GMC reinvents Terrain
REDESIGNED CROSSOVER SPACIOUS AND POWERFUL
With its redesigned 2018 Terrain, GMC is not just going to conquer the highway, it’s going win over the hearts of crossover fans. A tidier and — in this opinion — a better looking package, the new Terrain offers buyers a spacious and comfortable crossover that will satisfy most wants.
Available with three different turbocharged engine choices for 2018, the Terrain will also provide buyers with as much fuel efficiency and power they want.
The base engine is a 170-horsepower 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine that delivers 29 mpg city and 34 mpg highway when a Terrain is equipped with all-wheel-drive. Diesel comes to the Terrain this year with an available 1.6-litre diesel that delivers economy of 33 mpg city and 46 mpg highway.
The top-line engine, under the hood of this week’s Coppertino Metallic SLT provided by Kelly Shigehiro of Davis GMC Buick GMC, is a 252-hp, 2.0-litre four cylinder that runs on premium gas and has fuel economy rated at 25 mpg city and 31 mpg highway.
Both gasoline engines are mated to a new ninespeed transmission while the diesel gets a six.
Also new this year is a push-button shifting mechanism which frees up space in the centre console. This system may be new to many drivers but it’s gaining in popularity among automakers.
The fully loaded tester, which features a black leather interior, is priced at $41,825. For that money, buyers get a smooth and quiet cruiser capable of carrying five adults in comfort and their luggage.
Front passengers get 41 inches of legroom and 57 inches of shoulder room. Rear seat passengers have 40 inches of legroom and 56 inches of shoulder room.
Cargo space with the second-row split-folding seat occupied is a decent 30 cubic feet. That expands to 63 cubes when the rear seat is folded. However, with the front passenger seat folded down, space increases to 81. With that seat down, a Terrain owner should be able to carry a kayak or other longer items, adding even more versatility to this unit.
The SLT is the middle of three trim lines, between the base SLE and top-shelf Denali.
For the money, the SLT offers enormous bang for the buck. The tester has Onstar with automatic crash response, a navigation system, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot, an eight-inch diagonal colour touchscreen with USB port and Bluetooth streaming audio, Apple Carplay and Android Auto, plus the Teen Driver security system.
It also has heated front passenger seats (the driver’s has six-way power adjustability), a heated telescoping steering wheel, hands-free power liftgate, cargo area release levers for the rear seats, electronic push button start and active noise cancellation.
For those upcoming inevitable cold winter mornings, the SLT is equipped with a remote starting system.
It also has dual zone climate control, LED accent lighting, 12-volt outlets in the cargo area and front cabin, a power skyscape sunroof, rear vision camera and an engine start/stop system to reduce fuel consumption, a feature than can be handy in slow traffic.
From a driver’s perspective, the Terrain offers a tremendous balance between space and power. The driver’s seat is all-day comfortable, gauges are legible and easy to read and the driver information centre provides plenty of data at a glance.
The new turbo 2.0-litre engine is a revelation. While not as powerful as the old available V6, it provides better fuel economy and superb acceleration. The nine-speed transmission shifts smoothly and is always in the right gear at any speed.
The cabin is airy and spacious and at highway speeds, wind and road noise are virtually impenetrable. The Terrain has nicely weighted steering and is easy to manoeuvre at slower speeds.
The programmable power liftgate is going to be appreciated by shoppers.
With a low lift height, the cargo space is easily accessible. If more cargo space is needed, the SLT has roof rails which are just a pair of crossbars away from mounting an accessory case.
The Terrain interior has superb fit and finish and a refinement that is going to make it appeal to luxury vehicle shoppers.
AWD models have a knob that will let drivers switch between three modes: FWD, AWD and Off-Road for tackling more rugged Terrain. With eight inches of ground clearance, it has plenty of height to get through snow in coming months.
GMC clearly did its homework when redesigning the Terrain, elevating this already stellar compact to new heights. Follow @albeebHerald on Twitter.