2025 GMC Terrain Review and Test Drive

A more rugged look and a tech injection keep the GMC Terrain relevant.

Tim Stevens | 

Feb 21, 2025 | 7 min read

Tim Stevens

After spending some time with the redesigned 2025 Terrain, it's clear to me that GMC successfully threads that needle while giving its compact crossover SUV a fresh look and a technology injection to help it remain relevant, if not revolutionary.

The 2025 GMC Terrain is available in just one trim, Elevation, starting in the low $30,000s for a front-wheel-drive (FWD) model. That includes the destination charge to ship the SUV from the San Luis Potosi, Mexico, factory that builds it to your local dealership.

For this GMC Terrain review, I tested an Elevation equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD). It had the Premium, Technology II, and Convenience III option packages and two-tone extra-cost paint featuring Volcanic Red Tintcoat with an Ebony Twilight Metallic roof. Those upgrades brought the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $41,060, including the $1,395 destination charge. GMC provided the vehicle for this 2025 Terrain review.

Tim Stevens

Is the 2025 GMC Terrain a Good SUV?

While it didn't take long behind the wheel to discover some of the less appealing elements of this aspirationally premium SUV, I found over my test drive that the GMC Terrain still makes a reasonable case for itself. It drives well enough, looks good enough, and offers enough tech and safety features to satisfy. It's also likely to appeal to those looking for something more rugged in style than the Terrain's corporate cousin, the Chevrolet Equinox.

Tim Stevens

A Fresh Look for the 2025 GMC Terrain

My first impressions of the new Terrain were good. The SUV's front styling is in keeping with the rest of GMC's lineup, which means it has a strong curbside presence, much more so than I've found from the average compact SUV.

On the inside, things are more mundane but not necessarily less appealing. GMC wraps the seats in cloth or a material called CoreTec, which feels great. Everything else is a mix of vinyl and hard plastics that blend well together and are embossed with a similar texture throughout. In my test vehicle, some white stitching and a few dashes of chrome were the only traces of visual character in the otherwise all-black cabin. A light gray interior is also available for those wanting more contrast.

An optional panoramic sunroof ensures the cabin is well lit. The front half tilts and retracts to let the outside in, I found during my test drive, but if the glare becomes excessive, you can close it with a one-touch power sunshade that covers the glass.

Tim Stevens

I found headroom for the driver and front passenger to be ample, and the test model's front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The steering wheel was also heated (and quite strongly at that).

A 60/40-split bench seat provides seating for three across the second row. Headroom is limited for taller riders, and shoulder room isn't great if you pack a full five passengers in the Terrain. Stick with two in the back, and they'll be quite comfortable, with plenty of legroom on a wide, flat floor. My Terrain had heated outboard seats and two USB-C ports to round out the rear-seat niceties.

The available power tailgate lifts with the touch of a button, exposing 29.8 cubic-feet of storage behind the back seats. Fold those down, and the cargo space expands to 63.5 cubes. It's a generously sized cargo area, but it's definitely of the no-frills variety.

Tim Stevens

Google Powers a Vertical Touchscreen

The highlight of the Terrain's interior is the new 15.0-inch vertical touchscreen that dominates the center of the dashboard. It also dominates the vehicle experience, as you'll do most things through the display.

Fortunately, you can raise or lower the temperature or fan speed using a row of dedicated toggles, which have a good tactile feel and are satisfying to use. There's also a volume knob inset in the display in a convenient position. Otherwise, just about everything else happens behind that glass.

The Android Automotive user interface is clean, crisp, and instantly familiar to anyone comfortable with modern technology. It features Google Maps navigation and Google Assistant for voice help, so I was able to get directions to everything from a hot cup of coffee to the closest emergency room quickly and easily.

Not into those native features? Don't worry. You can switch to Waze navigation or rely on Alexa for voice help. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity is standard, and the system offers Bluetooth music streaming, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to popular media apps through the Google Play store. Six stereo speakers provide decent sound quality but lack bass and power.

Tim Stevens

In terms of safety, the 2025 Terrain offers the standard features you expect in a modern vehicle. Highlights include automatic pedestrian and cyclist braking, automatic intersection braking, and automatic rear braking. The Terrain has an active blind-spot-monitoring system, as well, that will steer if necessary to prevent an unsafe lane change. Teen Driver is also standard, a feature that is designed to encourage safe teen driving.

The Terrain's adaptive cruise control works well on highways and secondary roads, but I found the lane-keeping assist underwhelming. It allowed the SUV to wander close to and often over the lines before applying any correction, but the driver's seat vibration warnings did get my attention.

In addition, my test vehicle had an optional rear camera mirror and a surround-view camera with a bright and crisp image. I just wish GMC had given the view more real estate on the infotainment system display instead of cramming it in the middle.

Tim Stevens

Not for Extreme Terrain

For an SUV named Terrain, this thing isn't ideally suited for the roughest stuff, especially when equipped with standard FWD. Instead, it is best used for travel on pavement and during the occasional snowstorm.

Every Terrain has a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 175 horsepower. From there, the drivetrain details depend on whether you've chosen FWD or AWD. With FWD, the engine produces 184 pound-feet of torque and connects to a continuously variable transmission. With AWD, the turbo four delivers 203 lb-ft and uses an eight-speed automatic transmission.

That eight-speed automatic demonstrates a relaxed demeanor, so it's a bit slow to select the appropriate gear, especially if you're constantly on and off the gas pedal, like when driving in traffic. The engine also takes a moment to bring its modest power to bear, resulting in a driving experience that's more about patience than panache. The handling is likewise relaxed, but the ride quality is generally good, creating an SUV that's at its best when casually cruising.

According to the EPA, the 2025 Terrain AWD gets 24/28/25 mpg in city/highway/combined driving. In my mixed testing, during below-freezing weather, I saw 24.8 mpg. That aligns with expectations but still seems low, given the SUV's lackluster power.

Tim Stevens

Overall, the 2025 GMC Terrain won't blow any minds when compared with the model it replaced. Its updates are more about maintaining relevance than achieving reinvention. But neither will it break the bank, and with a premium look and high-end touches at a fair price, the Terrain is still a compelling choice for fans of the GMC brand.

Tim Stevens

Tim is a freelance automotive and technology journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He is a frequent contributor to major domestic and international online, print, and broadcast news outlets, sharing his insights and perspectives on everything from cybersecurity to supercars. Tim also serves as a juror for the World Car Awards and regularly acts as speaker and moderator at major industry events such as CES, Web Summit, SXSW, NAIAS, and AutoMobility LA. He formerly served as editor-at-large and vice president of content at CNET. Before that he was editor-in-chief of Engadget and editorial director at AOL Tech.