Overview & Reviews

For decades, GMC was all about trucks and burly SUVs. But the more recent popularity of car-based crossovers has brought about evolution for the brand, as the GMC Terrain certainly indicates. A small crossover, the Terrain stands out thanks to its stylish cabin, versatile backseat, ample standard features and sophisticated driving manners. Along with its mechanically identical sibling, the Chevrolet Equinox, the Terrain is a smart choice for a new or used crossover.

Current GMC Terrain
The GMC Terrain compact crossover offers a choice of four- or six-cylinder power. The standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder is rated at 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque and comes with a six-speed automatic, while the optional 3.6-liter V6 makes a stout 301 hp and 272 lb-ft, also routed through a six-speed auto. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional across the lineup.

The GMC Terrain boasts a nice ride and handling combination, feeling like a more substantial vehicle than its many rivals. Inside, the Terrain's cabin is impressively quiet, well built and earns top style marks. Fuel economy would seem to be a Terrain strong suit with the four-cylinder engine, given its EPA ratings. But in real-world testing we've found it to be merely average.

Features content is generous, as even the base SLE trim level includes a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, sliding and reclining rear seats, a rearview camera, OnStar emergency communications, satellite radio, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, and a touchscreen interface. With the latter two items, you can connect to Internet-based features like Pandora and Stitcher radio through a system GMC dubs Intellilink. High-end features such as leather upholstery, automatic climate control, a lane-departure warning system, a navigation system and premium audio are available as you move up through the SLT and Denali trim levels.

As a family hauler, the Terrain shines. Backseat accommodations are extraordinarily generous by default, and downright limousine-like when you slide that rear seat back. One minor disappointment is the Terrain's 64-cubic-foot maximum cargo capacity, which trails the class leaders despite this crossover's considerable dimensions.

Used GMC Terrain Models
The current-generation GMC Terrain debuted for the 2010 model year and has seen just a few notable changes since. For 2010-'13, the Terrain's power came from a 3.0-liter V6 that was less powerful than the current 3.6-liter engine; it produced 264 hp and 222 lb-ft of torque. A newly standard and updated touchscreen interface arrived for 2012 (previously a touchscreen only came with the optional navigation system), while later that year the Intellilink smartphone integration system debuted. The Denali trim debuted for 2013.

User Reviews:

• 

  Did not realize what i was getting into - 2010 GMC Terrain
  By Chris Little - November 6 - 2:47 pm

  i bought the SLE 2.4l AWD in 2014, the vehicle was already 4 years old with 80k miles on it. before i drove it off the lot, noticed the utility charging plug in the front storage compartment did not work, and the USB port in the center console did not work. told the dealer and they said they would handle it, no one ever called me. as the year progresses that i have the vehicle, i start smelling small amounts of exhaust in the cab and think nothing of it. this week, 11/2/15 - 11/6/15 the check engine light came on and gave a P0011 code, took it to the dealer and found it was crank shaft alignment sensor, the dealer recommended replacing the actuator for it and also doing the exhaust sensor and actuator. $900 later, because the extended warranty that i purchased would not cover the work performed, the exhaust i smelled in the cab became 10 times worse. took it back to the dealer and had them look at it free of charge. i now have a cracked exhaust manifold. this crack does not show up over night, which means when i bought it, the manifold probably had a small fracture in it. and yet again, my extended warranty will not cover this repair either. dealer wants over $500 to fix this, sorry.. i got my complementary inspection, im going somewhere else for the repair. dont get me wrong, the fuel economy on this vehicle is great and it is a good looking car. i, however, do not like having to fork out this much money on a vehicle when i have only owned it for a year now and still making payments on it. my 2002 GMC Sierra has given me less trouble, and its 13 years old now.

• 

  Poor performance and value - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By Diane S - November 2 - 2:19 pm

  In 2 years of ownership, I had a total of 7 major warrantied parts replaced. This included emissions, both catalytic converters and timing belt before the truck even had 50K miles on it. Service at Winegardener GMC of Brandywine was horrible. Truck was held for a week at a time, with no loaner or rental offered. Truck eventually became too costly to own as I lost many hours off work waiting for repairs and finding rental vehicles while waiting for truck to be fixed. Gas mileage was not the 32 MPG promised, even at 55 MPH I still only got about 23 MPG HWY.

• 

  Use oil and fuel, over and over and over and over - 2012 GMC Terrain
  By Anthony LaGrasta - October 16 - 4:52 pm

  We bought this car for MPG, only to find out it doest get anywhere near the rating, 30% less than rated. Whats more it also uses oil at an insane rate 1 quart per 1,000 miles, no exaggeration. If that wasnt enough, complaints to GM went unanswered. How could they ignore such claims? Come to find out, they knew of this problem, but never mentioned or acknowledged it, so disappointed. Wish we could just get out from under this, get our money back, start fresh. $30,000 down the drain.

• 

  Great SUV GOOD MPG - 2015 GMC Terrain
  By Jose - October 15 - 1:22 pm

  after reading a few post here Id decided to post my findings as well as my experience as an automotive tech and a 2015 terrain owner. I leased a 2015 SL2 4 cyld and so far so good, not a single issue. my wife and I are very pleased with this vehicle. I have worked on many gmc terrains as well as all gm vehicles and it is true the first couple of years of the terrain and Equinox was Horrible, lots of engine issues, oil leaks etc. but gm had solved all of this issues since 2012, the reason i bought mine now in 2015 and super happy with it. the advertised MPG is a little off but not like many people states here. I come from a lot of 6 and 8 cylinder engines and it takes some getting use to a 4 cylinder then it gets better. this is also a 4000 lbs vehicle, much heavier and wider then the competition paying a price at the pump but it increases safety. the Honda crv and toyota rav4 only weights 2800 lbs, not safe at all, and the case with many other compact SUV which by the way the terrain is much bigger than most compact SUV, it almost measures a mid size one. as far as MPG goes am doing 20.8 city and 31.6 highway with 25.9 combine and i only have 600 miles of use on my terrain. I only use shell gas 87 octane but that is not important, what is really important is the amount of ethanol in the gas that you are using, the more ethanol percentage the less mpg you will get. keep in mind that most mpg test are done fro 40 to 70 mph, anything above that will impact mpg and so does bumper to bumper traffic driving which is never accounted for. no mpg is exact on any vehicle make and there are many facts that will drastically lower it. i am super happy with my terrain and having worked and owned all brands and makes in the past 35 years I will say Gm is at the very top of the list. I will like to say I dont work for GM nor do I sell cars, this is my true story and experience and hope it helps someone.

• 

  This car has had more recalls and issues than norm - 2010 GMC Terrain
  By Bryan Thompson - October 15 - 9:36 am

  We have had 4 recalls. Every time we take the car in to the dealership it takes days to get it fixed, after being promised it should be a 4 hour fix. They also try and charge us every time and they try and tell us its not under warranty so we have to prove it. The computer is a joke and the engine continues to have issues idling. Dont buy this vehicle as it has many issues.

• 

  Cant cover any terrain since in shop. - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By Diane - October 9 - 8:41 pm

  On the three years I have had my car. Ive had to fire air bag wiring. Told was not covered. Ive replaced the manifold, catalytic converter, there was a oil consumption issue, this past week I replaced the thermostat and water pump. The backup camera hasnt worked great since the fixed the consumption issue. Didnt know the navigation was suppose to work with onstar until I read comments. Cant trade in because resale value is poor. Ive pumped in over 6,000 dollars this car and the dealer had the nerve to say today. Think its time to trade in. The only reason the consumption issue was fixed is my husband complained to GMC because the dealer wasnt listening.

• 

  BEWARE!!! STAY CLEAR OF THIS VEHICLE!! - 2012 GMC Terrain
  By Gina Lehigh - September 21 - 7:52 am

  After reading numerous complaints it is totally insane that GM is not backing THEIR product!! I have a 2012 GMC Terrain, 4 cylinder. I am also experiencing a lot of what others have written on here. I am going through oil like crazy and my favorite part is the "dummy" light is not even coming on to tell me. I am checking my oil weekly and having oil changes every 2,500 miles with Penzoil Full Synthetic. The only code that has ever appeared is the cam shaft sensor, which I replaced, but I still continue to have oil consumption issues. It is ridiculous that GM will not investigate this issue after numerous complaints. I also experience the shifting issues (jerking when taking off from a stop). This car is total garbage and I will continue to just put oil into it and I refuse to replace an engine on a car that is 3 years old that I have documentation that I have properly maintained. COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS UNTIL THIS PIECE OF JUNK IS PAID OFF!!!!

• 

  badd gmc - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By Shawn - September 15 - 6:30 pm

  too many recalls not safe no power .. Stalls and I complained to gmc and they just said didnt do much at all

• 

  piece of garbage - 2010 GMC Terrain
  By miss p - September 11 - 4:48 am

  This car was put in the shop every other week. As a single mom I had came down To feed the family or fix car. I want or need To give this one back to GM. I will take a huge loss I had to replace major parts in this car. I only had it less than Two years! DO NOT PURCHASE A TERRIAN...

• 

  Not what GMC promises - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By Dave A - September 9 - 9:07 pm

  Talk about false advertising, the actual gas mileage is no where near the EPA. At 60k miles, the timing chain needed replaced, a loud rattling noise continued and the on board diagnostic light keeps turning off and on. Recently the car started to lose oil - 3 quarts - about 3,000 miles after the last oil change. Also, the car has been hesitating and then stalling while in drive, very dangerous! One of the mechanics told us the timing chain was a constant problem...why no recall? Also, there have been 3 recalls in the past 4 years. This is the 4th GMC vehicle weve owned and it will definitely be the last. We should have quit buying GMC after the first one....!