2019 GMC Terrain Monterey
The Monterey Peninsula's First Look - 2019 GMC Terrain
It takes a lot to stand out in the increasingly crowded luxury compact crossover segment these days, but when you visit a Monterey Peninsula GMC dealer to check out the 2019 GMC Terrain, you'll see it certainly is an exceptional model. As well as a very handsome exterior, this second-generation Terrain, which was all-new just last year, also offers a composed and comfortable ride, excellent connectivity, a smooth nine-speed automatic transmission and plenty of available luxury features.
When you check out the 2019 GMC Terrain at a dealer like the Monterey Peninsula GMC dealership, you’ll find four trim levels on offer. The entry model in the range is the SL, and then the lineup progresses to the SLE, SLT and the Denali. Three impressive turbocharged engines are available in the range, which includes a turbodiesel option that's rare in this class.
Standard in all trims other than the 2019 GMC Terrain Denali is a 1.5-liter turbo-four developing a very competent 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. The optional gasoline engine is a 2.0-liter turbo-four that's available for the SLE and SLT and standard under the hood of the Denali. This one produces 252 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, and like the standard 1.5-liter, it comes mated to an excellent nine-speed automatic transmission. The SLE and SLT trims can get an optional turbodiesel for the best possible fuel economy. This engine puts 137 hp and 240 lb-ft at the Terrain's disposal and comes mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard across the lineup, but all-wheel drive is available on all trims other than the base SL trim.
This is a crossover which takes off-road capability pretty seriously when equipped with all-wheel drive. The system comes with a mode select knob for engaging sport, towing and off-road models and it also allows convenient switching between two- and four-wheel drive. The independent suspension absorbs bumps in the road with ease, and the ride and drive are excellent, even when the GMC is outfitted with wheels as big as 20 inches on higher trims.
As this is a compact crossover, fuel economy is going to be on the mind of many potential buyers. All versions of the 2019 Terrain are reasonably frugal, but the diesel gets the best ratings. A front-wheel-drive 2.0-liter Terrain is rated at 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, but with the standard 1.5-liter powerplant those numbers increase to 26 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.* The turbodiesel is seriously impressive though. The EPA rates it at 28 mpg city and 39 mpg highway with front-wheel drive, and AWD only drops the highway rating by 1 mpg.
It's hard to find fault with the standard features of the Terrain, even in its entry-level SL form. The SL comes with standard 17-inch alloy wheels, climate control, active noise cancellation, Bluetooth connectivity, keyless ignition, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, two USB charge ports, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
The 2019 GMC Terrain gets a full five-star rating for overall safety from the NHTSA, and the IIHS gives the Terrain top marks in all of its crash tests. All models get a full complement of airbags, a passenger sensing system, and a teen driver feature. The SLT and higher are available with more advanced features like blind spot monitors, parking sensors, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, active lane control and plenty more.
* All vehicle mileage based on 2019 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary, depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.