Here’s The 2025 GMC Terrain Denali Before You’re Supposed To See It: Photos

Just last week, GM Authority showed you the upcoming 2025 GMC Terrain AT4 in camo-free form before its debut later this year. Today, we have more of the same, but different – the 2025 GMC Terrain Denali.

Much like the aforementioned Terrain AT4, the Denali seen here is finished in white and has no camo, with the exception of the roof rails and tow hitch cover panel. As is typically the case with Denali models, the theme here is body-colored and chrome accents.

Starting at the front, the 2025 GMC Terrain Denali features a chrome grille with five double horizontal slats set within what looks like a black border, while the big red GMC logo is positioned between the first and second of the grille slats. Bookending the prominent grille are a set of headlights with GMC’s signature C-shaped Daytime Running Light (DRL) signature, which also serve as the turn signals and hazard indicators. The C-shaped signature wraps a set of vertically-stacked headlight lenses, with the top one likely serving as the low beam and the bottom probably reserved for the high beam. A boomerang-shaped chrome trim piece starts at the inner edge of the headlight housing and then turns and curves four times before arriving at the foglight housing, which itself likely serves as the inlet for the front air curtain.

The lower fascia consists of a lower grille with some horizontally-oriented slats and what appears to be a sensor for Adaptive Cruise Control. Just above the bottom grille is a chrome trim piece, while the outer edges of the lower fascia are finished in body color, and represent a substantial departure from the high-clearance front bumper seen on the Terrain AT4.

The side profile reveals the general shape of the 2025 GMC Terrain Denali, which is a direct match for the Terrain’s platform mate, the 2025 Chevy Equinox. The same goes for the upward sloping belt line at the rear door, the U-shaped wheel wells, and even the forward-leaning “shark fin” style C-pillar treatment, which is similar (but not identical) to that seen on the new Equinox.

The camoed roof rails appear to be finished in chrome while featuring black bases, while the door handles and wheel well trim are finished in body color. On the topic of wheel well trim, the 2025 Terrain Denali features marker lights at the upper end of the body-color fender flares – a treatment similar to that seen on the 2023 and newer GMC Canyon, 2024 Acadia AT4, and 2025 Terrain AT4. The Denali script is present and accounted for on the front doors, while the mirror caps are finished in piano black, as opposed to body color (which we would have expected on the Denali). A thin trim resides at the bottom edge of the doors, while the wheel wells are filled up nicely with dual seven-spoke satin/silver wheels that are either 20 or 21 inches in size.

The rear end of the 2025 GMC Terrain Denali features a centrally-mounted communications fin, along with a hatch-mounted spoiler, which houses the Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL). The sides of the rear glass feature vertically-mounted aero curtains finished in piano black.

A set of boomerang-shaped tail lights with a clear C-shaped graphic bookend the rear end, being separate from the vertically-oriented reflectors lower within the fascia. The Denali script is positioned between the tail lights, while the Terrain AWD script (finished in black) can be seen at the bottom of the driver’s side of the hatch door. The GMC badge has been relegated to a small position on the passenger side of the hatch door, giving the Denali script priority. A chrome trim piece is sandwiched between the body-color bumper cover and body-color lower fascia, which also features dual black exhaust tips. Some camo wrap is still present on the cover for the tow hitch receiver.

Overall, 2025 GMC Terrain Denali has a high-end demeanor that seems to be an even better execution of the Denali trim than the current model.

Inside, the 2025 GMC Terrain will draw inspiration from the 2024 GMC Acadia. An 11-inch Driver Information Center and a vertically oriented, portrait-style central infotainment display have been spied, mirroring the Acadia’s setup.

Under the hood, all 2025 Terrain models are expected to be powered by the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LSD gasoline engine, paired with GM’s eight-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle will ride on an updated version of the GM D2 platform, offering both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options.

Production of the third-generation Terrain will take place at the GM San Luis Potosi plant in Mexico, though its start has been pushed back to October of 2024.

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2025 GMC Terrain Photos
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Jim Lefferts

View Comments

    • On the 'engine':
      Wow. All that bling. All that extra money, and they left the engine out. Sad.

  • Nice looking vehicle only draw back 1 engine choice 1.5 it’s ok but a hybrid option would be nice also over all looks good hopefully gm enthusiasts will like the new generation!!!

  • I'm not really understanding or liking the side reflector look in the wheel well trim. On the AT4 it seemed fitting at least. But on the upscale Denali it looks tacky.

    • The details, including those lights, are a mess wherever you look...as you said, tacky. Plastic side moldings from 90's Pontiac, a grille from a 10 year old Chinese knock-off, badges all over the back and body lines all over the place. It's an Aztek for the modern world.

  • I'm confused why so many un-camouflaged 2025 Terrains and Yukons are running around these days. Why aren't they just revealing them already?

  • Boy that's a tiny engine in a not tiny SUV. Wonder about durability and even mileage when the little beast is regularly running hard to propel the SUV.

  • Everything looks good but the grill. Grill reminds me of something from a plastic model. Don't fit with the rest of the vehicle. Looks cheap IMO.

  • GMC is a wonderful brand. But this new Terrain? Terrible front end. Weak engine option. Its a firm no for me

  • Just my opinion, but no vehicle with a 1.5 Liter should have a Denali badge on the sheet metal; whether it's Turbocharged or not. Where does the distinction of the Denali really come in at if the standard has been lowered down to a 4 Cylinder??

  • I am fairly shocked how much I liked the 2024 AWD Terrain Denali we just bought! NEVER thought I'd buy something with such a "Mouse-motor"! Then DW & I drove one that been on the lot just a couple days. I'll be 63 this Sept., & I've grown fairly fussy about cars! Could NOT talk the Wife into a big $90,000 Yukon Denali.....so, for $44,180 (incl. transp.), we got the small Denali!

    Has every possible option....it's the Black-Diamond Edition, which ties together the Denali pkgs., & adds the 19" PJO "After Midnight" (dark Gray metallic) finish wheels. Looks fairly "Blacked-out" this way. It has decent on-ramp acceleration, gets away from stoplights much better than I thought! Have almost 500 miles on it now, & liking it even more.

    One thing bugs me tho'.....no power tilt & telescoping wheel!! What the hell?!??!?