New generation of GMC’s Terrain arrives with a diesel engine option
GMC’s Terrain compact crossover has moved into its second generation for 2018, with a roomier interior, lots of new technology and its first diesel engine, which was under the hood of our test vehicle.
Prices of the 2018 Terrain start at $24,995 (plus $995 freight) for the base SL frontdrive model with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, and range as high as $39,695 for the Denali all-wheel-drive version with a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder.
In between are the frontdrive 1.5-liter SLE ($28,295); all-wheel drive 1.5-liter SLE ($31,345); front-drive SLE Diesel ($31,995); all-wheeldrive SLE Diesel ($33,795); front-drive 1.5-liter SLT ($31,795); all-wheel-drive 1.5-liter SLT ($33,495); frontdrive SLT Diesel ($34,595); and all-wheel-drive SLT Diesel ($36,395, our test vehicle for the week; and the front-drive 2.0-liter Denali ($37,995).
All three of the available engines are turbocharged: the 1.5- and 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinders, and the 1.6liter diesel four-cylinder.
Base is the 1.5-liter gasoline engine, with 170 horsepower and 203 foot-pounds of torque. The 2.0-liter gasoline engine has 252 horsepower and 260 foot-pounds of torque; while the 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder diesel cranks out 137 horsepower and 240 foot-pounds of torque.
Standard with the gasoline engines is a nine-speed automatic transmission, while our diesel engine came with a six-speed automatic.
EPA fuel-economy ratings are impressive for the diesel, at 28 mpg city/39 highway with front-wheel drive, and 28/38 with all-wheel drive. During our week in the SLT Diesel all-wheel drive, we averaged 33.7 mpg, with about two-thirds highway driving.
Ratings for the 1.5-liter engine are 26 city/30 highway with front drove, and 24/28 with all-wheel drive. For the 2.0-liter engine, they are 22/28 and 2{6.
To shift the transmission, the Terrain has funky pull-push buttons in the lower center of the dash for “Park,” “Drive,” “Reverse,” and “Neutral.” GMC says this arrangement was intended to provide more storage room in the center console by replacing the conventional transmission shifter with these electronically controlled “intuitive pushbuttons and pull triggers.”
GMC calls it Electronic Precision Shift, and my first time in the new Terrain it took me a while to figure out where the gearshift was. I was looking for a traditional column- or center-console-shifter.
The buttons are easy to operate, though, and for safety’s sake, you do have to pull out on them to put the vehicle into gear.
The Terrain also comes with GMC’s driver-controllable Traction Select system, with settings for varied driving conditions. The all-wheel-drive models, like our SLT Diesel tester, include a front-wheel-drive mode to minimize drag and boost fuel economy when all-wheel drive isn’t needed.
The Terrain has room for up to five passengers, and no third-row seat is offered to expand passenger capacity.
Standard features even at the base level include the Traction Select system; LED daytime running lights and taillights; leather-wrapped steering wheel; flat-folding front passenger seat; 17-inch wheels; and keyless open with pushbutton start.
Moving two steps up to the SLT trim brought us perforated leather seats, heated steering wheel and heated/ ventilated front seats, 18-inch machined-aluminum wheels with gray painted pockets, a chrome grille, fog lights, roof rails, LED turn signals in the outside mirrors, and premium chrome accents.
Also included were an eight-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar, self-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting, a 110-volt power outlet and two USB ports up front and two USB charge-only ports for rear passengers.