2016 GMC Terrain Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

The 2016 GMC Terrain may be seen as an alternative to other vehicle makes such as the 2016 Honda CR-V, the Hyundai Tucson or the Chevy Equinox (the Terrain's sibling).It is boxy, has great interior space for cargo and people, outstanding 4-cylinder gas mileage and fascinating styling.

Most family-centered vehicle buyers want a well-shielded plush driving experience, and that is precisely what the Terrain is delivering. Several of the Terrain's trim levels have been renamed by GMC on the sub-Denali models and the equipment availability shuffled slightly.
 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2016 GMC Terrain – The Pros

1) Impressive Interior Design

Car critics have observed that the GMC Terrain 2016 model has an extremely chic interior design. This is more pronounced in Denali trim and is made up of top-quality wood, leather and metal materials.

2) Infotainment System

Test drivers have reported that the infotainment system of the Terrain has icons that are easy to use, a clear display, and very intuitive menus. Critics have noted that the system’s illuminated USB port has made it easy to locate even while you are in the dark.

• If you are familiar with a smartphone, the IntelliLink touch-screen icons are similar
• The IntelliLink GMC infotainment works very well
• You have the ability to customize your home screen items that you use frequently
• The controls and buttons are well arranged.

3) Well Designed Dashboard

The cabin of the 2016 GMC Terrain features a contoured dashboard and a futuristic center stack. As you drive, you are faced by a dash that is well-designed with the best laid-out buttons you can find on any GMC car. The touch screen IntelliLink interface and navigation unit are easy and logical to use.

4) Acceleration and Power

For your everyday driving, the 4-cylinder GMC Terrain is a certainly an excellent choice. The delivery of power is steady and smooth throughout the vehicle’s rev band. The V6 Terrain, being equipped with the 3.6-liter engine is markedly more powerful. When you are off-the-line, the car’s acceleration feels quite strong, and makes highway passing maneuvers easily without much struggle.

• The Terrain’s automatic transmission behaves very well
• The shifts are fairly smooth
• When needed, downshifts occur promptly.

5) Handling and Braking

When you are on the 2016 GMC Terrain, the quality of the ride is excellent.

• Road imperfections get soaked up by the comfort-tuned vehicle suspension
• Sound-deadening techniques make it very quiet while you are on the highway and the Terrain cruises excellently
• The Denali version cushy suspension makes your ride, even more, pleasant.

The Terrain gives you a comfortable ride as you go down the road, with stability that is reassuring and a predictable steering feel.

6) Seating

Occupants in the Terrain are going to enjoy ample leg and headroom, even with the sunroof housing on. For your longer trips, supportive seats are a welcome boon.

• The Terrain is delivering a quiet and comfortable ride, well-suited for long-distance trips or your daily commuting
• The makers have gone the extra mile towards making the cabin of the Terrain free from external noise through sound-deadening technology.

7) Updated Styling and Lighting

The 2016 GMC Terrain comes with slightly updated rear and front styling as well as LED running daytime lights on the Terrain SLE-2 models (and those above). Additionally, it provides you with front reading lamps.

8) Interior Storage

Vehicle reviewers have reported that the interior storage space of the 2016 Terrain is quite ample.

• It offers cargo space measuring 31.6 cubic feet behind the car’s rear seats
• You get 63.9 cubic feet when you fold the rear seats
• Also available is a power liftgate
• The vehicle has decently sized door pockets, glove box, and a center console.

9) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Safety Ratings

Part of the Terrain’s profile are excellent safety scores.

• The 2016 Terrain has been given by the NHTSA its second-best rating of 4 stars in terms of overall safety
• The vehicle has also received a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

10) Recalls and Warranty

The NHTSA has not had to make any safety recalls on the 2016 GMC Terrain. It also comes with a 60,000-mile/5-year powertrain warranty and 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty.  

Reasons Not to Buy a 2016 GMC Terrain – The Cons

1) Cargo Space

According to most vehicle reviewers, the cargo space of the Terrain isn't really large and is, in fact, smaller when pitted against many of its rivals. Even when you prime the Terrain for cargo, it can't carry what some other crossovers such as Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Santa Fe or the Honda CR-V can cope with.

2) Underpowered Base Engine

Although the 2016 GMC Terrain is offering a comfortable and opulent cabin as well as spacious seating, critics indicate they are rather disappointed by the vehicle’s underpowered base engine.

3) The 4-Cylinder Engine Struggles

According to the majority of car critics:

• The Terrain’s 4-cylinder engine somehow struggles when packed with cargo and people or when you are on the highway.
• They feel that for better acceleration and power, the V6-powered Terrain appears to offer a better burst at speed or from a stop.

4) Not Really Great Fun to Drive

Despite its many welcome performance features, the 2016 GMC Terrain isn’t fun to drive. The vehicle handling is lackluster while steering feels disconnected and numb. Furthermore, in corners, it exhibits perceptible body roll.

5) Not Very Sporty

The 2016 GMC Terrain is certainly far from what can be said to be sporty, even when you take into account the revised suspension of the Denali. In fast turns, this crossover only exhibits what can be termed as moderate body lean, while the steering feel is not exceptional.

How It Stacks Up To The Competition:

The GMC Terrain can be compared against the 2016 Honda CR-V and the Hyundai Tucson models.

• It beats the Hyundai Tucson’s 7.9 when it comes to interior rating as it stands at par with Honda CR-V at 8.1.
• In terms of overall rating, 2016 GMC Terrain stands at 8.2 compared to 8.4 for the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson’s 8.7
• The GMC Terrain is slightly more expensive than the two other makes.

Conclusion

While some vehicle reviewers have classified the 2016 GMC Terrain as a midsize, others deem it a compact crossover. The fact is that it enjoys the best from of both these designations.

It is offering the midsize SUV roominess and the fuel economy fit for a compact model. To this equation add truck-like styling, and what you get becomes a package that is truly compelling.