General Motors has positioned the GMC Terrain as a premium alternative to its corporate cousin, the Chevrolet Equinox. But we don't think it's worth the extra cost.
We found the Terrain lacking in some key areas, such as ride comfort, handling agility, outward visibility, ergonomics, and noise isolation. In fact, the less-expensive Equinox is a more capable and appealing vehicle.
One of the Terrain's major shortcomings is its push-button gear selector. The buttons are mounted low in the center console, which forces the driver to look down and away from the road when making a gear choice. It's distracting to use -- which can be unsafe -- and it makes parking maddening as you have to keep looking down to choose the proper button.