2019 GMC Terrain

The GMC Terrain starts off with a base price of $25,000 for the FWD SL which is $900 more than the entry-level Ford Escape. The FWD SLE is the next car in the lineup and costs $28,100. The AWD SLE comes at a slight premium and costs $29,800. The SLT is at the higher end of the model range and in FWD configuration will cost you $30,900. Next up in terms of pricing is the first diesel in the lineup, the FWD SLT Diesel, which is priced at $31,800. The AWD SLT is next up and will set you back $32,600. The AWD SLE Diesel costs $33,600, the FWD SLT Diesel is $33,700, and the AWD SLT comes in at $35,500. The range-topping Denali comes in FWD and AWD specification and will set you back $37,800 and $39,500 respectively. All prices exclude licensing and registration, as well as a $1,195 destination freight charge.

While the Terrain's $25,000 starting price makes it hard to rank it alongside luxury competitors like the BMW X3, our tester's $40,000 price tag did indicate that the crossover should at least convey some level of refinement to the driver. In that pursuit, it half succeeded, half failed. The GMC does a decent job of remaining highly controllable, with steering that's as linear and direct as a German military general but softer than margarine. The suspension insulates road imperfections well but feels two-dimensional, making the Terrain ride like a simple and passive beast, like a box on four wheels rather than an intelligent forward-thinking machine. But that simplicity makes it easy to predict how the Terrain will react on the road. Getting into its groove is easy, but not rewarding. On the highway, the Terrain's light and uncommunicative steering and easy maneuverability can complicate things, making the crossover feel twitchy and unsettled with slight steering inputs. That feeling is exacerbated by the GMC's large blindspot, a symptom of the thin rear-quarter windows. Around town and in the parking lot, though, the Terrain's driving style shines by fading into the background and allowing the driver's mind to wander.

The GMC Terrain finds itself in an awkward place in GM's lineup because, in theory, it ranks above the everyman Chevrolet Equinox but underneath the luxurious Cadillac XT4. However, given that the Equinox can be loaded with luxury features and easily surpass the Terrain's $25,000 starting price, and that an XT4 stripped to the bone can be had for a little over $35,000, the Terrain resides in a niche that's technically covered by GM's other small SUVs. It therefore justifies its existence by pandering to customers who want a vehicle that's more luxurious than an Equinox but more utilitarian than an XT4 - the exterior design alone reinforces that narrative. If that's the car you're looking for, the Terrain is not a bad place to look. Just be sure to shop around because even though the Terrain's shortfalls don't outweigh its better attributes, there are plenty of other small SUVs that can do what this GMC does.

If our experience with the Terrain taught us one thing, it's that this crossover must be had with the 2.0-liter turbo engine and kept light on the features in order to make up for the engine's price. Our ideal Terrain would be a 2.0-liter SLE trim with front-wheel drive (since our needs dictate the rear wheels aren't going to need power often enough to justify the extra costs) painted in a $595 shade of Red Quartz Tintcoat. The $675 worth of options comes exclusively from the Bright Accent Package, though buyers with larger wallets should consider the Infotainment Package, which we only omitted because it requires adding the $1,375 Driver Convenience package first. In total, our ideal Terrain would come out to $32,310 including the $1,195 destination charge, though the total price drops to $28,810 after recuperating the $3,500 cash allowance GMC is offering on the Terrain.

The Ford Escape is a five-seat crossover SUV that is more urban explorer than off-road conqueror. The starting price of the Escape is $895 less than the Terrain and tops out at $34,120 excluding options. Base models are powered by a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 168 hp and 170 lb-ft. The Terrain's smaller turbocharged unit is the better engine here, but Ford also offers a turbo 1.5 further up in the range. The top of the range turbocharged 2.0-liter offers similar performance figures. Fuel consumption ranges between a combined 24 mpg and 26 mpg. The Escape offers more front legroom and has a better overall cargo capacity and better standard tech options, but the GMC has a more luxurious interior as standard. If it is outright space you're after, the Ford is the best bet, but the GMC has a few clever tricks up its sleeve that makes it a worthy contender.

The Chevrolet Equinox joins the Terrain in the valley of the bland SUV. Both are priced in the mid-twenty to the mid-thirty range, but the Chevy offers a cheaper base model. The mechanically related Equinox is powered by the same turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder which produces precisely the same amount of power in base trim, but you also get the option of 2.5-liter naturally aspirated and 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engines, as well as the 1.6-liter turbo-diesel. Gas mileage ranges between 28 and 24 mpg combined, more or less on par with the GMC. The Equinox has a slightly larger fuel tank, giving it the edge on fuel range. The base model Equinox has a shorter list of standard features in an effort to cut costs over the more premium Terrain, but as you move up the Equinox trim ladder you get all the same equipment for less money. With so much shared between the two, it makes sense to take the cheaper option and buy the Equinox.