The second-generation GMC Terrain was introduced with the 2018 model year, bringing with it new, sharper exterior styling, a revamped cabin design, a range of turbocharged engine options, and a host of new features to boot. One of these new features was a digital push-button gear selector, which helped to free up some space on the center console and create new storage solutions such as side-by-side cupholders.
However, the new push-button gear selector was considered a somewhat controversial move when it was first announced. That said, the 2018 GMC Terrain debuted more than two years ago, so now that the dust is settled, are critics still hung up on the feature? We wanted to know, so we decided to put together a poll to find out.
As for testing here at GM Authority, we’ve found the second-gen GMC Terrain push-button shifter to be a welcome innovation. We enjoy how the feature presents a different method of selecting gears, and it doesn’t really take all that much tinkering to get the gearbox into the desired setting. Although the second-gen GMC Terrain’s push-button shifter did require some getting used to, we found it to be pretty much second nature within a week of driving the vehicle.
To note, the second-gen GMC Terrain is offered with two unique nine-speed automatic transmissions, both of which feature the Electronic Precision Shift feature. Engine options include the turbocharged 1.5L LYX four-cylinder and the turbocharged 2.0L LTG four-cylinder, with the previous 1.6L LH7 diesel option getting the axe over the summer.
So then, dear reader, we want to know – is the second-gen GMC Terrain’s push-button shifter any good? Have you gotten used to it, or is it still a bother to use? Let us know by taking the poll below, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more GMC Terrain news, GMC news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
For the most it really does not matter.
I would rather have the shifter but could live with the buttons if needed.
Now if I was flowing snow I would want a sifter in the truck.
At least it is not the dial like FCA has. I hate the Dial. It can be difficult to hit the right selection often.
The claimed added space to me really adds little. I don’t use the cup holders as it is other than to hold my sun glasses.
Personally, I don’t think the push button shifter is awful. It would be better if there were paddle shifters instead of the +/- on the L button. Otherwise it’s just something you adjust to with time.
You know, you have some thing there. Push button shifter combined with paddle shifter would be very nice! I dont have a vehicle with this feature, most gripes I’ve heard wasnt the push button shifter itself but where it is positioned lower down.
The new Suburban/Tahoe push button shifter seems to be better located.
We have 35K miles on our Terrain and love the push button shifting. The toggles for R and D are actually very intuitive and we just use the engine start/stop button rather than park, kudos to the engineer that came up with that scheme. Note that does not work with the column shifter in our 2020 Sierra – you have to turn engine back to On and manually shift into P.
Grandma and Grampa drive the Terrain occasionally when babysitting and have no issues with it. They actually like the Terrain better than their new XT5.
I have a 2019 Terrain Denali and it works great. It so easy to use that after a few times its like second nature. I agree that manual shifting should be moved to the steering wheel with paddles. But really who is going to manually be shifting a CUV. Very few if any. I also like the fact I just turn the car off and it automatically goes into park. The terrain also has nice feature that if your on a incline it will automatically set the E-Brake.
The novelty has worn off. To qualify, yes I am retired. Yes, it has been a fumble a few times locating the button in parking lots.Yes, cross town driving has resulted in a few mis steps. Put me on a long hi way, it is just fine. I am now looking at a 2020 Tahoe/Yukon, as 2021 will have the same feature. Just want to be comfortable behind the wheel again.
I mean, are we acting like pushbutton shifters is anything new? Sure it’s done differently than it was in the 50’s, but it’s not like you’re asking for much of a change. I think some people are hating it just to be contrary.
I have a 2018 Terrain. Upgraded from an automatic 2000 Pontiac Sunfire. Biggest trip up was I’d reach for a shifter that wasn’t there. Otherwise I warmed up to it pretty well.
They could’ve made it worse, like put the gears in alphabetical order instead of PRNDL. I do like how the new Acadia shifter looks classier than the Terrain. As for the new Tahoe/Suburban, the buttons and triggers look like old blocky window switches. Hopefully the Yukons will be better.
Ok, that is incredible, it should look great but i have a 2013 and I am still waiting for a recall of these cars before my engine blows up. Do you know when they going to fix these problems with the eco engines? Thankyou
We have 2018 and is our 3rd of the same model. Love it, no issues and got used to it right away.
Just wish the shifter was on the steering wheel. I have a problem with the backup camera being extremely bright at night- to the point that I am unable to see how to back up – can’t even see to use mirrors it is so bright. Does anyone else have this problem? I have talked to different dealerships with no results.
I haven’t had a brightness issue with the back up camera, although I do wish the resolution was better at night. It’s a little fuzzier than I like
Yes ,my wife and I would agree with you that the brightness and resolution of the camera at night are not desirable.
We have our 2012 Terrain to trade for a new SUV in January. Jumping ship here to another brand. Cannot see us pulling those shift buttons with gloves on in our Wisconsin weather….let alone finding them.
I actually prefer the buttons. It is much faster to select a dedicated button than to pull a lever through multiple shift positions to get to the one you want. Also, you never have to put the vehicle in park when you stop. Just press the on/off button and the vehicle automatically puts itself into park. I recently rented a Dodge pickup and agree that the buttons are much better than the knob. Also, the side by side holders are great! It prevents confusion between my wife and I. I will admit that it took about a week to get used to the buttons but since then I have come to enjoy them.
I like this option so much that in my other car I always reach for the buttons. A better feature is that even in gear , as soon as you turn off the car, it goes into park and shuts down.
I like the gear selector feature. Took very little time to get used to. It’s similar to many of the finger tip controls that you find in the modern farm tractors today.
There is one MAJOR flaw to this that no engineer took into consideration. With the shifter being electronically actuated, if you have battery issues there is no way to change gears. This happened to my 2018 Terrain Denali after having it about 3-4 months. Even hooking up multiple jumper boxes and battery chargers, myself and 2 tow truck drivers couldn’t get it out of Park. And of course, it was nose in tight in a garage with no way to get it out safely. Older cars had a way to disengage the linkage, but they apparently removed that too! After being without a car for 2.5 days and screaming at the dealership endlessly, they finally sent out someone with a new battery which fixed it.
@Timm, I have great news for you. If you look on page 195 of your Owner Manual. there is a way actually, and yes the engineers did think of it. On the left side of the center console not far from the gas pedal you will find a small close-out panel. Inside of that panel is the override switch if your battery should happen to go dead and not be able to start it to get it out of “Park” I Hope this helps in the future, but also hope you never have to try it out either.
John S @ Mangino Buick/GMC
It’s too bad no one from the dealership knew about that, nor did the AAA drivers, nor the mechanic who came onsite. On a few of my calls to the dealership, I asked them to check with their senior mechanics to see if there was any way around this, for which they claim they asked a few and no one knew. Just bad service and training then. But that was in April 2018, so this model had been on the road less than a year. Thanks for that info though!
The shifter is fine once you get used to it. The thing that I hate about my 2019 Terrain is the Auto stop feature. It is not an option. Every time I brake at a light or stop sign, my motor turns off. It is not fuel efficient nor economical for wear and tear purposes. If I had known prior to buying it, I would not have bought this vehicle.
I own two Equinoxes…………a 2019 and a 2020. I bought the Equinox since they have a traditional shifter. Sadly, I have a great GMC dealership close by but I hated the shifter in the Terrain. Two of my best friends have or have had Terrains. The one hates the buttons and puts up with it. The other has Parkinson;s and after a month had to trade the Terrain on a new Blazer since his disability prevented him from using the button shifter.
Now………….if GM would give me a disable switch for start-stop!!! I absolutely hate that system!
I would hate the start/stop system as well.
In my Malibu if I put the shifter in L then use + to upshift to the highest gear, I can drive around like normal without the start-stop feature going off everytime I stop. The transmission upshifts and downshifts by itself like normal.
I too hate this feature but this work-around works for me.
We used to have a ’57 Mercury Montery,it had push buttons. I rather like the idea, as long as they move it from the centre console to the dash, where it would be more accessible.
Someone mentioned finding their backup camera too bright at night time. I have the same issue with my navigation screen.
I have a 2019 GMC Terrain with push button drive and I love this feature! As stated in your article, it only took about a week for it to be second nature! I love the room it affords me in the console area.
I enjoyed my 2018 GMC Terrain until I began receiving dashboard notifications regarding the need for servicing on the passenger restraint and transmission systems while having less than 15,000 miles. I loved the push button gear shift because it was unique. However, I did not like that the vehicle allowed me to shut the truck off while still in gear…scary?
As far as the button shifter I like it. Only took a few days to get used to it. That said the location would not have been my choice. I would have located it to the top left front of the dash like the 60’s mopar vehicles had. Why? It would be right in your line of sight and easier to use then looking down every time you change from forward to reverse or to use the park and “L” selection.
I had several Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth products with the push button selector and liked it. You did not lose your line of sight out of the windshield to use it.
The bad of the current location is if you want to use the “L” button to manual shift for towing or to shift to 9th gear so as to eliminate the start stop function. You have to look down to do that. The start stop function only works when in Drive, not when in “L”. In the 2019 Terrain Denali you cannot turn it off. I hate it!
When driving in stop and go traffic I use the “L” function to stop the on-off from stopping and then while at a traffic light starting up again jerking the car. I only use “D” for open highway driving. All other times the “L” button shifted to 9. The Terrain should have had a selector to turn the start stop function OFF like some other vehicles have! There is a company that makes an adapter to go into the wiring for the hood latch that stops the on/off function. Would using it void the warranty? unknown. Gm should make that an after market option for vehicles designed with no on-off selector.
GM. if you are reading this, move the selector up to the top left front of the dash…..
I’ve acclimated to the button shifter, but I don’t like it. You have to be sure to press the buttons down very firmly, or you will have a problem/accident. I’ve had a couple of close calls. My lease is almost up and I’m actually looking at other models so that I can find one that has a regular gear shift.
Once you reach your destination and stop, you can press the park button or the off button,which automatically moves you to park. I came to a stop, pressed the off button, but it didn’t take. When I took my foot off the brake, the car lurched forward, even though it had been stopped, and struck a pole. This caused $4500.00 damage to vehicle! Someone will end up getting killed because of this! Why does the car still go forward once you ave stopped, and your foot is off the gas.
I am very pleased with the electronic precision shifting.
I have severe RA arthritis and it is the only car I can drive.
I do not find it confusing at all. I am 82 years old.
I caught on to it immediately.
My husband and I purchased a 2020 GMC Terrain and only have a little over 18,000 miles on and it’s been at the dealers shop three weeks now. It will not shift to park…it goes to N when you press Park and then the car locked down. We are still waiting on answers and having to rent a vehicle out of pocket(non reimbursement)…
I had my reservations at first, but after a couple of days I really liked the button shift. My only complaint, and it could just be me, is the order of the buttons. R N D. I’m sure the engineers had a reason for that. However for me the index finger being the dominant finger, I am always activating R when I want D and visa versa. Been doing this for six months and it still feels backwards. Curious to know if anyone else feels the same. Also took awhile to get use to not having the gear shift to rest my hand on.
My sister has a few year old Cadillac xt5 and the electronic shifter is finicky! It’s fine, then out of the blue, you go to a fast food restaurant drive thru, which I did, and pay for my food and tell me to park over there and they will bring your food out, then you shift into park and upon leaving, it won’t shift into gear! I did everything and finally turned it off for 2 minutes, and it was worked again. Been to the dealership several times and seems it’s a common intermittent issue. I talked to others and everyone hates the electronic shift! The original mechanical shifter works perfectly fine!