2023 GMC Terrain Review

Name: 2023 GMC Terrain Review
Brand: GMC

Price Range: $19,990 - $27,590

The 2023 GMC Terrain has a comfortable interior and easy-to-use technology features. But a weak base engine, unresponsive transmission and bouncy ride, along with a high price, keep the Terrain from standing out in the small SUV class.

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146 cars

$23,349 avg. price

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2023 GMC Terrain Review

byCameron Rogers^{Manager, News
Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at Edmunds include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).}

Pros

Upscale interior
Touchscreen interfaces are intuitive and easy to use

Cons

Price with options runs higher than average for the class
Slow acceleration
Less cargo space behind the back seat than most competitors

What's new

An eBoost trailer braking feature debuts
Part of the second Terrain generation introduced for 2018

Overview

We get it — the inventory crunch is real, prices on new and used cars are sky-high, and you might be considering vehicles from brands that you might not have cross-shopped otherwise. If this describes you, and your search for the perfect Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 is coming up short, you might be eyeing the 2023 GMC Terrain as an acceptable substitute.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale nearby

146 listings

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2023 GMC Terrain
AT4 4dr SUV
$24,500
good price
$1,539 below market
- 41,310 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, corporate fleet vehicle
- 4cyl automatic
- Leesburg Buick GMC (7 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Leather Seats
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Leesburg, VA
2023 GMC Terrain AT4 Summit White AWD 1.5L DOHCBack up camera, Bluetooth Hands-free, Cruise Control, Keyless Entry, Terrain AT4, 4D Sport Utility, 1...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
26 Combined MPG (24 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3GKALYEG4PL240797
Stock: P240797
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 01-28-2025
New Listing
2023 GMC Terrain
SLT 4dr SUV
$22,699
fair price
$777 below market
- 47,255 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, rental vehicle
- 4cyl automatic
- Enterprise Car Sales Sterling (3 mi away)
- Home delivery*
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Leather Seats
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Sterling, VA
Transfer of vehicle from another location to your neighborhood Enterprise Car Sales may require payment of a non-refundable transfer fee to begin the ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
26 Combined MPG (24 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3GKALVEG0PL251052
Stock: 7WWKD5
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 12-23-2024

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Keep walking, partner. Despite a handful of tech updates and a slight restyling last year, the Terrain's numerous drawbacks keep it from being a top- or even mid-tier contender in the small SUV segment. The only engine available is underpowered, and seat and ride comfort are well below class standards.

GMC is debuting a feature for 2023 that it calls eBoost. It's a built-in system that GMC says can enhance the braking performance of a compatible trailer to shorten stopping distances. This is all well and good, but it doesn't move the needle for an SUV that isn't really meant for towing to begin with. The bottom line is you can do better than the 2023 GMC Terrain. Read our detailed Expert Rating below for our test team's complete evaluation of the Terrain's hits and misses.

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

6/10

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. The Terrain is capable and balanced on twisty roads and keeps body roll in check. It's not sporty, but the Terrain remains stable and composed through turns at reasonably high speeds.

Comfort

6.5/10

How comfortable is the Terrain? The Terrain is prone to regular low-impact shocks, 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. The rear seats, meanwhile, are relatively firm and flat.

There's a simple control layout besides the four buttons for the vent mode, which is excessive. The central vertical vents distribute air poorly, though. The seats offer cushion-only or cushion-and-seatback heating, which is a nice feature.

Interior

6/10

How’s the interior? The Terrain's interior is attractive and well configured, but some controls are awkwardly placed and impossible to avoid. Least impressive is the Terrain's unnecessarily clumsy transmission interface.

The 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. The front side windows provide a good view out. That's less true for the rear side windows.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? The Terrain's optional Bose sound system offers surprising power and clarity, and the optional navigation system is easy to use. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration systems come standard and beat GMC's native software for ease of use. Still, the standard system works fine for those outside the Apple/Android ecosystem.

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

Storage

7/10

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 that allows you to haul longer items (surfers and campers, rejoice). 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 safety 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 doesn't provide a top tether for a middle seat, but there is one in the rear seatback.

Fuel Economy

7/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Terrain with the 1.5-liter engine and front-wheel drive gets an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That's a bit below what other top small SUVs get. We got 28.4 mpg on our mixed-driving test route but came in at just 22.4 mpg after 600 miles of combined driving. These results suggest that a light touch is needed to achieve the EPA's numbers.

Value

7/10

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 lower-priced competitors such as the CR-V offer similar or better features and versatility, plus better ride quality and comfort.

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. Its first two scheduled maintenance visits are free, and roadside assistance and loaner cars are included for five years or 60,000 miles. Those are more generous terms than the competition offers.

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 SLT trim gets our vote. It's noticeably nicer on the inside with leather upholstery and more features than the base trim. Consider adding the Pro Safety Plus option to get adaptive cruise control and more driver assist features.

Compare 2023 GMC Terrain trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2023 GMC Terrain models

The 2023 GMC Terrain is a small five-passenger SUV that is offered in four trim levels: SLE, SLT, AT4 and Denali. All models are powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (175 horsepower, 203 lb-ft of torque) that is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is available as an option (it's standard on the AT4 and Denali).

SLE
For an entry-level model, the SLE trim comes with a lot of standard features that include:

LED exterior lighting
Heated mirrors
Proximity keyless entry and push-button ignition
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
7-inch infotainment touchscreen
Onboard Wi-Fi hotspot
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (with wireless connectivity)
Six-speaker sound system
Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending front collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane keeping assistance (steers the vehicle back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

SLT
The SLT trim adds plenty of luxury and convenience features that include:

Hands-free liftgate
Roof rails
Remote ignition
Dual-zone automatic climate control
8-inch infotainment touchscreen
Additional USB ports
Leather upholstery
Leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel
Power-adjustable, heated front seats
Driver's seat memory functions
Household-style power outlet
Universal garage door opener
High-definition rearview camera

AT4
The AT4 trim is touted as the off-road version, though it's more rugged-looking than all-terrain capable with only a few upgrades:

Underbody skid plate
Unique styling cues

Denali
The range-topping Denali trim adds a good amount of luxury and technology to the mix with:

Integrated navigation system
Bose premium audio
Wireless charging pad
Upgraded driver information display
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield)
Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
Safety alert seat (vibrates the driver's seat cushion when a safety warning is triggered)

New for 2023 is the Denali's Black Diamond Edition package that adds:

Sunroof
Heated rear outboard seats
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Terrain and the car in front)
Ventilated front seats (Denali only)
Semi-automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
Surround-view monitor (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

Many of the features that are standard or available on the Denali are optional on the SLE and AT4 as options.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2023 GMC Terrain SLE 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 $2.89 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$138/mo

$170/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

See Edmunds pricing data

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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.}

GMC Terrain Reviews

Owner Reviews

3.9

47 reviews

5(53%)

4(14%)

3(8%)

2(16%)

1(9%)

Write a vehicle review See all 47 reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Great Car!

Kim, 05/15/2022

2022 GMC Terrain SLT 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A)

Had a 2018 Terrain and now have a 2022. I have nothing negative to say about the Terrain. No, the 1.5L isn’t a powerhouse, but it’s completely adequate around town, and it’s surprisingly quick entering the freeway with ample passing capabilities. Anyone who says the 1.5L is a slug hasn’t driven the car. The ride is firm and well controlled, never bouncy. The upscale cabin is comfortable …

beautiful car

Steve Magg, 04/11/2023

2023 GMC Terrain Denali 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A)

Great styling, very adequate features, and ride. Not like some reviews, not sure what they are comparing to. Bought the 2023 Denali for my wife and she loves it. Some say the powertrain is weak, but I feel it is very well-suited for the size of the car. Comfortable for my 300 lbs and 6'1'', with loads of room for anything in the back. Very happy with only one slight complaint.....road …

10 hour road trip worthy!

Stacy P, 10/16/2023

2023 GMC Terrain SLE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A)

Bought mine in Georgia and drove it home to Louisiana!!! 10 hour trip and when I got home there was no discomfort or pain in my back and legs which is highly unusual for me. Nice ride and great handling. When I stuck my foot it in there was no hesitation whatsoever. Would highly recommend to anyone.

At4 terrain- love it

Benny, 06/04/2022

2022 GMC Terrain AT4 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 9A)

Ingot rid of my 2020 acadia as wife complained too big. Well got a 2022 at4 terrain and wife loves it and really like it too. Going from my 6 cyl in acadia had me worried but that 9 speed tranny takes care of any doubts i had . Shifts smooth , no hunting like my wifes former crv cvt. Mileage is great ,ride solid . Glad we bought and would buy again.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 GMC Terrain, so we've included reviews for other years of the Terrain since its last redesign.

See all 47 reviews of the GMC Terrain

Write a vehicle review

2023 Terrain Highlights

Trim:

SLE

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$29,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$138/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: Warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your path while you're reversing out of a driveway or parking space.
Side Blind Zone Alert: Monitors blind spots for traffic, warning you when an obstacle is present.
Safety Alert Seat: Vibrates the driver's seat cushion when a safety warning is triggered.

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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2023 GMC Terrain Review

Price & Payment

2023 GMC Terrain Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

For sale nearby

2023 GMC TerrainAT4 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2023 GMC TerrainSLT 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Terrain does Edmunds recommend?

2023 GMC Terrain models

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 GMC Terrain SLE 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 $2.89 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

GMC Terrain Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Great Car!

beautiful car

10 hour road trip worthy!

At4 terrain- love it

2023 Terrain Highlights

Safety

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2023 GMC Terrain
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2023 GMC Terrain
SLT 4dr SUV

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2023 GMC Terrain SLE 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 $2.89 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}