The Denali is the most feature-loaded, top-of-the-line trim of any GMC vehicle so that is also pretty much the case with the GMC Terrain Denali. The prices for 2022 GMC Terrain Denali start at around $36,600 and if you’re not very careful with the options list, the numbers can go high real quick.

For the price, you’re getting Denali chrome details, multidimensional Denali grille, Heated and power-adjustable mirrors with LED turn-signal indicators, new 19” alloy wheels, french-stitched leather-appointed front seats with new decorative stitching, heated second-row outboard seats, heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, real burnished aluminum accents, 8" diagonal driver information center and available ventilated front seats. A lot of features can be further added through the options list as well.

Which Trim should you buy?

There is only one trim on offer as the Denali and that is pretty much the top-of-the-line trim that gets you all the bells and whistles. In no manner does it feel ill-equipped and even with the standard set of features, you are bound to be pleasantly surprised.

Release date

The range for the GMC Terrain is expected to launch in the Summer of 2021, while the Terrain Denali is said to launch in the Fall of 2021. 

The 2022 GMC Terrain Denali is powered by a turbocharged 1.5L inline-4 that produces a decent 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque, sent by a 9-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. The optional turbocharged 2.0L mill from yesteryears has been discontinued which has been a bummer for many since that was a more powerful unit and, needless to say, a more engaging one to drive. 

We are expecting the engine to be just like the 2021 model in terms of performance. The engine is mostly sufficient for all the daily city duties that you might expect it to handle and it will be able to keep up with the pace of traffic even on highways. But things start to feel a bit hard for it once asked to tug the crossover’s 3,500-pound heft up hills or around at higher speeds, especially when it’s filled to its passenger limits.

Understandably, the most powerful Ford is also the one that does the 0-60 mph run in the quickest time of 5.7 secs. What is surprising is that Chevrolet and GMC both use the same engine but while the Equinox is able to do the run in under 7 seconds, the Terrain took nearly 2.5 secs more, although that might be because of the added weight on the Terrain. The Honda CR-V is also a sought-after option that delivers impressive performance from its adequately powered inline-4 unit. 

Thanks to the omission of a bigger and more powerful 2.0L engine, the only available 1.5L engine is the pretty fuel-efficient motor for its class. As the Denali is only available with an all-wheel-drive configuration, it is rated for 25 MPG for the city, 28 MPG for the highway, and 26 MPG for the combined usage scenarios. With a fuel tank capacity of nearly 15 gallons, the GMC has a combined tank range of over 400 miles which is quite a lot.

Honda is unsurprisingly the most fuel-efficient car here and while it also has the smallest fuel tank among the competition of 14-gallons, it still manages to have the most driving range averaging 429 miles. On the contrary, Ford and the GMC are pretty much on the same boat in terms of fuel economy figures which are among the bottom end averaging 26 MPG, while the Chevrolet lies midway in the segment averaging 28 MPG. 

While GMC has worked on making the Terrain look bolder and masculine from the front, no such efforts have been made to make it feel nicer inside. The interior is still pretty much the same as it was in the previous year's model and that is a very good idea. The cabin design is undoubtedly very good but it looks more like a cabin from a premium truck than a premium SUV. There are blocky shapes and rugged-looking controls which do work well for the most part but there is an absence of smooth lines that the exterior has. 

Also, the whole upholstery is done in leather and it is actually quite premium to touch and feel. Everything you touch is posh and there are barely any visible hard plastic trim pieces inside the cabin. The front seats are the best place to be in and there is sufficient legroom for the front row occupants. The seats are heated and can be opted to be ventilated as well. They come with power adjustability and while they are near perfect, just a bit more under-thigh support could have made things even better. They are pretty comfortable for long-distance cruising and you can easily spend long hours on the driving seat.

On the contrary, the rear seats are a bit of a squeeze and are at max good for two occupants as the third one will always feel a bit unwelcomed.

The Terrain is not the largest SUV here and that is well evident by the numbers as well. The Escape is the one that has the most spacious front and second-row seats and the CR-V has the most cargo volume at 37.6 cubic feet. While the GMC Terrain Denali comes pretty much last in everything, it is still quite spacious in terms of a cabin for four. Some of the key interior features are:

• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Bose premium 7-speaker system
• Leather-appointed seating

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2022 GMC Terrain Denali carries forward a similar 8-inch touchscreen display for infotainment and it is quite an impressive system. It is easy to operate and even the software is pretty lag-free and responds to the inputs quickly. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot are all standard. The Denali, being the top-spec trim, also gets in-built navigation and a heads-up display as standard.

Also for the 2022 model, there is an all-new 8-inch digital driver’s display that has replaced the classic analog dials. The Terrain is pretty high on technology and that makes it look and feel modern. Some of the key infotainment features are:

• 8-inch responsive touchscreen display
• Bluetooth streaming audio capability
• AM/FM/SiriusXM stereo
• Advanced voice recognition
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot capability
• Call connectivity via Bluetooth
• 4 power outlets all over the cabin

One thing that is all-new for the 2022 GMC Terrain Denali is the way it looks. GMC has worked quite a lot to make it look butch and masculine from the front and boy oh boy, they did a fabulous job with it. It has a completely redesigned front end with a new front grille, bumper, and headlight. The headlights are now bigger and get a dual projector setup and obviously are all LED now. There is also that classic C-shaped LED DRL which is even bigger this time around. The front grille has also grown up in size and is all chrome and blingy, just as expected from a Denali.

To the sides, it now has new 19-inch alloy wheels which are specific for the Denali and it now looks a lot boxier too, thanks to the even squarish wheel arches. At the rear, it gets new taillights and a new bumper but that’s it and the changes here are quite subtle and something you might barely notice.

Overall, the Terrain has evolved to be a lot more mature this year and we certainly are drooling over the way it looks. We really loved the changes GMC made to the car to make it look even more aggressive and that really adds up to the overall road presence.

The Terrain Denali is pretty much the heaviest here with over 3600 lbs of curb weight. While the Escape is the smallest in terms of length but in all other dimensions, it is the biggest SUV in comparison. The GMC sisters share the longest wheelbase of 107.3 inches, however, their ground clearances of 6.9 inches, are almost a tenth lower than their rivals. That said, the Honda CR-V is one of the heaviest options available in the market and is also the tallest SUV alongside the Ford sporting a total height of 66.1 inches. 

That said, some of the key exterior features are:

• 19" Ultra-Bright machined aluminum wheels
• Dual-projector LED headlamps with DRLs
• LED taillamps
• Chrome Lining
• Heated and Power Adjustable Mirrors
• Multi-dimensional Denali grille

While the ratings for the 2022 GMC Terrain Denali aren’t yet available as the model is yet to be tested, we do have a list of features that the Terrain will come with and we are pretty sure that it's going to be among the safest cars in its class. It comes standard with a lot of driver aid features like lane change alert with side blind zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, surround-view camera, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, automatic high beams, and forward collision alert. Some highlighting exterior features include:

• Lane change alert with side blind zone alert
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Rear park assist
• Surround-view camera
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane keep assist
• Automatic high beams
• Forward collision alert

2022 GMC Terrain Denali vs 2021 Honda CR-V Touring

The 2021 Honda CR-V is a beloved compact crossover and it has all the rights to be on everyone’s favorites list as well. It is quite a lot spacious, has a very fuel-efficient and decently powerful drivetrain, the cargo space is big enough for all the shopping trips and weekend getaways, it is quite a comfortable tourer as well and while it may not be as luxurious as the Terrain Denali, it certainly does feel premium and nice to be in.

2022 GMC Terrain Denali vs 2021 Ford Escape Titanium

For the price of a Terrain Denali, you can get a very well specced 2021 Ford Escape with a much bigger and powerful engine and a more spacious cabin. The Ford is also much lighter which makes it quite good to drive as well. Though the deal breaker is interior quality. It is quite subpar if we compare it to the Terrain Denali. The Escape also looks a bit outdated in front of the Terrain and if you are someone who is more after the looks than the performance, the Terrain will be a better pick any day.

2022 GMC Terrain Denali vs 2021 Chevrolet Equinox Premium

The Terrain and Equinox are essentially the same vehicles underneath and also have the same engine. But the difference lies in the gearbox and weight and that is what makes the Equinox a lot better in terms of performance. While the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox can be a better buy for enthusiasts, the Terrain is most likely to wow most of us with its looks and interior quality.

The 2022 GMC Terrain Denali has evolved a lot in terms of design from the past year and it certainly does look a lot better now. It has always been very handsome but with all those changes to the front, it looks like a proper butch SUV and that is certainly helping it a lot. Though the omission of 2.0L turbo inline-4 has disappointed us a bit, then again the 2022 GMC Terrain Denali is pretty impressive in itself and for what it is supposed to do, it is near-perfect.