GMC Terrain

The GMC Terrain is a compact crossover SUV with room for up to five passengers. It’s the smallest sport-ute in the automaker’s lineup, positioned below the midsize Acadia, and it shares a platform and some components with the Chevrolet Equinox, which is built by GMC’s sister brand within General Motors. The Terrain’s most recent (second) generation debuted in 2018, featuring a lighter and more fuel-efficient chassis, revised styling, new engine options, and an updated interior with more advanced features. It also underwent a minor refresh for the 2022 model year. Properly equipped, the Terrain can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

GMC offers the Terrain in a range of trims, including the SL, the SLE, the SLT, and the Denali. The SL is the base model with limited features, while the SLE includes some noteworthy upgrades, such as automatic climate control and keyless entry and ignition. Stepping up to the well-equipped SLT adds niceties such as leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a power liftgate. The Denali is the most luxurious trim, offering advanced safety features, upgraded interior materials, and unique styling.

Prior to its 2018 redesign, the Terrain offered two engine options. The standard engine was a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produced 182 horsepower, while higher-level trims offered a more powerful 3.6-liter V6, generating 301 hp. Both were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Starting in 2018, GMC introduced new powertrains. The base engine became a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, delivering 170 hp, while upper trims got a 2.0-liter unit with 252 hp. The automatic was also upgraded from six to nine speeds. For 2018 and 2019 only, the automaker briefly offered a 1.6-liter turbodiesel with an output of 137 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic. All versions of the Terrain can be equipped with either standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive.

Since 2012, the Terrain has offered a standard 7-inch infotainment touchscreen. Higher trims began offering an upgraded 8-inch unit starting in 2018, which is also the year that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration became standard. Over the years, the automaker has improved the Terrain’s advanced safety features, as well. Blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning have long been available on upper-level trims. In 2018, the automaker added a standard rearview camera, and in 2020, it also made its Pro Safety package standard, adding a suite of driver aids that includes automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams (among other features). The following year, adaptive cruise control was first offered (as part of the Driver Alert Package II) on the Terrain’s upper-level trims.