2021 GMC Terrain To Drop Optional 2.0L Turbo Engine: Exclusive
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The 2021 GMC Terrain will not offer the turbocharged 2.0L LTG gasoline engine, GM Authority has learned. The change leaves the turbocharged 1.5L LYX gasoline engine as the sole powerplant for the compact crossover. Both engines are four-cylinders with a Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) configuration, and feature Variable Valve Timing (VVT) and Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI) technologies.
For the 2020 model year, the turbo 2.0L LTG engine – rated at 252 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque – was optional in the Terrain SLT and standard on the Terrain Denali. Meanwhile, the 2021 GMC Terrain will make the turbo 1.5L engine – rated at 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque – as the standard and only available engine for all models and trims. Both engines are mated to the new GM nine-speed automatic transmission and are available in either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive.
The discontinuation of the boosted 2.0-liter motor represents a noteworthy change in the Terrain’s powertrain structure, which has been offered with a base engine and an uplevel engine throughout its two generations.
GMC says that it made the decision to stop offering the more powerful 2.0L engine based on customer demand.
“GMC’s 1.5L turbo engine is the most popular choice for Terrain customers, making up nearly 73% of sales volume today,” GMC spokesperson, Mikhael Farah, told GM Authority. “For the 2021 model year, GMC will exclusively offer the Terrain with the 1.5L turbo engine across all trims,” Farah added.
The loss of the turbocharged 2.0L for the 2021 GMC Terrain follows another engine discontinuation for the Terrain, when it lost the 1.6L turbo-diesel LH7 engine for the 2020 model year.
GMC Terrain sales have grown steadily since the model’s 2010 introduction. U.S. deliveries totaled 112,030 units in 2015 and 101,470 in 2019, noteworthy increases compared to the 60,519 units delivered during its first full year on sale in 2010. The crossover’s best sales year was 2018, when it recorded 114,314 deliveries.
The GMC Terrain is produced at the GM San Luis Potosi plant in central Mexico. The facility is the only one in the world to produce the small crossover utility, supplying the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Middle Eastern markets.
GM was originally planning to launch a midcycle enhancement (MCE / refresh) for the 2021 Terrain that would deliver updates to the exterior and interior, while also adding a new Terrain AT4 model. However, the refresh was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and is now expected to launch for the 2022 model year.
2021 GMC Terrain refresh has now been pushed back to the 2022 model year
We’ll have a lot more on the 2021 GMC Terrain shortly, so be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more GMC Terrain news, GMC news, and around-the-clock General Motors news coverage.
Update: the Terrain’s corporate cousin – the Chevrolet Equinox – will also discontinue the optional 2.0L turbo engine for the 2021 model year.
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I drive a 2016 Terrain with the V6. Lots of power, not great on mileage, but when I hit the throttle, I’m outa here!
This is a sad, stupid move. The 2.0T is smooth and strong. It’s the only really desirable engine in the Equinox/Terrain lineup. And 3-cylinder engines? Don’t get me started. Even with the latest high-tech and turbocharging wizardry, the 3-cylinder engines are plagued by vibration, especially at low speeds and at idle. It’s in their natures. It’s also why 3-cylinder engines weren’t more widely used decades ago. (Remember the Chevy Sprint/Geo Metro? It was a bottom-end subcompact, nothing more…and the last GM vehicle before now to use an inline-3.) This move to drop the 2.0T reeks of gamesmanship regarding GM’s CAFE numbers. I imagine GMC Terrain sales–especially those of the top-end Denali trim–are going to take a hit. Just how big a hit is hard to judge, but–as others here have already noted–I can’t see many buyers willing to pony up the extra cash for a Terrain Denali when it has only the lackluster 1.5T under the hood. If, as suggested, the Equinox still offers the 2.0 for 2021, then it will gain even more of a sales advantage over its GMC cousin.
I have a 2015 Equinox with the Echo Tech 4. POS engine. Anything 4 from GM is junk no matter if it’s Tubo or not. You are better to get a V6 in any vehicle. I will never do another 4 banger in anything, yes they improved from the 80’s but still junk. V6 is the only way to go.
Wow yet more GM genius at work here. So their “professional grade” Terrain is now going to be outperformed by your average 25K Honda CRV, Toyota Rav 4, any 2.0T Ford Escape or even GM’ own Equinox. How do they make these brilliant decisions? So the buyer of a 2021 terrain Denali is going to pay 40-45K and have only 1500 LBS of towing capacity and be outperformed by just about any other CUV or midsize sedan left on the road.
Or could this be GM covering up it’s mistakes with crazy EPA mileage ratings that make no sense. Note that the 2.0T Terrain is rated for a V6 like 20/26 with AWD which is curiously 2 less than the same engine/transmission in the sister Equinox. With so many of their sedan lineup killed off they can no longer count that towards the EPA average. So killing off a poor showing CUV here and there will help boost figures a little. I’m sure it also will save money somewhere as Barra is on a mission to shave costs in the company and spend it on diversity instead.
We chose the 2.0 over the 1.5 in my wife’s 2020 Equinox, and there was a reason for that..more power! Her Chevy is actually a lot of fun to drive!
Doesn’t make sense to pull it from the GMC and leave it in the Chevy. Hopefully at the very least leave it as an option in the Equinox.
Moved on to the 2020 SLT Acadia… case Closed!
Another reason to not buy the Terrible Terrain.
The reason GM dumped the 2000 Lt. terrain, IS at full acceleration the torque steer is so erratic in 2 wheel drive ,THAT IS A DANGER TO THE DRIVER PASSENGERS AND ON COMING TRAFFIC, a topic that has been discussed with GM several times. This terrain when passing tried to put me into a ditch THEN into a dump truck. Accelerating from a stop sign making a right hand turn the torque steer tried to put me into the on coming traffic. testing on side roads I can reproduce the ERRATIC STEERING at any time.
I am not surprised the 252hp engine was dropped . having complained to GM about the erratic torque steering at full throttle. The Terrain almost put me into a ditch then took off almost hitting the the side of a dump truck. my next encounter was at a red traffic light out making a right hand turn with traffic , the torque steer took over taking me into the oncoming traffic. I have driven high performance cars for 40 years , but never did a single car try to KILL ME. This has been discussed numerous times with GENERAL MOTORS SEVERAL TIMES but totally ignored.
this is the third posting but ignored in the past.
Shame, I got the 2019 Terrain Denali 2.0 for my wife when I got my 2019 Canyon Denali. She had a Malibu with the 1.5T, so she was already familiar with the power plant. Fast enough, but it could be bogged down easily with 4 adults and a roof carrier. Test driving the Terrain 1.5T wasn’t a pleasant enough experience for her to want it. The powertrain already felt bogged down. She fell in love with the 2.0T though, it is a rocket on premium. If she can’t get another 2.0T or something as powerful as that in 2022, she won’t be in another Terrain. Since she likes smaller vehicles (couldn’t get her into the Acadia at all), that will likely mark off the GM brand for her.
GM again has shown there true colors, After test driving 1.5 Turbo in 2018 (Terrain) I was so disappointed with it’s pick up which was none. I ordered the SLE with the up-graded 2.0 Turbo what a pleasure, very nice engine. So long GMC. Time to move on I will not be buying another Terrain. The new Terrain has gone up in price about 15% for the 2021 year vs. last year.
But GMC continues to take features away. Go figure.
Bring back the diesel and let people know it’s available. I have it in a Cruze and it has great power and fuel economy.