Going in style
The GMC brand survives, competing in the hot compact SUV segment with this spirited option
PITTSBURGH— About a decade ago, General Motors was shedding brands the way my cats shed fur. Everyone assumed GMC trucks would be among the first to go.
GMCs were essentially the same as the equivalent Chevrolets — certainly a lot closer than cars from Oldsmobile (which died) were to cars from Buick (which survived).
And sales for the two truck brands combined had a chance to replace Ford at the top of the truck sales charts for whatever PR value that might have had.
Somehow, GMC survived. It adopted the “We Are Professional Grade” marketing slogan, whatever that means, and the results, frankly, have been surprising, at least to me.
Sales have gone from strength to strength and GMC maintains that its customers do not cross-shop Chevrolet or even Ford, but instead compare with Toyota or other import brands.
GMC’s latest entry is the 2018 Terrain, competing in the crowded and hot compact SUV segment. The Terrain is almost-all-new (except for some engines).
Like most GMCs, Terrain shares almost all structural and mechanical components with its Chevy equivalent (Equinox), but distinguishes itself with various styling and feature details.
Terrain is also priced higher, starting at $30,195, including a/c tax and freight/ PDI, about six grand more than the bottom-end Chevy.
Also, GMCs tend to be optioned out to a higher degree, hence they generate more profit for the corporation. And you know corporations love profit.
It’s smaller (by 107 millimetres in wheelbase) and lighter (by 78 to 193 kilograms, depending on spec) than before, with just a titch less rear seat space, usu- ally the first thing to go when it comes to shrinking a vehicle.
The lower weight enables an all-fourcylinder, all-turbocharged engine lineup to deliver acceptable performance, with 1.5- and 2.0-litre gasoline and1.6-litre diesel options.
All engines offer stop-start technology to reduce fuel consumption in heavy traffic.
To me, this makes huge sense, but some people don’t like it, so you can shut it off, if you want. Front- or four-wheel- drive is available with all engines.
The gasoline power plants get a ninespeed automatic, and the diesel — thanks largely to its lower and broader torque curve — gets by with a six-speed.
The styling is, well, more “styled” than most SUVs, not simply a smaller box for the engine bolted on to a bigger box for people and stuff. The upper body side lines sweep up into the rear side windows for a more distinctive profile.