2024 GMC Terrain: Competition in the compact SUV segment is fierce, and each manufacturer has to make a strong impression to stand out. A fuel-efficient motor, comfortable ride, and up-to-date infotainment are all requirements, with extra points awarded for the powerful engine and high-quality interior materials. Unfortunately, GMC Terrain doesn’t really offer any of these.
Standout styling aside, there’s no reason why you should consider the Terrain over its cheaper sister company, the Chevrolet Equinox, or better yet, pretty much any other vehicle in its class.
However, there is a glimmer of hope for GMC fans. The Terrain is expected to receive a full redesign in the not-too-distant future, with a third-generation model believed to debut in the 2024 or 2025 model year. The camouflaged Equinox has been seen tested on public roads, and given the two models share the same platform, the new Terrain definitely will follow too.
2024 GMC Terrain Reviews
The GMC 2024 combines toughness and practicality. As the smallest model in the GMC lineup, this handsome compact SUV sits under the mid-size Acadia and shares a platform with the Chevrolet Equinox. Terrain remains unchanged into 2024 after recently receiving updates for 2022 and slight tweaks for 2023. Rivals in the compact SUV segment include the Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-50, and Honda CR-V.
Customers looking for a crossover that stands out in the crowd may be attracted by the rugged exterior of the 2024 GMC Terrain. But under the microscope, the Terrain is only a mid-range option among compact SUVs and struggles to keep up with others in its segment. All trim levels are powered by a less powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine that develops 175 horsepower.
The interior is spacious and offers competitive storage space, but the subpar build quality detracts from the experience. Upgrading to the more expensive Denali trim helps mitigate the worst of the problems, but rivals including the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-50 provide better features and performance for the same price.
There are slight changes to Terrain for 2024, and the main difference is the addition of two new paint colors: Riptide Metallic and Downpour Metallic.
- Sturdy exterior design
- Standard wireless Apple CarPlay
- The cheapest GMC model
What’s new
Terrain 2024 adds Riptide Metallic (light blue) and Downpour Metallic (dark blue) as available colors. Also new, the GMC Pro Safety Plus is now standard on the AT4 trim level. This package, available on the SLE and SLT trims, adds rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert and lane departure monitoring with blind spot monitoring.
The last Terrain received a major update for 2022, as GMC refreshed model styling and introduced the AT4 trim. Other changes include a reworked interior accompanied by the introduction of standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
For 2023, GMC is implementing further adjustments to the Terrain. Changes for the 2023 model year include a 5 hp upgrade to the standard 1.5-liter turbo four and a different 19-inch wheel design for the Acadia Elevation Edition.
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2024 GMC Terrain Interior
The spacious and accommodating interior is let down by subpar build quality and an appreciable mix of materials. Meanwhile, the ergonomically challenged Terrain push-button shifter sprinkles salt in the compact crossover’s interior wound. It consists of a few switches that look like power window controls, located low on the center console and less intuitive to use.
While this is something we think owners will get used to over time, we found the tiny buttons hard to find at a glance—especially when fumbling in reverse—making it difficult to make a quick three-point turn or operate the transmission’s manual mode.
The terrain is an amenable partner for carrying large payloads of any size. 60/40 credit of standard folding rear seats, as well as available flat-folding front seats. The Terrain cargo area offers class-competitive space. In our carry-on test, the Terrain held 24 suitcases with the rear seats folded; those seeking the absolute maximum of cargo space will be better served—even if only slightly—by the CR-V.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Easy to operate and quick to respond to commands, the Terrain infotainment system benefits from clear graphics, logical menus, and the latest in-car connectivity features. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot are all standard. An in-dash navigation system is standard on top of the Denali and is available on other models. A head-up display is available — it’s standard on the Denali and optional on the SLT and AT4 — but unlike other GM vehicles which project this feature onto the windshield, the Terrain uses a pop-up panel at the top of the dash.
Technology
A 7.0-inch infotainment screen is standard on the base Terrain SLE 2024, but an 8.0-inch display is optional. Models above the SLT class have 8.0-inch units, but only the Denali at the top of the range comes with standard built-in navigation and an accompanying 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster. Navigation is offered on the SLT and AT4 models. All GMC Terrain trim levels are equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Available equipment includes a 360-degree camera system, Bose premium audio, and front and rear parking sensors.
2024 GMC Terrain Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Terrain comes standard with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine teamed to a nine-speed automatic transmission and front- or all-wheel drive. We haven’t tested one yet, but we tested the engine through our test regimen mounted on its mechanical twin, the Chevrolet Equinox; it took 8.9 seconds to reach 60 mph. The Terrain provides its passengers with a comfortable and enjoyable journey. While the cushioned suspension is a boon on long highway trips, the comfort-oriented setup drains the compact crossover from driver engagement once the asphalt gets twisty. Likewise, the direct but sweet steering, which affords easy turning at low speeds, proves to be as uninformative as a mob boss in a police interrogation room.
Drives
The Terrain has a responsive chassis, a quiet cabin, and a decisive nine-speed automatic transmission. There’s also some off-road capability, but we found the selectable all-wheel-drive system to lack intuitiveness; we wanted an AWD system that engages automatically. Although the interior is spacious and looks luxurious, the materials are not as luxurious as expected. That’s a problem for GMC as its compact SUV is priced at a premium over its platform counterpart, the Chevrolet Equinox.
The controversial shifting arrangement remains a point of contention in Medan. Consisting of a combination of buttons and toggle switches, it was appreciated while others decried it for being unnecessarily complicated.
While the GMC Terrain is attractive in some ways, we found its value proposition to be dubious compared to more defining mainstream vehicles—the GMC doesn’t go far enough to make the Terrain feel premium.
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Performance
GMC outfitted the Terrain 2024 with only one engine and transmission combination. The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine makes 175 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission (the Chevy Equinox gets a six-speed automatic). Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on the SLE and SLT models; The AT4 and Denali trims are equipped with AWD.
Fuel economy for the FWD model is rated at 24/29 mpg city/highway, and 24/28 mpg for the AWD variant. We expect the GMC Terrain to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in around 9.0 seconds, making it one of the slower vehicles in the segment.
2024 GMC Terrain AT4
Many vehicles in the compact SUV segment are offered in tough-looking off-road trim, and GMC offers its own rugged Terrain version with the AT4 trim level. Features include standard all-wheel drive, skidplate, 17-inch gloss black aluminum wheels, hill descent control and heated steering wheel. Other equipment available includes the Pro Safety Plus package, blind spot and rear traffic monitoring, a head-up display and a hands-free power liftgate. With few of these changes really targeted at off-road capability, we don’t anticipate the Terrain AT4 to be much more capable on the road than the standard model.
2024 GMC Terrain MPG
The EPA estimates the front-wheel-drive Terrain will produce up to 25 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway; going with all-wheel drive lowers the highway estimate to 28 mpg. We haven’t put the Terrain through our real-world highway fuel economy test yet, but we’ll update this story when we do. For more information on Terrain fuel savings, visit the EPA website.
2024 GMC Terrain Safety
For 2023, IIHS mostly rates GMC Terrain with a Good rating, the highest score it has issued. Marginal’s updated side crash test score kept it from receiving the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ designations. NHTSA gave the Terrain a five-star overall rating, the highest, factoring in five stars in frontal crash tests, five stars in side crash tests, and four stars in rollover protection.
The standard GMC Pro Safety suite for driver assist tech bundles lane keep assist with lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking for vehicles and pedestrians, forward collision warning, distance following indicator and automatic high beam. Adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and rear traffic warning are all included in the options package which can be added to any of the lower Terrain trims; it’s standard on AT4 and Denali.
2024 GMC Terrain Trim
Out of the SLE, SLT, AT4, and Denali trims, the 2024 Terrain AT4 model is the best buy in the lineup. It’s only slightly more expensive than the AWD version of the SLT trim but comes with more equipment and cosmetic upgrades such as black trim and black 17-inch wheels. The hill descent control and heated steering wheel sweeten the deal even more.
2024 GMC Terrain Price
To keep Terrain prices from getting too out of control, we’ve stuck with the SLE model. It comes standard with many of the tools compact SUV buyers now consider must-haves, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities, touchscreen infotainment, and a host of driver assistance features.
- SLE$30,095
- SLT $34,095
- AT4 $36,890
- Denali $39,995
Verdict
is an adequate transport, but almost every rival is more desirable for various reasons. We recommend waiting for information on the upcoming redesign or considering one of the many excellent alternatives.
People also ask about GMC Terrain 2024
Q: Is GMC discontinuing the Terrain?
A: The 2024 GMC Terrain will serve as the final model year of the second generation of the compact crossover. Now, even before the production of the 2024 model begins, GM Authorities already know when the assembly of the 2024 Terrain will end as GM prepares to make room for the upcoming fourth-generation model.
Q: Is there going to be a 2023 GMC Terrain?
A: GMC kept changes for the 2023 Terrain to a minimum, but it added five horsepower, bringing the total output of the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder to 175 horsepower. Two new paint colors were added this year, along with redesigned 19-inch alloy wheels for the Elevation package available on the SLE and SLT models.
Q: What is the next size up from GMC Terrain?
A: Acadia Cargo Space & Feature Differences. Because the Acadia is larger than the Terrain — measuring 193.4 inches in length versus 182.3 inches for the Terrain — you get more cargo space. With the second and third-row seats folded down, the 2023 Acadia offers up to 79 cubic feet of cargo space.
Q: Is a GMC Terrain a good reliable car?
A: GMC 2023 has a predicted reliability score of 86 out of 100