DecodedCarsGMC Terrain
18 model years from 2010 to 2027, compared on size, efficiency, safety and reliability.
- Model years
- 2010–2027
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
- Latest engines
- 1.5L 4-cyl turbo
- Best MPG
- 25–32 combined, by year
- Latest rating
- ★★★★★ (2024)
- Recalls
- 22 campaigns, all years
- Most complaints
- 2012 (340)
- Fewest problems
- 2021
- Interest
- 6,767 Wikipedia views / 30 days
The 2026 Terrain in brief
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).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 27 MPG combined (26 city / 28 highway), 11% worse than the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG, for an estimated $2,500 a year in fuel.
It has 1 recall campaign on file and owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
The GMC Terrain has 18 model years in our data, from 2010 to 2027, classed as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD.
Its most efficient year was 2019 at 32 MPG combined; across all years the best version ranged from 25 to 32 MPG.
Owners most often report problems with the engine (1,182), power train (437), visibility/wiper (405).
Buying used? 2024 has the fewest problems in our data, and 2015 is the year to avoid.
2018 has the most recalls (5); all years together count 22 campaigns and 2,934 owner complaints.
How the 2010 Terrain compares
The 2010 GMC Terrain is a SUV - offered with 2 engines (2.4L 4-cyl and 3.0L 6-cyl) and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 185 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 113-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,019 lb (Sle/Slt 4dr SUV AWD).
About the GMC Terrain
The GMC Terrain is a crossover SUV by American manufacturer General Motors under its GMC marque. Sharing its platform with the Chevrolet Equinox, the first-generation Terrain was built on GM's Theta platform, while subsequent generations are built on the Delta platform. The Terrain is the smallest GMC vehicle, slotted below the Acadia. It also indirectly replaced the Pontiac Torrent which was typically sold via the same dealers prior to General Motors dropping the Pontiac brand.
From the Wikipedia article "GMC Terrain", licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
2026 Terrain pros & cons
Full 2026 details →What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Best and worst years to buy used
2024 Terrain
53 owner complaints · 1 recall · 1 fire report · 1 crash report
NHTSA overall: ★★★★★
Year to avoid2015 Terrain
299 owner complaints · 3 recalls · 1 fire report · 9 crash reports
Most reported: Visibility/Wiper
NHTSA recalls and complaints for 10 model years since 2015; use it alongside a pre-purchase inspection. How we calculate this →
Compare head to head
Terrain changes by model year
- 2025
- New body dimensions: 2.0 in shorter — most likely a redesign or new generation
- 2021
- Engine dropped: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- 2020
- No diesel version any more
- Engine dropped: 1.6L 4-cyl turbo
- Best combined MPG down from 32 to 27
- 2018
- New body dimensions: 2.3 in shorter, wheelbase −5.1 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
- New diesel version
- Engines added: 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo and 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- Engines dropped: 2.4L 4-cyl and 3.6L 6-cyl
- Best combined MPG up from 25 to 32
- Now crash-tested by NHTSA: 5 stars overall
- 2013
- Engine added: 3.6L 6-cyl
- Engine dropped: 3.0L 6-cyl
Years without a measurable change are left out.
Show all 18 model years side by side
| Year | Latest engines | Best MPG / range | Length | Weight | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 26 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 0 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 27 MPG | 181.1 in | 3,598 lb | Not rated | 1 | 33 |
| 2025 | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 27 MPG | 181.1 in | 3,598 lb | Not rated | 0 | 13 |
| 2024 | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 26 MPG | 183.1 in | 3,622 lb | ★★★★★ | 1 | 53 |
| 2023 | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 26 MPG | 183.1 in | 3,622 lb | ★★★★★ | 2 | 41 |
| 2022 | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 27 MPG | 183.1 in | 3,622 lb | ★★★★★ | 4 | 88 |
| 2021 | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 27 MPG | 183.1 in | 3,622 lb | ★★★★★ | 2 | 36 |
| 2020 | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 27 MPG | 183.1 in | 3,622 lb | ★★★★★ | 2 | 197 |
| 2019 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 32 MPG | 183.1 in | 3,483 lb | ★★★★★ | 3 | 187 |
| 2018 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 32 MPG | 183.1 in | 3,483 lb | ★★★★★ | 5 | 226 |
| 2017 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl | 25 MPG | 185.4 in | 4,019 lb | Not rated | 1 | 135 |
| 2016 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl | 26 MPG | 185.4 in | 4,019 lb | Not rated | 2 | 153 |
| 2015 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl | 26 MPG | 185.4 in | 4,019 lb | Not rated | 3 | 299 |
| 2014 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl | 26 MPG | 185.4 in | 4,019 lb | Not rated | 2 | 284 |
| 2013 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl | 26 MPG | 185.4 in | 4,019 lb | Not rated | 3 | 338 |
| 2012 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl | 26 MPG | 185.4 in | 4,019 lb | Not rated | 4 | 340 |
| 2011 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl | 26 MPG | 185.4 in | 4,019 lb | Not rated | 4 | 302 |
| 2010 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl | 26 MPG | 185.4 in | 4,019 lb | Not rated | 2 | 208 |
Alternatives to the 2026 Terrain
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 43 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Honda CR-V | 40 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson | 38 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2026 Subaru Forester | 35 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2026 Mazda CX-5 | 26 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2026 Kia Seltos | 29 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
Most common owner-reported problems
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or GMC. How we calculate this →