Hankook Survey: Most Americans Prefer Gas Engines Over EVs for Off-Road Trips

Americans are feeling adventurous this summer, with many drivers eager to escape civilization and hit the trail. However, according to a new study reported by Carscoops, the overwhelming majority of motorists still prefer conventional gas-powered vehicles over electric alternatives when heading off-road.

Hankook Tire’s latest Gauge Index survey revealed that 64 percent of respondents are interested in taking an all-terrain or off-road driving adventure this year. That represents a notable jump from last year's survey, which showed just 34 percent interest. However, Carscoops notes a key distinction between the two datasets: last year's figure did not measure people planning an off-road trip, but rather counted respondents who selected "off-roading proficiency" as the top recreational driving skill they wanted to learn.

Generational Interest and Vehicle Preferences

Interest in off-roading spans multiple age groups, though younger drivers lead the charge. According to the Hankook survey, 74 percent of Gen Z and 72 percent of Millennials want to take an off-road trip this year. Older demographics are also looking to get outdoors, including 57 percent of Gen X drivers and 42 percent of Baby Boomers.

When it comes to choosing the right rig for the trail, most drivers lean toward traditional body styles:

• SUVs: 52 percent of respondents believe an SUV is the best vehicle for an off-road trip.
• Pickup Trucks: 36 percent of respondents favor a pickup truck for off-roading.

Internal Combustion Still Rules the Trail

Despite the rise of electric utility vehicles, survey participants showed a clear preference for internal combustion engines over electric powertrains. Carscoops reports that 79 percent of respondents would choose a gas-powered SUV over an electric one. That anti-EV sentiment is even stronger among truck enthusiasts, with 87 percent of pickup drivers preferring an internal combustion engine model over an EV for off-road duty.

Tame Trails Over Extreme Rock Crawling

For most respondents, an off-road adventure doesn't mean tackling extreme obstacles like the rocks at Moab. The study indicates that most drivers prefer tamer terrain:

• 45 percent plan to take a trip along wooded trails.
• 17 percent prefer exploring a desert.

While these figures suggest a surging interest in trail driving, Carscoops points out that the survey polled a relatively small sample size. Hankook quizzed 1,000 randomly selected American drivers aged 18 and older for the study.