Automotive

Folks who think a GMC vehicle is nothing but a Chevy with leather seats are going to get their worldview challenged by the all-new Terrain compact crossover.

Going its own way in styling, interior appointments and even driver controls, the 2018 GMC Terrain has gone to herculean lengths to differentiate itself from its more blue-collar Chevy Equinox sibling.

Sure, both the Chevy and GMC offer the same three engines -- 1.5- and 2.0-liter turbocharged gas I-4s and a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo diesel -- and both offer six- and nine-speed automatic transmissions. But Terrain goes higher brow by offering wider availability of the nine-speed. In Terrain, only the diesel gets the six-speed while both gasoline engines button to the niner. In Equinox, only the 2.0-liter gas engine mates to the nine-speed while both the diesel and base gas engine get the six-speed.

Offered in SL, SLE, SLT and Denali trims, Terrain's styling is flamboyant -- particularly in the ultra-tony Denali we drove, with its mouthful of metal up front, blacked-out D-pillar in profile and, out back, claw-hook tail lights.

And this new crossover manages a bit of legerdemain with dimensional changes. Now a true compact, the 2018 Terrain shrinks its wheelbase by a whopping 5.2 inches while shaving its overall length by 3.2 inches. What's remarkable is, despite the shrinkage, Terrain loses virtually no rear leg room and a mere 2 cubic feet of cargo space.

Room is fine up front in seats more concerned with comfort than lateral support, while in back a six-footer can sit behind a six-footer with no complaints.

On the road, the cabin is quiet with, if you listen closely, just a bit of road noise from our car's 19-inch tires. Meanwhile, handling is sure and, from our Denali's 252-hp blown four, acceleration is gratifying. In 130 miles around town, we registered 21 mpg, just as the EPA figured.

Denali's interior decor is lovely, with two-tone leather, wood accents and classy brightwork generously sprinkled throughout.

Regarding transmission control, Terrain -- unlike Equinox, which boasts a routine floor stick -- has buttons. "Oh, seen that before," you say? Well, you ain't seen this.

Terrain's tranny controls are not high on the instrument panel and vertical, but low on the center stack, horizontal, and comprised of buttons for Park and Neutral and pull tabs for Drive and Reverse. And the placement of the manual-shift rocker switch seems whacky at first -- distant from the driver at the center stack's lower far right near the front-passenger's left knee! It makes more sense, though, when you figure Terrain drivers will use that manual mode mainly to lock out the nine-speed's upper gears in steep descents.

Our all-wheel drive Denali boasted several drive modes, including Tour, to make this guy front-wheel drive and conserve fuel; Off Road, for tailored-to-the-task throttle response and stability control; Trailer, to alter transmission conduct while towing; and, of course, an all-wheel drive mode. Hill Descent Control is here, too.

Infotainment is sensible in typical GM fashion. The radio has volume and tuning knobs, the touch screen is intuitive, and the center stack boasts lots of redundant hard buttons for fans of old-school controls.

There is one characteristic, however, that Terrain does share with Equinox: like its Chevy counterpart, this new GMC is a quantum leap in styling, functionality and driving dynamics over its predecessor.

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