2022 GMC Terrain Reviews, Pricing & Specs

GMC updates the Terrain’s front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim for the 2022 model year. The new AT4 trim level takes things further with a bolder grille design, black 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in sport-terrain tires, and AT4 badges. Since GMC claims the Terrain AT4 is a “small off-road SUV,” it must expect some owners will test that assertion, so the automaker bolts a steel skid plate under the front end to protect vital mechanical components.

Our test vehicle arrived with extra-cost Ebony Twilight metallic paint, the blacked-out AT4 treatment, and a black leather interior, making it impossible to keep clean for more than five seconds. GMC loaded it up with the Tech Package, Infotainment Package II, GMC Pro Safety Plus Package, a Skyscape panoramic sunroof, and a subscription to OnStar services. In Canada, this brings the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) to $44,757, including the $1,995 destination charge.

You need not spend that much on a new 2022 Terrain. The SLE and SLT trim levels are more affordable, and the latter comes with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) to save even more money (all-wheel drive, or AWD, is optional). Or, you could splurge and get the Terrain Denali, which adds a layer of luxury.

Regardless of what you spend, keep in mind that the Terrain is GMC’s entry-level model, and that’s evident in the quality of the materials and execution of details. For example, rather than project data onto the windshield so that it appears to hover over the leading edge of the hood, the Terrain’s optional head-up display shows the information on a clear plastic panel that pops up from the top of the dashboard.

In addition, GMC uses pushbutton transmission controls mounted low on the dashboard underneath the climate control panel. We don’t find them particularly intuitive to use, and while they free up space on the Terrain’s centre console, GMC uses that extra real estate to supply a storage tray that is too narrow to accommodate a smartphone. That seems like a significant oversight.

In any case, when a vehicle’s price tag soars above $40,000, expectations for the interior materials, design, and execution rise with it. Though the AT4’s caramel-coloured contrast piping and stitching certainly were nice, overall we didn’t think the test model’s cabin reflected what GMC characterizes as “craftsmanship at its finest.”

Every 2022 GMC Terrain has a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine making power specs of 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The previously available turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder, which gave the Terrain great acceleration and a towing capacity of 1,587 kilograms (3,500 pounds), is not returning to the lineup. The 1.5-litre can handle a trailer weighing up to 680 kilograms (1,500 pounds).

You can make your peace with the turbo 1.5-litre. Though its 170 ponies don’t arrive until 5,600 rpm, the torque is on tap between 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm. You need to learn how to ride that swell of torque in order to derive some satisfaction with this engine. There is a delay right off the line as the engine revs build, but the nine-speed automatic transmission does a decent job of keeping the Terrain in the thick of the torque band once the SUV is rolling.

Furthermore, it’s not like most of the Terrain’s competitors are more powerful, and the GMC’s turbocharging certainly helps it to feel more lively at elevation than a normally aspirated engine. Still, we miss the turbo 2.0-litre, which made the Terrain legitimately quick. And sometimes you need rapid acceleration for short highway on-ramps and passing zones.

You can run the Terrain AT4 in FWD mode to conserve fuel, switch to AWD mode when necessary, and then activate an Off-Road mode and a Hill Descent Control system if you need it. Torque steer is an issue in FWD mode. When you accelerate hard, it can feel like the SUV is trying to steer you off of the road. Switch to AWD, and this sensation goes away.

The Terrain has four-wheel independent suspension and the AT4 model sits on 17-inch wheels with 225/65 tires. GMC reports that a Terrain AT4 offers 20.1 centimetres of ground clearance, which is nearly two centimetres less than a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, Subaru Forester, or Subaru Outback.

GMC tunes the Terrain AT4 to deliver a good ride and decent handling on pavement. The thick tire sidewalls help to soak up bumps, holes, and cracks in the road, and while the AT4 exhibits more body motion than is preferrable on undulating surfaces, it is remarkably smooth on highways, city streets, and suburban boulevards. Also, aside from what sounds like some extra road noise from the sport-terrain tires, the GMC is surprisingly quiet.

Take the Terrain AT4 off-road, and chances are good that you are going to scrape the front end on the terrain. We crossed a rutted field at a slow pace, and the front air dam and the metal skid plate each made contact with the ground at least once. This version of the Terrain simply isn’t high enough, firm enough, or modified enough to do its AT4 badge justice. Heck, it even scraped while driving through water drainage channels at intersections in our neighborhood, which is a little ridiculous.

The sport-terrain tires don’t offer much grip when taking curves or corners with speed. Not that a Terrain inspires you to drive it for pleasure. It is dreadfully dull, with numb and slightly heavy steering, brakes with a subtle dead spot right and the top of pedal engagement, and an overall lack of power.

At least the Terrain AT4’s powertrain meets expectations with regard to fuel economy. The official Natural Resources Canada rating is 9.6 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 8.3 highway, and 9.0 combined with AWD, and we matched that on the evaluation loop, with a mix of driving in FWD and AWD.

If the Terrain isn’t enjoyable to drive, it certainly helps to simplify your life. The interior is roomy for a compact crossover, and the Terrain offers numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions combined with good cargo-carrying capability.

Our Terrain AT4 included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air-conditioning vents. Thanks to the eight-way power driver’s seat, you can find a comfortable driving position behind the tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, and regardless of the weather outside, you’ll be toasty warm or pleasantly cool inside. GMC’s parent company, General Motors, knows how to engineer an effective climate control system.

With AT4 trim, you get standard perforated leather upholstery with spiffy caramel-colour contrast stitching and piping. It looks and feels convincingly upscale. The Terrain’s back seat is downright roomy, offering proper support, plenty of legroom and foot room, and softly padded front seatbacks that are kind to knees. The AT4 also has a rear USB charging port, suppressing complaints from teenagers.

While the shape of the storage tray forward of the cupholders is disappointing, GMC carves as many storage slots and spots as it can into the Terrain’s interior. From the small shelf in the dashboard forward of the front passenger to the narrow shelves in the door panels and on the sides of the centre console, GMC tries to help you find places to stash things.

Cargo space measures 838 litres behind the second row, and there is a large storage bin underneath the Terrain’s trunk floor. Fold the rear seat down to create 1,792 litres of cargo space. And if you have long items to load, you can fold the front passenger’s seat down, giving you the distance from the dashboard to the liftgate.

GMC offers Terrain buyers two different infotainment systems. With SLE trim, a 7-inch touchscreen display is standard, while the SLT, AT4, and Denali come with a high-definition 8-inch touchscreen. Both systems offer Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, newly wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar, including access to a Wi-Fi hotspot. With the larger screen, a connected navigation system with natural voice recognition and a Bose premium sound system are available.

Our test vehicle had the larger screen and the Infotainment Package II upgrade. It installs connected nav, improved voice recognition, and the Bose audio system. The voice recognition system is excellent, and it responded quickly and accurately to all of our testing prompts except for the one requesting a temperature change, but that’s because the climate control system isn’t connected to it.

Not only that, but it also accurately perceived and responded to some of the more esoteric test prompts that we use. For example, we told the digital assistant that we wanted to listen to reggae music, and it immediately changed the SiriusXM station to The Joint. We told the Terrain we needed to go to a hospital, and the resulting list of the nearest medical facilities contained only hospitals with emergency rooms and not a bunch of other nonsense. When asking for directions, the system promptly supplied a route to an address without requiring us to say “one-six-zero-zero” instead of “sixteen-hundred.”

Really, we can’t give this voice-recognition tech enough praise. It is excellent. If only the Bose speakers were equally as good. Also, from a user experience standpoint, we prefer how Chevrolet presents this same infotainment system in the related Equinox model.

Furthermore, we’ve already cited the shortcut GMC takes with the Terrain’s newly optional head-up display. The head-up display is part of a new-for-2022 Tech Package option that also installs front and rear park assist sensors and a surround-view camera system. These definitely come in handy.

So does the Terrain’s Tire Fill Alert system, which makes it easier to keep the SUV’s tires inflated to the proper pressure. And let’s not forget about the SUV’s remote engine starting system, which can be appreciated from frigid winters to muggy summers so that the Terrain’s cabin is the desired temperature when you’re ready to depart home.

Every 2022 GMC Terrain has a GMC Pro Safety Package as standard equipment. This collection of driver-assist and collision-avoidance systems includes forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam (Intellibeam) headlights, and a following distance indicator.

As an option with GMC Terrain SLE, SLT, and AT4 trim, a GMC Pro Safety Plus Package is available. (It comes standard with Denali trim.) It adds adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a lane-change assist function, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat that vibrates to help draw the driver’s attention to system warnings.

Our Terrain AT4 had all of these safety features, and during testing they worked effectively. Beyond that, they worked in a subtle fashion, which means you are more likely to use them instead of turning them off while driving. Note, however, that a lane-centring function is not available for the 2022 Terrain.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2022 Terrain mostly “Good” crash-test scores—the highest possible score. In a new side-impact IIHS test, the Terrain earns a “Marginal” rating, but in other evaluations, the SUV gets top marks. The IIHS has not assessed the 2022 Terrain’s LED headlight performance or how effective the GMC Pro Safety Package is, so the organization does not say whether the SUV meets IIHS Top Safety Pick standards or not.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain’s crashworthiness as this review is written.

Essentially, the 2022 GMC Terrain is a restyled and more expensive version of the Chevrolet Equinox. Not only does the Terrain cost more, but you also get to pay extra for any paint colour except for Summit White and Quicksilver Metallic, which is strange considering the Chevy and the GMC roll down the same San Luis Potosi, Mexico, assembly line.

Right off the bat, the GMC takes a hit for its cost-effectiveness. Now, add its lack of off-roading capability in AT4 specification, and the Terrain comes across as a real smoke-and-mirrors marketing ploy. You’ve really gotta love the way this SUV looks to pay more for the GMC Terrain because it otherwise feels and drives just like the Chevy.

Granted, GMC positions itself as a premium brand, like Buick but with a rugged image, so perhaps this compels the company to charge more. But you should know that Buick sells a compact SUV called the Envision that is more credibly premium, and it even has a more powerful drivetrain with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine supplying a more satisfying drive.

However, if you want a truly premium compact crossover SUV with entertaining performance, look no further than your local Mazda dealership. The popular Mazda CX-5 and the new-for-2023 Mazda CX-50 models are excellent alternatives to either the Buick or the GMC, aside from their frustrating infotainment systems.

Note: Images show a US model.