2022 GMC Terrain vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was a standout in the midsize SUV segment, offering a distinctive design that set it apart from the crowd. Its bold styling featured wide headlights, a long hood, and an assertive trapezoidal grille, giving it a commanding presence. The character line along the side, reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and Lexus-inspired taillights added to its appeal. The introduction of the XSE trim level brought a sportier look with a restyled front end, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a unique front fascia. Inside, the Limited trim exuded luxury with near-flawless fit and finish, tan leather seats, and wood details, making it a comfortable and upscale choice for families.

In contrast, the 2022 GMC Terrain received updates to its front styling, wheel designs, and interior trim, with the new AT4 trim level adding a bolder grille, black 17-inch alloy wheels, and AT4 badges. The AT4 was marketed as a "small off-road SUV," featuring a steel skid plate for protection. The test vehicle came with Ebony Twilight metallic paint and a black leather interior, but keeping it clean proved challenging. The Terrain offered a range of packages, including the Tech Package, Infotainment Package II, and GMC Pro Safety Plus Package, enhancing its features. However, the quality of materials and execution left room for improvement, and the pushbutton transmission controls were not intuitive. Despite these drawbacks, the Terrain provided a smooth ride on highways and city streets, though it struggled with off-road capabilities.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options. While not designed for high-speed thrills, the Highlander provided smooth and predictable performance, making it a reliable choice for family transportation. It compared favourably with competitors like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride in terms of horsepower and torque. The XSE trim added sportier suspension tuning, enhancing driving excitement without compromising comfort.

The 2022 GMC Terrain featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission helped keep the Terrain in the torque band, but the engine's power delivery was less impressive than the discontinued 2.0-litre turbocharged option. The Terrain offered FWD and AWD modes, with an Off-Road mode and Hill Descent Control for added versatility. However, torque steer was an issue in FWD mode, and the Terrain's off-road capabilities were limited. The AT4 trim provided a comfortable ride on paved roads, but its performance was lacklustre, with numb steering and brakes.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in interior space and functionality, with shelves ahead of the front seats for storage and a wireless charging pad in the centre console. Second-row passengers enjoyed ample legroom, and the seats could be adjusted for more space in the third row. However, the rear-seat climate control vents were positioned on the ceiling, which was less than ideal. Cargo space was 453 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,150 litres with the third row folded and 2,245 litres with both rows down.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered a roomy interior with power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The AT4 trim featured perforated leather upholstery with caramel-colour contrast stitching. The back seat provided good support and legroom, with a rear USB charging port. The Terrain had various storage solutions, including a large storage bin under the trunk floor. Cargo space measured 838 litres behind the second row, expanding to 1,792 litres with the rear seat folded. The front passenger seat could also be folded for longer items.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, while the Platinum trim offered a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Both systems were user-friendly, with standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The JBL audio system was available from the Limited grade, but the larger screen's functionality was limited to certain apps.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems, with a 7-inch touchscreen on the SLE trim and an 8-inch high-definition touchscreen on higher trims. Both systems included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and GMC Connected Services. The Infotainment Package II added connected navigation, improved voice recognition, and a Bose audio system. The voice recognition system was highly praised for its accuracy, while the Bose speakers were less impressive. The Terrain also featured a head-up display, park assist sensors, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, intersection support, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams. Blind spot monitoring was standard. The Highlander received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

The 2022 GMC Terrain came with the GMC Pro Safety Package, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Pro Safety Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a Safety Alert Seat. The Terrain received mostly "Good" crash-test scores from the IIHS, but a "Marginal" rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain's crashworthiness.