AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING7/10
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Safety8/10
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PRACTICALITY8/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS9/10
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FEATURES8/10
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POWER8/10
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COMFORT7/10
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DRIVING FEEL8/10
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FUEL ECONOMY7/10
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VALUE7/10
The 2023 GMC Terrain enters the model year with a little more power, an improvement to its brake assist, and some new exterior colours.
It comes in four trim levels. The entry SLE starts in front-wheel drive (FWD) at $33,648, including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $1,995. It can be optioned to all-wheel drive (AWD) for $2,400. All other trims are AWD: the SLT at $38,648; the AT4 at $39,248; and my Denali tester at $44,648. Mine was further enhanced with options that took it to $47,783 before taxes.
Styling: 7/10
While its mechanical sibling, the Chevrolet Equinox, has a smoother aesthetic, the Terrain lives up to its GMC badge with chunkier styling. The exterior accents are dependent on the trim, and the top-level Denali includes a chrome mesh grille. Other items include its 19-inch wheels, along with a hands-free power tailgate that’s also included on all but the base SLE trim.
Inside, the Denali comes standard with perforated leather upholstery and metallic trim, and the cabin design is plain but handsome enough. But the hard-plastic surfaces don’t really give the top-level impression that you get in that trim in other GMC models with the same Denali treatment.
Safety: 8/10
The 2023 Terrain receives the highest five-star crash-test rating from the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It gets the top “Good” score in most tests from the non-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but in the updated side-crash test, which better simulates being struck by a large SUV, it only earns “Marginal.”
All trims include emergency front braking with pedestrian detection, following distance indicator, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-keep assist, teen driver controls, and the back-up camera that’s mandatory on all new vehicles. However, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is standard on the Denali but an option on all other trims. That’s also the case with adaptive cruise control, park assist, and with the safety seat, which vibrates a warning if any systems detect a problem, such as drifting out of your lane.
Features: 8/10
Features on the Denali that it shares with some or all of the lower trims include an acoustically insulated windshield, hands-free tailgate, 110-volt power outlet, power-adjustable front seats with driver’s side memory, dual-zone automatic climate control, a flat-folding front passenger seat, heated seats and steering wheel, an auto-dimming mirror, and an eight-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Standard items unique to the top trim are its 19-inch wheels, automatic parking assist, navigation, eight-inch digital instrument cluster, upgraded audio, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, wireless charger, and head-up display, which uses a screen that pops out of the dash, rather than projected onto the windshield.
User-Friendliness: 9/10
The Terrain’s controls are simple and easy to use, with buttons and dials for the climate functions, drive modes, and heated and ventilated seats. The infotainment system doesn’t look all that high-tech, which may lose points with some, but it’s also equally easy, with large icons and some hard buttons to make your way around some of the menus and functions. The head-up display is adjusted with a toggle switch, which is always better than paging through screens to find its settings. I’m not a fan of the button-style gear selector.
Practicality: 8/10
Compared to rivals such as the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, or Subaru Forester, the Terrain is mid-pack for cargo volume at 838 L with the rear seats up; only the Forester trails it at 818 L, while the CR-V takes the crown with 1,113 L. The Terrain is also the smallest volume when the rear seats are folded down, at 1,792 L; but you can also fold the front passenger seat flat for carrying longer cargo. The Terrain can also tow up to 680 kg (1,500 lb), matched by the CR-V, Forester and RAV4; but the Hyundai Tucson can tow up to 748 kg (1,650 lb) if the trailer is unbraked, and 1,587 kg (3,500 lb) if it has its own stoppers.
Comfort: 7/10
The Terrain feels roomy inside, in spite of being a bit behind many competitors by the tape measure. It has more front-seat headroom than the Toyota RAV4, but slightly less than the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, or Subaru Forester; for the rear seat, the RAV4 and Tucson have more. Legroom is very close between them all, but for those in the rear, the Tucson is the roomiest.
That roominess is offset by the seats and the ride, both of which are very firm. Often that can indicate a supportive seat that will keep your spine happy, but the Terrain Denali’s chairs didn’t during this test. The heated and ventilated seats have three levels for both temperature settings. The heated rear seats let you select the entire seat, or just the backrest. That’s a neat feature in a lot of General Motors (GM) vehicles that lets you warm up a stiff back without overheating the rest, and would have been appreciated for the front chairs, too.
Power: 8/10
All Terrain trims are powered by a turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder engine that makes 175 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission; power is up from 170 hp in the 2022 model. It gets the job done in city traffic or suburban cruising, but it works hard and gets wheezy during highway passing. Its horsepower rating is the lowest among close rivals, which range from 182 hp in the Subaru Forester, to 203 hp in the Toyota RAV4, but the Terrain’s torque tops all of them, where the RAV4 is closest at 184 lb-ft.
AWD is optional on the base SLE and standard on all others. It’s an unusual setup where you can dial it back to FWD only, or opt for AWD all the time. Since it primarily drives the front wheels and powers the rear ones when needed for traction, it seems logical to always keep it in AWD so it’s there if you need it.
Driving Feel: 8/10
The Terrain is a pleasant enough driver for the segment, although not a standout. The steering feels a bit mushy, but the response is accurate, and it tightens up at highway speeds for more confidence. It’s easy enough to spin it around tight parking lots, and it takes corners confidently. The brakes stop it smoothly, but the ride tends to be firm and bumpy, especially with the Denali’s 19-inch wheels. The Denali is meant as a luxury trim, but that tends to detract from the overall premium feel.
Fuel Economy: 7/10
The Terrain with AWD is rated by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) at 9.9 L/100 km in the city, 8.3 on the highway, and 9.2 in combined driving. In my week with it, I came in on the nose at 9.2 L/100 km, and it takes regular-grade fuel. The AWD isn’t a huge penalty over the base FWD model, which rates a combined 9.0 L/100 km.
Among its AWD competitors, the Hyundai Tucson comes in just worse at 9.3 L/100 km, but the Toyota RAV4 rates 8.5; the Honda CR-V is 8.4; and the Subaru Forester gets a combined 8.2.
Value: 7/10
The Terrain’s AWD versions start at $36,048 and run to $44,648 for my Denali. The Honda CR-V starts higher in AWD, at $39,040 to $45,390. Other rivals that start lower than the Terrain in AWD include the Toyota RAV4 at $34,520; the Subaru Forester at $32,970; and the Hyundai Tucson at $32,424; and only the Toyota gets pricier than the Denali (all prices including delivery).
The Denali has a lot of features, but it’s lacking in perceived value. Overall, with its harsh ride and plain interior, it doesn’t quite live up to its price because it doesn’t really say “Denali” as some of GMC’s other offerings do. Cross-shop its rivals and the Terrain’s other trims as well.
The Verdict
In its favour, the 2023 GMC Terrain is well-sized, its controls are simple to operate, and it includes numerous features. It gets a lot right, but it’s not a standout in this popular segment, so be sure to look at some of its rivals when you’re making your decision.
| Engine Displacement | 1.5L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | I4 |
| Peak Horsepower | 175 hp @ 5,800 rpm |
| Peak Torque | 203 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm |
| Fuel Economy | 9.9 / 8.3 / 9.2 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb |
| Cargo Space | 838 / 1,792 L seats up/down |
| Model Tested | 2023 GMC Terrain Denali |
| Base Price | $42,653 |
| A/C Tax | $3,135 – Black Diamond Edition (19-inch dark wheels, sunroof), $1,995; Ebony Twilight Metallic paint, $495; All-weather floor liners and cargo liner, $450; Engine block heater, $195 |
| Destination Fee | $1,995 |
| Price as Tested | $47,883 |
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Optional Equipment
$3,135 – Black Diamond Edition of 19-inch dark wheels and sunroof, $1,995; Ebony Twilight Metallic paint, $495; All-weather floor liners and cargo liner, $450; Engine block heater, $195
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