Overview

What's New for 2023

The 2023 GMC Terrain is available in four trims: SLE, SLT, AT4, and Denali. All-wheel drive is standard on the AT4 and Denali and optional on the other trims. The SLT is the popular trim and the one we recommend for most buyers. We'll explain why.

SLE

Starting at $29,795 (including a $1,395 destination fee), the SLE is the entry-level model. It comes with 17-inch aluminum wheels, automatic LED headlights, heated power side mirrors, daytime running lights, cloth upholstery, keyless entry and ignition, satellite radio, a 7-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a six-speaker stereo. Additionally, this trim is equipped with safety features such as lane-keeping assist, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The options list includes blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, navigation, a sunroof, and a power liftgate.

SLT

The SLT ($33,795) upgrades to 18-inch wheels, a hands-free power liftgate, roof rails, heated power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, and a larger 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display. We recommend this trim as it adds a significant number of useful options at a reasonable price. Blind-spot warning, a sunroof, a surround-view camera, and rear cross-traffic alert are optional.

AT4

Created with off-roading in mind, the AT4 trim ($35,895) adds all-wheel drive, a front skid plate, dark wheels and exterior accents, distinctive badging, and an adjustable Traction Select system for varying types of terrain. This trim offers similar options to the SLT.

Denali

The Denali ($38,495) is the most lavishly equipped version of the Terrain. In addition to the features on the lesser trims, the Denali adds blind-spot warning, 19-inch wheels, a premium stereo system, navigation, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and a head-up display. The options list includes a surround-view camera, sunroof, heated rear seats, and cooled front seats.

The Environmental Protection Agency rates the front-wheel-drive 2023 GMC Terrain to return 25 mpg during city driving and 30 mpg on the highway. With all-wheel drive, that drops slightly to 25/28 mpg city/highway. Unfortunately, GMC does not offer a hybrid variant of the Terrain.

Competing SUVs deliver better fuel economy. The gas-only 2023 Kia Sportage returns up to 25/32 mpg city/highway; the hybrid version returns 42/44 mpg city/highway with front-wheel drive and 38/38 mpg with all-wheel drive. Similarly, hybrid versions of the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, and Ford Escape surpass the Terrain in gas mileage.

The 2023 GMC Terrain has a traditional interior with plenty of room for five passengers. One unique element of the Terrain's cabin is its gear shifter. It uses a series of push- and pull-buttons to change gears, choose drive or reverse, and put the vehicle in park. It's not a bad system, but it does take time to become second nature. It has the benefit of clearing space in the center console, which houses the drive mode selector plus the requisite cupholders. While the interior is attractive enough, models like the Hyundai Tucson and Nissan Rogue have nicer, more modern-looking cabins.

The Terrain has 29.6 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second-row seats. That's a lot of space, but the Rogue, Tucson, and Toyota RAV4 provide considerably more. With all rear seats folded, the cargo space in the Terrain grows to 63.3 cubic feet. The Terrain's front passenger seat folds to accommodate long objects. With the rear seats and the front passenger seat folded, cargo area increases to 81 cubic feet.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn't yet evaluated the 2023 GMC Terrain, but it gave the nearly identical 2022 Terrain its top five-star rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2022 Terrain its top Good ratings for crashworthiness in all categories except side-impact performance, which it rated Marginal.

The 2023 Terrain comes with a lengthy roster of active safety and driver-assist features. The standard GMC Pro Safety suite includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, following distance indicator, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, and automatic headlights. Blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and rear parking sensors are available.

A pleasant ride, quiet cabin, and easy-to-use infotainment system are highlights of the 2023 GMC Terrain. Rivals such as the Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, and Hyundai Tucson have more horsepower and more room for cargo. Still, the Terrain will provide comfortable transport for a family of up to five. Enthusiast drivers will favor the Mazda CX-50. The Tucson, RAV4, and Honda CR-V are among the top models with hybrid powertrains.

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GMC Terrain vs. Hyundai Tucson

GMC Terrain vs. Mazda CX-50

GMC Terrain vs. Nissan Rogue

GMC Terrain vs. Toyota RAV4