2016 GMC Terrain

Walkaround

My tester was the top-end Denali model, which gets those safety systems as standard, along with a bunch of other stuff for a $42,365 MSRP. Lower-spec models are available with either front- or all-wheel drive, but the Denali is AWD-only.
The wheels on my tester are one of a few new designs for 2016, and the combo of black leather and titanium-look accents inside is another addition for this model year.

Interior

GM’s centre stack revisions are minor: gone is the compact disc slot that used to live below the climate controls, and warning lights for the frontal collision alert system are housed in a strip atop the hooded display screen. A 2013 update added GMC’s IntelliLink touchscreen infotainment system.
Otherwise, the song is the same as it was at the Terrain’s 2010 introduction. The straightforward gauge cluster is easy to like, but the trip computer display between the two main dials looks like decade-old technology next to the slick TFT (thin-film transistor) displays found in more modern interiors, such as the ones in GMC’s own  pickups.
On the centre stack, it’s easy to confuse the knobs for radio volume and fan speed, though they are located logically with other related controls.
With that, it’s time to begin a game of “what’s missing for the price.” First up, dual-zone climate control. The Terrain’s air conditioning has the expected automatic mode, but lacks separate temperature controls for driver and front passenger that are also generally available in a top-trim model.
Next, while the front seats are heated, the rears are not, another item you’ll find in many of the Terrain’s competitors. Also missing, but less conspicuous by their absence, are ventilated front seats. (The Terrain’s leather upholstery is perforated as if to suggest ventilation, but no dice.)
A heated steering wheel would be a nice touch, and you’d get one in loaded-up versions of the crossovers in Hyundai and Kia’s respective lineups, among others.
Finally, the most obvious omission is intelligent keyless entry: it’s not even an option, though it should be part of the standard package. The corollary to that is the lack of push-button start: these days, in a compact crossover more than $40,000, I should be able to get into the car and drive away without needing to touch the key fob.
Enough negativity: if nothing else, the Terrain’s interior (as well as that of its Equinox sibling) is notable for a rear bench seat that slides fore and aft to favour either rear-seat passenger legroom or cargo space. It’s a great feature that gives these little crossovers one of the most flexible interiors in their class.