2021 GMC Terrain

The GMC Terrain may be the automaker's smallest vehicle, but it still offers the distinct aggressiveness associated with the brand. Starting at $25,000, it is on the pricier side of the segment, but GMC makes up for this with sumptuous options including the brand's renowned Denali trim, adding a layer of luxury many in the compact crossover segment lack.

On the plus side, the Terrain has a comfortable suspension setup, an equally comfortable interior, decent safety levels, and a modern, frugal powerplant. However, its weak entry-level powertrain, below-par cargo space, and relatively high prices stand in the way of it ever achieving class leadership. Considering how competitive the SUV market is in the USA, does it have what it takes to stand out, especially in a segment made up of competition like the Mazda CX-5 and Acura RDX?

The Terrain SUV is easy to recognize thanks to the inclusion of various GMC design traits. It has a large grille with the famous red GMC logo, and distinctive LED daytime running lights. The base model is equipped with 17-inch painted aluminum wheels. The penultimate SLT upgrades to 18-inch machined alloy wheels, while the top-tier Denali gets aggressive, gloss black 19 inchers. The Denali is also the only model to get LED headlamps. GMC deep-tinted the rear windows to give it a floating roof profile. Chrome side mirror covers and a darkened front grille are available options on most trims, while the Denaly gets the chrome mirror caps and door handles as standard.

The Terrain has an overall length of 182.3 inches and a wheelbase 107.3-inches long. At 72.4 inches wide and 65.4 inches tall, it has similar dimensions to the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 and falls into the same size bracket. The base front-wheel-drive SL has a curb weight of 3,449 pounds, while the SLT with all-wheel-drive weighs roughly 200 lbs more at 3,659 lbs.

As with every other GM product, the only no-cost option is Summit White. On the base SL, you can add either Quicksilver Metallic or Ebony Twilight Metallic at an additional $495. The SLE is available in three more metallic colors: Blue Emerald, Satin Steel, and Graphite Gray. It also gets the choice of Red Quartz Tintcoat, which will cost you $645. The upper-echelon SLT and Denali get access to White Frost Tricoat at $1,095, but the latter has to make do with a much more refined palette of just five colors.

Regardless of trim, the GMC Terrain is now offered only with the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It produces 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is an optional extra on all but the base trim. There is no genuine 4WD, so going off-road isn't really advised. A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard on all models.

By dropping the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, GMC handed the performance advantage to the Terrain's main rivals. Independent tests have shown that it takes a lazy 9.3 seconds to go from 0-60 mph, and it has a tow-rating of only 1,500 lbs. Not the worst in the segment, but far from the best.

There are two reasons why the Terrain fails to provide outstanding performance. The first and most obvious is the weight. A Honda CR-V with a similarly-sized 1.5 turbo engine and FWD, but weighs 112 lbs less than the lightest Terrain. The second culprit is the gearbox, which has a discordant relationship with the engine.

A maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs is possible using only a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. We know this because Honda does it quite effectively in the CR-V. Honda's secret is more power (190 hp) and a CVT transmission that gets the most out of the available power.

In contrast, the nine-speed feels unsure when mated to the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine in the Terrain. It's almost as if the gearbox goes through an existential crisis whenever you ask it to overtake or accelerate from a standing start. The throttle response feels exceptionally delayed, and you have to plan an overtaking maneuver well in advance. You also never quite know what you're going to get. With so many gear ratios, you'd think the gearbox would be able to extract the most out of the small engine, but the opposite is true. It merely ends up hunting, seemingly confused by the sudden power demand from the driver's right foot. The Chevrolet Equinox uses the same engine/gearbox combination and suffers from the same problem. At least it's frugal.

The Terrain's ride and handling characteristics are made clear before you even start the engine. Unlike most compact crossovers and SUVs that give you a gear lever with a manual override, the Terrain has five main buttons mounted below the center console's climate control. The options are park, reverse, neutral, drive, and low. The latter is the manual override, allowing you to toggle up and down the gear ratios via plus and minus buttons. It's awkward, silly, and the answer to a question nobody asked. Like Tesla's square steering wheel, it solves a non-existent problem. If you go for the all-wheel-drive model, you have to engage it manually. Every other competitor vehicle places the car in charge of selecting where the power should be distributed, making sense in this segment. When the front wheels start slipping, the rear axle engages. Easy, simple, and elegant.

Perhaps GMC tried to emulate Rolls Royce's spirit, giving you park, forward, and reverse. At least it suits the nature of the car perfectly, as the Terrain is unashamedly comfort-biased. We could complain about the steering that's devoid of feedback, but the truth is that the Terrain is a lovely, quiet space to spend time. Even with 18-inch rims, the Terrain remains composed and unwilling to let bumps and undulations interfere with the ride.

The upside of the Terrain's small capacity turbocharged engine is impressive fuel consumption figures. According to the EPA, the FWD will consume 25/30/27 mpg city/highway/combined, while the AWD manages 25/28/26 mpg. These mileage figures are impressive, but glancing over to the Honda CR-V's figures, you see what's achievable with a more harmonious engine/gearbox combo. The most efficient CR-V can achieve 28/34/30 mpg.

FWD Terrain models have a 14.9-gallon gas tank, while the AWD gets a 15.6-gallon tank. According to the EPA, the AWD can do 406 miles on a full tank, and the FWD can do 402 miles.

The GMC creates a great first impression. There's plenty of space in the front and rear, and the interior looks rugged and feels premium. Upon closer inspection, some materials are a bit below par, but luckily not on any surface you engage with daily.

Looking at the center console and the available storage space between the passengers, you sort of understand why GMC chose to mount the gearbox drive modes on the center console. Instead of a gear lever, you get a nice storage cubby and two cupholders. Good enough for the gearbox placement to make sense? Try parallel parking or a three-point turn and then answer that question.

The base model is equipped with keyless entry and go, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with six speakers, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and single-zone climate control. Higher up in the range, you get access to power-adjustable front seats and an eight-inch infotainment system with premium sound.

The cabin is wide enough for a three-seater rear bench. In the front, things are even better. Overall, the seats feel on the firm side but offer support in the right places. Driving 500 miles wouldn't be an arduous task. The front legroom is 40.9 inches, while the rear seating provides 39.7 inches. Headroom up front is 40 inches, and rear passengers get 38.5 inches. Adding the sunroof eats around two inches of headroom in both rows.

Seat adjustment is adequate, but only the top-tier models come with power seats. Visibility is poor, however. It's difficult to judge where the front is, while rear visibility is compromised by the dark tining. Thankfully, blind-spot monitoring is standard.

GMC doesn't offer a lot of options when it comes to interior trim. The base SL is only provided with Jet Black premium cloth upholstery. Moving a step up to the SLE, you get one color option, a mix of Ash Gray/Jet Black. Leather trim is standard on the SLT, with color choices including Jet Black, Medium Ash Gray/Jet Black, and Brandy/Jet Black. The top-of-the-range Denali upgrades to perforated leather embossed with the Denali logo. Color options here are Jet Black or Light Platinum/Taupe. GMC's Terrain falls just short of being luxurious, even though every model gets a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The materials do feel rugged, however.

Cargo volume behind the second-row is 29.6 cubic feet. It is reasonable but not as spacious as the Ford Edge's 37.5 cubic feet and the Honda CR-V's massive 39.2 cubes. Fold down the second-row in a 60/40 split, and the trunk space grows to 63.3 cubic feet. The front passenger seat can also fold flat, which is useful for the odd occasion you need to transport something particularly long.

Interior storage is a highlight. The button-operated shifter does free up some usable storage space for front passengers, while door pockets are standard at all four corners.

The GMC's price position has traditionally been a sore topic. Base models don't offer many features as standard, but the inclusion of the Pro Safety package as standard has made a difference. At least as far as safety-minded people are concerned. SL models get single-zone climate control, keyless entry and go, power-adjustable and heated side mirrors, a 3.5-inch driver-information display, and cruise control.

The SLE doesn't cost much more, as it only adds an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a slightly larger 4.2-icnh multi-color information display information screen in the instrument cluster. Crucially, it allows you access to more of the available packages. The SLT trim makes more noticeable changes in the form of leather seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and dual-zone climate control. The range-topping Denali focuses most of its efforts into looking bolder from the outside, but it does add perforated leather upholstery.

All Terrain models are equipped with an intuitive touchscreen infotainment system. SL and SLE models get a seven-inch unit, while the SLT and Denali trims get an eight-inch screen. A six-speaker sound system is standard on all but the Denali, which benefits from the premium seven-speaker Bose sound system.

The basic infotainment suite comprises Bluetooth streaming, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and voice control. You can also create a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot for passengers. Built-in navigation is standard only on the Denali, but this is largely unnecessary thanks to smartphone integration. The added HD Radio is nice, though, if you don't make regular use of phone apps.

No recalls have been issued for 2021, so far. In 2019 it was recalled for insufficient welds on the head restraints and insufficient coating on the rear brake caliper pistons. The recall for missing bolts on the start/stop accumulator carried over from the same year to affect some 2020 models. The 2021 GMC Terrain received an impressive 83 out of a possible 100 points in the J.D. Power ownership survey. Terrain owners were particularly impressed by the dealership experience, which received 87 points.

GMC sells the Terrain with a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. This is pretty standard in the segment, which means you can expect a reasonable degree of reliability from the brand.

The NHTSA's review of the GMC Terrain returned a five-star rating, which is a good start. According to the IIHS, the Terrain is mostly a good car. It received a Good rating in all by the headlights category, which received a far less impressive Poor.

From this year, every model in the lineup comes with the Pro Safety package as standard. It consists of automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, following distance indicator, front pedestrian braking, and IntelliBeam headlamps. The more traditional safety fare includes six airbags, ABS, and traction, and stability control. The Denali gets a little extra as standard, including rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear park assist, lane-change alert, and a safety alert seat. GMC's Pro Safety Plus is available as a $645 optional extra that adds adaptive cruise control, rear park assist, and rear cross-traffic alert, to name just a few.

The Terrain will be the go-to compact crossover for fans of the GMC brand due to the distinctive styling and rugged interior. For everyone else, there are better options available.

The Terrain faces a lot of competition, the least of which comes from within its mothership. Chevrolet's Equinox comes with the same engine/gearbox combo and Chevy Safety Assist, consisting of all the things included as standard on the Terrain. But the base Equinox is also $1,200 less expensive, which matters in this segment.

Spec-for-spec, the Terrain goes up against the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 - two of the most accomplished SUVs on sale in the USA. The Honda is superior in every department, and the Mazda adds excellent ride, handling, and performance, especially if you go the turbocharged route. In short, the Terrain is simply an also-ran - a mediocre offering in a segment not short of accomplished rivals.

The entry-level SL has an MSRP of $25,000, going up to $28,500 for the SLE. The SLT retails for $32,600, while the top-tier GMC Terrain will cost you $35,900. All-wheel-drive is available to all but the SL but adds $1,600 to the bill. The base price of the GMC Terrain does not include the $1,195 destination charge.

For 2021, GMC offers four trim options but only one engine option. The lackluster 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission to send 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque to your choice of the front or all four wheels, except on the base SL.

That said, SL is equipped with single-zone climate control, keyless entry and go, a seven-inch infotainment system, and a six-speaker sound system. It also gets GMC's Pro Safety, which consists of automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, following distance indicator, front pedestrian braking, and IntelliBeam headlamps.

The SLE upgrades the monochrome driver-information display to a 4.2-inch color display and adds an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The main difference between the SLE and the SL is that you can add more optional extras.

From here, the SLT improves comfort significantly, with leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, power-adjustment for the driver's seat, and an eight-inch infotainment system.

The top-tier Denali takes things that little bit further by upgrading to perforated leather upholstery, adding 19-inch alloy wheels and chrome exterior trimmings, as well as HD Radio, navigation, a seven-speaker Bose sound system, and additional safety features such as front and rear park assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane change alert, and a safety alert seat.

There are no packages available for the SL. On the SLE, you can opt for the $1,375 Driver Convenience Package, which adds remote start, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, eight-way power-adjustment for the driver's seat, to name a few. GMC's Infotainment Package ($895) adds the larger touchscreen with navigation, a high-definition rearview camera, and four USB ports, amongst other features. The $695 Pro Safety Plus package includes everything missing from the standard safety features like lane change alert, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a safety alert seat.

The SLT can be ordered with a Dark Accent Package ($1,250), which adds several black accents to the car, while the Infotainment Package II ($1,180) includes a Bose premium sound system and HD radio. Pro Safety Plus can also be added to this model but at a slightly lower $645. As packed with features as the Denali is, there is still room for improvement. The Premium Package ($1,445) adds adaptive cruise control, front-seat ventilation, heated rear seats, automated park assist, and an HD surround-view camera.

Last year, our advice was to go for the SLT with the more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, as it made the Terrain a much easier companion to live with. As this option is no longer available, we have to settle for the 1.5-liter engine. Unfortunately, you're going to feel short-changed no matter what model you opt for.

Since the Terrain competes against some serious metal higher up in the range, the logical conclusion is to buy the entry-level model. With the impressive safety suite and the essential comfort items being standard, it makes the most sense. Any higher than that and the Terrain simply enters a battlefield with one hand tied behind its back.

These two cars are mechanically similar, and both offer lackluster performance. The Equinox is more affordable than the Terrain while providing similar comfort and safety features.

You can see where the additional money was spent. The Chevy's interior is not as luxurious or pleasing to the eye, though both cars fall short of the standard in the segment. GMC's slightly more upmarket interior isn't enough to convince us that it's a better car.

The Chevrolet is the winner thanks to its traditional gear lever and automatic all-wheel-drive, to be brutally honest. By adding a complex solution to a non-existent problem, GMC essentially made the Terrain more challenging to drive daily.

There is some overlap between the upper-trim Terrain models and the SL and SLE trims of the GMC Acadia. The Terrain easily beats the Acadia in terms of standard fare, as the Pro Safety Package is only standard fitment higher up in the Acadia range. In the Acadia's favor, it is more prominent in every direction and comes with a more agreeable 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated with 193 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque. GMC also uses the same nine-speed gearbox, but it does a better job mated to the larger engine.

As for the rest of the car, reviews are pretty much the same. Nice car, but nothing more than average. If size is a primary factor in your decision, the Acadia route is worth investigating.