Redesigned 2018 GMC Terrain Feels Like a Questionable Value

Inside the Terrain’s cabin, the seats are covered in a not-kind-to-the touch coarse fabric. The seats feel firm when you first settle in, but they quickly lose support, often after just a short drive. Rear-seat room is on par for the class.

Some interior trim bits feel cheap, which is especially glaring for an almost $37,000 vehicle.

The Terrain has an unorthodox gear selector, which has unintuitive-to-operate buttons mounted low on the front of the center console. Some of the buttons are operated by pushing, others by pulling. Drivers might need to divert their eyes to locate which button they might need—making selections particularly challenging at night. We’re struggling to find the value that these buttons might add over a more traditional-style shifter.

The other controls are fairly simple and easy to use. Our Terrain has GM’s new infotainment system, which comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. This optional system features an 8-inch screen and is an upgrade from the base model’s 7-inch one. But in our view it lacks some of the functionality we enjoyed in the previous-generation system, which is in the current Equinox.

So far we’re a bit underwhelmed with GM’s upscale compact SUV. The so-so interior quality, noisy cabin, and uninspired performance make us question the Terrain’s high price. Other high-trim models in the Terrain’s price range—such as the Honda CR-V Touring, Toyota RAV4 Platinum, and Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium—have much nicer cabins and a more rewarding driving experience. Perhaps that explains why many dealers are offering discounts to the tune of $10,000 on the brand-new Terrain.

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