2020 GMC Terrain: Raising the bar

The crossover SUV market is highly competitive and having a solitary trick up your sleeve is no longer enough to impress buyers in this segment. Enter the 2020 GMC Terrain – a SUV designed for the increasingly demanding modern customer. From looks to technology, to performance and safety, the 2020 Terrain delivers abundantly on all counts. 

The 2020 Terrain features a bold and modern design that sets it apart on the road. The striking exterior design features the brand’s signature cues with stronger, sharper and more sculpted elements. More importantly, the designed is honed in a wind tunnel, making it aerodynamically efficient and thus reducing both wind-noise and fuel consumption on the move. 

The 2020 Terrain Denali, meanwhile, offers a unique grille, 19-inch wheels, exclusive LED headlamps with signature lighting and exclusive taillamps with LED signature lighting, specific interior content with leather-trimmed and ventilated front seats. Adding further visual refinement are Denali-logo aluminum sill plates.

Other models in the range feature signature LED running lamps and tail lamps. Bi-functional HID headlamps are standard on SLE and SLT. Additionally, 17-inch wheels are standard on SLE, with 18-inch wheels standard on SLE AWD and standard on SLT. The Skyscape power sunroof with power sunscreen is available on SLT and standard on Denali.

However, the 2020 Terrain is not merely about design, its dynamic looks are backed by potent performance. Customers can choose from two turbocharged gas engines, including the 1.5L and 2.0L turbocharged units, paired with an efficient nine-speed automatic gearbox.

To ensure confident progress the 2020 Terrain also features a standard GMC’s driver-controllable Traction Select system. At the twist of a knob, the driver can optimize the vehicle for different driving conditions. Based on the selected mode, the system can adjust elements such as throttle and steering response and suspension damping on the fly. Additionally, there is an option to disengage the drive to the rear axle, essentially making the Terrain a FWD vehicle, in order to minimize drag and cut fuel consumption.

Convenience is another area where the 2020 Terrain excels. There are several thoughtful design touches that appeal to the modern crossover buyer. For instance, a power-programmable liftgate is available on SLE, while a hands-free power-programmable liftgate is standard on Denali and available on SLT. Keyless open and push-button start are standard, and remote start is standard on SLT and Denali models and available on SLE. 

Bringing a further layer of practicality is the unique center console design with pass-through storage underneath, side-by-side cupholders and underfloor storage space in the cargo area. The seating is expectedly versatile, as well, with fold-flat front passenger seat and flat-folding rear seat, which makes stowing longer items and cargo a breeze.

Additional features include Rear Seat Reminder as standard and active noise cancellation, which makes the 2020 Terrain exceptionally quiet and refined on the move.

Matching the serene drive is an interior that is crafted with premium materials all around. For instance, the 2020 Terrain uses real aluminum trim, soft-touch materials, real wood and plush leather in the cabin, depending on the chosen trim.

Naturally, being a family crossover safety was a prime consideration during the design process for the 2020 Terrain. It comes standard with six airbags, including frontal for driver and front passenger with Passenger Sensing System; seat-mounted side-impact for driver and passenger; head-curtain for front and rear outboard seating positions, making it one of the safest vehicles in its segment. 

Bolstering safety further is a clutch of active safety features across the board. Rear Vision Camera is standard on SLE, while an HD Rear Vision Camera is standard on SLT and Denali and available on SLE, making maneuvering out of tight parking spaces safer than ever. 

Also standard on Denali and available on SLT is GMC’s Driver Alert Package II, which includes Automatic Emergency Braking, Following Distance Indicator, Forward Collision Alert, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning and IntelliBeam headlamps. Furthermore, Driver Alert Package I is available on SLE and SLT. This package includes, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Park Assist and Safety Alert Seat. Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Safety Alert Seat and Front and Rear Park Assist are, meanwhile, standard on Denali.

Finally, the top-of-the-range Denali features Automatic Parking Assist and HD Surround Vision, as well as ventilated driver seat, ventilated front passenger seat and heated rear outboard seats. 

As a thoroughly modern crossover, the 2020 Terrain also offers a bouquet of connectivity features. The GMC infotainment system with a 7-inch-diagonal color touchscreen is standard on SLE and an 8-inch-diagonal high-definition color touchscreen is standard on SLT. The Denali gets an 8-inch-diagonal high-definition color touchscreen and connected Navigation as standard.

The vehicle also comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing the driver to mirror their smartphone on the infotainment screen and use natural voice commands to control most major functions of the vehicle, including music streaming, making hands-free phone calls and more. 

To ensure that all occupants remain connected, the 2020 Terrain also offers four USB data ports and aux input jack as standard, while two additional USB ports and an SD card reader are standard on SLT and Denali and available on SLE.

Overall, the 2020 GMC Terrain raises the bar in its segment when it comes to design, refinement, practicality, safety and connectivity, making it one of the most well-equipped and well thought-out crossover SUVs on the market.