Review: 2020 GMC Terrain SLT

The GMC Terrain is a crossover SUV that has been in the market for over 10 years. Its rugged look is consistent with the GMC brand and the Terrain is available in 4 trim levels and 2 engine options. We tested the GMC Terrain SLT which included the 2.0L turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive.

Exterior Design

The 2020 GMC Terrain is part of the second generation of the vehicle launched in 2017. The crossover SUV carries the signature GMC lighting with C-shaped lenses throughout. Front headlamps are HID and the rear tail lamps are LED.

The crossover has a more aggressive look compared to its Chevrolet and Buick counterparts, and this is consistent with the GMC brand. Our road test model had a hands-free operation for the liftgate. The sensor is located at the rear bumper between the left exhaust pipe and the license plate, and responds to a kicking motion.

The liftgate opening height is adjustable which is a nice feature to have if your car park or garage has lower ceilings.

The 2020 GMC Terrain we road tested came with 19” aluminum wheels with gray painted accents.

Interior Design

The GMC Terrain’s interior is quite spacious and the panoramic sunroof helped make it feel more ‘open’ especially given the dark seats.

The dashboard carried the C-shape theme from the exterior lighting. At first glance, the space seems very busy with knobs, buttons, switches, and levers all along the steering wheel and centre console. The 8” Infotainment System includes a multi-touch display and the electronic gear controls allow more storage between the front driver and passenger seats.

The all-wheel drive system is great for our Canadian winters. Our road test came with features such as front driver and passenger heated and cooled seats, dual climate zones, heated steering wheel, remote start, more than enough charging and data ports, as well as three power outlets including a 12-volt in the cargo area.

Of note, the 2020 GMC Terrain has a rear seat reminder for drivers to check the back seat as they exit. This system senses if the rear door is opened prior to the drive, so it assumes that something was placed in it.

Under The Hood / Basic Maintenance

When you open the hood of the 2020 GMC Terrain, the engine bay is quite compact and the engine itself sits a bit further back. All reservoirs are visible, including the coolant reservoir located near the driver side, with fluid level marks clearly noted.

The GMC Terrain’s battery is conveniently located near the engine ground and instructions on how to jump start the vehicle are well written in the owner’s manual. Of note, the engine ground label isn’t directly next to the ground itself.

Lastly, the owner’s manual contains information on do-it-yourself maintenance items (such as lightbulbs and wiper blade replacements). It also contains good information on general driving tips including how to handle loss of control while skidding as well as off-road recovery.

Our road test model comes with a spare tire, located underneath the trunk panel. Of note, a few models are also equipped with a compressor kit instead of a spare tire. The capless fuel filler system was a nice touch to make fueling up easier.

Child Car Seat

In terms of installing a rear-facing child car seat, the 2020 GMC Terrain is quite spacious so you may not need to move the front passenger seat too far forward to accommodate the car seat’s recline angle (depending on the size of the child car seat). The rear seat bench itself is relatively flat; however, the entire bench is at an angle. During a rear-facing child car seat installation, you may need pool noodles or a car seat base that offers more range in order to get the correct recline angle.

For a front-facing child car seat, the headrest of the rear seats do not overlap with the seat back. This allows the child car seat to sit flush against the back. You can also remove the headrest if necessary during the installation.

The UAS anchors are easily accessible and the rear tethers are located behind the rear seatback.

Lastly, for children not using the harness, the 2020 GMC Terrain has a built-in seatbelt guide. This is needed to keep the seatbelt flat against your child’s collarbone so that the belt doesn’t come across too high near your child’s neck or chin.

Storage / Trunk

There is no shortage of compartments for you to store your items in the 2020 GMC Terrain! This crossover maximized every opportunity to create storage.

The trunk space can easily hold standard items from a stroller to grocery or shopping items, or fit luggage for a road trip. With the rear seats folded down, this increased the interior cargo space significantly. Two levers are conveniently located at the rear of the trunk to fold the seats without needing to open the rear doors.

The crossover was fun to drive and it wasn’t underpowered thanks to its turbocharged engine. Full disclosure, I didn’t have the opportunity to take it through downtown Toronto to see how it could manage tighter corners and smaller parking spaces. Having said that, for an ‘every day’ vehicle with the option to go on a comfortable road trip anytime, the Terrain is a good consideration. The 2020 GMC Terrain has a starting price of $38,698 CAD.  

Model tested:

2020 GMC Terrain SLT

2.0L Turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, SIDI VVT

9-speed automatic transmission

All-wheel drive

Seating Capacity: 5 people

Road Test Terrain: 60% city, 40% highway

Tested MSRP: $43,183 CAD