2021 GMC Terrain Facelift Spied Undergoing Testing - GM Authority

The GMC Terrain is up for a mid-cycle refresh, and that’s exactly what our spy caught undergoing testing today.

The prototype for the 2021 GMC Terrain refresh has camouflaged front and rear ends, suggesting that the nose and tail will be reworked to get the latest GMC styling. Like on the 2020 GMC Acadia refresh, most of the updates to the 2021 Terrain will likely be to the front end. Expect a new grille, LED headlamps, and various other details. Notably, the overall shape of the grille seems consistent with those seen on the 2019 Sierra and 2020 Acadia, with lower “fangs” at each outer edge.

The rear end is a bit more tricky, as this prototype of the 2021 GMC Terrain facelift seems to be wearing placeholder rear tail lamps. Even so, we can see that the placeholder lights take the general formation of GMC’s C-shaped lighting elements, though the units will likely be updated for the refresh.

Another curious element are the quad exhaust out back. Much like on the 2021 Chevy Equinox refresh we spied earlier this month, the treatment suggests a higher-performance variant of the compact crossover is on its way. It’s unclear which engine will be breathing through the quad pipes.

Besides the potential high-performance variant, powertrain changes will likely include the replacement of the turbo-charged 2.0L LTG engine with the all-new LSY unit. GM could also opt to replace the 6-speed automatic transmission with its new 9-speed gearbox when paired with the 1.6L turbo-diesel engine LH7 motor.

In addition, the 2021 GMC Terrain facelift to bring very minor changes and updates to the interior, mostly in the form of the latest infotainment systems and perhaps the inclusion of GM’s innovative Rear Camera Mirror.

Expect the GMC Terrain refresh to be announced in late 2019 or early 2020 and launch in the 2020 calendar year to continue the model’s successful performance in the highly-competitive compact crossover space.

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About GMC Terrain

The GMC Terrain is a compact crossover that currently is GMC's smallest crossover slotting below the midsize GMC Acadia.

The first-generation Terrain ran from the 2010-2017 model years and was based on the Theta 2 platform. The vehicle was a "tweeter" model that straddled the compact and midsize CUV segments in size. The second-generation Terrain was introduced for the 2018 model year. It rides on the GM D2 platform shared with the second-generation Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Volt and, unlike its predecessor, is positioned squarely in the compact segment.

2019 GMC Terrain SLT interior 001

The second-generation, 2018 and newer Terrain features an all-new exterior and interior, while being slightly smaller inside and out compared to the outgoing model. It also offers an all-new engine lineup and an all-new lightweight architecture that enables a weight savings of over 400 pounds compared to the first-gen model. As a result, the new Terrain gets better fuel economy while also delivering improvements in ride, handling, packaging, and safety.

The 2019 model year Terrain sees one new color, various technology updates such as the addition of full-speed Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop/Go, Front Pedestrian Braking, HD Rear Vision Camera, and HD Surround Vision, as well as the introduction of various packages, including the Terrain Black Edition.

The second-generation GMC Terrain is built by GM Mexico at the GM San Luis Potosi factory.