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2020 GMC Terrain Review
Price Range: $13,595 - $29,755
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Below Average
6.5
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
The redesigned 2020 GMC Terrain has a nicer interior, more room, enhanced utility, and better tech than its predecessor. But a weak base engine, unresponsive transmission and bouncy ride, paired with a high price, hinder the Terrain from standing out in the competitive compact-SUV class.
2020 GMC Terrain Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What's new
- Optional diesel engine is no longer available
- Updated suspension for Denali models intended to improve ride quality
- Changes to standard and optional safety equipment
- Part of the second GMC Terrain generation introduced for 2018
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in New Hampshire
$136/mo for Terrain SL
Terrain SL
vs
$181/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
4 out of 5 stars4/5Above Average
#11 out of 29 among Compact SUVs
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
$502/yr
vs. $465/yr
for Average Compact SUV
for Average Compact SUV
Frequency
0.74x/yr
vs. 1x/yr
for Average Compact SUV
for Average Compact SUV
Severity
12.8%
vs. 11.5%
for Average Compact SUV
for Average Compact SUV
powered by RepairPal
GMC Terrain Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Compared to the CRV...
5 out of 5 starsK squared, 03/24/2020
2020 GMC Terrain SLT 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
I drive a CRV at work all day in all kinds of Phoenix metro traffic. It is OK but my 2020 Terrain has it beat overall in my opinion. The 2.0 turbo is zippy, and quiet. I drove a 2020 1.5L turbo up to Flagstaff and I would recommend the bigger engine, glad I bought it. The CRV and its CVT transmission is loud and annoying on the freeway. Hard to keep a consistent speed on the freeway … which drives me nuts. I notice the Terrain has a quieter cabin because I can hear people talk on the phone. I am 6’9 and would always like more legroom but the console of the CRV digs into my right leg, in the Terrain it does not. I am still getting used to no shifter but the extra room is nice. To me the only thing the CRV wins in the comparison is it gets really good gas mileage & it has never been in the shop for a repair in 88,000 miles (1 1/2 years). I hope the Terrain is comparable in that area! Not sure I agree with all the CRV hype and the experts ragging on the Terrain. I like the look of the Terrain and 18/19/20’s look WAY better than its boxy predecessor.
Wha.... what?
5 out of 5 starsDomDriver, 10/09/2020
2020 GMC Terrain SLT 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
As a current Terrain owner (AWD SLT 2.0), I am perplexed as to what vehicle Edmunds actually drove? My Terrain is a perfect balance of sport and luxury along with making terrific gas mileage as a daily driver. I guess the 1.5 turned them off to the point that they lowered all of the other categories to reduce the score. Seems ridiculous to get bent out of shape over an engine designed … for fuel economy and not drag racing. But if that's not your desire, upgrade to the 2.0 and you won't be disappointed.
One of the nicer choices in this size range SUV
5 out of 5 starsDave, 01/07/2020
2020 GMC Terrain Denali 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
Literally I don't know what Edmunds reviewed -- I recently checked out all the small-mid SUV's at the LA auto show and was surprised to find the Terrain to my liking. My brother has a CX-5 which is very nice, good materials and it drives quiet and handles well, but just feels cramped up front for me (6ft, 240lb guy). It feels roomier than most competitors including CX-5, has decent … materials throughout, and the option for a very powerful 2.0L Turbo. I then test drove one and it drives really nice, very quiet ride, awesome acceleration, smooth shifting 9-speed. Nice storage in back and a folding front passenger seat to carry 8ft long items -- nothing else I've found has this! Edmunds must be paid by Honda or something. I wouldn't touch their models with CVT. Needless to say, I'm 90% sold this will be my next vehicle.
2024 Update
The vehicle has been a winner for me for the last 4 years and I'm happy I pulled the trigger in 2020 as the powerful 2.0L turbo engine is sadly no longer a choice. Only issue I've had was the auto engine STOP has stopped working but since nobody really likes this "feature" anyway I haven't bothered to have the dealer diagnose. I understand it is possible it can stop working when the battery is less than 100% since it is sensitive to that and that could be a possibility.
Likes and dislikes
4 out of 5 starsBennett Bramell, 03/01/2021
2020 GMC Terrain SLT 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A)
What we like:
We loved the Terrain SLT we purchased a few years ago, so in the early fall, with $8,000 in incentives, we traded it in for a 2020 model. This is a very SMART car. Lots of new features and technology to learn. We like that it allows data from the cell phones to download to the car. Nice to set up your Google Maps or Waze, go out to the car and view it on the display … screen. The folding front seat is a great option. Love the huge sun roof and its push-button shade. Very quiet ride. Good acceleration. Well designed dashboard/interior lighting. We like the air-conditioning/heat vents for the back seats. The heated steering wheel gets so warm, so fast, that you must quickly turn it off. All-in-all we are very happy with our Terrain.
Things we're not crazy about:
Fuel. Both the salesmen and service manager said if we purchased the 1.5 Turbo engine, we could avoid expense premium gas and use mid-grade instead. But the owner's manual recommends premium gas. It says the use of anything other than premium voids the warranty. So, we bought the car under a gas-savings assumption, but now fear the dealership may not have been truthful. Can anyone confirm that this engine can safely use mid-grade fuel? Also, living in Michigan, we purchased AWD, but I am disappointed with it. The first time we drove the car in heavy snow, it became stuck. And with its wheel design, snow became packed into the rim and spokes. When we drove the car the next day, it shook violently, with the wheels out of balance by the packed ice/snow. We now keep a snow shovel in the car and use our Buick AWD in the heavier snow. Another item, I don't like where the fog lamp switch is located. It's out of site, below the steering wheel, under the fold of the dash, where it sits among other push button controls. It is hard to locate the switch while driving -- frankly, you can't turn the fog lamps on without taking your eyes off the road. So, at least until you learn the brail of it, you must operate the lamps only when the vehicle is stopped.
2020 Terrain Highlights
SL
| Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $25,000 |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | Gas |
| Combined MPG | 27 MPG |
| Cost to Drive | $136/month |
| Seating | 5 seats |
| Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 29.6 cu.ft. |
| Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
| Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the Terrain models:
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Alerts the driver to perpendicular oncoming traffic when reversing out of a driveway or parking space.
- Side Blind Zone Alert
- Monitors blind spots for traffic, warning the driver when an obstacle is present.
- Safety Alert Seat
- Vibrates the driver-seat cushion to provide physical alerts from safety systems.
NHTSA Overall Rating
5 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover18.5%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestGood
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedMarginal
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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