Used 2015 GMC Terrain

The 2015 GMC Terrain is bigger than a compact SUV, but smaller than a midsize SUV. Its rugged exterior styling looks the part of the GMC family, even if its styling isn’t everyone’s idea of exterior beauty. The roomy interior offers luxury touches and room for five, as there’s even a Denali model available. The available all-wheel drive (AWD) is perfect for inclement weather, and a choice of 4-cylinder and V6 engines offers good fuel economy or very good power, respectively. On the other hand, while the same size as the Kia Sorento, it doesn’t offer a third row like the Kia. Additionally, it’s not meant for off-road duty, despite the tough face. It also lags many of its competitors in cargo space.

Passenger and driver alike will appreciate the quiet interior of the GMC Terrain. The laminated glass, active noise cancellation technology, and triple-seal doors give this SUV the interior quiet of a luxury car, even at highway speeds. The base engine is a 182-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder that offers up good fuel economy, but at the cost of anything resembling snappy acceleration. On the other hand, there’s a 301-horsepower V6 that’s smooth and quiet, and offers much better punch even if fuel economy is only so-so. The Terrain’s comfortable ride and predictable steering feel are backed up by a roomy interior, with a notably spacious rear seat. Unfortunately, the tradeoff is in cargo space, which lags many of its competitors, including the much smaller Ford Escape.

Think of the 2015 GMC Terrain as the upscale cousin to the similar Chevrolet Equinox SUV. It boasts higher-quality materials and a snazzier, more luxurious interior design that includes satin metal trim and 2-tone leather. The Terrain Denali pumps up the luxury even further, adding an 8-way power passenger seat, smoked mahogany trim and French-stitched seams on the upholstery. It’s easy to use, too. The USB port is easy to find at night thanks to a lighted surround, and the IntelliLink touch-screen system’s familiar icons are similar to those on smartphones.

If you think an SUV should look tough, then the GMC Terrain is where you should stop shopping. The wheel openings and enormous chrome grille capped with big GMC letters are so angular, you’d think the SUV was made of Legos. There are optional 19-inch wheels to fill out those big wheel openings, and on top is a sturdy roof rack for whatever you want to tie down. However, don’t let the looks fool you: Although it looks substantial, the Terrain isn’t high off the ground, meaning all but the tamest back-road trails are off limits.

DISTINCTIVE EXTERIOR
The GMC Terrain’s squared-off styling goes against the SUV trend of swooping, sleek lines. Maybe that’s why we like it. While it’s not for everybody – and really, what is – even detractors have to admit the Terrain’s going to be easy to find in a parking lot.

MOVABLE 2ND-ROW SEATS
The 2015 Terrain has very roomy rear seats, which can be made even roomier thanks to eight inches of front-to-rear travel. The generous headroom means that even tall passengers can enjoy a backseat ride.

The basic 2015 GMC Terrain SLE comes with front-wheel drive, a 2.4-liter 182-horsepower 4-cylinder engine connected to a 6-speed automatic transmission and 17-inch wheels. It also has a rearview camera, color touch-screen radio, USB port with iPod support, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, XM Satellite Radio, and OnStar with 4G LTE connectivity that can be shared (for a fee) as a Wi-Fi connection. We like the additional quiet thanks to the active noise cancellation system, and the rear seat features sliders that move back and forth eight inches to help with legroom.

The two most noteworthy options for the 2015 GMC Terrain are the 3.6-liter V6 engine and all-wheel drive. But there’s more. Upper trim levels add leather seating, a navigation system, and active safety features like forward collision alert, blind-spot detection, and lane-departure warning. A 2nd-row entertainment system with two independent screens will keep the kids occupied on long trips. Other options include a 10-gigabyte music-storage hard drive, Pioneer audio and a programmable rear liftgate that can be set to open at a desired height.

For 2015, GMC Terrain shoppers can choose between two engines. The base engine, available in all models including the Denali, is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with 182 horsepower. While it’s fuel efficient on paper, it sometimes struggles to overcome the surprising bulk of the GMC Terrain. It’s no match for the 3.6-liter V6 and its 301 horsepower. Both engines come with a 6-speed automatic transmission, and both can be equipped with all-wheel drive. The 4-cylinder is probably acceptable for most drivers during in-town driving, but we’d suggest the V6 engine if you plan on hitting the highways, or loading up your Terrain for weekend excursions.

2.4-liter inline-4 (SLE, SLT, Denali)
182 horsepower @ 6,700 rpm
172 lb-ft of torque @ 4,900 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/32 mpg (front-wheel drive), 15/22 mpg (E85, front-wheel drive), 20/29 mpg (AWD), 14/20 mpg (E85, AWD)

3.6-liter V6 (SLE-2, SLT, Denali)
301 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
272 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/24 mpg (front-wheel drive, gasoline), 13/22 mpg (front-wheel drive, E85), 16/23 mpg (AWD, gasoline)