POPULAR COMPACT SUV GETS AN OUTDOORS-ORIENTED TRIM
“Rugged” is a vibe, and these days it's a popular one. Between blackout packages and adventure-inspired trims, it seems every automaker is tapping into our new-found post-pandemic desire to get outdoors.
GMC has thrown its hat into the ring with the Terrain, its compact SUV and the smallest vehicle in its lineup, which gets a mid-cycle refresh for 2022.
The highlight of this facelift is the brand's AT4 trim, which joins the Terrain lineup for the first time, making this the last GMC product to get this off-road oriented treatment. It joins the SLE, SLT, and Denali trims. The AT4 starts at $38,198, including a $1,900 destination charge and fees, and adds a steel skid plate for the engine compartment, unique 17-inch gloss-black wheels, drive-mode selection with three settings, contrasting interior stitching, and an AT4 logo embroidered on the headrests. There are no changes to the suspension or ground clearance.
The SLE and SLT, with the Elevation Edition package ($995) added, are the best-selling Terrains in Canada. For 2022, they come with 19-inch gloss-black aluminum wheels, a darkened front grille, and black roof rails, mirror caps, and exterior accents and badging.
All 2022 Terrains come with a new front fascia and larger grille, as well as redesigned LED headlights and tail lamps, four new colour options, and updated wheel designs. All are powered by the same unchanged powertrain, featuring a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 poundfeet of torque. This is the same engine found in the Chevrolet Equinox, but here it's matched with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
On the SLE trim, front-wheel drive is standard ($32,598 including fees), while all-wheel
drive is available for $2,400 more. From the SLT grade, AWD is standard ($37,598), and as is typical for GMC products, the Denali grade tops the lineup ($43,598). On the SLE and SLT grades, these prices represent a price drop of between $600 and $800 from 2021. Denali goes up by $1,000, but it also gets more standard features, including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, head-up display, surround-view camera, parking-assist
sensors, and more.
While the 1.5-L engine starts off well with a sense of energy at city speeds, this power tapers off as the truck merges onto the highway or heads up an incline. It would be a welcome upgrade to see the Denali trim offered with a more powerful engine.
Fuel consumption, on paper and in short testing, is typical for the class. With FWD, the Terrain consumes 9.2 L/100 kilometres in city driving, 7.8 on the highway, and 8.6 combined. Add
AWD, and those figures go up to 9.6 city, 8.3 highway, and 9.0 combined. This is roughly average for a non-electrified powertrain, though there are more economical options out there.
On the other hand, the Terrain is one of the few compact SUVS to include manual toggling between front and all-wheel drive.
Regardless of trim, there are no mechanical changes for 2022. The Terrain's ride comes across as a little on the rough side, compared to its competition, and the interior lets more noise through than is typical. The button-and-trigger setup for the shift-by-wire system may be a hard sell for some drivers, but it's a reasonably intuitive solution that addresses the overall direction the industry is headed.
While the glossy wood-look Denali inserts and the AT4'S stitching are nice touches, the interior is somewhat dark, despite the presence of a sizable available panoramic sunroof, and there's plenty of hard black plastic throughout the interior. On the upside, the centre console is deep, and large enough to hold a small handbag, which is a nice find in this segment.
Technology updates for the Terrain for 2022 include standard wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity, and standard Siriusxm satellite radio integration with a trial subscription. The screen is smaller than average, but infotainment operation is smooth and intuitive. The same head-up display that's standard on Denali, which is the flip-up style that displays graphics on a small plastic panel, is also optional on SLT and AT4. Also new on Denali is an eightinch digital driver-information centre positioned between the analog instruments.
On the vehicles we tested, the heated and ventilated seat buttons were present, but both features were omitted. This is a result of the semiconductor shortage; GM is offering a $50 rebate to customers for the inconvenience of having to return to the dealer later to have these features activated once chip supply recovers, which will be completed at no charge. This allows Terrain supply to keep up with demand, and GM says 2022 models are arriving steadily at dealerships, though they're largely being pre-sold, thanks to pent-up demand.