2019 GMC Terrain Road Test and Review

1 2019 GMC Terrain front three quarter ・ Photo by Brady Holt

America’s three best-selling compact crossovers have a lot in common. The Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue all offer extra-spacious cargo holds, and their engines prioritize maximum fuel efficiency over speedy acceleration or hushed quietness. Right behind these models, though, is the Chevrolet Equinox. While less roomy and more expensive, it dials up the power, refinement, and overall sense of luxury — combining the upscale ambiance of a mid-size crossover with the maneuverability of a compact.

If that sounds appealing but you want your crossover to stand out more from the crowd, General Motors has a second option: the GMC Terrain, a more distinctively styled variant of the Equinox. Fully redesigned last year, the 2019 Terrain combines the chunky cues from GMC’s trucks with some trendy touches of contemporary crossovers. If this sounds like the right crossover for you, keep reading to get all the details.

Pricing

The Terrain starts at $25,995 for the SL with front-wheel drive. The generous standard equipment includes a 7-inch infotainment system, four USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, a six-speaker sound system, a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels, and a smart-key system with push-button start. However, to get more features — including power-adjustable seats, a sunroof, a power liftgate, all-wheel drive, or other engine options — you need to step up to the SLE. Its base price rises to $29,095, and the features mentioned above still cost extra.

Next up, the $31,895 SLT brings heated leather seats and chrome grille decorations along with some standard equipment that’s optional on the SLE, such as a power driver’s seat, a larger 8-inch infotainment system, 18-inch wheels, and automatic climate control. The top Denali ($38,795) has a more powerful engine as standard equipment, along with unique cosmetic upgrades and several features that are optional on the SLT. These include navigation, a heated steering wheel, a power passenger seat, and a seven-speaker Bose audio system.

Photo by Brady Holt

Distinctive Exterior

To match the GMC brand's image of work-ready toughness, the last-generation Terrain was all about square shapes and bulging fenders. The current model instead takes a stylistic middle ground between a heavy-duty truck and a flashy luxury car. The Terrain’s front end remains squared off vertically, but the details — including its distinctive crescent-shaped headlights and taillights — throw in some curves. A  slim slit of a side window also creates the trendy “floating roof” look that is also seen on the Nissan Murano and Lexus RX.

The Terrain doesn’t look like a sports car on stilts like many of today’s luxury models, and yet it doesn’t look like an old-school throwback either. Not everyone will love the result, but others will find it a perfect fit. The same applies to the Black Edition appearance package on our tested Terrain, which is new for this year; it strips away shiny chrome in favor of sinister black.

Photo by Brady Holt

Well-Finished Interior

Inside, the 2019 Terrain isn’t as unusual as its exterior. The symmetrical dashboard layout incorporates straightforward, user-friendly controls for the climate and infotainment systems. The latter includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration at every trim level, a generous touch. The Terrain’s interior is well-finished with respectable materials; it’s not going to challenge an Audi or Mercedes-Benz, but it’s upscale of the compact crossover norm.

The one unique feature of the Terrain’s interior is its push-button gear selector. Some critics have called it an unnecessary gimmick with a steep learning curve. We found it easy enough to use, and we appreciated that it selects Park automatically when you switch off the engine. The push-button system also frees up storage space on the center console.

Photo by Brady Holt

Comfortable and Spacious

We mentioned that the Terrain isn’t the roomiest compact crossover you can buy. But that doesn’t mean it’s not still spacious and comfortable inside. The Terrain easily fits five adults, just with less stretch-out space in the rear seat than you’d find in a CR-V. Some drivers might even prefer the Terrain's slightly cozier cabin, feeling like they’re piloting a more compact vehicle.

The Terrain has 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 63.3 cubic feet when it’s folded flat. That’s still a useful amount of room, and the cargo hold is well-shaped to maximize that space. The rear seat folds perfectly flat using convenient handles in the cargo hold, and even the front passenger seat can fold flat to haul long items. But a CR-V, RAV4, and Rogue have much more room: about 20 percent more total capacity and over 30 percent more behind the rear seat.

Photo by Brady Holt

Refined Driving Dynamics

The Terrain has a solid, substantial feel on the highway that makes it feel upscale of its mainstream-brand competitors. Smooth and quiet, it tackles long drives with ease. It’s not overtly sporty, but the steering feels more direct than many crossovers; some competitors have more vague responses to steering inputs.

The Terrain’s base 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, standard on all but the Denali model, features 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. While it’s not especially quick, the engine remains so smooth and quiet that you won’t easily notice. Our test vehicle included a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which is optional on the SLE and SLT and standard on the Denali. With 252 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, it provides some extra zip. It also boosts towing capacity to 3,500 pounds, up from 1,500 pounds with the base engine. There’s also a 1.6-liter four-cylinder diesel engine, optional on the SLE and SLT, with just 137 horsepower but a hearty 240 lb-ft of torque. Its towing capacity also maxes out at 1,500 pounds.

Photo by Brady Holt

Diversity of Engine Options

The Terrain’s unusually wide selection of engines lets you choose among competing priorities of performance, fuel efficiency, and value. The base 1.5-liter engine is the thriftiest and the most affordable, with EPA ratings of 26 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg in mixed driving with front-wheel drive or 2 mpg less with all-wheel drive. The 1.5-liter uses regular-grade fuel. Overall, this engine’s efficiency is competitive with other compact crossovers but not a class standout.

The 2.0-liter turbo and the 1.6-liter diesel are both more expensive than the 1.5-liter — about $1,500 and $3,000 extra, respectively. The 2.0-liter provides strong acceleration but uses some extra fuel. Efficiency drops to 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined with FWD and 21 city/26 highway/23 combined with all-wheel drive, on premium fuel. Meanwhile, the diesel gets an excellent 28 mpg city/39 mpg highway/32 mpg overall with FWD and 1 mpg less on the highway with AWD. That’s better highway mileage than any competing compact crossover.

Photo by Brady Holt

Strong Safety Scores

The Terrain earned the top score of Good in every Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash test, along with the highest rating of Superior for front-crash prevention technology. Only low marks for its headlights kept it from the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation. The Terrain also earned the maximum five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For 2019, the Terrain is available with a full complement of crash-avoidance features: a forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot monitoring system with a rear cross-traffic alert, and a lane-departure warning with automatic steering assistance. New features this year include forward pedestrian detection and radar-based cruise control. The Terrain also offers GM’s “Safety Seat,” which alerts the driver to obstacles by vibrating the seat cushions. However, some of that technology is restricted to the pricey SLT and Denali trims, whereas some competitors offer them as standard equipment.

Photo by Brady Holt

The Competition

The GMC Terrain is sized like a compact crossover, but it tends to cost more than other popular models of that size. The good news is that it matches larger mid-size models for its upscale-feeling refinement and the acceleration of its optional 2.0-liter engine.

This combination of qualities puts the Terrain in an appealing segment of the market, along with the less spacious but more off-road-ready Jeep Cherokee and the roomier but less fuel-efficient Hyundai Santa Fe. These models are appealing if you’re shopping a Honda CR-V or Nissan Rogue but want something fancier or with more character. The Terrain could also be a great fit if you like the luxury of a Ford Edge or Nissan Murano but want something smaller. In its top Denali trim, it could also be a less expensive, more utility-focused alternative to an entry-luxury crossover like the Lexus NX or Infiniti QX50. Also check out the Chevrolet Equinox, the Terrain’s cousin, to see if you prefer the Chevy’s more restrained styling or its conventional gear selector.

Photo by Brady Holt

A Worthy Option

Overall, the Terrain is a compact crossover whose appeal can extend beyond the typical boundaries of its class. Comfortable and refined, with a fine selection of engines and head-turning styling, the Terrain brings upscale touches to its segment.

Watch out for prices to rise as you add features, especially if you want all the best safety gear. But if you’re comfortable with the costs, the 2019 GMC Terrain promises to be a comfortable fit in your life.

Photo by Brady Holt