To say that GM has started making good cars since restructuring isn’t entirely true. The truth is that the Detroit-based automaker

The Terrain gives GMC a bold new face. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

is now making great cars, and what’s more it was making great cars before it went into receivership. Over the last half decade, at least, the General has not only been putting out quality products, for the most part, but more often than not their cars, trucks, SUVS and crossovers have been emotive designs that weren’t just being sold on price. The GMC Terrain is a prime example.

New last year, the Terrain wears the bold new face of GM’s truck division proudly, and by its unique identity helps to silence critics who didn’t understand why Pontiac should be dropped and GMC should be allowed to live. The critics weren’t all wrong. In previous years GMC hardly even tried to disguise the fact that its lineup merely consisted of Chevrolet models with modified frontal styling. I was one of those critics dubbing it a redundant brand, which while true in that its existence appeared to be more about giving Buick/Pontiac dealers trucks of their own to sell than anything more

Angular look with muscular haunches give the Terrain a go anywhere look, but it's really for the street. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

substantive to the industry on the whole (as if a GMC buyer would purchase a Dodge or Ford if Chevrolet was GM’s only offering), I must admit my bias was partially influenced from spending much of my formative years staring out the rear window of a 1960 Pontiac Strato Chief Wagon (seatbelts weren’t a big thing back then) before moving up to the front seat of a ’69 Parisienne Coupe, and then on top of that I considered Pontiac to offer some unique historical significance that could be parlayed into future products like GTO or Firebird, not to mention prior to its demise the brand already had excellent exclusive product in its G8.

Max Grabowsky’s 110-year old company has a dignified history too, having been one of the first automakers to produce commercial trucks under the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company name. GMC’s history is more complicated than that, however, as it was a combination

There's nothing quite like it from front to back. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

of Rapid Motors and the Reliance Motor Truck Company that was formed into General Motors Truck Company, or GMC, after GM bought both in the first decade of the last century. The name GMC was first shown en masse at the 1912 New York Auto Show. And for those armchair historians who tout the lore of a certain Grabowsky Motor Company as being the source of the GMC moniker, let’s set the record straight that no such entity ever existed.

Most new car shoppers could care less about history, which is a shame because it’s that history that built Canada and our neighbour to the south into the great nations they are today, and that history that might cause you to consider that GMC’s Terrain is a Canadian-made truck from a company that has been building vehicles here since the teens of the last century (GM Canada started in 1918 and was run by the McLaughlin

This is GMC's best interior by far. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

brothers who had been building Chevrolets in Oshawa before that). And then consider that the Terrain is not only good for Canadian business, but is a very good vehicle overall.

The Terrain was a totally new model for General Motors’ GMC brand last year, so 2011 brings little change. Mechanically, the optional V6 is now E-85 ethanol fuel compliant, which is hardly useful in this country being that there are only a handful of refueling stations capable of filling your tank with the slightly greener fuel. The only other changes are merely colour additions, Steel Blue Metallic and Summit White.

The Terrain, which effectively replaces the Pontiac Torrent, is also based on the Chevrolet Equinox, the second-generation of which was introduced a year earlier for model year 2009. The GMC version also shares all of its underpinnings

Seats are very comfortable. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

with the Chevy, which start with a base DOHC, 16-valve, 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine that makes 182 horsepower at 6,700 rpm and 172 lb-ft of torque at 4,900 rpm, and the aforementioned DOHC, 24-valve, 3.0-litre V6 that makes 264 horsepower at 6,950 rpm and 222 lb-ft of torque at 5,100 rpm. Even the four-cylinder Terrain gets a standard six-speed automatic to optimize performance and fuel economy, the latter of which is estimated at 9.2 L/100km in the city and 6.1 L/100km on the highway in 2.4L front-wheel drive (FWD) guise or 10.1 L/100km city and 6.9 highway with all-wheel drive (AWD). A FWD 3.0-litre equipped Terrain is also offered, with estimated mileage of 12.1 L/100km in the city and 8.0 on the highway, while the V6 with AWD consumes an estimated 12.3 L/100km city and 8.4 highway. All Terrains are optimized for less expensive regular fuel.

The Terrain is available in two basic trim levels, SLE and SLT, although each trim level is divvied up into another two trim levels that simply are coded -1 and -2, and the 3.0-litre V6 can be had throughout the range other than with the base SLE-1 model. Making things easier, GMC doesn’t differentiate between model designations when ordering front or all-wheel drive, so all we need to cover is what comes with which each trim package.

The base SLE-1, at $27,465 for FWD or $29,075 for AWD, plus $1,350 shipping, includes air conditioning, powered express-down windows, power locks with remote keyless access, power remote and heated mirrors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with rearview camera display, a driver information centre, variable intermittent wipers, an intermittent rear wiper, cruise control, tilt and telescopic steering, cloth seats with power driver’s height adjustment,

Detailing is nice. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

60/40 split-folding sliding and reclining rear seats, a CD/MP3 audio system with auxiliary input and USB connection, OnStar, an anti-theft alarm, floor mats, privacy glass, body-colour door handles, fog lights, and 17-inch alloy wheels on P225/65R17 all-season tires. Safety equipment includes standard side-thorax airbags, curtain airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, plus traction and stability control.

Lay down $29,815 for the SLE-2 FWD or $31,425 for the same model in AWD and you’ll get automatic climate control, ambient lighting on the instrument panel, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with redundant audio controls, premium cloth seats, an eight-way powered driver’s seat, a Pioneer audio system with a subwoofer and XM satellite radio, plus roof rack side rails.

Move up to the SLT-1, $31,440 for FWD and $32,795 for AWD, and perforated leather seats gives the Terrain a luxury feel, while a remote starter adds convenience and a tire pressure monitoring system improves safety.

The top-line SLT-2, at $34,400 in FWD trim and $35,755 for the AWD model, spiffs things up with chrome door handles and mirrors, chrome roof rack side rails, rear chrome skid plates, interior door handle ambient lighting, driver’s side memory, a powered glass sunroof, a powered liftgate with programmable height, and audible rear parking assist. If you move up to the V6 the SLT-2 also gets hydraulic power steering, dual chrome-tipped exhaust, and 18-inch alloy wheels that ride on P235/55R18 all-season tires.

My tester also included a rear seat DVD entertainment system with no less than two LCD monitors,

I've never seen rear monitors like these before. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

one integrated into the backside of each front seatback. Lots of fun for the kids!

Plus the Terrain’s high-quality materials and truly attractive layout will be good for your peace of mind. It’s a great design filled with soft-touch plastics and beautifully stitched leather and leather-like trim, in my SLT-2 version at least. Metal-esque surfaces are everywhere and the switchgear is all top-rate for its class. The aforementioned features are really user-friendly, and everything is legible day or night and within easy reach.

GMC didn’t try to turn a compact crossover into a seven-occupant SUV, which is a good thing as the latter types of family haulers almost always end up with severely compromised rear seating. The Terrain seats five in comfort due to its long 2,857-mm (112.5-inch)

Rear seat room is excellent. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

wheelbase and substantive 1,850 mm (72.8 inches) width. It also offers good rear storage at 894 litres (31.6 cubic feet) behind the rear seatbacks and 1,809 litres (63.9 cubic feet) with those second-row seatbacks folded flat, at which point you can load in 540 kilos (1,190 lbs) of gear.

Towing is good with the V6, at 1,588 kg (3,500 lbs), whereas the four-cylinder’s 680-kilo (1500-lb) rating is par for the course.

Clearly the Terrain is not a four-by-four, as it doesn’t feature a low gearing ratio and its ground clearance isn’t much more than the average car at 174 mm (6.9 inches), but this said its available all-wheel drive and various electronic driving aids make for excellent traction on

Ample room for all your gear. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

any surface, so as long as you don’t get too adventurous you should be fine.

On the road, mind you, that low ground clearance translates into road hugging cornering, at least for a 1,723-kg (3,798-lb) vehicle; and that’s its base weight, not the almost loaded SLT-2 I-4 I was driving. And speaking of the four-cylinder model, while it doesn’t have the pull of the V6 that I tested before in the Equinox, it nevertheless is more than adequate for scooting around the city and has plenty of get up and go on the highway. I only noticed the need for more power when filled with people and cargo and trying to pass, but most of the time I’ve only got a kid or two and their baseball gear in back so it’s not an issue. For me, I’ll take the four-cylinder’s fuel economy benefits

GM is building good cars now, don't question it. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

every day rather than concern myself over a fully-laden trip or two a year up BC’s Coquihalla Highway where I might wish I had a little more grunt under the hood.

One thing you won’t have to worry about is the need to pay for any problems that arise. Not only is GMC a very reliable brand, the Terrain is covered by one of the strongest powertrain warranties in the industry at 5 years or 160,000 km. Its basic warranty is good for 3 years or 60,000 km, which is about average.

Putting the icing on the cake are the highest crash test ratings the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awards, which equal “Good” ratings in frontal offset, side impact and roof strength tests earning it a Top Safety Pick for two year running, or in other words your family will be as safe as possible in the Terrain.

All in all the Terrain is an extremely good crossover that not only measures up to the Japanese, Koreans and Europeans, but surpasses them in many respects, and what its striking design offers in attitude might be priceless if it fits your personal style.

Interior

Exterior

Mechanical

Safety

Dimensions

Misc

(J004) Standard Black Paint

(J005) Standard Gloss Paint

(GAR) Black Granite Metallic Paint

(GIS) Merlot Jewel Metallic