Production 2009–present Platform GM Theta platform | Model years 2010–present | |
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Manufacturer General Motors General Motors Canada Class Mid-size crossover SUV (2004–2016)
Compact crossover SUV (2017–present) Layout Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive / all-wheel drive | ||
The GMC Terrain is a mid-size crossover utility vehicle (CUV) produced by GMC. The Terrain is based on the Theta platform. The Terrain slots below the Acadia as GMC's smallest SUV. According to General Motors (GM), it replaced the Pontiac Torrent which was often sold in the same dealerships prior to GM dropping the Pontiac brand.
Contents
The Terrain shares engineering with the Chevrolet Equinox. While the two vehicles use the same platform, drivetrain, interior components, the Terrain's body panels and standard features differ from those of the Equinox.
First generation (2010-2017)
The 2010 Terrain debuted in April 2009 at the New York International Auto Show, introduced as a replacement for the Pontiac Torrent, which ended production after GM shut down the Pontiac brand in 2008. Although the preceding Pontiac Torrent had the same Theta platform, the Torrent was a rebadged version of the original Chevrolet Equinox from 2005–09, while GM decided to differ the look of the Chevrolet Equinox with its 2010 Terrain and still use the Theta platform.
For the 2013 model year, the GMC Terrain introduced the Denali trim which consists of more chrome trim and slightly improved interior quality, the 3.6L SIDI V6 that is shared with the 2012 Cadillac SRX in place of the optional 3.0L SIDI V6, and firmer front struts. The Denali also offers cross-traffic detection, blind-spot warning and a power passenger seat as options.
For 2016, the GMC Terrain received a facelift as part of its first mid-cycle refresh along with the Equinox. The refresh consisted of new front and rear fascias, new grille, a power dome hood, LED daytime running lights, new wheels, a new gear selector, a second storage shelf under the dashboard, as well as deletion of the door lock buttons from the dashboard.
In 2016, GMC introduced the Terrain Nightfall edition, which replaces chrome with gloss-black finish on the grille surround, the front and rear fascia accents, the license-plate surround, mirror caps, and roof rack, as well as charcoal grille inserts and darkened headlights pulled from the Terrain Denali. The Terrain Nightfall comes with revised rims with machined faces and black spokes. The Terrain Nightfall trim is available on the SLE-2 and SLT trim levels and is available only in Onyx Black, Summit White, Graphite Gray, and Crimson Red.
Engines
The first generation Terrain is powered by a choice of two engines, a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder and a V6 engine that was upgraded from 3.0 liters of displacement to 3.6 liters in 2013:
Natural Gas Version
In 2013, Nat G CNG Solutions in Houston, TX and AGA Systems in Salt Lake City, UT announced that they had begun offering a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) version of the Terrain and the Chevy Equinox using the 2.4L Direct Injection engine. The natural gas version is a "bi-fuel" CNG vehicle, meaning it runs on either gasoline or natural gas, giving it extended range. The Terrain/Equinox were the first direct injection natural gas vehicles ever approved by the US EPA.
The CNG version was available for newly purchased Terrains through select dealers or as a retrofit on 2013 and 2014 models. Nat G CNG Solutions® offered the vehicle in two options: a two-seater "cargo version" and a five-seat "passenger version." The cargo version has an 837-mile combined gasoline / natural gas (9.2 gge of CNG) while the passenger version has a 775-mile combined highway range (6.8 gge of CNG).
The companies claimed that the natural gas version had tested at the EPA lab at 31 mpg highway on natural gas and had achieved a Bin 3 emissions equivalent to the Toyota Prius.
Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P., the nation’s largest distributor of Anheuser-Busch products, was the launch customer for the natural gas version with an initial order of up to 100 of the natural gas versions.
Second generation (2018-present)
On January 8, 2017, the second generation GMC Terrain was unveiled at the 2017 North American International Auto Show as a 2018 model. The second generation will go on sale in Summer 2017 and will be available in three engine choices, and standard features such as a 7-inch touchscreen and LED daytime running headlights and tail lights.
Available features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, WiFi hotspot capability, and safety technology such as surround vision camera system, GM's vibrating Safety Alert Seat, forward-collision alert, low-speed forward automatic braking, and lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning.