Terrain is like a birthday present whose wrapping paper and bow strike the ogle button. And fortunately underneath the exterior presentation, Terrain is a pretty nice package. There are two engine choices: V6 or 4-cylinder. The direct injection 2.4-liter 4-cylinder isn’t a bashful power-producer, providing 182 horsepower at 6700 rpm and 172 lbs-ft of peak torque at 4900 rpm. It’s also an engine that helps net this crossover SUV an estimated highway mpg of 32. A stable-mate to the Chevrolet Equinox, the GMC Terrain is strong enough to carve out its own ‘why choose me’ niche. Terrain claims the first General Motors application of active noise cancellation technology (on 4-cylinder models only) to counteract ‘booming’ interior noise via sending sound waves through the vehicle’s audio speakers.

Available in front wheel drive and all wheel drive, Terrain has a 112.5-inch wheelbase. Rear seat passengers won’t feel neglected as the seat can move fore/aft approximately 8 inches. Storage hasn’t been overlooked either with more than 31 cubic feet in the rear cargo area (behind the rear seat) as well as a stow zone under the front center armrest (big enough for a laptop computer). Terrain is available in two trims: SLE and SLT. Standard fare on the Terrain SLT includes heated front bucket seats, rearview camera system, remote start, and head curtain side airbags with rollover protection for all rows. Estimated mpg with 4-cylidner and 6-speed automatic transmission is 22 city and 32 highway. MSRP of Terrain SLT front wheel drive is $27,450.