GMC Terrain

The Terrain is a corporate cousin of the Chevrolet Equinox, but a few critical differences compromise it, even though it is positioned as a more premium offering. We found it to be loud and stiff riding, with severely hampered visibility. The base engine is a lackluster 170-hp 1.5-liter, and the uplevel choice is a significantly stronger 252-hp 2.0-liter. The 2.0-liter turbo is mated to a nine-speed automatic that's not the swiftest or the smoothest. Unfortunately, the Terrain's gear selector is controlled by unintuitive-to-operate dash-mounted push buttons. The infotainment system is one of the easier ones to use and comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Forward-collision warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist with lane-departure warning, and blind-spot warning are available.

The Terrain is GMC's entry in the small to midsized SUV segment. While a decent enough offering, the model's competition is significantly better. The five-passenger mid-size SUV consumes fuel more like seven-passenger full-size models. That said; if you're considering getting one, look for at least an SLE-2, which comes with the power driver's seat. A rearview camera is standard regardless of trim. While the standard four-cylinder engine manages to get the job done, the optional V6 is a more enjoyable choice. Terrain's 2013 freshening brought a more powerful 3.6-liter V6, as well as a revised interior with new infotainment technology. For 2015, changes include a standard built-in WiFi hotspot. Advanced optional safety features, including blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, joined forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems for 2016.