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GMC Terrain Sales Fall To Bottom Half Of Segment During Q1 2021

GMC Terrain sales decreased in the United States, Canada, and Mexico during the first quarter of 2021.

GMC Terrain Sales - Q1 2021 - United States

In the United States, GMC Terrain deliveries totaled 16,917 units in Q1 2021, a decrease of about 33 percent compared to 25,292 units sold in Q1 2020.
MODEL Q1 2021 / Q1 2020 Q1 2021 Q1 2020
TERRAIN -33.11% 16,917 25,292

GMC Terrain Sales - Q1 2021 - Canada

In Canada, GMC Terrain deliveries totaled 1,830 units in Q1 2021, a decrease of about 23 percent compared to 2,377 units sold in Q1 2020.
MODEL Q1 2021 / Q1 2020 Q1 2021 Q1 2020
TERRAIN -23.01% 1,830 2,377

GMC Terrain Sales - Q1 2021 - Mexico

In Mexico, GMC Terrain deliveries totaled 332 units in Q1 2021, a decrease of about 16 percent compared to 396 units sold in Q1 2020.
MODEL Q1 2021 / Q1 2020 Q1 2021 Q1 2020
TERRAIN -16.16% 332 396

Competitive Sales Comparison (USA)

GMC Terrain sales performance during the first quarter of 2021 puts the compact crossover in 14th place out of 17 competitors in the mainstream compact crossover segment in the United States.

As such, the Terrain was outsold by the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, the Terrain’s corporate cousin and D2 platform mate – the Chevrolet Equinox, Subaru Forester, Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5, Jeep Cherokee, Subaru Crosstrek, Hyundai Tucson, Volkswagen Tiguan, the all-new Ford Bronco Sport, and the Kia Sportage. The Terrain followed, outselling the Dodge Journey, Mitsubishi Outlander and the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.

Sales Numbers - Mainstream Compact Crossovers - Q1 2021 - United States

MODEL Q1 21 / Q1 20 Q1 21 Q1 20 Q1 21 SHARE Q1 20 SHARE
TOYOTA RAV4 +17.03% 114,255 97,631 16% 16%
HONDA CR-V +31.72% 93,766 71,186 13% 12%
NISSAN ROGUE +45.22% 86,720 59,716 12% 10%
CHEVROLET EQUINOX -13.93% 63,218 73,453 9% 12%
SUBARU FORESTER +22.04% 47,694 39,080 7% 6%
FORD ESCAPE -14.81% 40,990 48,117 6% 8%
MAZDA CX-5 +15.73% 40,750 35,211 6% 6%
JEEP CHEROKEE +12.61% 37,923 33,675 5% 6%
SUBARU CROSSTREK +63.54% 35,187 21,516 5% 4%
HYUNDAI TUCSON +39.65% 33,147 23,735 5% 4%
VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN +22.94% 27,265 22,177 4% 4%
FORD BRONCO SPORT * 23,356 * 3% 0%
KIA SPORTAGE +11.77% 22,417 20,057 3% 3%
GMC TERRAIN -33.11% 16,917 25,292 2% 4%
DODGE JOURNEY -54.59% 6,880 15,152 1% 3%
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER -67.94% 4,106 12,809 1% 2%
MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS -69.46% 1,583 5,184 0% 1%
TOTAL +15.26% 696,174 603,991

The performance gives the Terrain a 2 percent segment share during the quarter, down 2 percent from the 4 percent share it held a year ago in Q1 2020.

The compact mainstream crossover segment (C-crossover segment) expanded 15 percent to 696,174 units during Q1 2021, meaning that GMC Terrain sales significantly under-performed the segment average.

The GM Authority Take

GMC Terrain sales fell by 33 percent or 8,375 units during the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020. In somewhat consoling news, some segment rivals posted much greater loses during the quarter.

There were 10 models in the segment that posted an increase in sales this quarter with the Subaru Crosstrek and Nissan Rogue posting the largest increases of 64 and 45 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, the Terrain’s corporate cousin and platform mate, the Chevrolet Equinox (see running Chevrolet Equinox sales), also saw sales fall but only by 14 percent during Q1 2021. Additionally, the Ford Escape saw sales drop 15 percent, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross sales declined nearly 70 percent, Mitsubishi Outlander sales were down 68 percent, and Dodge Journey sales declined 55 percent.

Sales of the Terrain (as well as of the Equinox) continued to be hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting GM as well as most of the auto industry at large, just as it did throughout the 2020 calendar year. We posit that the substantial drop in Terrain deliveries during the first quarter was primarily the result of two factors impacting supply:

Sales Numbers - GM Mainstream Compact Crossovers - Q1 2021 - United States

MODEL Q1 21 / Q1 20 Q1 21 Q1 20 Q1 21 SHARE Q1 20 SHARE
CHEVROLET EQUINOX -13.93% 63,218 73,453 79% 74%
GMC TERRAIN -33.11% 16,917 25,292 21% 26%
TOTAL -18.85% 80,135 98,745

We should also note that combined sales of the two GM compact crossovers – the GMC Terrain and Chevy Equinox – totaled 80,135 units for a 11 percent segment share. The numbers are impressive, but didn’t enable the duo to outsell the Toyota RAV4, which saw sales increase 17 percent to 114,255 units during the quarter, for an 16 percent segment share. The combined sales of the Terrain and Equinox were also beat by the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue.

The GMC Terrain AT4 is a new trim level that will launch with the refreshed Terrain lineup. The refreshed Terrain was originally slated to launch for the 2021 model year, but was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s also worth pointing out that the Terrain was originally slated to get a midcycle enhancement (MCE) for the 2021 model year. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the launch of the updated model to be pushed back to the 2022 model year as the 2022 GMC Terrain.

The refresh includes revamped front and rear fascias, the addition of a rugged Terrain AT4 model, plus various other enhancements and new features. As a result of the delay, the 2021 model year gets only a few minor changes. See 2021 GMC Terrain changes and updates.

About The Numbers

  • All percent change figures compared to GMC Terrain sales for Q1 2020, unless noted otherwise
  • In the United States, there were 74 selling days in Q1 2021 and 76 selling days in Q1 2020
GM Q1 2021 sales reports:

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Comments

  1. Incentives are needed to push this vehicle off the lots

    Reply
    1. There isn’t much on the lots right now lol

      Reply
  2. Maybe the ho-hum exterior and interior styling as well as just adding the Denali trim contributed to these numbers?

    Reply
  3. The 2.0t made up 27% of GMC Terrain sales. I’m only surprised the decrease in sales didn’t happen sooner.

    Reply
    1. exactly, Mary got her wish, no 2.0l in the Terrain and Equinox , so customers who want more power are going elsewhere.
      Mary its still not too late to reverse a bad decision and put the 2.0l back in the Terrain and Equinox for 2022!!
      There is something about giving the customer what they want that usually drives sales.!!
      I had planned to buy a 2022 terrain AT4, but just found a left over 2020 brand new nox with the midnight trim , 2.0l and 9 speed . Who ever made the decision to remove the 2.0l and 9 speed from their second best selling car line should be fired!!

      Reply
      1. No one bought it, the take rate was abysmal. Only a few competitors have a much more powerful engine and they aren’t selling in droves. The 2.0 had barely impact on the lower sales, especially when it’s only a couple people who say it’s the reason and they were shopping. It’s not the reason, it’s on par with the competition now across the board and it keeps costs down from having to have an entirely different engine for a handful of people.

        Reply
        1. Growing up during the muscle car days, engines had a big impact on sales. HP numbers were a bragging chip and every kid who started to drive probably knew all the engine displacements for every model. Nowadays, other than the HEMI and maybe the LS series, who buys HP anymore? Sure there are a few but automakers has to build for the masses first, then a specific engine with a turbo for a high trim level always seem to follow.

          Reply
    2. Because it was included in the denali. I promise not many knew or cared. What was the take rate in the SLT? That wasn’t a big driver, if you check the news at all you will see many other factors that drive it. Not that an engine is no longer get available in a compact CUV that every soccer mom has zero clue what is in it or cares. I’d love more power in anything but something like this I understand the take rate is abysmal and the standard engine is on par with like 90% of the competition, so what’s the point when it just drives up the cost?

      Reply
      1. One of the unique selling points of the Terrain was that it offered one of the most powerful engines for its class. Without that engine it loses a feature that set it apart from the competition. If this was a matter of cost, then I think GM actually made a terrible mistake. I have a harder time now justifying the price when the competition can offer similar features for thousands of dollars less.

        I am still going to give the Terrain a more-than-a fair shake, but the only way I can see this move being justified is if GM feels forced to cut their costs. That’s never a good thing.

        Reply
  4. Ugly, overpriced, terrible engine.

    Any questions?

    Reply
    1. I agree that it is a bit ugly. The C framed headlights trims are just two big. GMC needs to start getting away with this styling queue, it is just getting old. After about twenty years Cadillac is finally moving away from the vertical cuts in both the rear and front. The new announced EV Lyriq is a perfect example.

      Reply
  5. Sales of the GMC Terrain in my opinion are low because today consumer are lot more educated with so much competition out there the terrain still holds its ground but by gm deleting the 2.0 l option for 2021 and on I think it will hurt sales further more the 1.5 just doesn’t cut it in I’ve read all the comments some are and some are bad but all in all the 1.5 Just not as torquee as the 2.0 l engine and people do like a little exceleraton under there foot specially when u are passing in the fast lane ! And not even offering in the Denali trim just makes that C U V just another blah vehicle! . Hopefully gm will bring back the 2.0 l engine for 2022

    Reply
  6. Maybe GM should have kept the last gen’s distinctive design instead of making it look like an Equinox.

    Reply
    1. The design of the current model is actually quite distinctive and looks nothing like the Equinox.

      The 2.0L engine was irrelevant for the overwhelming majority of buyers. What they will make in volume on dropping the 2.0T will be more than made up in additional volume by making more units with the 1.5T.

      Bottom line: Terrain is a solid vehicle, but sub-par availability is what dinged sales volume during Q1 2021. It’s literally that simple.

      Reply

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