Skip to main content

Used 2018 GMC Terrain SUV Consumer Reviews

3.4 out of 5 stars
70 reviews
1...

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

Price history graph example

Trending topics in reviews

Pros
Cons
5 out of 5 stars

A Phoenix Rise from the Ashes for the 2018 Terrain

GEES, 03/30/2018
2018 GMC Terrain SLT 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
75 of 79 people found this review helpful

The 1st generation was a poor mix on all fronts. A weird, blocky vehicle. Harsh ride, loud, and a poor choice of engines...a weak 4 cylinder or an expensive, "more-than-is-needed" V-6. It seems that GM learned from its past mistakes and also from the mistakes of its competitors and created a vehicle with proper balance. I own an SLT AWD with the 2.0 L turbo. Amazingly smooth shifts from the 9-speed transmission and it rolls calmly and composed down the road, however, published times of 0-60 of 6.8 seconds are not weak by any means. Truly balanced. People complain about the buttons for shifting. Ridiculous. It takes about an hour to get used to it. I swear people posting on the internet just like to have something to whine about. The big negative for this vehicle is the MSRP. It is much higher than the competition. That has always been Detroit's game; high starting price followed by incentives. I saved $11000 off MSRP after generous March incentives (starting price $39620). Don't pay anything near the sticker price. Front seats are so supportive allowing for long drives. Back seat room is spacious and comfortable. Load height in cargo area is perfect with spacious lower cargo compartment beneath floor. Awesome vehicle. I don't miss my Acadia one bit.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse

5 out of 5 stars

Great SUV for the $$$

Zack Rubin, 12/05/2017
2018 GMC Terrain SLE 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
78 of 85 people found this review helpful

First let me run down down my list of vehicles, in order, leading up to the Terrain : Lexus IS, VW Touareg, VW Passat, Infiniti G35, BMW 335D, Terrain. I traded in the BMW (40MPG and a lot of power). I wanted to get back into an SUV, as I missed my Touareg the most. I did some poking around, some test driving, and ended up at GMC. I've never bought American and I'm so far thrilled with my purchase. The one thing I miss, obviously speed and pickup, is easily justifiable by the comfort and convenience of my car. I bought the SLE. There's no nav, and it's missing some power options that I really don't need (seats that I'll never change and a sunroof I'll never use). The entertainment system is great. I just plug my phone in and everything I want to do I can do verbally through the car or my phone. Play Spotify, Navigate here (I use Google maps off my phone and it projects very nicely on my display), Text my friend this, etc. The design is sleek, the interior extremely comfortable and the ride incredible smooth. Go give it a test drive, you wont be disappointed.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

My first SUV and I’m loving it.

Stan K., 12/12/2017
2018 GMC Terrain Denali 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
52 of 57 people found this review helpful

I’ve had my fully loaded Terrain Denali for several weeks now and it just keeps growing on me. He 2.0T really shoves you back in your seat and the 9-Speed auto is extremely smooth and responsive for having that many gears. Auto stop/start does take some getting used to though. Soft touch materials abound and most things feel like real quality to me. Mileage is decent and would no doubt be better if I could keep my right foot out of the Turbo. Cargo space is good. It’s fairly quiet as well though there is of course a bit more noise from the back compared to the sedans I’ve had prior. The new updated GMC Intellilink looks great and is easy to set up and use. Give one a test drive and try the Terrain out for yourself.

Report Abuse
Advertisement
Also Consider
Build Your 2024 Terrain SLE
At a Glance:
  • 6 Colors
  • 4 Trims
  • 6 Packages
  • $29,900starting MSRP
Build & PriceGMC.com
*The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price excludes destination freight charge, tax, title, license, dealer fees, and optional equipment. Dealer sets final price. Click here to see all GMC vehicles’ destination freight charges.

5 out of 5 stars

Very Happy with new GMC Terrain Denali

NJGuyTR, 05/31/2018
2018 GMC Terrain Denali 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
34 of 37 people found this review helpful

I was leasing a Mazda CX-5. I loved the Mazda steering but I did not like the back seat size and the engine could not keep up with very fast traffic and many large hills (without really straining ) on my Suburban NJ commute to NYC. I liked that car because it felt more like a small sports car in handling (but not power), but I love this one. This is my first GMC vehicle and the first GM vehicle I have owned. First it feels more substantial. It’s much faster. Handling is very good. It’s only 3 “ longer than the Mazda but way more comfortable for passengers. Best of all the 2.0L engine is really smooth and really good effortless pick up I need for short on ramps to major highways. It’s relatively more quiet compared to the Mazda. The tech is way better (also because its newer). Apple car play is great. The nav screens are MUCH better and it has LIVE traffic and I can get the weather channel APP too plus much more. I am picky about the quality of the audio system in whatever car I drive and this is a GREAT audio system. Lots of nice gadgets in the car and I like that. I like that when I go into reverse I can have the mirrors automatically point down to see the parking lines or when parallel parking which I do often. It has many options to adjust. The User Interface is easy and intuitive. I like the GMC app that gives you a report card for driving. It has become somewhat of a joke in my family as the app gives me a grade for driving. I am a fan of this car so far. In the articles I have read, it supposedly ‘cost more’ than other ‘mass market’ small SUV’s, but I was more interested in its features and looks. Having said that GMC had significant incentives taking the price down quite a bit and what I got for the money was a truly loaded automobile. If you are looking for a smallish SUV- try it- I was surprised how much I liked it and now I love it. Oh... I was worried if I would like the buttons instead of a stick shifter. It does take a bit of getting use to- like 2 days- but after that its a no-brainer. I never use the manual shifters just R, D, P. If you are a manual shifter person, you would have to test it out I don't think its ideal for that. It also automatically puts it in park when you turn it off- nice feature. Also- I am a tall person and not slim. I find this car very comfortable. I have a son 6' tall and he fits in the back with ample leg room. Front seat ability to fold flat is super nice for the home depot trip with something long. Its a really nice car and I am happy with it so far.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse

5 out of 5 stars

At 5 year point - still a great vehicle

D Eddy, 01/10/2018
updated 01/19/2024
2018 GMC Terrain Denali 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
29 of 32 people found this review helpful

I downsized from a medium-sized SUV - so this has less cargo space and passenger capacity. But I rarely used the third row seating in my previous vehicle (rated at 7 passengers - but that counts 3 in the third row which would be difficult to get into and far too cramped) so this 5 passenger compact SUV more tha meets my needs, and with the ability to fold down flat all of the second row, and even the passenger front seat, it will meet all my cargo needs. Also downsized from a 6 cylinder to this 4 cylinder turbo - and with the reduced weight, and extra transmission speeds, don't miss the bigger engine at all - this has even more pickup, and the braking is very good, and the mileage improvement more than offsets the extra cost for premium gas. Start-Stop technology easy to get used to, as is the push-pull transmission selectors. Much improved navigation system; great intuitive controls. Excellent safety features - crash avoidance, parking assist; birdseye view cameras. Excellent sound system and lighting package. Start of the art dash board displays and steering wheel controls. Very comfortable seats. After 5 years, still find the ease of driving, the power when needed of the 2liter turbocharged engine, the comfort and technology make this a great vehicle. Can't see getting any future vehicle without the composite birdseye camera display that makes parking so much easier. Great Bose factory sound system. No significant repairs - a few downloaded tech updates. One battery replacement at 4 year point. Fit & finish still looking great. Now just past the 6 year "birthday" for this vehicle. Still very pleased with its features and performance. Hasn't required anything but usual maintenance. Trouble free. Only been on a few longish drives (roundtrips of less than 300 miles) - mileage just short of 47,000. No complaints and continuing to thoroughly enjoy.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

2018 GMC Terrain SLE 1.5L Turbo/Satin Steel=HAPPY

Susan Holmes, 05/18/2018
2018 GMC Terrain SLE 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful

In looking at purchasing a mid-size SUV, I found a lot of options in this category. Ultimately, I purchased the 2018 Terrain, and there is plenty to love about this vehicle. The price is very competitive. It seems GMC gets it, equipping this model with the 1.5L Turbo 4cyl. It gives you fuel economy of 26 city for commuters and errand runners like me, with the power available to make quick lane changes in traffic. I test drove a 2011 Terrain, 2016 Rogue (too peppy) and a 2015 Terrain to purchasing. The SLE base model comes well-equipped, only missing power seats and roof rack. Enjoy push start ignition/finger shifters/a fully revamped Infotainment system which allows you to place calls while driving with ease to your stored Favorites. There is privacy glass in the back windows. The back seat is spacious and equipped with reading lights. The rear cargo space is about 32" deep, so luggage and duffels fit with ease for travel. No CD player but a USB for music stored on a flash drive. The Terrain looks elegant and classy; the interior is quiet and the ride is cushy. The auto stop doesn't bother me at all. I love this vehicle and look forward to many years with my 2018 GMC Terrain. I'm almost at 2500 miles, and pick up my license plates tomorrow!

Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
4 out of 5 stars

Excellent suv

jmechanic, 12/21/2017
updated 12/27/2018
2018 GMC Terrain SLE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
56 of 64 people found this review helpful

best compact crossover suv on the market right now. in my 35 years as an automotive technician I have fixed ,driven,tested and owned many vehicles and nothing compares to a GM in overall quality, performance,safety and features, despite what you read out there. this 2018 terrain is another example of that. the sle also comes with the 2.0 l turbo, not just the slt or denali. i also love the fact that GM does not use the CVT transmission on their vehicles like Honda, toyota, nissan and many others do, just to get a litle better mpg sacrificing performance. will like to point out that although many of the features on the new terrain are new to the terrain, they are not new to general motors. I recommend the 2.0L turbo over the 1.5 unless your all about mpg, another option the 1.6L turbo diesel. go test one for your self. After 3k miles i have the same opinion this is an Excellent suv but i feel gm should add magnetic ride specially to the upper trim like slt and Denali to ged rid of some road noise. Interior quality is good but should be better for the upper trim level as well. Power is Excellent transmission shift very smooth after a couple of hundred miles of driving and adapting learning is completed. Driver seat is kind of hard but after a while it gets better. Shift knob was very easy to get used to and i will say its the safest in the industry. Blind spot is an issue with this vehicle make sure to get safety package 2 with cross traffic alert and parking assist. Over all a 8out 10 for lower level and 7 out 10 for higher level.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

SLE WITH UPGRADES

Wyatt, 09/13/2018
updated 02/09/2024
2018 GMC Terrain SLE 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
24 of 27 people found this review helpful

Bought this Terrain new July of 18. My wife loves this vehicle. Trouble free so far with great gas mileage and a pep in its step. Upgrade included the 2.0 liter engine and driver convenience package 1 not found on LS models. Update: 6 years under the carport now with a little over 34000 miles, still trouble free other than a battery . Great little machine.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
5 out of 5 stars

Terrific Terrain

J, 04/05/2018
2018 GMC Terrain SLE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
14 of 16 people found this review helpful

I had owned a 2010 Chevy Traverse for 8 years before buying the Terrain. I no longer needed a large 3 row vehicle so I was looking to downsize to a smaller SUV. The ride of this vehicle is definitely stiffer and not as quiet as the Traverse. But on the flip side the Terrain's steering is very responsive along with great braking. At first I wasn't sure about the firmest of the cloth seats but after driving it for 2 months I have found that they are very comfortable and supportive for longer trips. I have the electric seat and am able to fine tune them for comfort. The new style button shifter took no time at all to get used to and love the extra space it affords. The motor is the 1.4 which gives us great gas mileage but if you want a little more power you might want to test drive the 2.0 motor. Wish that GMC had installed the on/off switch for the stop and start feature as it still seems odd to me to have no motor running when stopping. I'm sure time will allow me to get used to this feature. Overall this a great SUV with a stylish interior and exterior look plus it is fun to drive! Love it!

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
1 out of 5 stars

Biggest hassle of my life

Don’t buy terrain, 08/12/2018
2018 GMC Terrain SLE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
33 of 41 people found this review helpful

I purchased a brand new 2018 Terrain in May of 2018. Had it for 5 days (approximately 200 miles) before it was towed from my house back to dealership. The car was bucking and braking on its own, would not accelerate and seemed to be slipping gears and not shifting. Got car back after dealership found nothing wrong. This occurs 3 more times, each time worse than the other. Almost caused me an accident on the highway when I went to accelerate to change lanes and the car wouldn’t accelerate at all. After the 4th time it happened I refused to take the car back from the dealership and had to either sue GM for a refund or accept a buy back and get something else. Owned car for 2 months. Only drove it approximately half the time of owning because the rest of the time it was in for service. Ended up needing a new transmission. Never been more disappointed in my life. Save yourself the safety hazard and hassle and DO NOY BUY THIS VEHICLE.

Safety
1 out of 5 stars
Technology
1 out of 5 stars
Performance
1 out of 5 stars
Interior
1 out of 5 stars
Comfort
1 out of 5 stars
Reliability
1 out of 5 stars
Value
1 out of 5 stars
Report Abuse
1...
Items per page:
10