2020 GMC Terrain Review

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The redesigned 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.

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2020 GMC Terrain Review

byTravis Langness^{Reviews Editor
Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.}

Pros

Comfortable and upscale interior
Optional 2.0-liter engine is efficient and powerful
Touchscreen interfaces are intuitive and easy to use

Cons

Price with options runs higher than average for the class
Disappointing base engine
Less cargo space behind the back seat than most competitors

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

Overview

One of our biggest complaints about last year's GMC Terrain was that it kept most of the advanced safety features on the options sheet — very few items came standard. For the most part, that's changed with the 2020 model. GMC has made lane keeping assist, low-speed forward collision warning, front pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking all standard.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 GMC Terrain SL 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.20 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$144/mo

$184/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

On top of those added standard features, the 2020 GMC Terrain still gets a comfortable and attractive interior, a lengthy list of upscale optional features and an intuitive cabin layout. Unfortunately, the Terrain also has some significant drawbacks worth noting.

Those optional features we mentioned? They bring the price up pretty quickly. So if you want all the extras, you may be out-pricing top-notch rivals such as the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5, not to mention the Terrain's very similar sibling, the Chevy Equinox. Those same rivals (and a few others) also outdo the Terrain when it comes to interior space, both behind the rear seats and for small-item consideration. And, under the hood, there's a base 1.5-liter engine that is disappointingly slow, with poor throttle response.

So, while the 2020 GMC Terrain may have some high points, we recommend taking a look at competitors before signing on the dotted line.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Below Average

6.5

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

6.0/10

How does the Terrain drive? Unfortunately, the Terrain's base engine lacks power, the transmission is slow-witted, and the powertrain's focus on fuel economy eliminates snappy acceleration. In Edmunds testing it took 9.3 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is very slow.

Elsewhere, this SUV performs better. The brakes bite smoothly and evenly, with a good relationship between pedal pressure and actual stopping power. The steering is slow and a bit mushy, but steering effort weights up nicely at highway speeds, imparting more confidence and a sense of stability. Capable and balanced on twisty roads, the Terrain keeps body roll in check. It's not sporty, but through turns at reasonably high speeds, the Terrain remains stable and composed.

Comfort

6.5/10

How comfortable is the Terrain? On the road, the Terrain is prone to regular low-impact shock, vibration and jostling on even moderately rough surfaces like bumpy streets. Road and tire noise is limited to a muted, dull hum on most road surfaces. The front seats are firm but comfortable and they hold up well over long road trips while the rear seats are relatively firm and flat.

There's a simple control layout other than the four buttons for vent mode, which is excessive, and the central vertical vents distribute air poorly. Seats offer cushion-only or cushion-and-seatback heating – a nice GM-only feature.

Interior

6.0/10

How’s the interior? The Terrain's interior is attractive and well-configured, but some controls are awkwardly placed. Least impressive is the Terrain's unnecessarily clumsy transmission interface -- pull switches placed below the climate controls. There's no way to avoid using those on every drive.

Low seat bolsters and wide-opening doors should make getting in and out easy for most drivers and passengers. There's also plenty of seat adjustment up front, although taller drivers might wish for more steering wheel extension. Visibility is below-average thanks to a deep, angled dash that makes it hard to know where the front really is. Front side windows provide a good view out; less so out the rear side windows.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? The Terrain deserves high marks for its tech, improving on the mediocre offerings of past models. The optional Bose sound system offers surprising power and clarity, and the optional navigation system is easy to use. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard and beat GMC's native software for ease of use, but the standard system works fine for those outside the Apple/Android ecosystem. Six (!) USB ports stand ready for device charging, and one is even the new USB-C standard.

Terrain offers a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot standard with easy setup, but coverage isn't much better than typical mobile phone coverage. The safety systems such as forward collision warning and lane keeping assist are still a bit intrusive, but not overbearing.

Storage

7.0/10

How’s the storage? With the rear seats folded, the Terrain's 63 cubic feet of cargo space lags behind class benchmarks (Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4). But a fold-flat front passenger seat is a nice touch (surfers and campers, rejoice) and increases space to 81 cubic feet. A power liftgate and low liftover height make cargo loading easy, too. There are plenty of bins, trays and pockets available to hold personal items.

For child seats, the car seat anchors are easy to find and connect to, and there's plenty of space for forward-facing seats. Rear-facing seats fit well as long as drivers and passengers can keep their seats reasonably forward. The Terrain provides no top-tether for a middle seat, but there is one in the rear seatback.

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Terrain with the 1.5-liter engine is EPA rated at 28 mpg combined (26 city/30 highway), which is on par with the segment. We got 28.4 mpg on our mixed-driving test loop, but just 22.4 mpg in 600 miles of combined driving. These results suggest that a light touch is needed to achieve its published numbers.

Value

7.0/10

Is the Terrain a good value? We're not convinced the Terrain offers enough value to justify its price. It feels solid and it's not outrageously expensive, but competitors such as the CR-V offer similar or better features and versatility, plus better ride quality and comfort, for a lower price.

For a warranty, the Terrain has three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage, which is typical for this class. However, the first two scheduled maintenance visits are free, and roadside assistance and loaner cars are offered for five years or 60,000 miles. Those are more generous terms than the competition.

Wildcard

5.5/10

The Terrain is a mixed bag. It's handsome at a glance, and the sleek style, sharp (and quiet) interior and modern tech make it desirable. But it rides and drives worse than a car in this class should, especially at this price. It's not oozing with personality, nor is it particularly fun to drive, so the Terrain remains a midpack choice.

Which Terrain does Edmunds recommend?

The base Terrain SL gets a full suite of standard safety features this year, so it's a bit more appealing than it once was, but we'd still recommend upgrading to the SLT trim level. The SLT is eligible for a long list of options, including the more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and creature comforts such as a heated steering wheel and a seven-speaker Bose audio system.

2020 GMC Terrain models

The 2020 GMC Terrain seats five people and is available in four trim levels: the base SL, SLE, SLT, and Denali. There are two engine options: a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (170 hp, 203 lb-ft of torque) and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (252 hp, 260 lb-ft of torque). Both engines come standard with a nine-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, but they can be optioned with all-wheel drive. The 1.5-liter engine is standard on the SL, SLE and SLT. The 2.0-liter engine is optional on the SLT and standard on the Denali.

Standard equipment highlights for the base SL include power-adjustable heated mirrors, rear privacy glass, keyless entry and ignition, a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a six-speaker sound system. A host of advanced driver safety aids, including low-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, are also standard.

The midlevel SLE furnishes just a few extra standard features but opens up access to a few appealing option packages (notably, the Driver Convenience, Infotainment I and Driver Alert I packages) that add a variety of convenience and safety-related features.

Stepping up to the SLT trim gets you leather upholstery and some of the SLE's optional features, such as the 8-inch touchscreen, power driver's seat and dual-zone climate control. You can also get even more options here, including a power-adjustable front passenger seat and a heated steering wheel.

At the top of the Terrain range is the Denali, which receives unique styling cues and interior trim as well as most of the optional features from the above trim levels. A new optional Denali Premium package tops it all off with features such as ventilated front seats, adaptive cruise control and a surround-view parking camera system.

Build Your 2024 Terrain SLE

At a Glance:

6 Colors
4 Trims
6 Packages
$29,900starting MSRP

Build & Price GMC.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.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Above 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

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the GMC Terrain from 2008-2022.}

$502/yr

vs. $465/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.74x/yr

vs. 1x/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

12.8%

vs. 11.5%
for Average Compact SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 GMC Terrain.

5 (63%)

4 (13%)

3 (10%)

2 (3%)

1 (11%)

4.2

38 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Compared to the CRV...

K 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 …

Wha.... what?

DomDriver, 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 …

One of the nicer choices in this size range SUV

Dave, 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 …

GMC Terrain for the win

Jake446, 06/21/2020

2020 GMC Terrain SLE 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A)

I purchased the GMC Terrain SLE FWD and my wife loves it. It drives well, handles well, and is overall a nicer vehicle than the similar Chevy Equinox. With all the incentives that GMC had, we got it at the same price as a less equipped, base Equinox, but the GMC has much more features and overall nicer interior. The 1.5L engine is plenty for us as we are not aggressive drivers. My only …

See all 38 reviews of the GMC Terrain

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2020 Terrain Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$25,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	27 MPG
Cost to Drive	$144/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	29.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

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

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover18.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Marginal
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2020 GMC Terrain Review

2020 GMC Terrain Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 GMC Terrain SL 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.20 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Terrain does Edmunds recommend?

2020 GMC Terrain models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Compared to the CRV...

Wha.... what?

One of the nicer choices in this size range SUV

GMC Terrain for the win

2020 Terrain Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 GMC Terrain SL 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.20 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}