2023 GMC Terrain Review
Price Range: $18,590 - $32,846





+4
Below Average
6.5
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
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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2023 GMC Terrain Review
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.
For sale near Columbus, OH
3,643 listings
- $26,200great price$6,719 below market
- 21,542 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use
- 5 Seats, 24 City / 29 Hwy MPG
- Feldman Chevrolet of Novi (171 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Novi, MI
2023 GMC Terrain SLT ***CERTIFIED!***, ***CARFAX ONE OWNER***, 4D Sport Utility, 1.5L DOHC, 9-Speed Automatic, FWD, Ebony Twilight Metallic, Jet Black...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
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/29 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3GKALPEG5PL104365
Stock: MF5T257869A
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 09-15-2025 - $20,337great price$4,848 below market
- 68,937 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, rental vehicle
- 5 Seats, 24 City / 29 Hwy MPG
- Hertz Car Sales Detroit (145 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Leather Seats
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Woodhaven, MI
*All prices plus government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any electronic filing charge, and any emission testing charge. The price includes a d...
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/29 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 3GKALPEG3PL187553
Stock: 53680
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 07-30-2025
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
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Below Average
6.5
out of 10
We drove the 2023 GMC Terrain on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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*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.
2023 GMC Terrain trim level differences
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).
Which Terrain trim 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

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Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$144/mo for Terrain SLE
Terrain SLE
vs
$179/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
Reliability
The 2023 GMC Terrain has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 2 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #11 out of 29 among Compact SUVs. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Reliability Rating 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
Recalls
2 recalls foundChecking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
- Recall Number:
- 23V339000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- N232403240
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 668187
- Defect Description:
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The four rear-seat lower child seat LATCH anchorage bars may have excessive powder coating, which could prevent a child seat from being installed with the anchorage bars. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
- Defect Consequence:
- The inability to install a child seat with the LATCH anchorage bars could result in an unsecured child seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
- Corrective Action:
- Owners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle's rear seat belts until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect the latch anchorage bars, and remove and replace the finish, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232403240.
- Recall Number:
- 22V929000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- N222388911
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 9
- Defect Description:
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with ventilated front passenger seats. The Occupant Classification System may not properly disable the front passenger air bag when there is a small child or child restraint detected in the seat.
- Defect Consequence:
- In the event of a crash, a front passenger air bag that deploys with a child or infant in the front passenger seat can increase their risk of injury.
- Corrective Action:
- Dealers will replace the passenger presence system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222388911.
Warranty
3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty- Basic Warranty
- 3 years / 36,000 miles
- Drivetrain Warranty
- 5 years / 60,000 miles
- Rust Warranty
- 6 years / 100,000 miles
- Roadside assistance Warranty
- 5 years / 60,000 miles
- Free maintenance Warranty
- 1 years / unlimited miles
GMC Terrain Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
beautiful car
5 out of 5 starsSteve 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 … noise from rear tires is a bit loud, could use some deadening foam?
Great Car!
5 out of 5 starsKim, 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 … and extremely quiet. Gas mileage is very good. Build quality and paintwork are excellent.
10 hour road trip worthy!
5 out of 5 starsStacy 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
5 out of 5 starsBenny, 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.
2023 Terrain Highlights
SLE
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $29,900 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 26 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $144/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 29.6 cu.ft. |
front wheel drive | |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
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 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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