General Motors has positioned the new GMC Terrain as a premium alternative to its corporate cousin, the Chevrolet Equinox. But we don't think it's worth the extra cost.
We found the Terrain lacking in some key areas, such as ride comfort, handling agility, outward visibility, ergonomics, and noise isolation. In fact, the less-expensive Equinox is a more capable and appealing vehicle.
One of the Terrain's major shortcomings is its push-button gear selector. The buttons are mounted low in the center console, which forces the driver to look down and away from the road when making a gear choice. It's distracting to use -- which can be unsafe -- and it makes parking maddening as you have to keep looking down to choose the proper button.
On the road, the Terrain feels dull when negotiating turns because of its vague steering and noticeable body lean, although it proved secure and predictable in our simulated emergency maneuvers. We found the Terrain's ride to be too stiff and uncomfortable, particularly for a premium-positioned (and priced) SUV.
The 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine moves the SUV along smartly, and it's significantly more powerful than the standard 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. But the nine-speed automatic transmission doesn't shift very smoothly or promptly. We got an unimpressive 22 mpg overall with the 2.0-liter engine.
The Terrain's cabin welcomes you with a decidedly low-rent ambience, featuring lots of drab, black, hard plastic.
Rear-seat room is on par for the compact SUV class. The seats are covered in a coarse, not-kind-to-the touch fabric, but they prove to be more comfortable to sit in than they appear to be.
Making matters worse, the Terrain is loud. The engine sounds unrefined, and the elevated wind and road noise create a tiring din inside the cabin.
On the plus side, most of the controls are fairly simple and easy to use. Our Terrain has GM's new infotainment system, which comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. This optional system, however, has small text, requires a long reach to the on-screen presets, and lacks some of the phone functionality we enjoyed in the previous-generation system.
We're disappointed that forward-collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB) are optional on the Terrain. We believe these important safety systems should be standard on every vehicle.
Taken together, the Terrain is not only a mediocre vehicle, it's also overpriced. High-end versions of common SUVs -- such as the Honda CR-V Touring, Toyota RAV4 Platinum, and Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium -- have much nicer cabins and deliver a more rewarding driving experience.