We’ve seen the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox in the flesh, but it’s nearly time for the 2018 GMC Terrain to take the cloaks off and reveal itself to the world. Ahead of the compact crossover’s debut at the 2017 North American International Auto Show, the 2018 Terrain was spied testing in full camouflage.
Still, it’s easy to get a feel for the 2018 Terrain’s profile, which looks much more rugged than its 2018 Equinox cousin. Both the Equinox and Terrain will now be categorized as compact crossovers, riding on the D2XX platform.
The 2018 GMC Terrain looks to follow suit with the 2017 Acadia, featuring a prominent grille and nose and similar beltline. Previous reports peg the design as much more rugged looking in an effort to truly differentiate the Terrain and the GMC brand from other platform mates.
As for engines, it’s quite likely we’ll see the 2018 Terrain take a page from the new Equinox and move to all turbocharged four-cylinder power, and possibly even a diesel engine, too.
We don’t have much longer to wait until GMC’s latest is revealed, so stay tuned as we bring you the latest.
Spy Shots: SEMA
Comments
It’ll be interesting what GMC has cooked up with Terrain. Current generation looks ‘unfinished’ on the outside in my opinion. Back in ’11, I was eyeing it for my wife, but when we saw it in person, something wasn’t right about it so we decided to go with the Equinox. Same interior, better outside looks. Still have it, still enjoying it.
Happy New Year to GM Authority staff and all the readers! Hopefully ’17 will be better than this year and we can enjoy all the goodies coming our way by courtesy of GM.
I really like the exterior. Which is funny because I’m not their customer. What disappointed me was/is the interior.
That looks like Terrain Denali or the All-Terrain model
Terrain All-Terrain?
I mean why not?
They are not really all terrain.
FWD Crossovers tend to be more road vehicles with AWD as road traction aide. They are not really for off road and all terrain. To make them such you would have to re engineer them.
Hey I am a owner of one of these but I know enough that they are really just tall Minivans.
To call it all terrain would be misleading and only create warranty issues and people taking them where they should not go and tip them over with the high center of gravity.
I would rather see GMC take a Canyon and build a SUV based on it to do such a model and toss in a ZR2 Suspension to do it right.
As it is we have enough decal sticker engineered models.
like the Cherokee?
Real off roaders don’t drive FWD based Cherokees.
They can call it trail rated but it is not the kind of vehicles really take on serious trails. Like a CRV it is basically a road vehicle with more traction at best. Under the body is just another quality ridden Fiat platform,
But most Cross Overs play a part in impressions that can not be backed up off road as a real 4×4 vehicle can. Nor is there an after market supply parts to make it into a real off road vehicle.
If you want to go off road stick to the Wrangler or Grand Cherokee but even it is not often the model of choice in real mud or Moab conditions.
The reality is even many of the main like 4×4 models anymore have to be modified for real off road use as they have softened over the years. Just look at the Colorado and how it too the ZR2 just to get bumper clearance to get better approach angles as not to get hung up. It was not along.
I had a similar experience. I shopped the Terrain in 2012 but didn’t like the square look and the big slab of chrome above the grill. I went with the V6 Equinox LTZ and have no regrets. It has been a great vehicle. I will be looking at both the Equinox and Terrain this coming year as a replacement for my 2012.
Yes I liked the Equinox looks better back in 2013. There is one exception learned latter. When turning around to back up the Equinox C piller blocks much more of the view than the upright C piller of the GMC. The backup camera only helps so much
Having owned two Terrains , currently driving a ’16 Denali AWD version , I love this truck . And I like the looks better than the Nox . Looks are subjective thats why there are two versions of these twins .
I hope GMC has designed the exterior to really look different than the sea of other offerings out there . I had hoped that the rear wiper would have moved under the spoiler to hide it .
I will be interested to see what has been done inside I hope it doesn’t look like the Canyon’s , not a fan of that IP at all .
And I’m sure the red instrumentation is history which would be a disappointment for me but I know alot of people don’t like it in the current Terrain .
I always attend the NAIAS and the Terrain is first on my list of vehicles to see .
I only liked the Terrain just because it looks different then anything out there and got much better deals than the Chevy counterpart. The only issue that I have with both is the lack of air vents in the back and tints only help so much
I find the squared off wheel arches crude and not attractive. I hope thats not repeated.
We started out a Nox fan and hated the Terrain but about 2 years later we ended up loving the Terrain more and now are glad we did not buy the Nox.
Styling is subjective and GM did the right thing doing two different ends of styling.
The Nox appeal to the less truck like look and people who come from Minivans. The Terrain is more to catch the people coming from a larger SUV or who like the truck look more.
Note the Terrain was really a Pontiac Torrent originally and the styling adjusted to the GMC line. They added a dash of Hummer Styling to GMC too with the big fenders.
The key to the Terrain is the 19″ wheels as they fill the wells nicely if you get the smaller wheels they do look a bit odd.
As for the photo here you can really tell anything other than the green house that looks like a Acadia.
I will wait to see what it looks like in person. As of now the new Nox has not caught my eye but most new cars look much better in person. I will pass judgment when I can make a intelligent and fair opinion in person.
As of now I think we are leaning more to a V6 Acadia next time.
As for styling here there is no right or wrong as you have a choice and win either way. I just hope GM keep the styling split here to address to different groups of buyers and not waste time duplicating models.
I mean I even got a compliment of the Terrain looking “cute” from an owner of the GMC Acadia so i guess thats saying something
I agree with Scott3″s assessment on the styling and who gravitates to what vehicle . In my family there are three Nox’s and two Terrains . The girls went for the Equinox and the males are driving the Terrains . For me I liked the Terrain because it was more truck like and and was different from most others in it’s segment . The Nox looks more like a small mini-van with its rounded shape . Initially that was what GM thought the mix would be , more females would go for the Nox and males would lean towards the Terrain .
I have leather seats and rolling on 19’s , however I do like the cloth seats in the Equinox they are very comfortable .
I had a hard time seeing much in the camo-ed Terrain , I’ve read that it will have a more rugged look which will do wonders selling it , and the Denali might have the new style grill seen on the Acadia .
Like other folks I will need to actually see it before commenting , as well as the Traverse and the Enclave .
Maybe Cadillac will show up with something special .
The Terrain styling has slowly grown on me. It will be interesting to see what they’ve cooked up for the new one.
The new Terrain will be much smaller in size then the current model! It even bigger then the new Acadia in the width.