2021 GMC Terrain Review

　　

2021 GMC Terrain Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　For 2021, the GMC Terrain carries over with a single but notable change: Its optional 252-horsepower turbocharged engine has been discontinued. That means the Terrain has just one engine option for 2021: an underwhelming 170-horsepower base four-cylinder. Otherwise, the Terrain carries on much as it has since this latest generation debuted a few years ago. This is GMC's small SUV that's mechanically related to the Chevrolet Equinox. Besides its styling and slightly more upscale interior, the Terrain is pretty similar to its less expensive corporate sibling.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 GMC Terrain SL 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$137/mo  for Terrain SL

　　Terrain SL

　　SL 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $25,000 MSRPSLE 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A) (Most Popular) - $28,500 MSRPSLE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $30,100 MSRPSLT 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $32,600 MSRPSLT 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $34,200 MSRPDenali 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $35,900 MSRPDenali 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $37,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　We like the Terrain's comfortable front seats, but almost every mainstream automaker offers a small SUV, and many of them are more compelling than the Terrain. During your shopping search we also recommend checking out the Honda CR-V (zzdcar' top-rated small SUV), the sporty Mazda CX-5 and the upscale new Nissan Rogue. Read our Expert Rating to get our in-depth take on what the Terrain has to offer.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　6.5

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.0/10

　　How does the Terrain drive? Unfortunately, the Terrain's base engine lacks power, the transmission is slow-witted, and the powertrain's focus on fuel economy eliminates snappy acceleration. In zzdcar testing it took 9.3 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is very slow.

　　Elsewhere, this SUV performs better. The brakes bite smoothly and evenly, with a good relationship between pedal pressure and actual stopping power. The steering is slow and a bit mushy, but steering effort weights up nicely at highway speeds, imparting more confidence and a sense of stability. Capable and balanced on twisty roads, the Terrain keeps body roll in check. It's not sporty, but the Terrain remains stable and composed through turns at reasonably high speeds.

　　

Comfort

6.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Terrain? On the road, the Terrain is prone to regular low-impact shock, vibration and jostling on even moderately rough surfaces like bumpy streets. Road and tire noise is limited to a muted, dull hum on most road surfaces. The front seats are firm but comfortable and they hold up well over long road trips; the rear seats are relatively firm and flat. 

　　There's a simple control layout other than the four buttons for vent mode, which is excessive, and the central vertical vents distribute air poorly. The seats offer cushion-only or cushion-and-seatback heating, which is a nice feature.

　　

Interior

6.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Terrain's interior is attractive and well configured, but some controls are awkwardly placed and impossible to avoid. Least impressive is the Terrain's unnecessarily clumsy transmission interface.

　　The low seat bolsters and wide-opening doors should make getting in and out easy for most drivers and passengers. There's also plenty of seat adjustment up front, although taller drivers might wish for more steering wheel extension. Visibility is below average thanks to a deep, angled dash that makes it hard to know where the front really is. The front side windows provide a good view out; less so the rear side windows.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The Terrain's optional Bose sound system offers surprising power and clarity, and the optional navigation system is easy to use. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard and beat GMC's native software for ease of use, but the standard system works fine for those outside the Apple/Android ecosystem. Our test Terrain has six USB ports, including one USB-C.

　　The Terrain offers a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot standard. Setup is easy, but coverage isn't much better than with a typical mobile phone. Operation of the safety systems, such as forward collision warning and lane keeping assist, is still a bit intrusive, but not overbearing.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? With the rear seats folded, the Terrain's 63 cubic feet of cargo space lags behind class benchmarks (Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4). But a fold-flat front passenger seat is a nice touch that allows you to haul longer items (surfers and campers, rejoice). A power liftgate and low liftover height make cargo loading easy, too. There are plenty of bins, trays and pockets available to hold personal items.

　　For child safety seats, the car seat anchors are easy to find and connect to, and there's plenty of space for forward-facing seats. Rear-facing seats fit well as long as drivers and passengers can keep their seats reasonably forward. The Terrain doesn't provide a top tether for a middle seat, but there is one in the rear seatback.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Terrain with the 1.5-liter engine and front-wheel drive gets an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That's a bit below what other top small SUVs get. We got 28.4 mpg on our mixed-driving test route, but just 22.4 mpg in 600 miles of combined driving. These results suggest that a light touch is needed to achieve the EPA's numbers.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Terrain a good value? We're not convinced the Terrain offers enough value to justify its price. It feels solid and it's not outrageously expensive, but lower-priced competitors such as the CR-V offer similar or better features and versatility, plus better ride quality and comfort.

　　The Terrain has three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage, which is typical for this class. However, its first two scheduled maintenance visits are free, and roadside assistance and loaner cars are included for five years or 60,000 miles. Those are more generous terms than the competition offers.

　　

Wildcard

5.5/10

　　The Terrain is a mixed bag. It's handsome at a glance, and the sleek style, sharp (and quiet) interior and modern tech make it desirable. But it rides and drives worse than a car in this class should, especially at this price. It's not oozing with personality, nor is it particularly fun to drive, so the Terrain remains a midpack choice.

　　

Which Terrain does zzdcar recommend?

The base SL trim comes with a decent amount of equipment, but we suggest stepping up to the midlevel SLT trim. It comes with more standard features and opens up the options list. Specifically, we recommend getting the SLT's optional turbocharged 2.0-liter engine for its extra power.

　　

2021 GMC Terrain models

The 2021 GMC Terrain is a small SUV available in four trim levels: SL, SLE, SLT and Denali (late availability). Feature highlights for these trims include:

　　SL

　　The base-level SL comes standard with:

　　170-hp turbocharged engine Nine-speed automatic transmission A 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration A six-speaker audio system Keyless entry and push-button startAll Terrains also come with:

　　Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Forward collision alert (alerts you of a possible collision with the car in front) Lane keeping assist (steers the Terrain back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)SLE

　　This trim is similar to the SL, but it unlocks these packages:

　　Driver Convenience package Dual-zone automatic climate control Remote start A power-adjustable driver's seat Heated front seats Roof rails Infotainment Package I Additional USB ports Household-style power outlet on the center console HD rearview camera

　　GMC Pro Safety Plus Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Rear parking sensors Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) SLT

　　The SLT trim adds even more features, including:

　　All Infotainment Package I features All Driver Convenience Package features Hands-free liftgate An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display Leather upholstery Driver's seat memory settings Power-adjustable front passenger seat Heated steering wheelDenali

　　The range-topping Denali trim adds a good amount of luxury and technology to the mix with:

　　Integrated navigation system Bose premium audio Wireless charging pad Features from the GMC Pro Safety Plus package (adaptive cruise control) Front parking sensors An optional Denali Premium package adds:

　　Adaptive cruise control Surround-view camera system Automated parking assist system Ventilated front seats Heated rear seats

　　

2021 Terrain Highlights

Trim: SLSLESLTDenaliSL

　　

Base MSRP	$25,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	27 MPG
Cost to Drive	$137/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	29.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles