With General Motors' "Excitement" Pontiac division and all its ponies targeted for the glue factory within a year, remaining divisions of the scaled-down automaker are emerging stronger. Case in point is GMC, the one-time truck division that's now branching out and evolving with a softer side. The all-new 2010 Terrain is a car-based, five-passenger crossover that rides and feels very un-truck like. Sales started September of 2009.
The automotive twin of the hot-selling Chevrolet Equinox, the GMC version is an upscale alternative to the every-man Chevy. Equinox received its second-generation makeover in 2010, corresponding with Terrain's arrival. Both are assembled in Ontario, Canada and both offer the choice of four or six-cylinder power. Shoppers also choose between front-wheel or snow-friendly all-wheel drive. From a production standpoint, Terrain picks up assembly line slack from the dismissed Pontiac Torrent sold since the 2005 model year. Mid and full-size car-based crossovers are the family transport vehicles of the new millennium; the same way soccer-Mom friendly minivans were to the 1990s. In fact, GM and its cross-town rival Ford no longer build conventional, front-wheel-drive minivans.
Although GMC promotes Terrain as a 'small' vehicle, don't kid yourself, this has the feel of a mid-size brut. Some up level features standard in both trims include a rear-view camera (with small screen located in the left corner of the rear-view mirror) which sprouts to life when the transmission shifts into reverse. Satellite radio pre-wiring comes standard (with three months free subscription) as does one year of OnStar subscription service, GM's in-vehicle communication system linking occupants to a manned, 24-hour center.
Under the hood, are two new GM engines; a standard inline, direct injection 2.4-liter four-cylinder delivers an impressive 182 horsepower. Optional in both trims (SLE and SLT) is a 3.0-liter; direct injection V-6 pumping out 264 horses. Both are mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and require regular, unleaded fuel. Manual transmission is not offered. A front-wheel-drive, four-cylinder powertrain also breaks the 30 mile per gallon barrier. Expect 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. All-wheel-drive four bangers generate 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. The comparatively large fuel tank (18.8 gallons in four-cylinder models and 20.9 in V-6 versions) allows for a 500-mile range of driving (with either engine) before refueling is needed.
Our tester front-drive V-6 SLT checked in at $27,450. After options, the bottom line added up to $31,775 including a $745 destination charge. The V-6 engine is a $1,500 extra while the handy power hatchback door adds $495. A four-cylinder front-drive edition starts at $24,995, including a $745 destination fee.
Susan Docherty, former Buick-GMC manager (June 2008 to October 2009), recently received a promotion to GM's Vice president of U.S. sales, but helped launch Terrain in her prior GMC duties. She spoke with the Midwest Automotive Media Association in September of 2009 explaining, "Terrain's key selling point is its value. Terrain is almost $11,000 less than a similarly equipped Land Rover LR2." Docherty noted the three-row GMC Acadia crossover, is a vehicle where 50 percent of the buyers are women, so the GMC brand now sports mutual sex-appeal.
Folks who have not stepped inside a GMC dealer let alone any General Motors showroom lately will notice welcoming, warm and un-cheesy vehicle interiors. Gone is the plastic look and feel, replaced with a two-tone layout with brushed aluminum enhancements deigned from the mind of a decorator, not engineer. Red stitching in our SLT edition along the supportive and not overly soft bucket seats added an elegant touch. General Motors' interiors are adult and now grown up without the feel of a teenager's bedroom.
Cruise control functions incorporating a thumb dial are found at 'three-'o-clock' on the steering wheel; redundant audio controls are stationed at nine' 'o-clock. Both front and rear wipers monitor from a right side steering column stalk, just above the ignition cylinder. Headlights monitor with a twist of the turn signal stalk. Some premium competitors include a push-start option, where just a key fob needs to be on a person or in the car, eliminating the traditional 'key turn.' Terrain currently does not have this option but may be useful down the road to distinguish it from its many segment rivals.
Terrain's instrument panel includes a vertically opposed digital information window flanked by two medium-sized analog gauges with two small gauges at the top. The top of the IP includes a novel protruding sun shade to keep glare off the screen.
The foot-operated parking brake opens up the area between front bucket seats to include in-line beverage holders, the automatic transmission shifter and a small open square area for cell phones or other electronics. The flip-top arm rest to the rear opens from the back to reveal a deep storage area dropping all the way to the floor. Beverage holders are also molded into each door.
The center dash top includes a handy, shallow storage area with pop-up cover. Below is the sound system and ventilation system with small chrome dials and buttons. Sharp-looking thin, vertical air vents flank the system. Resting towards the bottom is a long, open storage region. Optional is an in-dash seven-inch touch navigation screen.
The second-row bench seat bottom manually slides (as one unit) fore and aft approximately 8 inches for superior leg room. Headroom is generous through the vehicle. Second row backrests fold with a 60/40 split directly onto the seats for increased carrying capacity. With row two down, Terrain has 63.9 cubic feet of space, average for a mid-size crossover. The SLE trims come with cloth seating while SLTs sport leatherette type. Optional is a second-row DVD entertainment system with dual independent screens. Back side windows and the hatch window are tinted.
Squared and flared wheel wheels add a brazen look. Strap-like handles adorn the four side doors. The bold, long trapezoid grille, framed with chrome included three honeycomb sectors and the GMC logo front and center. Squarish headlight housing flanks the grille. Chrome trim surrounds side door windows. I'd like to see slightly larger side-view mirrors and built-in turn signal indicators as found in some other upscale GM products. Narrow tail lights wrap around from the hatch to the side fenders. A power hatch back is optional. With the hatch up, those six-feet and shorter can maneuver without ducking. Seventeen-inch wheels come standard in four-cylinder models while 18-inch sizes adorn the V-6. Optional in the V-6 are 19-inch tires.
Terrain, like its Equinox sibling, includes a vast array of airbags (dual front, side head curtain covering rows, driver and front passenger side thorax, front and rear outboard side impact) along with anti-lock brakes and stability control with built-in traction control. Other notable standard equipment includes cruise control, air conditioning, electronic variable assist steering , rear defroster along with power door locks, power windows and power outside mirrors.
Turning radius is so so, but the sound insulation is excellent. It's a quite ride with the smooth-running V-6 engine noticeable, but not overpowering. Terrain glides over and muffles road imperfections (even on Chicago's pot-holed mine field) nicely thanks to its soft-ride, four-wheel independent suspension. Riders have good command of the road due to a high seating position and large side windows.
If primarily moving more than two folks and all their gear, opt for the V-6 . The four-cylinder works well for one or two folks.
Terrain is not a bargain-priced crossover, but aimed at the entry-luxury crowd with enough appointments and design tweaks to distinguish it from its Equinox sibling. Terrain's powertrain warranty coverage is for five years or 100,000 miles.
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