Despite only being around since calendar year 2009, the GMC Terrain has emerged to be the second-best selling vehicle in the brand stable, behind (but well behind) the iconic Sierra pickup truck. Largely in part of the flourishing crossover market as a whole. Eight years later, and it’s high time that the GMC Terrain found itself anew. The outgoing model may have enjoyed copious spaciousness but straddling the compact and midsize segment, but its chassis, busy interior and lame entry level engine were all ripened beyond their prime. The all-new 2018 GMC Terrain, based on the GM D2 platform, aims to amend these ailments of aging. And by launching in Denali trim out of the gate, it will also deliver a level of upmarket sophistication from the start. Today, we’re going to cover the 2018 GMC Terrain Denali.
Early critiques of the 2018 Terrain design have described it as “polarizing“. At first blush, from the stock photos, it’s easy to see that. In person, it carries an individualistic sharpness from nearly every angle. Moreover, it’s a tall glass of water in a desert of risk-averse appearances in the CUV market. From that approach, it could and should attract buyers that seek the added space and ride height that this segment provides, and who are also aiming to visually separate themselves from the pack. On the inside, the 2018 Terrain Denali continues a tradition of the pickup truck archetype, borrowing the steering wheel from its larger SUV family members and similar center stack resemblance. It’s opposite of the softer, more car-like features of its platform mate, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. But nobody would be the wiser when judging by looks alone.
From the interior, everything is where it should be. The 2018 Terrain Denali is adorned with aluminum trim, heated/vented seats, a heated steering wheel, a digital info display screen, 8-inch “GMC Infotainment System” (suggesting that the Intellilink branding is going by the wayside), automatic headlamp/highbeam control, and an inoffensive seating position. Though we do wish that the Terrain Denali did come with real wood accents and other features like adaptive cruise control. The five-seat premium crossover comes in at $44,450 as tested, and therefore we figure it’s not too much to ask.
The main curiosity of the 2018 GMC Terrain Denali is its evolutionary gear selector. Rather than going with a traditional cabled selector (Equinox), digital shifter (as seen on Chevrolet Bolt EV and CadillacXT5, among others), or even a rotary dial, the all-new GMC Terrain features a combination of buttons and toggle switches – five selections total. Figuring it out is pretty seamless from anything more conventional, and exaggerations during its introduction are fairly unwarranted. While one may miss a lever to rest their hand on, they will at the same time appreciate the extra space that the new configuration opens up. Especially for the pocket dumpers. The ones that unload their phone, wallet, house keys, work badge, loose change, multitool, cortado, and water bottle all visibly onto the center console. The storage bin located in the middle can swallow all of those things, too.
During the test, we discovered that the 2018 Terrain gear selector will immediately shift into “Park” once the driver turns the vehicle off. So if somebody out there were to be absent-minded enough to not return the Terrain into “Park”, the nannies embedded in the vehicle will do so. This level of detail could save a life someday. As could the Rear Seat Reminder. As could the 360-degree surround view backup camera system – exclusive to the Denali trim. And who knows, that OnStar 4G LTEÂ Wi-Fi could be clutch, as well.
The only thing we honestly didn’t enjoy about the 2018 Terrain gear selector was that the buttons and switches all felt on the cheap side. We’d overlook it in the base model, but the range-topping Denali trim deserves a more premium look and texture. Not a deal breaker by any means, but it’s the little things.
The 2018 Terrain Denali can only be configured solely with a 2.0L turbocharged engine (the familiar 2.0L turbo LTG), and should likewise solely have a special material for its Electronic Precision Shift layout over lesser trims.
As mentioned above, the Terrain Denali has a single engine configuration. If you want a Terrain with a diesel motor, you’ll have to go with SLE or SLT trim. The GM 9-speed automatic transmission aced the hilled and twisting roads of Pennsylvania, where it constantly shifted smoothly and remained in optimal gear. The only blemish we observed in the gearbox was in stop-go traffic situations, when it would occasionally feel the need to lurch, or hunt for a gear when it didn’t need to. Other than that, it’s entirely competent.
Despite the omission of a diesel option from the 2018 Terrain Denali, the 2.0T motor pairs wonderfully with the crossover. It’s the perfect amount of punch for a vehicle of this size, and the unique suspension calibration for the Terrain Denali provides a more precise and athletic driving feel than originally anticipated. And it doesn’t even have Magnetic Ride Control. The added power, upscale interior, and the special chassis tuning definitely separates the 2018 Terrain Denali from its brethren, and even more so from its Chevy Equinox platform mate. We’ll stop short of calling it a performance SUV, but it definitely feels close.
If you’re in the market for a ~$41,000 SUV, give the Terrain Denali a look. It’s a spaceship compared to its predecessor, in that it feels sharper, boasts a more premium interior, drives more precisely, and carries an individualistic swagger. And, we promise, the new shifter configuration won’t bite you.
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Comments
Manny how are the back seats co pare to the old terrain?
Virtually identical legroom.
Did they ever say IF the terrain will have adaptive cruise? Or unless they’re reserving for Envision?
No sir, nobody would confirm. But you can bet that we’ll have all 2019MY info as soon as it’s available.
How about cargo space behind the rear seat….that’s the area I’m interested in?
Smaller than the old version?
Probably more or less the same. Give or take
The rear seat is 1.5″ narrower and about 1″ less of legroom. The front seats are about 1″ narrower (each) as well. They are 1″ shallower too, measuring the bottom seat cushion from front to rear. They may not support the upper legs/thighs of tall drivers as well as they used to, which is what I found during my test drive.
The rear cargo area is, by measurements, only slightly smaller, but visually, it is obviously smaller. This is not a tweener anymore, it is now a compact CUV.
The GMC teams really put a lot of thought in redesigning the exterior, interior, and power train for the new Terrain Denali and the end result is really stunning. They designed a CUV that I imagine nobody would expect from GMC. The issues you dislike (no adaptive cruise control, a less than upscale EPS switches) as well as no HUD make sense, but overall, the new Terrain Denali is very upscale in every significant facet and all of the teams involved in the new design deserve high accolades for their achievement. In fact, I’m so impressed that I’m planning to buy the new Terrain Denali.
It’s smaller than the 2017 and earlier. Shorter wheel base. Poorer rear side visibility. New gas engine not much better mpg, even for turbo. No more moving rear seat….. So they can get a flat cargo area.
The 2.0t does have better mileage than the 3.0 or the 3.6 for sure despite the fact the 3.6 makes more hp than the 2.0 and the 3.0 by just a little
GMC’s not doing themselves any favors by pounding that dorky ‘Dad Like A Pro’ on NFL football.
Bad folk song. Cutesy kid guts a mini Sierra. Special deal to unload unsold 2017s. On National TV. Me and you, sittin on a lawn – save $10,000!!
Smacks of desperation, and bad marketing and creative judgement.
Put a bullet in that already –
I’m a little put off by the cheap shift mechanism but it’s the smaller rear cargo area, non moving middle seat, higher prices, cheap looking fake wood and tepid performance from the underpowered 1.5T engine that bother me most. The styling is interesting and it seems that the 2.0T solves the power issue but this vehicles other issues would probably warrant me to look elsewhere.
There’s still no word on how the 1.5T with 9 speed are. If you’re talking about the 1.5 with the 6 speed yes it’s like that
Actually, the rear cargo area is more usable than before, the rear seat though, it doesn’t slide fore and aft folds nicely flat and there’s plenty of leg room. The base engine is not the 1.5 L like in the Equinox, its the 2.0 L and its definitely got some cahones! Since I haven’t seen one in person, I will reserve judgement on the interior.
If you haven’t seen one, how can you say the rear cargo area is more usable? Since I own a 2016 Equinox which has the same cargo area as the outgoing Terrain, I can tell you that I compared them side by side at the dealership and the opening is shorter. The width is about the same. A large box from Home Depot containing a fire pit that I was able to bring home in the old model, would never have fit in the new model.
In every dimension inside, the new model is slightly smaller. Don’t go solely by published numbers, but compare for yourself in person. Bring a tape measure as I did.
That doesn’t have to be a negative thing. Some will appreciate the tidier exterior size. I think for people that will use this primarily for local driving and short weekend trips, it’s a slightly better vehicle. Likewise, for long road trips, for families, and/or for tall people, it’s slightly worse. Slightly.
You could of bring that large box from home depot containing a fire pit for measure right just to see if it fits?
I’m sorry I should have clarified-I haven’t seen the 2018 Terrain in person but I have seen the 2018 Equinox and the rear cargo area between the shock towers is wider than before by about 3″ and this is what I was referring to, in addition to the underfloor storage compartment. Yes the height of the hatch opening is about 3′ shorter and the hatch opening itself diagonally is slightly narrower than the older version. But with the seats folding flat you also gain a height advantage for certain cargo over the old version. In your case the fire pit box may not fit the new model, but a shorter, wider box would-depends on what you’re carrying. I was also referring to the looks of the interior and exterior when I said I hadn’t seen one in person.
How is the exterior not hideous? i know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but good grief! All the angles and lines are at war with one another, and that grille, and those headlights. Aztec and Encore had a child.
Pretty cool interior though, but this is the type of vehicle the SS died for, keep that in mind. Is that what we want?
Well done GMC! Sounds like a competent SUV they’ve got here! I, for one, really like the exterior styling! By far one of the best in the segment! The interior design overall is not bad, but not my favorite: some aspects of it look cheap, but the layout is nice. And that 2.0L/9-speed powerplant sounds up to the task also! I really gotta drive it for myself to see how well the handling is, but from what I’m hearing it’s pretty good!
All in all, it’s good to hear that GM is stepping up their CUV/SUV game! It bodes well for the future Cadillac models that are destined to utilize the platforms, chassis, suspensions, and possibly powerplants that these non-Cadillac CUV/SUVs feature! And if the GMC is as good a handler as you guys say, then the next Cadillac SUV to based off this puppy had better push the envelope even further!!!
I’ve had a ’10 Terrain, a ’13 Nox, and currently a ’16 Nox. After comparing my ’16 to my friends new Terrain I’ve decided my next will be an Acadia. I like the looks of the new Terrain and Nox but I’m not willing to lose any more interior room. The issue is not one of day to day use, but of space for luggage while travelling. I’m not ready to settle for a compact vehicle.
That’s exactly where we are at. Shopping Acadias to replace the ’16 Equinox, don’t want to give up even a little space and comfort for travelling.
And Acadia has that proper V6 as well!
I just saw one today and sat in one. I do feel right at home whenever I sat in the terrain. However I was a little thrown off that it doesn’t have laminated glass anymore
Wow the front grill it’s ugly gm you need to change your design yak,,
Well isn’t it said the same for the first gen? Get real!
We didn’t think the buttons were so bad until you noted that they should be fancier. How about a fancy plastic cap that you stick on the top of the button that looks really good? Or paint them chrome with some finger nail polish? Another issue is exterior and interior colors. Why are all the paint jobs the same, and all the interiors are all black? Colors that are so bad that there has to be a reason. Anyone know why that is? We also wish they would furnish a bigger engine. If industries can buy pollution credits from the politicians, why can’t individuals?