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GMC Terrain vs Subaru Forester

2026 GMC Terrain vs 2026 Subaru Forester — two small SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

GMC Terrain

2026 GMC Terrain

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WD
VS2 – 4Subaru Forester wins 4 of 6 categories
Subaru Forester

2026 Subaru Forester

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

Swap in a different car →

The short version

The Subaru Forester is more fuel-efficient: 35 vs 27 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $600 a year less in fuel for the Subaru Forester (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Subaru Forester is the bigger car, about 2 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the GMC Terrain has had fewer recall campaigns (22 vs 39).

The two cars

The 2026 GMC Terrain is a small SUV offered with a 1.5L 4-cyl turbo engine and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 181 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 107-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,598 lb (4dr SUV AWD).

The 2026 Subaru Forester is a small SUV offered with a 2.5L 4-cyl engine, including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive. It measures about 184 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 105-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,580 lb.

Buying used? The 2024 Terrain and the 2024 Forester have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2015 Terrain and the 2019 Forester.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
1.5L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

27 MPG
Best combined MPG
35 MPG
26 city
City / highway MPG (best)
35 city
$2,500
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,900

Performance & space

–
Horsepower (most powerful)
180 hp
–
Seats (most)
5
181.1 in
Length
183.5 in
74.4 in
Width
72 in
65.7 in
Height
68.1 in
3,446 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,580 lb

Safety & reliability

12
Driver-assist features standard
14
1
Recalls (2026)
4
22
Recalls, all years since 2005
39
33
Owner complaints (latest year)
32

Interest

6,767
Wikipedia views, 30 days
21,870

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2024
2015
Year to avoid
2019

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the GMC Terrain if…

  • You put reliability history first (22 vs 39 recalls since 2005)

Choose the Subaru Forester if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (35 vs 27 MPG)
  • You want a hybrid or electric option
  • You want more standard driver-assist tech

Pros & cons of each

2026 GMC Terrain

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2026 Subaru Forester

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 35 MPG combined — 35% better than the average 2026 small SUV (25.9 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • "Do not drive" recallCheck that the recall repair was done before buying or driving.

Full 2026 GMC Terrain specs →Full 2026 Subaru Forester specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →