New generation of GMC's Terrain arrives with a diesel engine option

GMC’s Terrain compact crossover has moved into its second generation for 2018, with a roomier interior, lots of new technology and its first diesel engine, which was under the hood of our test vehicle.

Prices of the 2018 Terrain start at $24,995 (plus $995 freight) for the base SL front-drive model with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, and range as high as $39,695 for the Denali all-wheel-drive version with a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder.

All of the available engines are turbocharged: the 1.5- and 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinders, and the 1.6-liter diesel four-cylinder.

Standard with the gasoline engines is a nine-speed automatic transmission, while our diesel engine came with a six-speed automatic.

EPA fuel-economy ratings are impressive for the diesel, at 28 mpg city/39 highway with front-wheel drive, and 28/38 with all-wheel drive. During our week in the SLT Diesel all-wheel drive, we averaged 33.7 mpg, with about two-thirds highway driving.

Ratings for the 1.5-liter engine are 26 mpg city/30 highway with front drive, and 24/28 with all-wheel drive. For the 2.0-liter engine, they are 22/28 and 26.

To shift the transmission, the Terrain has funky pull-push buttons in the lower center of the dash for “Park,” “Drive,” “Reverse,” and “Neutral.” GMC says this arrangement was intended to provide more storage room in the center console by replacing the conventional transmission shifter with these electronically controlled “intuitive pushbuttons and pull triggers.”

GMC calls it Electronic Precision Shift, and my first time in the new Terrain it took me a while to figure out where the gearshift was. I was looking for a traditional column- or center-console-mounted shifter.

The buttons are easy to operate, though, and for safety’s sake, you do have to pull out on them to put the vehicle into gear. That prevents accidentally bumping the Terrain into “Drive” or “Reverse” while fooling with gadgets and such in the center console.

The Terrain has room for up to five passengers, and no third-row seat is offered to expand passenger capacity.

Standard features even at the base level include the Traction Select system; LED daytime running lights and taillights; leather-wrapped steering wheel; flat-folding front passenger seat; 17-inch wheels; and keyless open with pushbutton start.

Moving two steps up to the SLT trim brought us perforated leather seats, heated steering wheel and heated/ventilated front seats, 18-inch machined-aluminum wheels with gray painted pockets, a chrome grille, fog lights, roof rails, LED turn signals in the outside mirrors, and premium chrome accents. Also included were an eight-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar, self-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting, a 110-volt power outlet and two USB ports (data/charge) up front and two USB charge-only ports for rear passengers.

Included with no extra charge on the SLT Diesel was the Preferred Package, with hands-free rear power programmable liftgate; memory settings for the power driver’s seat and outside mirrors; a six-way power front passenger seat with power lumbar; and universal garage/gate opener.

In the center of the dash was an 8-inch multicolor touch screen for the GMC Infotainment/Navigation system with Bluetooth streaming audio for music and select phones, compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and satellite radio.

The navigation was extra on our tester, part of the Infotainment Package II ($1,180), which also brought a Bose seven-speaker audio system, HD radio and OnStar Connected Navigation. The rearview camera system showed its image on the 8-inch screen.

We also had the Driver Alert Package I ($840), with Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Park Assist and the Safety Alert Seat.

The Skyscape Sunroof ($1,495) was included, and also required addition of the Driver Alert Package II ($495), which added Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, and Following Distance Indicator.

In the instrument panel was a Driver Information Center with 4.2-inch color screen, providing vehicle information such as oil life and tire pressures, and trip information, including fuel range, average fuel economy, instant fuel economy, average vehicle speed, compass direction and digital speed readout.

We had more than enough power with the diesel engine for a long road trip that included some mountain driving. The diesel engine is a bit noisy at idle, but isn’t all that noticeable at highway speeds. One of our passengers did remark while sitting at a traffic signal that “the engine sounds weird.” She didn’t know it was a diesel, just that it sounded different.

There was plenty of room in the cargo area. Behind the rear seat there is 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space; that expands to 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded flat, and 81 cubic feet with the front passenger seat folded down.

There are two decently sized side-by-side cupholders in the front center console for the driver and front passenger. In front of them is a tray for smartphones, and behind is a covered console box.

Ride and handling were typical for a modern crossover, smooth and carlike, with no real complaints.

Standard safety features included electronic stability control with traction control, front seat-mounted side air bags, outboard roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows of seats, the GM teen-driver system, a theft-deterrent system, four-wheel antilock disc brakes and tire-pressure monitoring.

Total sticker price for our 2018 Terrain SLT Diesel all-wheel drive was $41,400, including freight and options.

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