Those who stay updated with automotive news won’t take long to remember of Equinox. This is the Chevrolet from which Terrain was derived, although their similarities are restricted to platform and powertrain. That vehicle was facelifted some months ago, with the very same purpose you’ll see here. These are the kind of cars who people buy for transportation. They don’t care about the company’s history, or if the vehicle is fancy, fast or frugal. However, it doesn’t mean these things shouldn’t exist: for these people, the sweet spot is when there’s enough of them to not be a problem, but not too much so as to dominate the car’s character. This is actually why crossovers were a godsend for them: they manage to offer qualities of many car categories in the same proportion.
Having that in mind, it’s easy to understand why Terrain became the second best-selling vehicle in GMC’s lineup… and it’s easy to understand why it doesn’t want this to change. The biggest changes performed for 2016 lie up front: the main grille features smoother edges, new internal mesh, and a much thinner upper frame. The bumper abandoned the “V” shape so as to take some chrome lines and look more horizontal. And the hood gained what’s usually called a “power dome”. The sides have new wheels, and the rear received a new bumper, with refreshed design and a hint of extra chrome. The Denali luxury variation just had its previous differences adapted to the new look. You’ll also find new daytime LEDs. Nothing that makes the newcomer easy to tell on the street, though.
Going to the cabin will reveal new fabric upholstery, new colors for the optional leather, and a slightly redesigned central console. As usual, the Denali trim stands apart for offering more equipments and some style elements of its own, such as 19” wheels, the front grille’s mesh, and even more chrome inserts – not even the tail lights escaped. However, some of its equipments found their way to Terrain’s immediate lesser variation, SLT: blind-spot monitor, power passenger seat, and rear cross-traffic alert – the other available trims are SL and SLE. You can also ask for the OnStar system with 4G LTE connection. It works as a wireless hotspot for up to seven devices, but you need to have a data plan.
Everything else remains pretty much unchanged, which means opening the hood won’t bring any surprises. Always with front or all-wheel-drive, Terrain can come with a four-cylinder 2.4-liter engine, good for 182 hp of power and 172 lb-ft of torque. If you spring for the upscale option, you’ll get a 3.6-liter V6 that is naturally aspirated as well, but accounts for 301 hp and 272 lb-ft, and the title of “best in class”, according to General Motors – both come with a six-speed automatic transmission. After being officially released during the last New York Auto Show, the new GMC Terrain will go on sale in the next few months. Nevertheless, given that its current generation has turned five years old, an all-new replacement should be expected in the mid term.