Hankook Survey Finds Growing Interest in Off-Road Driving
Top Takeaways
- Nearly two-thirds of U.S. drivers are interested in off-road trips, with interest highest among younger generations like Gen Z and millennials.
- Over half of respondents prefer SUVs for off-road adventures, with gas-powered models dominating vehicle choices across categories.
- Traction across varying surfaces is the top priority for off-road tires, followed by durability and terrain performance.
Nearly two-thirds of U.S. drivers are interested in taking an all-terrain or off-road driving trip, according to the latest Hankook Tire Gauge Index.
The survey found that 64% of drivers expressed interest in an off-road adventure, up from 34% in Hankook’s previous-year survey.
Interest was highest among younger drivers. Seventy-four percent of Gen Z respondents and 72% of millennials said they were interested in off-road driving, compared with 57% of Gen X drivers and 42% of baby boomers.
Wooded trails were the preferred off-road environment among 45% of respondents, followed by desert terrain at 17%.
Gen X drivers and baby boomers showed the strongest preference for wooded trails, at 50% and 49%, respectively. Thirty-nine percent of Gen Z respondents and 43% of millennials selected wooded trails.
Younger respondents were more likely to prefer desert driving. Twenty percent of Gen Z drivers and 21% of millennials selected desert terrain, compared with smaller shares of older respondents.
The survey also asked drivers which vehicle they would prefer for an off-road trip. Fifty-two percent selected an SUV, while 36% chose a pickup truck.
Gas-powered vehicles were preferred across each vehicle category. Seventy-nine percent of respondents who selected an SUV preferred a gas-powered model, while 87% of those who chose a pickup truck preferred gasoline power.
Among respondents who selected a sedan, 69% preferred a gas-powered vehicle instead of an electric model.
Tire traction was the most important off-road tire characteristic cited by respondents. Forty-two percent said traction across varying surfaces was their top priority. Durability and performance on rough terrain also influenced how drivers evaluated off-road tires.
Hankook says the findings are helping inform the continued development of its Dynapro line of SUV and light truck tires.
The Hankook Gauge Index has surveyed Americans about driving behavior and automotive trends since 2014.
The latest survey was conducted June 5-8 and included 1,000 randomly selected U.S. drivers age 18 and older.