2026 GMC Terrain Denali AWD Assessment & Take a look at Drive : Automotive Addicts
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It’s obvious that the strains between many two-row and three-row crossovers have been blurred. Such burring takes place for car segments that the GMC Terrain and Acadia break up. By the years, the GMC Terrain has grown in lots of literal methods to assist blur the road between its bigger three-row Acadia sibling, and that may be factor contemplating the Terrain now brings again a Denali trim providing a few of these welcomed luxurious points to the compact SUV.
Whereas sharing its platform with the Chevrolet Equinox, the brand new GMC Terrain feels extra spectacular and substantial, and the Denali trim for the 2026 mannequin 12 months helps with that. There’s rather a lot in regards to the Terrain Denali that lives as much as the Denali trim identify, however most of that plushness ends abruptly with the powertrain because the 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder simply doesn’t lower the gray poupon (mustard).
Efficiency and Driving Character
The engine is brash and principally unrefined, with its garbled coarse sound and underwhelming energy output at 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. GMC does one thing completely different from the front-wheel-drive fashions to offer all-wheel-drive fashions an 8-speed automated transmission over a constantly variable unit discovered within the FWD fashions. Such a transfer is welcomed in our view, as is the extra torque present in AWD fashions over the FWD’s 184 lb-ft. The additional little bit of torque not solely helps get the big-looking compact crossover on top of things faster, nevertheless it is ready to tow greater than the FWD’s 800 lbs, growing towing to 1,500 lbs.
If you’re not towing, you have to to offer the GMC Terrain Denali about 8 seconds to hit 60 mph, not precisely a stunner right here. Although I do give GM’s engineers reward to masks the lackluster engine qualities with a pleasing experience attribute, one which lives as much as the Denali identify. Even with the bigger wheel-well-filling 20-inch wheels and fixed-rate dampers, the experience high quality is nice and compliant. I welcomed the properly tuned steering and buttoned-down feeling and considerably first rate dealing with. Sadly, there is no such thing as a Sport drive mode, which can have in any other case added a bit an excessive amount of weight within the steering effort.
Gas Economic system
The GMC Terrain Denali AWD delivers first rate gas financial system, however on the sacrifice of some wanted further energy. The EPA estimates of 24 mpg metropolis, 26 mpg freeway, and 25 mpg mixed are surprisingly according to the turbo 4-cylinder. Filling the 15.6-gallon gas tank with common unleaded will provide you with a freeway cruising vary of about 436 miles.
Inside and Expertise
For my part, the inside of the brand new GMC Terrain Denali overshadows the faults of its lackluster engine. Right here, there’s an inviting area with premium touches that may proudly put on the Denali embroidering. The entrance ventilated and heated seats are cozy and an enchancment over outgoing years, with moderately aggressive Security Alert Seat vibrations. The rear seating space is on par with its competitors when it comes to measurement, however out again, you do get to take pleasure in heated outboard seats, due to the Denali theme correctly carrying by way of the cabin. Cargo area is on the brief facet when put up in opposition to some rivals at 29.8 cubic toes with the rear seatbacks in place or as a lot as 63.5 cubic toes with them folded.
One of many highlights of the inside is the brand new table-style 15-inch infotainment touchscreen with Google built-in expertise. As a final hurrah, GM nonetheless contains wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, which superbly match the big display in a few completely different show choices. The display is a pleasant contact to the Terrain because it provides much more of a premium contact to the cabin, as does the 11-inch digital instrument cluster that’s configurable to show the Google-powered map or load up the mapping out of your Apple CarPlay-connected iPhone, the place I used to be in a position to take pleasure in Waze within the cluster.
Additionally welcoming for the inside is the suitable variety of bodily buttons/toggles, together with bodily switches for the dual-zone automated local weather management temperature changes. The display makes for good use of different capabilities such because the 360-degree digital camera system and customizing apps and performance show areas.
Security
GMC brings all anticipated energetic security options to the desk, equivalent to lane departure warning/lane maintain help, ahead collision warning/emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, reverse emergency braking, entrance pedestrian detection, encompass digital camera system, and the digital evaluate mirror.
Pricing
GMC retains issues civil to play properly with rivals within the pricing enviornment, with a base value $30,100 earlier than any charges or choices. Climbing by way of a collection of three trim ranges (Elevation FWD, AT4 AWD, and Denali AWD), the Terrain Denali lands at a value that begins from $43,595, and for my take a look at car, together with a $1,395 vacation spot cost and $2,815 in choices, you’ll look to pay a complete of $45,310.
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Malcolm Hogan is the founder and editor of Automotive Addicts, a trusted voice within the automotive media world for over 20 years. With 20+ years of hands-on expertise masking the trade, Malcolm has constructed a fame for delivering trustworthy opinions, sharp insights, and in-depth protection of every thing from new automobile debuts to high-performance take a look at drives. Passionate in regards to the evolving automobile tradition and staying forward of the curve, Malcolm continues to steer Automotive Addicts as a go-to vacation spot for fanatics and trade insiders alike.
