The 2022 GMC Terrain has done away with the base SL trim and has added the AT4 trim on the higher end of the spectrum with only the Denali trim positioned above it. Therefore, it features almost all the latest technology and safety features along with the standard creature comforts that GMC has to offer with additional optional packages to aid when taking the AT4 off the tarmac and into the wilderness. 

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Since the AT4 trim stands as a standalone trim, there is not much to choose from here. That being said, GMC offers a handful of options like Rear Seat Entertainment Packages, Hit The Road Package, and Skyscape Power Glass Sunroof as options that need to be chosen wisely as the prices tend to hike considerably.

2022 GMC Terrain AT4 Release Date

There has been no confirmation yet from GMC regarding the launch and availability of the 2022 Terrain AT4 yet, but we expect it to hit the showroom in the last quarter of 2021 with deliveries to be followed soon after that. 

For the 2022 model year, GMC has discontinued the 2-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine entirely from its lineup, and the Terrain is now solely powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder unit that is rated for 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. A 9-speed automatic transmission is also standard across the trim ladder, while the AT4 gets AWD drivetrain as standard as well.

The performance from this engine hasn’t been the greatest in the past, and that is evident from the 0-60 mph timing, which is over 9 seconds. The performance is pretty linear though to get in and out of traffic in city conditions, but do not expect a peppy and punchy performance like from the 2-liter engine. The 1,500 lbs towing capacity is also below par for the segment with rivals offering much more than that.

Only the Terrain AT4 and the Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road are offered as off-road focussed trims, while the other two just offer a general AWD drivetrain. The Mazda CX-5 offers the best acceleration performance from its large turbocharged 2.5-liter power mill, while the RAV4 has the highest towing capacity on offer. The Honda CR-V is a more sedate crossover with humble engine output, and yet it is quicker off the mark as compared to the Terrain. 

With lower engine output, one would expect higher frugality from the Terrain’s 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, but that is also not the case here. With a combined fuel efficiency rated for 26 mpg by the EPA with the standard AWD drivetrain, it offers a maximum of just over 400 miles of driving range on a single 15.6-gallon fuel tank. Although the driving range isn’t particularly a concern, the fuel efficiency could have been better when compared to the competition.

The Mazda CX-5 with its mighty turbo-4 under its hood and colossal power output is obviously the least efficient one in this segment by a considerable margin. Honda triumphs in this regard as expected, offering the best fuel economy, with the Toyota RAV4 TRD being marginally less frugal. Except for the CX-5, all other crossovers offer pretty much the same driving range in all driving conditions. 

Being the premium offering as compared to the Chevy Equinox, the GMC Terrain does not do that much better in terms of materials and build quality. The number of switches on the lower end of the console that look like window switches isn’t very ergonomically placed and does not look the part as well. The push-button gear shifter is also not very intuitive to use and, hence takes getting used to, to be able to drive this car on a daily basis while quickly shifting gears. 

In terms of space, the Terrain is a gem to have, offering plenty of space for both passengers and their luggage. The seats are comfortable, and the softly sprung suspension setup offers a comfortable experience on the road. The cargo capacity with all seats up is plenty at just 30 cu-ft, which puts it on par with the segment, but folding the rear seat opens up 63.3 cu-ft of cargo space, and that should suffice most needs of a compact SUV owner. 

The Honda CR-V again takes the center stage in this regard by offering the most spacious and comfortable cabin with the largest trunk space on offer. The Toyota RAV4 is also pretty spacious but has tighter legroom for the rear seat. Both the Mazda CX-5 and the GMC Terrain are very similar to one another in terms of cabin space and cargo capacity, with the Terrain offering the best headroom to comfortably seat taller passengers without scraping their head to the roof. Major interior features include: 

• 8-way power driver and 6-way power passenger seats with 2-way power lumbar
• 60/40 split-folding rear seat with Rear Seat Reminder
• Perforated leather-appointed seat trim
• Leather-wrapped 4-spoke heated steering wheel with tilt/telescopic adjustment
• 4.2-inch multi-color driver information screen
• Universal Home Remote
• Dual-zone automatic climate control with rear-seat vents
• Interior accent lighting

How intuitive is the 2022 GMC Terrain AT4 SUV’s infotainment unit?

The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system of the Terrain offers crisp graphics and quick responses with logically placed menus, making it very intuitive to use. There is plenty of technology on offer too, but features like an in-dash navigation system and head-up display are optional, and one has to shell out more money for that. Unlike other cars, GMC uses a pop-up display for the head-up display instead of projecting the information on the windshield. The music system is decent but lacks the premium punch that we would expect. Major infotainment features include:

• 8.0-inch touchscreen GMC Infotainment System
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability
• Bluetooth streaming audio and phone connectivity
• Advanced voice recognition
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot
• 6-speaker audio system
• GMC Connected Access

With a design refresh for the 2022 model year, GMC has made subtle improvements to the exterior as well, which makes the Terrain even more enticing than before. The front end of the Terrain features a large blacked-out grille for the AT4 trim, unlike the chrome one on Denali, and is flanked by the C-shaped daytime running lights with the projector headlamps cleverly integrated, which gives it an imposing look. 

The front bumper is muscular too with chrome accents, and the fog lights are neatly placed in the recess. Black body cladding and wheel arch trims give the go-anywhere feel to the crossover. At the rear, the C-shaped design language continues with the taillights, the black rear bumper, and the roof rails, adding to the outdoorsy appeal of the AT4. 

In terms of dimensions, there is not much to differentiate between the crossovers present in this comparison, with all of them also weighing very similar to one another. The Toyota RAV4 TRD has the highest ground clearance, while the sporty nature of the CX-5 translates to a much lower ride height. The Honda CR-V and GMC Terrain offer an almost identical ground clearance, and the CR-V is the lightest amongst all, which aids it in achieving superior fuel efficiency. Major exterior highlights of the crossover are:

• Automatic HID headlamps with C-shaped DRL lighting
• LED signature tail lights
• Rear power, programmable, hands-free liftgate
• Active Noise Cancellation noise control system
• Heated power-adjustable and auto-dimming mirrors with LED turn signal indicators
• Black lower body trim
• 18-inch machined aluminum-alloy wheels with gray painted accents

The 2022 GMC Terrain is yet to be tested, but the 2021 model year Terrain did well in the tests conducted by both the NHTSA and IIHS, scoring a perfect 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA. GMC also offers plenty of features as standard, which include OnStar and GMC connected services, Teen Driver, Tire Pressure Monitor with Tire Fill Alert amongst other features, and also offers optional features such as adaptive cruise control to offer the safest haven for you and your family. The most prominent safety and driver assistance features expected to make their way into the 2022 Terrain AT4 have been mentioned below. 

• StabiliTrak stability control system with Traction Control
• Automatic Emergency Braking with Front Pedestrian Braking
• Hill Descent Control
• Forward Collision Alert
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• IntelliBeam auto high beam
• HD Rear Vision Camera

GMC Terrain AT4 vs Honda CR-V

Both the Terrain and CR-V are priced similarly to each other, but despite the superior torque output from the turbocharged engine of Terrain, the CR-V is much quicker off the line and has similar towing capabilities. There is no match to the frugality of the Honda CR-V even with the AWD drivetrain. Although both crossovers offer a similarly sized cabin, the Honda CR-V offers much larger cargo space and a better-built cabin. Therefore, unless the off-road capability is your utmost priority, it is better to opt for the CR-V over the Terrain AT4.

GMC Terrain AT4 vs Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 benefits from the larger capacity engine under its hood and is leaps and bounds ahead of the Terrain AT4 in terms of acceleration performance and also has a higher towing capacity. The higher engine output affects efficiency, and since both employ a similarly sized gas tank, the Terrain has a better driving range to offer. Both the crossovers have a similar cabin space, but Mazda offers more technology with premium materials and build quality at the same price, and hence would be our preferred choice. 

GMC Terrain AT4 vs Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road

The larger engine from Toyota offers a higher power output, which results in superior acceleration. It also offers more than twice the towing capacity as compared to the Terrain AT4. The RAV4 also has a higher fuel economy and offers a larger cargo space than the Terrain. Although the rear seat is far more comfortable and spacious in the Terrain, the cabin design and quality are better on the Toyota, which translates to another defeat for the 2022 Terrain AT4 in our comparison. 

The 2022 GMC Terrain AT4 makes subtle yet effective changes with the mid-life refresh, which although makes it a lot better than its predecessor but yet misses out on small things that do affect its overall experience. The smaller engine lacks punch both in terms of acceleration and towing prowess. The new button-based gear selector isn’t very intuitive, and so are the plastic switches on the center console. It lacks overall refinement, and with the rivals offering a more sophisticated overall experience at the same price, the road ahead is very tricky for the 2022 GMC Terrain AT4.