Each of GMC’s crossovers has been taking on a bolder, truckier look.
The heart of the “Professional Grade” brand is its trucks and body-on-frame SUVs, though the tougher styling has been filtering down through the rest of the lineup in recent years. By that, the 2025 GMC Terrain gets a more assertive and muscular look with a higher hood line and upright grille, as well as wider fenders and signature C-shaped running lights. This entry-level compact crossover follows in the same spirit as its Chevrolet Equinox cousin: A more rugged look with refined technology onboard.
Under the hood, the 2025 GMC Terrain gets the exact same engine that it’s had since the 2023 model year. A 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine is the standard unit across the whole Terrain lineup, putting out 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. There is a bit of a difference this time around with the rollout, however, as 2025 Elevation (base) models will be all-wheel drive only with an 8-speed manual transmission. A front-wheel drive Elevation will be available in 2025 for the 2026 model year with a CVT, while the AWD AT4 and Denali trims will also become available next year. Towing capacity on the AWD model tops out at 1,500 pounds, if you’re looking to pull a small trailer behind your Terrain.
As you’d expect from the other models (and the previous Terrain, for that matter), the 2026 GMC Terrain AT4 and Denali bring their own special touches, if you want to step up from the base model. With this update, Elevation replaces the SLE and SLT as the lower-end trip, with the AT4 and Denali rounding out the range. Both higher end models get unique grille designs, as well as different wheel styles.
The AT4, for its part, gets more rugged features like an off-road-tuned suspension, beefier all-terrain tires that provide about half an inch of lift, underbody skid plates and recovery points. It also gets a “Terrain” drive mode in addition to the standard modes and hill descent control. The Denali leans more toward luxury, so it gets standard 19-inch wheels rather than 17s, optional 20-inch wheels, and “Smart Frequency Dampers” for better ride comfort.
Inside, the 2025/2026 GMC Terrain gets an interior revamp similar to its larger siblings. At the heart of the changes lies the 15-inch infotainment screen, running a Google built-in operating systems that bring apps like the Play Store, Maps and the Google Assistant into the native setup, though wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remain available. Coupled to the larger, portrait-style screen is the 11-inch digital gauge cluster. Both are standard equipment across the three trims. The Terrain also gets niceties like 5G Wi-Fi hotspot capability, rain-sensing wipers, an automatic liftgate that opens when the car detects someone approaching with the key fob, a rear camera mirror and a battery of driver assistance systems. Unlike GMC’s larger SUVs and trucks, though, you do not get Super Cruise capability, even on the Denali.
In the same vein as the revamped Acadia and GM’s other larger models, the updated Terrain also ditches the push-button transmission for an electronic column-mounted shifter, freeing up the necessary space for the floating infotainment screen.
The 2025 GMC Terrain Elevation will launch later this year, and while we don’t have pricing yet, we should get more information on that soon. Pricing for the AT4 and Denali will likely come in early 2025, as both are set to launch in the next calendar year as 2026 models. We’ll also have video coverage of the new Terrain coming up soon, so stay tuned for more!
