2025 GMC Terrain

The GMC Terrain is the smallest and least-expensive SUV from the rugged-yet-premium brand, and its update for the 2025 model year brings new looks inside and out, plus a big boost in the technology department compared to the outgoing model. GMC has also simplified the lineup and carried over its one choice of powertrain. What also hasn’t changed is the Terrain’s wide field of rivals, including the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, and Toyota Rav4.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of compact SUVs, including the GMC Terrain.

The 2025 GMC Terrain initiates this versatile SUV’s next generation. It gets a new exterior design that includes a two-tone roof option, plus a revamped interior that boasts a prominent 15-inch touchscreen display. For the 2025 model year, it’s available in just one trim: Elevation. Two additional trims — Denali and AT4 — will join for the 2026 model year.

The GMC Terrain’s starting price is about average for the segment. Before buying a Terrain, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Historically, the GMC Terrain resale value has been below average for the segment. Remember, recouping more money when you sell a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on your next one.

Turbocharged 4-cylinder engines rule the roost in the compact SUV segment. Consequently, the Terrain’s familiar 4-cylinder turbo with its 175 horsepower carries over to the 2025 model. One difference with this new generation is the transmission. GMC is replacing the former 9-speed automatic in the former Terrain with a new 8-speed, at least for the all-wheel-drive models. Front-wheel-drive Terrain models will get a continuously variable automatic transmission. The Terrain will continue to share a platform with the Chevy Equinox.

We found the new 2025 Terrain’s driving manners perfectly acceptable and on par with what most drivers expect from a compact SUV. Its power output is certainly not the most in this segment, but it proved adequate for getting up to speed on the highway and fine for around town driving. We prefer Terrain models with the all-wheel-drive setup for a couple of reasons. First is that they get more torque, which helps with acceleration; and they use an 8-speed automatic transmission instead of the continuously variable transmission (CVT) found in front-wheel-drive models. The latter have a tendency to drone.

The Terrain’s driver assistance systems also felt mid-pack compared to its rivals. The adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping worked well enough, but subtle changes in speed and lane centering weren’t quite as smooth as the best systems out there.

Fuel Economy

The 2025 GMC Terrain is EPA-rated at 27 mpg in combined city/highway driving for front-wheel-drive models. All-wheel-drive variants earn 25 mpg combined.

The GMC Terrain goes from having one of the oldest and most dowdy of interiors to one that is striking and fresh. Most prominent is a standard 15-inch vertically mounted touchscreen taking center stage in the cabin. And it’s not the only new tech interface. There’s also a standard 11-inch digital instrument cluster.

We like that below the touchscreen are plenty of physical controls to adjust oft-used functions and features related to climate and audio. Another welcome change is the way you put the Terrain into gear. Gone is the fussy button-based system used in the former model, replaced by a handier stalk to the right of the steering wheel.

The Terrain already had a roomy and comfortable cabin, and we are eager to sit in the new one to verify the 2025 model is just as good or better. Standard features like heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are already a win.

The GMC Terrain has long stood out for its block-like, rugged exterior. Don’t fear: The new one has not gone soft. In fact, we think it looks even better. The 2025 Terrain keeps all the right angles, and has abandoned the pinched rear three-quarter window for a more athletic design that sees a bold, upward-rising C-pillar. We like it. In a first for the Terrain, it is offered with a two-tone roof treatment, with color choices of black or gray.

The 2025 GMC Terrain sources its thrust from a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. It makes 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque (front-wheel-drive models make 184 lb-ft). An 8-speed automatic transmission supplants the 9-speed found in the 2024 models in all-wheel-drive variants, while front-drive models get a continuously variable transmission.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

The GMC Terrain is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. This coverage is average for this segment. Additionally, you get complimentary maintenance on your first visit.

Safety

We’ll have to wait for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to test the redesigned Terrain. However, we do expect the next-generation Terrain to be packed with the usual advanced safety technologies, including forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a host of other such features.