2019 GMC Terrain

The Terrain is available in 4 trim levels, SL, SLE, SLT, and range-topping Denali trim, out of which the base SL trim is only available with the FWD drivetrain option. The rest of the trim levels are all available with FWD and AWD as drivetrain options and get a range of 3 powertrain units. The standard one being a 1.5-liter turbo-four while the optional engine choices include a 2.0-liter turbo-four and a 1.6-liter turbo-four diesel engine. Prices for the base trim start at $26,195 and go up to $40,695 for the top-end Denali trim.

For approximately twenty-six grand price standard features that are available on the Terrain include 17-inch alloy wheels, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment, keyless entry, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, etc. Other key available features are heated and power-adjustable driver’s seat, panoramic sunroof, navigation system, a power liftgate, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment, etc. 

Trim	SL	SLE	SLT	Denali
MSRP (FWD)	$26,195	$29,295	$32,095	$38,995
MSRP (AWD)	-	$30,995	$33,795	$40,695
Key Features	170 hp, 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine	Adds or upgrades to ‘SL’ trim	Adds or upgrades to ‘SLE’ trim	Adds or upgrades to ‘SLT’ trim
	HID headlamps with LED signature lighting	Release lever for folding the second-row seats	18-inch alloy wheels	252 hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine
	Keyless open and start	Body-color mirror caps	Roof-mounted side rails	Heated steering wheel
	Leather-wrapped steering wheel		Dual-zone automatic climate control	Bose premium sound system
	7-inch GMC infotainment screen		Heated leather-upholstered front seats	Hands-free programmable liftgate
	Apple CarPlay and Android Auto		8-inch GMC infotainment screen	Rear park assist
	Traction select system		Remote start	Rear cross-traffic alert

The 2019 GMC Terrain comes with a couple of optional packages but they are trim-specific mostly. For instance, the Blck Edition Package for $995 is available only on SLE and SLT trim and covers all the exterior bits into gloss black finish, Preferred Package available on SLT that costs $1,250 and adds power-adjustable front seats with memory function and a hands-free liftgate. 

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Comparing the trim levels, the Terrain SLT trim level seems to be an excellent choice to go for in the range as it hosts some of the best creature comforts and features from GMC and is priced at $32,095 for the FWD version and $33,795 for the AWD version. Add to that most of the optional packages get unlocked for the SLT trim so you can equip your Terrain with all the extra features you require but the SLT trim doesn’t offer.

The 2019 GMC Terrain with three powertrain options across the trim levels. The first option is the base engine that is available for all trim levels except the ‘Denali’. The engine is a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 unit producing 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft. of torque. The second engine option is a diesel one available with the ‘SLE’ and the ‘SLT’ trim levels only. The diesel engine is a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 unit that produces 137 horsepower and 240 lb-ft. of torque. The ‘Denali’ trim comes with a powerful yet efficient 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine that produces 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft. of torque.

All these gas-powered powertrain units are mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission while the diesel powertrain comes with a six-speed automatic unit. Either of the units works seamlessly to provide really good power and torque output throughout the rev range and a smooth-shifting experience. All the trim levels except for the base ‘SL’ trim also get an AWD drivetrain unit for some extra grip and better drive quality.

The base Terrain SL does 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds and covers the quarter-mile in 15.4 seconds which makes the Terrain one of the quickest SUVs in the segment. It has a top speed of 120 mph that seems good for a car of its size and segment.

Models	2019 GMC Terrain	2019 Chevrolet Equinox	2019 Honda CR-V	2019 Toyota RAV4
MSRP	$26,195	$24,795	$25,395	$26,595
Engine	1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4	1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4	2.4-liter inline-4	2.5-liter inline-4
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD	FWD	FWD
Transmission	9-Speed Automatic	6-Speed Automatic	CVT	8-Speed Automatic
Power (hp @ RPM	170 hp @ 5,600 RPM	170 hp @ 5,600 RPM	184 hp @ 6,400 RPM	203 hp @ 6,600 RPM
Torque (lb-ft @ RPM)	203 lb-ft. @ 2,000 RPM	203 lb-ft. @ 2,000 RPM	180 lb-ft. @ 3,900 RPM	184 lb-ft. @ 5,000 RPM
0-60 MPH (seconds)	6.8 sec	8.7 sec	7.6 sec	7.8 sec
Quarter-Mile (seconds)	15.4 sec	16.7 sec	16.0 sec	16.4 sec
Top-Speed (MPH)	120 MPH	120 MPH	120 MPH	130 MPH

The GMC Terrain and Chevrolet Equinox share the same engine configuration being a part of the same parent company. Although the GMC Terrain is quicker than the Equinox in both the 0-60 mph run and quarter-mile run. The other two rivals i.e. Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 come with a naturally aspirated four-pot engine and the RAV4 puts out the highest power figures among all. Still, it was a full second slower than the Terrain in each 0-60 mph run and quarter-mile run. 

Ride and Handling

The ride quality of the Terrain certainly isn’t on the sporty side as it lacks the cornering confidence and feedback in a corner. The soft-sprung suspension system proves to be a relief when going through a bad stretch of road but doesn’t help when you are trying to push the car for some excitement. The suspension seems to be set up by keeping the comfort factor in mind and hence offers a very bland driving experience.

As for the handling, we are happy to state that the body roll is well controlled and the steering does weigh up well with speed. The steering feedback is accurate and there is no need for constant correction while on the freeways. But sadly the softer suspension setup doesn’t complement the adept steering setup.

Braking Performance

The braking has mediocre levels of feedback and bite. We certainly feel that it could have been better. The stopping distance of 130 feet tells us that the brakes certainly could have been better because the Terrain has the heaviest curb weight of 3,449 lbs it needs better stopping power.

The front rotors are 11.8-inches in diameter while the rear ones measure 11.3-inches. The braking system gets electronic assists such as the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and Traction Control System to give a safe braking experience under panic braking circumstances or when there is a loss of traction between the tires and the surface.

Models	2019 GMC Terrain	2019 Chevrolet Equinox	2019 Honda CR-V	2019 Toyota RAV4
Brake Rotors: Front (inches)	11.8	11.8	11.1	12.0
Brake Rotors: Rear (inches)	11.3	11.0	10.2	11.1
Curb Weight (lbs)	3,449	3,325	3,307	3,370
60-0 (feet)	130	121	129	131

Among the rivals, the lightest Honda CR-V manages to brake from 60-0 mph in an above-average 129 feet distance. While it is the Chevrolet Equinox that manages to brake in the shortest distance of 121 feet from 60-0 mph. Compared to these figures the Terrain took almost 9 feet more and 1 foot more compared to the Equinox and the CR-V. 

The 2019 GMC Terrain offers a mediocre fuel economy with its base gasoline engine. The EPA estimates that the Terrain powered by the turbo-four will return a gas mileage of 26 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined. Honestly, these figures are not the best in the segment, and cars with bigger engines return better gas mileage.

The Terrain gets a 14.9-gallon fuel tank capacity which despite being the largest in the segment, doesn’t help to get the best range out of the powertrain unit due to the comparatively lower fuel economy figures. The combined range offered by the Terrain is around 417 miles from a tankful of gas.

Models	2019 GMC Terrain	2019 Chevrolet Equinox	2019 Honda CR-V	2019 Toyota RAV4
MPG (City)	26	26	26	26
MPG (Highway)	30	32	32	35
MPG (Combined)	28	28	28	30
Fuel Capacity (Gallons)	14.9	14.9	14.0	14.5
Range (City/Highway/Combined, in Miles)	387/ 447/ 417	387/ 477/ 417	364/ 448/ 392	377/ 508/ 435

When it comes to fuel economy, the 2019 Toyota RAV4 proves to be a clear winner in the segment with fuel economy figures of 26/35/30 mpg in city/highway/combined respectively and offers a combined fuel range of 435 miles. Compared to that the Terrain offers 5 mpg less on the highway and 2 mpg less combined.

When it comes to the interior features and creature comforts, the base ‘SL’ trim level doesn’t offer much apart from some basic features. The Denali trim, on the other hand, offers a lot more of the modern interior features and creature comforts that make the Terrain a comfortable and interesting car to be in. So it is not wrong to say that until you pay the top dollars the cabin quality and experience would be subpar in the Terrain.

Inside the cabin, the dashboard layout has a very bland approach when it comes to the design point of view. There isn’t much that aesthetically appeals or seems different when compared to the rest of the rivals. The dashboard hosts an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display and hence has a minimalistic approach towards buttons and knobs.

The higher trims get front seats that have heating and ventilation features and have 8-way power adjustability. The seats are adorned in leather upholstery which makes the interior both aesthetically appealing and comfortable. They also have power lumbar support as a feature and get an armrest in the center console.

The rear seats are 60/40 split-bench seats with an armrest in the center. There is an adequate amount of legroom and space in the second row for a car of its caliber. The air conditioning unit is a dual-zone automatic climate control unit that ensures decent airflow around the cabin.

The trunk capacity certainly is on the lower side compared to most of its rivals at just 29.6 cubic feet of volume. This makes the Terrain one of the least practical and appealing cars when it comes to trunk capacity.

Models	2019 GMC Terrain	2019 Chevrolet Equinox	2019 Honda CR-V	2019 Toyota RAV4
Seating Capacity	5	5	5	5
Front Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)	40 / 57.2 / 40.9	40.0 / 57.2 / 40.9	40.1 / 57.9 / 41.3	39.5 / 57.8 / 41.0
Rear Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)	38.5 / 55.6 / 39.7	38.5 / 55.5 / 39.7	39.2 / 55.6 / 40.4	39.5 / 56.4 / 37.8
Trunk Capacity (cubic feet)	29.6	29.9	39.2	37.6

The GMC Terrain and Chevrolet Equinox have a lot in common with the interior space and cargo capacity both secure the very last place in this comparison. The Honda CR-V is the most spacious crossover SUV among all with a good amount of space in both rows. Even the cargo capacity of the CR-V that stands at 39.2 cubic feet is the highest among the segment and is approximately 10 cubic feet bigger than Equinox’s cargo space.

Some of the noteworthy interior features are listed below:

• Keyless remote entry
• Power liftgate
• Dual-tone design layout
• Power-adjustable front seats
• Memory function for front seats (available)
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Heated front seats (available)
• Heated steering wheel (available)

How intuitive is the car’s infotainment unit?

The 2019 GMC Terrain offers a good amount of infotainment features throughout its trim levels. Except for the ‘Denali’ trim, the rest of the trims get a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display unit that is both responsive and easy to use. The ‘Denali’ trim on the other hand gets a larger 8-inch touchscreen infotainment screen.

The sound system offered in the ‘Denali’ trim is a Bose Surround Sound System with 7 speakers. The infotainment system also includes features such as SiriusXM satellite radio and voice-activated features. While as standard you get a six-speaker sound system.

When it comes to connectivity features, the Terrain boasts features such as Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay as standard. It also offers a 4G WiFi internet access hotspot.

Some of the noteworthy infotainment features are listed below:

• GMC infotainment system w/ voice command 
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• BOSE surround sound system
• Speed sensitive volume control
• AM/FM radio
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• 8-inch touchscreen 

The GMC Terrain has a tall and muscular presence on the road when compared to the rest of the rivals. The tall hood, large grille, and the red ‘GMC’ logo on the front grille paired with the beautiful set of LED daytime running lights and boomerang-shaped headlights lend the Terrain a very intriguing presence on the road. The side profile is without any flair but comes to the rear and the same design language like the front fascia is carried over here. You get a C-shaped taillight rear bumper with black cladding to reduce the visual bulk and give it a tough and rugged appearance.

Models	2019 GMC Terrain	2019 Chevrolet Equinox	2019 Honda CR-V	2019 Toyota RAV4
Curb Weight (lb)	3,449	3,325	3,307	3,370
Length (inches)	182.3	183.1	180.6	180.9
Width (inches)	72.4	72.6	73.0	73.0
Height (inches)	65.4	65.4	66.1	67.0
Ground Clearance (inches)	6.9	N / A	7.8	8.4
Wheelbase (inches)	107.3	107.3	104.7	105.9

The GMC Terrain comes with the longest 107.3-inch wheelbase and that might seem like a lot when compared to its rivals, but the amount of wheelbase doesn’t translate into better cabin space. However, it is surprising how Honda has managed to offer the best in class interior and trunk capacity despite the CR-V's 104.7-inch wheelbase which is the lowest in the segment.

Some of the noteworthy exterior features of the are listed below:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• LED daytime running lamps
• LED headlights and taillamps
• Roof-mounted side rails
• 19-inch alloy wheels (available)
• Automatic on/off headlamps
• Gloss black exterior elements (available)

The GMC Terrain is the safest car in the segment which explains the quality of the bodywork and chassis as well as the number of safety features and aids onboard the Terrain. It has received an overall safety rating of 5 stars as per the NHTSA records and has similar ratings from the IIHS as well. Apart from the basic safety features like Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Traction Control, and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), the Terrain boasts some of the latest safety aids in its class such as a Blind-spot warning system, Rear vision camera, Rear Parking Assist, Lane Keep Assist, and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. Although the Terrain lacks good quality headlights and for the same reason it got the lowest rating of ‘Poor’ for its headlights by IIHS.

Some of the standout safety features are listed below:

• Blind-Spot Warning
• Lane Keeping Assist 
• Child Seat Anchors
• Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags
• Front Fog/Driving Lights
• Tire Pressure Monitoring
• Rear Park Assist
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

2019 GMC Terrain vs. 2019 Chevrolet Equinox

The GMC Terrain and Chevrolet Equinox are pretty much the same cars concerning the platform and the host of features and components that are in them. As products of brand badging from General Motors, they come close to each other in many criteria and the decision to choose between them only depends upon the customer’s budget and the aesthetic features that they expect from their cars. Other than this the only major difference between the two is that the Terrain is quicker than the Equinox while the eQuinox has better braking power and highway fuel economy compared to the Terrain.

2019 GMC Terrain vs. 2019 Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is certainly one of the best cars in the segment and a very serious competitor to the Terrain on so many levels. It offers better interior and exterior features along with the best in class interior and trunk capacity that makes it a perfect SUV for small households who need an SUV for their daily needs. The Terrain except for its faster 0-60 mph timing has nothing else to offer that can help it beat the CR-V. No doubt the CR-V remains a top seller in this segment.

2019 GMC Terrain vs. 2019 Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 might seem to be an underpowered car in the segment, but it's nimble, the drive quality is great, and its handling combined with the best in class ground clearance makes it a much better SUV overall. Add to that it has a spacious cabin and more cargo capacity compared to the Terrain making it a better alternative for people who wish to go for some off-road expeditions with their family SUV. The Terrain might be a better option for people who wish to have some extra comfort and standard features in an SUV.

To buy or not buy the GMC Terrain all depends upon the expectations that one has from an affordable midsize SUV. The Terrain is one of the safest and spacious options in the segment and packs a decent amount of grunt and a host of optional extras and trim levels to choose from depending upon your budget and needs.

However, it certainly lacks the handling and driving experience from a driver’s point of view and has the lowest trunk capacity in the segment. These criteria are fulfilled by some of its rivals like the Honda CR-V at almost the same budget which makes buying the 2019 GMC Terrain a personal choice rather than a rational choice.