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GMC Terrain Flat-Folding Passenger Seat: Feature Spotlight

The GMC Terrain is a handsome compact SUV, but also one that doesn’t seem to get as much love compared to segment stalwarts like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, or even Chevrolet‘s own Equinox. However, it does have something pretty much any other vehicle in the segment lacks, and that is the ability to fold the front passenger seat down flat.

In relation to the third-generation Chevy Equinox, which serves as the platform-mate to the second-generation Terrain, the folding-seat feature is unique. It’s a handy trick, as most people buy compact SUVs to haul their small families around, and don’t need the size associated with larger SUVs and trucks. However, that can sometimes put those buyers in a bind when they have to fit a large item in their vehicle.

It’s worth nothing that both the second-generation Terrain and third-generation Chevy Equinox debuted for the 2018 model year.

 

Yours truly once had to transport an entire, single-piece exhaust system and the only way it fit was with the trunk open on one end, and the other end sitting in between the front seats on the armrest. That was neither safe nor practical and, in my case, left my armrest with a nice, new gouge in it. GMC claims this to be a non-issue with the Terrain, stating that an eight-foot-tall ladder can easily fit inside with the front passenger seat folded down and the liftgate closed.

In addition, the fold-down front seat gives the Terrain a 29-percent bump in usable storage space with 81 cubic feet versus 63 from behind the front row. For moving items like boxes, luggage or long objects, the Terrain is more versatile than the competition because of that increased cargo space.

Is the ability to fold down the front seat going to be a deal breaker for buyers? Probably not, but then again, it’s one of those little touches we appreciate once we have it, and can’t live without it afterwards.

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Jake is a Los Angeles-based car enthusiast with a background in track day driving and drifting.

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Comments

  1. The GMC-branded mat in the cargo area is bunching up but it looks to be installed properly, it covers the entire area side-to-side. Is it defective or was it stretched out of shape previously?

    Reply
  2. This feature debuted (I think) on the Chevy HHR. I owned one for a while and couldn’t believe how handy it was. It surprised me that all SUVs didn’t have them. I was able to hold ladders, get 2×4’s and other stuff that I couldn’t haul in a much larger SUV at the time. I’m surprised GM doesn’t make more of this feature – it really is a great selling point.

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    1. GM did make more of this feature. See my post below.

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    2. It went back farther. My 2004 GTP Comp G had this. I could easily carry a step ladder in the car.

      Now the 2012 Terrain the backseat would not fold flat but it did help in carrying 2×4’s as they would rise up over the console.

      You are correct on the HHR as my SS could carry my sons Soap Box Derby car that was 6 feet long.

      Reply
    3. How about 2003 Pontiac Vibe. Had one great car to carry 8′ 2x4s.

      Reply
  3. I used it on mine and its great especially if you need 8ft piece of lumber or trim and you don’t want to hook a trailer up.

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  4. My 2009 Chevy Equinox (similar to the GMC Terrain) has that same feature ten years ago. I have carried ten-feet lumber and a ten-foot aluminum ladder inside. See page 1-8 and the image of page 1-9 in the Owner Manual:
    https://archive.org/details/2009ChevroletEquinoxOwners

    It is not “unique” to the GMC Terrain at all. So which brands (other than GM) offers this feature?

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    1. Yes! I loved this feature on my 2005 Equinox, as well! It worked well for carrying skis. I think the first-gen Equinox, Torrent, the related Suzuki XL7, and the HHR offered the feature at the time, and when those went out of production, the feature died with them. So to answer your question, I think Suzuki is the only other company that had it.

      Reply
    2. What we mean is that the gesture is unique to the Terrain for this generation… not for prior gens… and also not for the current-gen equinox.

      Reply
      1. So GM dropped this feature on the following generations of the Equinox? Who thinks that way? In future articles, please consult the other GM vehicles before posting anything “unique” because most features branded as “new” by other manufaturers were invented and sold on GM vehicles before.

        Reply
  5. I really like the Terrain CUV a lot. Just wish it had a little more Tech. GM needs to offer Full Digital Instrument Clusters as an option at least for vehicles that cost 30K and above if not 25K and above.

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  6. Mi terrian 2012 salio con demasiado consumo de aceite y anillos defectuosos eso provoco que mi catalitico se danara no las recomiendo,esta en mi garage por no toner como arreglarla ya que es demasiado costs la reparacion

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  7. I had no idea I really could have used extra space when I was taking my daughter to college

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  8. How about four wheel drive instead of all wheel drive? My 02 Blazer may not be elegant like these but it goes through snow ! ?

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  9. I remember the Pontiac G6 have this option before…. it might be on the GT model

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  10. Yes I enjoyed this feature also. It is kind of like the software feature in these new radios that come up with a message that fills the radio screen to not take your eyes off the road, Yet you have to take your eyes off the road to push the button to get rid of the message. Hopefully they will soon figure out that this is stupid.

    Reply
  11. Honestly.. why don’t all “utility vehicles” have this option.. anything with fold down back seats / hatch back should have the fold forward passenger seat.

    Is there a reason why it isn’t more popular?

    The main reason I don’t want to get rid of my 2010 Matrix.

    Reply
  12. My Saturn VUE had a front folding seat and it saved us with hauling a kayak. I really want this feature in my next vehicle. Thanks for this input.

    Reply
  13. I’ve seen this on many dodge Durango, current generation, with manual front passenger seats. It’s platform mate the jeep grand cherokee also has it as long as the passenger seat is manual not electric. This feature started with chrysler, the dodge nitro and jeep liberty and also jeep patriot prior to 2016 had it. 2016 brought airbags in the seats and they dropped fold flat. GM appears to do fold flat and the airbags. I love this and have used it many times. Not only will the vehicle handle longer items, he can also keep tabs on those items to make sure they don’t fall out, if they are long enough to extend past the tail gate.

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  14. Chevy Malibu Maxx hatchback thru 2007 has the feature. That’s why I still drive it with 187,000 miles.
    As far as I know, only the 2018 GMC Terrain and 2020 Equinox have it also. Any new hybrids with this feature coming soon?

    Reply
  15. My niece is having a problem…her service dog is afraid to get into her new GM Terrain….can she have the front passenger seat taken out to give her service dog more room to get in on just floor space?

    Reply

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