2013 GMC Terrain Total Car Score Analysis

The 2013 GMC Terrain earns an average Total Car Score for the Midsize SUVs & Crossovers segment.  
 
In a world where most crossover vehicles are almond or teardrop shaped to cleanly slice through the wind and eke out as many mpg as possible, the Terrain flies directly in the face of that conventional wisdom. Look up “burly” in the dictionary and you’ll likely find a photo of the Terrain, with its squared-off, boxy body, big, bold fender flares, and an upright grille that’s only slightly more aero than a barn door. It’s a distinctive, maybe even polarizing look, but it’s perfect for those who want a harder edge to their people-moving CUV.  
 
For 2013 GMC has brought its upscale Denali treatment to the Terrain, further accentuating its angular lines with large doses of chrome trim, a Denali-specific grille and headlamp treatments, and 18- or 19-inch wheels, depending on which engine is chosen. Inside the Denali has its own jet-black leather upholstery with red contrast stitching, mahogany trim, and the latest infotainment technology, including GMC’s IntelliLink system.  
 
Underhood, the Terrain Denali can be equipped with either the standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder or the new-for-’13 3.6-liter V6, which offers more horsepower and torque than the outgoing 3.0-liter V6 while returning the same fuel economy as that smaller six. Better still, the new V6 is available in any of the Terrain’s trim levels, not just the range-topping Denali.  
 
Also new for ’13 is an optional Safety Package, which offers several electronic driver aids, including Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning and Rear Park Assist.  
 
The Terrain was introduced some three years ago, and the addition of the 2013 GMC Terrain Denali model serves as a mid-cycle freshening for the make. GMC is busy readying its fullsize pickups for launch next year, but we expect to see an all-new Terrain soon after.

2013 GMC Terrain Model Line-Up

The 2013 GMC Terrain is a four-door five-passenger crossover vehicle available with a choice of two engines, front- or all-wheel-drive powertrains and three trim levels.  
 
The standard engine for the Terrain is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder producing 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. An optional 3.6-liter V6 is good for 301 hp and 272 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are mated to six-speed automatic transmissions, and both are offered with standard FWD or optional AWD.  
 
The Terrain lineup starts with the SLE-1 trim level, which features 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, single-zone manual climate control, a backup camera, tilt/telescope steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, and a six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3/satellite radio audio system with a 7-inch touchscreen, USB and auxiliary ports. Moving up to the SLE-2 trim brings premium cloth upholstery, automatic climate control, an eight-speaker sound system, powered driver seat, and cruise and audio controls on the steering wheel.  
 
The SLT-1 model offers perforated leather upholstery, heated front seats and remote vehicle start, while SLT-2 versions include a power liftgate, a power sunroof, and the Safety Package, which bundles Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning and Rear Park Assist.  
 
The top-shelf Denali model features 18-inch wheels on four-cylinder models and 19s with the V6, an Enhanced Ride & Handling suspension, chrome exterior trim, a unique Denali grille, and special leather upholstery with the Denali logo.  
 
The EPA found the most fuel efficient Terrain was a FWD/four-cylinder model, which returned 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined. Putting the 2.4 in an AWD chassis brought the fuel economy down to 20/29/23 mpg. The FWD V6 returned 17/24/20 mpg, while the AWD V6 was rated at 16/23/19 mpg.  
 
Properly equipped, the 2013 GMC Terrain can tow up to 1,500 pounds when fitted with the four-cylinder engine, 3,500 pounds with the V6.

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