Larger than its key rivals and assembled in Ontario, the Terrain isn’t just GMC’s most popular SUV, it’s the brand second-most-popular vehicle. Twin to the Chevy Equinox, it offers bolder, boxier styling, and plenty of interior and cargo space.
For 2016, the Terrain gets updated styling. A new power-dome hood, redesigned grille, and brand new bumper with available LED accents and C-shaped chrome outline give it an imposing look. It’s no curvier than before, though, which should appeal to those who believe crossovers should have an upright and square appearance. New 18- and 19-inch alloy wheel designs also join the range, and there are two new colours too: White Frost and Crimson Red.
Inside, the Terrain gets a restyled centre console that offers more storage space, and revised controls. New fabric and leather choices are available, as are new interior colour schemes. GMC has also doubled down on active safety gear: blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are now available on all trims except for the base SLE-1. Forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, and rear park assist are available on most trims.
Pitched as an upmarket offering, the Terrain comes standard with a touchscreen 7.0-inch stereo, USB port, ambient lighting, heated cloth seats, and remote start, with the range-topping Denali boasting power front seats, leather trim, illuminated sill plates and plenty of chrome trim. Terrains feature Siri Eyes Free and Android voice recognition, but not Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Regardless of trim, all Terrains receive the MultiFlex sliding and folding rear seat bench which can be moved nearly 200 mm fore or aft to maximize cargo space or rear-seat legroom. Up to 895 L of trunk space is available with the rear seats up, and 1810 L with the seats folded.
The Terrain’s base engine is a direct-injected 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, which produces 182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque. A 301-hp, 272 lb-ft of torque 3.6L V6 is also available. Both drive through a six-speed automatic, and both can be had with front- or all-wheel drive. The most fuel-efficient variants (I-4 FWD) clock in at 10.5 L/100 km city, 7.3 L/100 km, with the punchy V6-AWD combo consuming 14.9 L/100 km city, and 10.1 L/100 km highway.
The 2016 GMC Terrain SLE-1 FWD starts at $28,590. The Terrain Denali AWD sells for $42,740.
