After receiving a complete redesign last year, the 2020 GMC Terrain has arrived in the second year of its generation second. The GMC Terrain is upmarket alongside sister cars like Chevrolet Equinox. The carmaker has made some major improvements in the Terrain in recent years. The base lower trims are still less competent in comparison to the higher trims that come with better engine options and safety equipment.
Independent front strut suspension w/anti-roll bar
suspension rear
Independent rear multi-link suspension w/anti-roll bar
brake rotors (f/r)
62.2/62.5
dimensions
wheelbase
107.3 in.
length
182.3 in.
width
72.4 in.
height
65.4 in.
curb weight
3449 lbs.
ground clearance
6.9 in.
capacity
passenger volume
39.5 cu ft.
cargo volume
63.3 cu ft.
towing capacity
1500 lbs.
payload capacity
1146 lbs.
performance
zero to 60 mph
9.2 sec.
fuel economy
city/combined/highway
26/28/30 mpg
highway range
447 mi.
warranty
basic warranty
3 yr. / 36000 mi.
drivetrain warranty
5 yr. / 60000 mi.
powertrain warranty
60 months. / 60000
corrosion warranty
5 yr. / 100000 mi.
roadside assistance
5 yr. / 60000 mi.
Pictures
exterior
interior
Colors and Styles
Blue Steel Metallic
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
The compact SUV comes powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine that produces 170 horsepower. The optional upgrade for the 2020 Terrain includes a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that churns out 252 hp. GMC has made the current generation Terrain more compact than ever. However, the reduction in size also leads to lesser available space for passengers and cargo.
All the available engine options can be attached with either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configurations. The AWD-equipped models get a knob that allows drivers to switch between FWD and AWD during the ride.
2020 GMC Terrain Front Three quarter View
2020 GMC Terrain Rear Three quarter View
7.5/10 Features
7.5/10 Engine and Performance
6.0/10 Interior
2020 GMC Terrain Features
7.5/10
The Terrain SUV is available in four trim levels, starting with the base SL trim, and moving to luxury Terrain Denali. The standard features available on the SL include 17-inch wheels, cloth seats, Bluetooth, and air conditioning. Other desirable features include keyless entry and start, a rear-view camera, and a 7-inch touch screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Trims
SL
SLE
SLT
Denali
MSRP
$26,195
$29,295
$32,095
$38,995
Key Features
In addition to SL features:
In addition to SLE features:
In addition to SLT standard features:
HID Headlamps with LED Signature Lighting
4.2" multi-color Driver Information Center
18" machined aluminum wheels with Dark Gray painted accents
2.0L Turbo engine
19" Ultra-Bright machined aluminum wheels
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Body-color mirror caps
Leather-appointed seating
Heated front seats
LED Headlamps with Signature Lighting
Keyless Open and Start
Release levers for folding second row in the cargo area
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Hands-free power programmable liftgate
Fold-flat front passenger seat
Traction Select System
8" diagonal GMC Infotainment System
Rear Park Assist
7" diagonal GMC Infotainment System
4.2" multi-color driver information screen
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Compatibility
Remote start
Roof-mounted side rails
Side-blind zone alert with lane change alert
3.5" monochromatic driver information screen
Heated steering wheel
Navigation
Bose premium 7-speaker system
For this year, the SLE and SLT trims are available in appealing Black Edition, which is equipped with black exterior trim, and 19-inch gloss black wheels. Also, a new chrome package for the SLT trim offers 19-inch machined wheels, chrome mirror caps, a unique chrome grille, and chrome outlines for the door handle. There’s a new color named Smokey Quartz Metallic, available throughout all trim levels.
We Recommend
Since the base trims have nothing much to offer, it is not easy to recommend one. On the other hand, the Denali version is a very luxurious and capable car but comes with some big cash. So, in order to take this on one, we would recommend the SLT trim. This trim offers a handful of value-added features along with solid tech amenities. We also recommend you to upgrade to the performing 2.0-liter engine.
2020 GMC Terrain Engine and Performance
7.5/10
“The base engine isn’t as energetic as the other two offerings. The automatic transmissions shift smoothly. While the Terrain is not the most athletic SUV in the class, this GMC holds its own on winding roads. It’s maneuverable and delivers a comfortable ride.” – cars.usnews
Powering the GMC Terrain is either a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 170 hp, a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder diesel engine that propels 137 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque, or a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder unit. All the three turbocharged engines may be configured with FWD or AWD. The engine is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission, while the diesel holds a 6-speed automatic.
Models
GMC Terrain SL suv
Ford Escape S suv
Ford Edge SE suv
Honda CR-V LX suv
Chevrolet Equinox L suv
Hyundai Santa Fe SE suv
Toyota RAV4 LE suv
MSRP
$25,995
$25,100
$30,990
$25,395
$24,795
$26,545
$26,595
Engine
1.5L i4 Turbo Gas/Ethanol
2.5L i4 Regular Unleaded
2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded
2.4L i4 Regular Unleaded
1.5L i4 Turbocharged Gas
2.4L i4 Regular Unleaded
2.5L i4 Regular Unleaded
Transmission
9 Speed Automatic
6 Speed Automatic
8 Speed Automatic
Continuously variable speed automatic
6 Speed Automatic
8 Speed Automatic
8 Speed Automatic
Horsepower
170 hp@ 5600 rpm
168 hp@ 6000rpm
245 hp@ 5500 rpm
184 hp@ 6400 rpm
170 hp@ 5600 rpm
185 hp@ 6000 rpm
203 hp@ 6600 rpm
Torque
203 ft-lbs@ 2000 rpm
170 ft-lbs@ 4500rpm
275 ft-lbs@ 3000 rpm
180 ft-lbs@ 3900 rpm
203 ft-lbs@ 2000 rpm
178 ft-lbs@ 4000 rpm
184 ft-lbs@ 5000 rpm
Acceleration
The 1.5-liter turbocharged powertrain offers decent sprint at low speeds. It is capable of doing zero to 60 mph sprint in 6.8 seconds. Most of the SUVs in this class deliver the same sprint in more than 7 seconds. Even in the quarter mile score, the Terrain delivers in 15.4 seconds, which is again good.
Models
GMC Terrain SL suv
Ford Escape S suv
Ford Edge SE suv
Honda CR-V LX suv
Chevrolet Equinox L suv
Hyundai Santa Fe SE suv
Toyota RAV4 LE suv
0-60 MPH
6.8 sec
7.1 sec
8.0 sec
7.7 sec
N/A
8.9 sec
8.3 sec
Quarter mile
15.4 sec
16.7 sec
N/A
16 sec
N/A
16.7 sec
16.8 sec
Engine
1.5L i4 Turbo Gas/Ethanol
3552
2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded
2.4L i4 Regular Unleaded
1.5L i4 Turbocharged Gas
2.4L i4 Regular Unleaded
2.5L i4 Regular Unleaded
Emission(Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)
6.3
7.3
7.1
6.5
6.3
N/A
N/A
Braking and Handling
The brakes are ultimately smooth. The compact sized Terrain is good at cornering and handling over rough pavements. The pedal feels a bit soft when you travel a few miles. The Terrain stops from 60 mph at 130 feet. However, other rivals like Ford Escape and Honda CR-V stop at 112 and 115, respectively.
On the handling part, the steering is slow to respond at times. It takes a long time to steer to change the direction. The steering effort is quite lesser on highway speeds where the Terrain performs with amazing confidence.
Model
GMC Terrain SL suv
Ford Escape S suv
Ford Edge SE suv
Honda CR-V LX suv
Chevrolet Equinox L suv
Hyundai Santa Fe SE suv
Toyota RAV4 LE suv
Brake Front (in.)
11.8
12.8
13.6
11.1
N/A
12.6
12
Brake Rear (in.)
11.3
12
12.4
10.2
N/A
12
11.1
Curb Weight (lbs.)
3449
3959
3307
3274
3591
3370
60-0 MPH (ft.)
130
112
119
115
N/A
130
134
2020 GMC Terrain Fuel Economy
The GMC Terrain is good at fuel economy. It confidently returns 26 mpg in city and 30 mpg on the highway. The combines result shows 28 mpg. Several other SUVs in this class offers lesser fuel economy in the city comparatively.
Model
GMC Terrain SL suv
Ford Escape S suv
Ford Edge SE suv
Honda CR-V LX suv
Chevrolet Equinox L suv
Hyundai Santa Fe SE suv
Toyota RAV4 LE suv
MPG (city)
26
21
22
26
26
22
26
MPG (highway)
30
29
29
32
32
29
35
MPG (combined)
28
24
25
28
28
25
30
Range (miles) (city/highway)
387/447
330/455
407/537
364/448
387/477
414/545
377/508
Tank Capacity (gal)
14.9
15.7
18.5
14.0
14.9
18.8
14.5
2020 GMC Terrain Interior
6.0/10
“Like most of the competition, the 2020 Terrain’s cabin is perfectly functional and comfortable without necessarily being that luxurious. There are hard plastics in the lower areas of the dashboard and doors, even in the supposedly upscale Denali model.” – Kelley Blue Book
Seating and Comfort
The front passengers and driver enjoy the best position with extra legroom and hip room. The Terrain is heavily bolstered and comfortable from inside. The power-adjustable seats are just blessing in multiple ways. However, they are unable to provide support for tall passengers.
The rear seating offers leg room of 39.7 inches just like the front-seats, but the flat bottom cushions are not expected here. Till, last year, the Terrain models used to offer sliding second-row seats which are now gone, making it more difficult to add some extra space.
Model
GMC Terrain SL suv
Ford Escape S SUV
Ford Edge SE suv
Honda CR-V LX suv
Chevrolet Equinox L suv
Hyundai Santa Fe SE suv
Toyota RAV4 LE suv
Passenger capacity
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
40.0/57.2/40.9
39.9/55.9/43.1
40.2/60.3/42.6
40.1/57.9/41.3
40.0/57.2/40.9
41.2/59.1/44.1
39.5/57.8/41.0
Second(Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
38.5/55.6/39.7
39.0/55.2/37.3
40.3/60.5/40.6
39.2/55.6/40.4
38.5/55.5/39.7
39.2/58.3/40.9
39.5/56.4/37.8x
Cargo Space
With folder rear seats, Terrain’s cargo becomes 63 cubic feet. The fold-flat front passenger seat is a good thing to add some extra storage. With the help of power liftgate and lower liftover height, the cargo loading becomes easier.
However, we found that the Terrain doesn’t offer sufficient cargo when compared to some prominent rivals in the class. It manages to offer little spaces with small trays and a fold-flat front passenger seat.
Model
GMC Terrain SL suv
Ford Escape S suv
Ford Edge SE suv
Honda CR-V LX suv
Chevrolet Equinox L suv
Hyundai Santa Fe SE suv
Toyota RAV4 LE suv
Cargo Volume (ft.3)
29.6
34.0
39.2
39.2
29.9
35.9
37.6
Infotainment System
Terrain’s infotainment is a delight to use and the user interface is mesmerizing. The infotainment is very responsive to user commands. It has got clear graphics along with logical menus and the latest in-car connectivity features. As standard equipment, we have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with Wi-Fi hotspot. The SL and SLE trims are standard with a 7.0-inch touch screen, while the higher trim Denali features an 8.0-inch unit. There’s also standard navigation system on all trim levels.
Some features associated with the infotainment system are:
7" diagonal GMC Infotainment System with multi-touch display and AM/FM stereo
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
6-speaker audio system
Bluetooth connectivity
2" diagonal multi-color driver information screen
Interior Features
Front bucket seats
Seat trim, premium cloth
5-passenger seating
4-way manual driver seat
4-way manual front passenger seat
Flat-folding front passenger seatback
Rear seat release levers
Rear Seat Reminder
Front carpeted floor mats
Rear carpeted floor mats
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Steering-wheel mounted controls
Speedometer, miles/kilometers
Driver Information Center
Compass display
Power windows with driver express-up/down
Power windows with front passenger express-down
Power windows with rear express-down
Power door locks
Keyless Open
Remote panic alarm
Keyless Start
Cruise control
Theft-deterrent unauthorized entry system
Single-zone climate control
Rear air vents
Interior humidity sensor
12-volt auxiliary front power outlet
12-volt auxiliary cargo area power outlet
Overhead sunglass storage
Driver seatback map pocket
Front passenger seatback map pocket
Inside rearview auto-dimming mirror
Assist handle, driver
Assist handle, front passenger
Assist handles, rear outboard
2020 GMC Terrain Exterior
“The 2020 Terrain has been smoothed over—but not smothered—compared to prior generations.” - carconnection
Dimension and Weight
The regular models get a simple design while the Denali comes with good looking glossy black work. The SUV has got some sharp lines flowing throughout the body. The front fascia looks upmarket with a new set of headlights under LED accent. The Denali has been offered with extra chrome for mirror caps and lower rocker panels.
Model
GMC Terrain SL suv
Ford Escape S suv
Ford Edge SE suv
Honda CR-V LX suv
Chevrolet Equinox L suv
Hyundai Santa Fe SE suv
Toyota RAV4 LE suv
Curb weight (lbs.)
3449
3552
3959
3307
3274
3591
3370
Length(in)
182.3
178.1
188.8
180.6
183.1
187.8
180.9
Width(in)
72.4
72.4
75.9
73.0
72.6
74.4
73.0
Height(in)
65.4
66.3
68.3
66.1
65.4
66.1
67.0
Ground clearance (in)
6.9
7.8
N/A
7.8
N/A
7.3
8.4
Wheelbase (in)
107.3
105.9
112.2
104.7
107.3
108.9
105.9
Track width (in) F/R
62.2/62.2
61.5/61.6
64.8/64.7
63/63.7
62.2/62.2
64.3/64.7
63/63.7
Exterior Features
17" Silver painted aluminum wheels
Paired with all-season blackwall tires
17" all-season blackwall tires (AWD models)
P225/65R17
16" compact spare tire
Mechanical jack with tools
16" steel spare wheel
Trim, Black lower body
Active aero shutters
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps
Automatic delay headlamps
Automatic on/off headlamps
LED signature taillamps
Acoustic laminated windshield
Deep-tinted rear glass
Heated power outside mirrors
Body-color mirror caps
Body-color door handles
Manual liftgate
Active Noise Cancellation
2020 GMC Terrain Safety
The entry-level GMC Terrain trims lack some active safety features. Some of the major safety features like parking sensors and blind-spot monitors require to add $800 more. You need to spend even more on features like upgraded headlights, automatic emergency braking, active lane control, and forward-collision warnings.
The 2020 GMC Terrain has been crash-tested by NHTSA and IIHS. In the NHTSA safety test, the compact SUV has scored 5 stars out of five in overall rating and four stars in the rollover test. Meanwhile, in the IIHS tests, the Terrain has performed pretty well in the majority of the categories. Although, it failed in the headlight tests and the agency awarded it “Poor” rating in this category. That said, some of the key safety features are:
StabiliTrak, electronic stability control system with traction control
Hill Descent Control
C-Shaped LED signature lighting
Frontal airbags
Seat-mounted side-impact driver and front passenger airbags
Head-curtain airbags
Passenger Sensing System
Rear Vision Camera
Teen Driver
Tire Pressure Monitoring System with tire fill alert
2020 GMC Terrain Competition
2020 GMC Terrain vs. Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is a compact SUV that is easy to recommend. It is practical, roomy and comfortable. The CR-V is easy to drive and delivers great fuel economy in comparison to most of the rivals. On highways, the Honda offers better fuel economy than the GMC Terrain. You’ll love it for its space and available amenities.
2020 GMC Terrain vs. Ford Edge
The Ford Edge is quite old-school but in terms of build quality, the SUV is upmarket. It offers plenty of cargo space and seating space with an array of optional engines. The Ford Edge gets a powerful V6 engine. The edge gets lots of appealing features than the GMC Terrain.
2020 GMC Terrain Final Verdict
With the availability of a wide range of features and premium materials, the GMS Terrain is undoubtedly a must-have compact SUV for prospective buyers. The kind of ride quality and fuel economy estimates successfully places it at the upper hand among the competition. Despite the above-average price, the 2020 Terrain appears to be a worthy SUV in the class. However, there are other cars that offer better space and features in lesser budget