2022 GMC Terrain

The soft-roader market is hot right now, and GMC is perfectly poised to slip into it with the already aptly named Terrain. For 2022, the compact crossover has been given a refresh, and that includes a rugged AT4 trim - as in All-Terrain all-wheel drive. So far, our general critique of the Terrain is that it's a perfectly fine crossover that prices itself out of being competitive. That's still our understanding, and the engine with just 170 horsepower and a dated-looking backbone to the interior doesn't help. The question we have here is: Does the AT4 change any of that, and can we crown the GMC Terrain AT4 as the benchmark for the small adventure-ready premium compact crossover? That's a lot of words to describe a niche, so you know it's going to be a small one and the Terrain AT4, starting at $34,000, has the luxury of being the only contender for now. The GMC Terrain has the tough task of holding its own against less expensive leaders like the Bronco Sport, which comes with all-wheel drive and terrain modes as standard. That's despite the Ford's starting price of just $28,265.

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For a crossover with a 1.5-liter engine, the GMC Terrain has a chunky truck-like front end with a long overhang. A long overhang doesn't bode well for approach and departure angles off-road, though. The AT4 has unique trim highlights and includes a front skid plate and new 17-inch wheels. Exterior updates for 2022 include a handsome new grille and fascia design, and sharp-looking new LED headlamps and taillamps. Three new paint options have been added to the range: Marine Metallic, Cayenne Red Metallic, and the fashionably colored Desert Sand Metallic for the AT4 only.

Economy-wise, we got a welcome indicated 33 mpg during our week with the GMC Terrain. The 1.5-liter turbocharged engine is the sole source of power in the range now, but despite its disappointing 170 horsepower, it generates but a more reasonable 203 lb-ft of torque. It has the numbers and the performance of an economical engine. The problem is that it has economy car performance for a $34,000 crossover with an AT4 badge. Where most modern small cars minimize lag from the turbochargers spooling up, GM hasn't here. The Terrain's 0-60 mph time is around the nine-second mark, but a second or so of time comes from just getting off the line - once the turbo comes on tap, the engine pulls strongly enough to hurry up to freeway speed on an entry ramp.

The Terrain's nine-speed transmission diligently keeps itself in the most economical gear for the speed on the tarmac, which would be fine, but it's fussy enough that the transmission will happily switch gear mid-corner and shifts are on the slow side. Off-road, that becomes a problem because you'll slowly squeeze the throttle to get through an obstacle, but you have to be careful because the power then builds quickly. If you're not careful, it's either wheelspin or suddenly accelerating out the other side of the obstacle.

The general definition of a crossover is a utility vehicle that drives like a car. That's why it's both disconcerting and fun at first that the GMC Terrain feels like a truck to drive. Part of the reason is the driving position and view of the hood and that the Terrain is a little higher-riding than most crossovers we've driven. There's also a feeling of weight that isn't helped by the lack of pep off the line from the engine. It's also more inclined to feel light on the front in corners or on loose dirt, making it feel like a front-wheel-drive truck, which is even more disconcerting and takes some getting used to. That truck-like experience also stems from the suspension and is likely deliberate, but the suspension transmits rough road surfaces into the seats that your average crossover dulls out considerably. That's not to say it's uncomfortable, but it's not a premium experience.

Now, as the name Terrain suggests, the crossover is geared toward going off-road, and our tester is specifically the AT4 model. You're probably thinking the suspension would show its true colors off-road. The thought crossed our minds as well, so we headed onto some dirt trails to see how it handled getting off the tarmac. On hard-packed dirt, the suspension is fine in comfort terms, even when you pick up the pace. On bumpy ground where the "slow as possible, as fast as necessary" rule of off-roading kicks in, that little extra ground clearance counts, as does the addition of a front skid plate. In reality, though, our Terrain AT4 tester and its all-wheel-drive system didn't give us the confidence off-road of, for example, a Bronco Sport of Subaru Outback Wilderness. The transmission and turbo lag doesn't help the Terrain's off-road credibility either.

Interior space in the GMC Terrain is fine for a compact crossover. Kids will be happy in the back, and teenagers will mostly be fine, but tall adults wouldn't want to be back there for too long. In the front of the cabin, the seats are noteworthy for their comfort, but while the driver has enough motorized adjustability to find the right driving position, the front passenger has to use a mix of buttons and manual adjustments to find the ideal seating position. The materials for the seats, steering wheel, and door inserts look and feel good and are the highlight of the interior. The button shift selector is fine and frees up space on the center console, the gauge display is nice and clear, and the space above the glovebox that will take and hold a large phone is useful. There's a bit of a clash, though, as the rest of the interior feels dated with its plastics, shapes, and interface displayed on the small set-back infotainment screen. The worst offender that feels cheap on the AT4 is the plastic flip-up screen for the head-up display. It works quite well but feels tacked on and looks like a half-measure.

While the eight-inch touchscreen is on the small size and the interface is basic, it's smooth, fast, and intuitive. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard alongside a Wi-Fi hotspot, as is a six-speaker audio system. For $1,180, you can upgrade to an infotainment package that includes navigation and a seven-speaker Bose sound system. The head-up display equipped to our tester is another option.

Safety and driver assistance are also strong from standard, and all models get GMC's Pro Safety package that includes automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, lane-keep assist with lane departure warning, following distance indicator, front pedestrian braking, and IntelliBeam headlamps. Upgrading to the Pro Safety Plus package adds adaptive cruise control, rear park assist, and rear cross-traffic alert, among others. Also available is an HD surround-view system.

We genuinely wanted to like the GMC Terrain and in particular, the AT4 version. However, the interior feels like an economy car that has had a quick makeover, the ride isn't premium quality, the engine is underpowered and laggy, and the transmission is trying too hard to err on the side of economy. None of these issues can be remedied via the options list and hold the Terrain back from others in the segment.

If you want a premium feel, good driving dynamics, and a smooth ride, something like Mazda's CX-5 would be a better bet and with a more cohesive premium-feeling interior. If you want something to drive daily, then take on adventures that include dirt tracks, rough ground, and slippery conditions; there's a plethora of less expensive but better-performing options than the Terrain AT4. We know GMC can bring off-road chops to a vehicle, but the Terrain feels like it rushed its homework and then handed it in late. This should be a vehicle that brings the ability of the Ford Bronco Sport or any Subaru designed to go off the beaten track but with a more upmarket driving experience. The tech is great, but for $34,000, we expect more than different tires, an extra mode, a skid plate, and some AT4 badging.