GMC currently has five crossovers and SUVs in its lineup, starting with the current $28,700 2024 Terrain, up through the all-new $42,600 Acadia plus the upcoming facelifted Yukon and Yukon XL, and concluding with the all-electric GMC Hummer. Electric vehicle Off-roadThe brand's smallest crossover SUV will reach its third iteration starting with the 2025 model year, complete with sharper, truck-inspired lines on the exterior, larger screens inside, but also the same 175 horsepower. ICE powertrain under the hood.
The first thing a GMC fan might notice is that it won’t be easy for the general public to distinguish between the current and new Terrain because GMC has taken a subtle redesign route instead of making radical styling changes. In fact, the Acadia has more pronounced styling, while the smaller Terrain is closer to what the Yukon and Yukon XL exhibit in their own right. There are changes, though: the front fascia is all-new despite the familiar C-shaped LED lights; the profile features a forward-sloping C-pillar just like the Chevrolet Equinox; and the rear end takes a more minimalist approach to design.
Moving inside, the cabin is where the big changes are: There’s an 11-inch digital instrument cluster plus a massive 15-inch portrait-oriented center infotainment display, both standard across the line. The tech flex continues with Google Assistant, 5G hotspot connectivity, eight exterior cameras, and no fewer than five driver-assist systems, among others. Unfortunately for those expecting something interesting under the hood (something along the lines of a hybrid option, for example), GMC does the same as the Chevrolet Equinox: the 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder carries over unchanged and continues to offer 175 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque.
The engine is paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission, and the GMC Terrain will come with standard all-wheel drive at launch. At the time of writing, GMC is still keeping some juicy details under wraps — we don’t yet know the exact details, like whether there will be any chassis changes or pricing information. Instead, we’re told the base 2025 GMC Terrain will start with the Elevation trim in place of the old SLE and SLT, which are expected to arrive in late 2024 at dealerships nationwide. A front-wheel drive option will arrive at a later date, and the Denali or AT4 will also be introduced next year for the 2026MY with either more luxury or more off-road prowess, depending on the grade.
All well and good, but does the 2025 GMC Terrain have what it takes to prevail in the hotly contested compact crossover SUV category? The rivalry is fierce there, as the GMC Terrain also has to fight off potential sales cannibalization with its corporate sibling, the Chevrolet Equinox. General Motors knows this and has proceeded to differentiate them as much as possible. The Chevy crossover SUV is more extravagant than ever as it adopts the corporate split-headlight styling just like the smaller Trax and Trailblazer, the larger Blazer, and the all-new 2024 Traverse. Inside, there’s no mistaking one for the other: while both implement large screens for both the instrument cluster and the central infotainment display, the GMC goes for a vertical orientation while the Chevy stays traditional with horizontal styling. One thing’s for sure, though: You can’t separate the two in terms of powertrains as they share the same 175-hp turbocharged four-cylinder and eight-speed automatic transmission when using it. All-wheel drive.
The Chevy Equinox isn’t the only major rival, however. The Asian onslaught has plenty of tough foes: Subaru’s all-new Forester recently hit dealerships, and it’s set to shake up the brand’s best-selling model with its quirky design and contrast to the tried-and-true 2.5-liter flat-four. Some might think the Nissan Rogue is a bland, modest, perfectly average crossover SUV, but its sales have put it in the top ten (number eight) of 2024 models after the first six months of the year.
Of course, we shouldn't forget its sisters, the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson: the former will soon adopt the same design as the larger Sorento and Carnival. MPV. At the same time, the latter has already received a mid-cycle update that could elevate it above 16th place before the end of the year. Now, of course, things are heating up: the sixth-generation Honda CR-V has been launched for the 2023 model year and customers seem to love it, ranking fourth during the first half of 2024 and surpassing last year's star, the Tesla Model Y. In any case, nothing can stop the triumphant advance of the Toyota RAV4, it seems, and the legendary compact crossover SUV has already sold almost 250,000 units after the first six months of the year and could even steal the second place in the ranking from the Chevy Silverado by the end of the year after already overtaking the Ram pickup series!
Of course, there are other American foes, too, like the swanky Mazda CX-5 , the conservative Volkswagen Tiguan , and even Ford’s Bronco Sport , which is gearing up for a full refresh on August 26 that will see it receive many of the updates debuted on the 2025 Ford Maverick unibody pickup. Did we forget anyone? Yep, there’s also the outgoing Ford Escape , the quirky Mitsubishi Outlander , the bland Jeep Cherokee plus the cooler Compass , or the quirky Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and Buick Envision , right?
