring a gas-powered SUV over an electric one, while 87 percent of pickup drivers would take an ICE model over an EV.
It appears most of those interested in an off-road experience want something tame, rather than climbing over rocks at Moab. As such, 45 percent said they plan to take a trip along wooded trails while just 17 percent would prefer exploring a desert.
Of course, it’s worth noting that this study, just like so many others you read about, only polled a small group of people. In fact, Hankook quizzed just 1,000 randomly selected American drivers aged 18 and older. So, if you’re someone who has no interest in off-roading, you can rest easy knowing millions of others feel the same.