What Is the 2014 GMC Terrain?
The 2014 GMC Terrain is a five-seat compact SUV that competes with the Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Ford Edge, Nissan Murano and Honda CR-V. It is offered in SLE-1, SLE-2, SLT-1, SLT-2 and Denali trim levels, all of which come standard with front-wheel drive but are available with all-wheel drive.
What's New on the 2014 GMC Terrain?
The only significant change to the 2014 Terrain is the addition of standard 17-inch chrome wheels and optional 18-inch chrome wheels.
How Does the 2014 GMC Terrain Compare to Other Compact SUVs?
The 2014 Terrain's styling certainly separates it from the competition, but not necessarily in a good way – the trapezoidal grille and huge fender flares make it seem like GMC put a lot of effort into making the Terrain look edgy simply for the sake of doing so. That goes double for the Denali trim, which is extremely chrome-heavy.
The Terrain's 301-horsepower V-6 engine offers impressive gusto when you hit the gas, but it pays a price in efficiency. When equipped with all-wheel drive, the Terrain maxes out at an EPA-estimated 16/23 mpg city/highway, which lags behind AWD models of the Ford Edge (18/25 mpg), Nissan Murano (18/23 mpg) and Toyota RAV4 (19/26 mpg). The Terrain's base four-cylinder engine offers up a more respectable 22/32 mpg with front-wheel drive but with reduced power.
While the Terrain handles well and rides smoothly, its turning diameter can be problematic. When equipped with the optional 19-inch wheels, its turning circle is 42.6 feet – significantly more than the RAV4 (37), Edge (approximately 39), and Murano (approximately 39).
What Features in the 2014 GMC Terrain Are Most Important?
The Terrain comes standard with a 182-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional 301-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 also comes mated to a six-speed automatic. Both engines can operate on gasoline or E85. Every 2014 Terrain trim comes standard with front-wheel drive but is offered with all-wheel drive.
Significant standard features include 17-inch chrome wheels, heated side mirrors, halogen headlights, fog lamps, keyless entry, an audio system with a USB input, power height adjustment for the driver's seat, front bucket seats and a reclining, 60/40-split second-row bench seat with fore/aft adjustment. Notable optional features include 18- or 19-inch chrome wheels, a power moonroof, a power liftgate, a navigation system, dual-screen rear entertainment system, an IntelliLink infotainment system, heated leather upholstery and an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat.
The 2014 Terrain's standard safety features include four-wheel antilock disc brakes, an electronic stability system with traction control, a backup camera and frontal, side curtain and front-seat side-impact airbags. Optional safety features include rear park assist, forward collision warning and lane departure warning.
Should I Buy the 2014 GMC Terrain?
While the 2014 GMC Terrain is not what most would call a looker, and while its efficiency leaves much to be desired, there's a lot to like here if you can see past those issues. The optional V-6 engine has plenty of pep, and its handling feels extremely stable and secure – something worthy of note in a vehicle of this size. Visibility from the driver's seat is very good, and the Terrain makes excellent use of its size in terms of passenger and cargo space. However, while it's got plenty of great features, figuring out how to use them isn't the most intuitive experience.
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