2026 GMC Terrain Review - GMC's Smallest SUV Is No Baby Yukon
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Date: 2025-05-27
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Comments and reviews: 16
phillm156
I’ve had several Terrains on rentals on vacation. From the Road to Hana in Hawaii, climbing Mona Kea & Mount Wilson climb from LA. Great solid chassis, no vibrations, well insulated. Good space (adults, 2 kids) & features, Good platform without a proper engine! Where’s the Torque!
The engine is the weak point. Berely adequate on flat road. Totally behind on any moderate Terrain. Struggle on the rd to Hana, Violently downshifting when it’s out of its power-band or any challenging Terrain. On the climb to Mt Wilson (not very steep or challenging) it struggled to stay in its Torque band without downshifting multiple gears. It feels like it’s struggling to catch up at any given moment. It makes a Mazda CX5 feel like an overpowered muscle car! Decent rental but I would never own!
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I’ve had several Terrains on rentals on vacation. From the Road to Hana in Hawaii, climbing Mona Kea & Mount Wilson climb from LA. Great solid chassis, no vibrations, well insulated. Good space (adults, 2 kids) & features, Good platform without a proper engine! Where’s the Torque!
The engine is the weak point. Berely adequate on flat road. Totally behind on any moderate Terrain. Struggle on the rd to Hana, Violently downshifting when it’s out of its power-band or any challenging Terrain. On the climb to Mt Wilson (not very steep or challenging) it struggled to stay in its Torque band without downshifting multiple gears. It feels like it’s struggling to catch up at any given moment. It makes a Mazda CX5 feel like an overpowered muscle car! Decent rental but I would never own!
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Tarken10
I own the 2025 Elevation AWD with the 8-speed transmission and it's fine for my needs. I don't do a lot of highway driving, but it has been fine on the highway, as far as I am concerned. The ride is a bit floaty, but I am coming from a Jeep Liberty.
The Terrain Elevation is a great value in terms of what comes standard with the vehicle. Mine is loaded with almost all the packages, no sunroof, and the price was well under $40, 000.
I have seen other reviewers claim a 0-60 time of anywhere from 8. 5 to 9 seconds. None of that matters to me. If I wanted a vehicle that was as fast as a sports car and handles like one, I would have bought a sports car.
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I own the 2025 Elevation AWD with the 8-speed transmission and it's fine for my needs. I don't do a lot of highway driving, but it has been fine on the highway, as far as I am concerned. The ride is a bit floaty, but I am coming from a Jeep Liberty.
The Terrain Elevation is a great value in terms of what comes standard with the vehicle. Mine is loaded with almost all the packages, no sunroof, and the price was well under $40, 000.
I have seen other reviewers claim a 0-60 time of anywhere from 8. 5 to 9 seconds. None of that matters to me. If I wanted a vehicle that was as fast as a sports car and handles like one, I would have bought a sports car.
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hellkitty1014
I just don't understand the GMC thinking here. Aside from the highly-underwhelming powertrain w/o a hybrid option to compete with Toyota, Honda, and Subaru, the vehicle is small by compact CUV standards. This on top of Toyota stealing the GMC limelight by releasing a new RAV4. With GMC BALLONING the Acadia to true full-size proportions(it is just 5 shorter than a Yukon, they could've given more size to the Terrain and most certainly more power, refinement, and efficiency. $43K covers the new Tiguan, excellent Mazda offerings, RAV4 and CRV upper trims, Subaru Forester Touring, and even cross-town rival Ford Bronco Sport.
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I just don't understand the GMC thinking here. Aside from the highly-underwhelming powertrain w/o a hybrid option to compete with Toyota, Honda, and Subaru, the vehicle is small by compact CUV standards. This on top of Toyota stealing the GMC limelight by releasing a new RAV4. With GMC BALLONING the Acadia to true full-size proportions(it is just 5 shorter than a Yukon, they could've given more size to the Terrain and most certainly more power, refinement, and efficiency. $43K covers the new Tiguan, excellent Mazda offerings, RAV4 and CRV upper trims, Subaru Forester Touring, and even cross-town rival Ford Bronco Sport.
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pfwww12
You guys are losers. Probably never even driven in GMs new innovative auto. I take many many Ubers. I drive in the back of many new cars. You'd be surprise the nice cars Uber and Lyft drivers use nowadays. GMs power train moves so easily it never feels like the engine is fighting at all. They created fuel efficient engines to compete with the Asian Market. Stop hating. Trust me. GM makes next level auto.
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You guys are losers. Probably never even driven in GMs new innovative auto. I take many many Ubers. I drive in the back of many new cars. You'd be surprise the nice cars Uber and Lyft drivers use nowadays. GMs power train moves so easily it never feels like the engine is fighting at all. They created fuel efficient engines to compete with the Asian Market. Stop hating. Trust me. GM makes next level auto.
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ClockDev
It's shocking how my 2013 90 HP 1. 4L Turbo Diesel Euro-spec hatchback has about the same torque figures that this car, and that while doing 42 MPG hwy/50 MPG city.
I was about to write that they could do better, but at the end of the day, they can't if they want to pass CAFE standards unfortunately, and that means no diesel, small engines, turbos, and low compression.
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It's shocking how my 2013 90 HP 1. 4L Turbo Diesel Euro-spec hatchback has about the same torque figures that this car, and that while doing 42 MPG hwy/50 MPG city.
I was about to write that they could do better, but at the end of the day, they can't if they want to pass CAFE standards unfortunately, and that means no diesel, small engines, turbos, and low compression.
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BoxySUV
A base model on sale in red or black exterior and cloth seats could be livable. The spin-on oil filter is nice, but the engine is a 1. 5L turbo, not exactly anything to brag about. With a full carload uphill, would you feel confident passing anything except a tractor trailer
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A base model on sale in red or black exterior and cloth seats could be livable. The spin-on oil filter is nice, but the engine is a 1. 5L turbo, not exactly anything to brag about. With a full carload uphill, would you feel confident passing anything except a tractor trailer
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markf8256
Even if you ignore the engine size and look strictly at the power numbers, this is woefully inadequate for the money. Top that with you have to buy the top trims to get a real transmission.
My son drove one as a loaner. Unimpressive doesn’t begin to describe it.
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Even if you ignore the engine size and look strictly at the power numbers, this is woefully inadequate for the money. Top that with you have to buy the top trims to get a real transmission.
My son drove one as a loaner. Unimpressive doesn’t begin to describe it.
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HTcstingy5566
Slow gas guzzling rectangle car with bad sound system for only $45k And I get to pretend with GMC that this is ok to be the Denali trim Thanks!
What’s weird is the reviewers have pretty tepid rebukes of obvious shortcomings. Weak car. Weak reviewers
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Slow gas guzzling rectangle car with bad sound system for only $45k And I get to pretend with GMC that this is ok to be the Denali trim Thanks!
What’s weird is the reviewers have pretty tepid rebukes of obvious shortcomings. Weak car. Weak reviewers
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Mgoblagulkablong
UNcompetitive engine
GM wasted money developing two different 1. 2 and 1. 3 engines when they could have just used this engine instead but they refuse to make a better engine for the compact category, insane, GM is a clownshow
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UNcompetitive engine
GM wasted money developing two different 1. 2 and 1. 3 engines when they could have just used this engine instead but they refuse to make a better engine for the compact category, insane, GM is a clownshow
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djplonghead5403
This vehicle is no faster than a Prius (2nd gen. People shouldn't complain about how lackluster the Prius is but praise other vehicles at the same speed. Thanks for criticizing it. The new Prius does 0-60 in 7. 5 seconds.
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This vehicle is no faster than a Prius (2nd gen. People shouldn't complain about how lackluster the Prius is but praise other vehicles at the same speed. Thanks for criticizing it. The new Prius does 0-60 in 7. 5 seconds.
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tonydemore1280
I agree with Travis, if I were going to buy a Terrain, I would purchase the Elevation trim with a few options with a MSRP of around $35, 000. That would give you all of the most desirable features.
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I agree with Travis, if I were going to buy a Terrain, I would purchase the Elevation trim with a few options with a MSRP of around $35, 000. That would give you all of the most desirable features.
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HeyyImMatt
They'll put a bigger engine in it and then everyone will complain it costs more. You can't have it all. I agree it's slow as hell, but so is everything in that class for the most part.
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They'll put a bigger engine in it and then everyone will complain it costs more. You can't have it all. I agree it's slow as hell, but so is everything in that class for the most part.
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james2042
The only saving grace in this vehicle is the sunroof being optional in all trims, could push me to this over somehting like a crv, which forces it in you in almost every trim
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The only saving grace in this vehicle is the sunroof being optional in all trims, could push me to this over somehting like a crv, which forces it in you in almost every trim
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MyGuyJustinH
Every time I see a GMC Terrain, I think of the TV show Medium, because that was the car that Alison Dubois drove during the end of the series.
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Every time I see a GMC Terrain, I think of the TV show Medium, because that was the car that Alison Dubois drove during the end of the series.
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NeoFGD
8: 32 So the GMC Terrain All-Terrain 4WD (AT4) has a Terrain drive mode.
Did anyone at GMC realize that as they were naming the trim/drive modes
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8: 32 So the GMC Terrain All-Terrain 4WD (AT4) has a Terrain drive mode.
Did anyone at GMC realize that as they were naming the trim/drive modes
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Tarken10
The grill in the middle of the dashboard is the light sensor, not one of the six speakers. You didn't do your homework. Shame, shame.
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The grill in the middle of the dashboard is the light sensor, not one of the six speakers. You didn't do your homework. Shame, shame.
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