All-New 2026 GMC Terrain Denali Review

The all-new 2026 GMC Terrain is a fresh design with updated safety and convenience technology, wrapped in a luxurious package that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. The Terrain starts from $32,195 and has plenty of features to make anyone happy.

A New Review of the 2026 GMC Terrain

AutoGuide.com writer Mike Schlee lived with the brand-new Terrain Denali for a week to see if it truly offers the comfort and luxury some buyers want in a small crossover.

What Moves The 2026 Terrain

Under the hood of the revised Terrain is a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that puts out 175 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque when equipped with front-wheel drive or 203 lb-ft when optioned with all-wheel drive. This engine, as Schlee highlights, has plenty of ability, saying, “As it stands, the 1.5-liter turbo is responsive around town, as the torque figure would suggest. Power builds quickly, and the 8-speed automatic transmission changes gears smoothly and intuitively.”

Inside Is a Safe Place to Be

With more than 15 standard safety features, including Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking, Reverse Automatic Braking, Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking, Rear Cross Traffic Braking, Side Bicyclist Alert, and more, the Terrain is a great vehicle for drivers of all ages and experience levels. In a world with more people and cars on the road, it’s nice to know that the GMC Terrain can help protect you and your passengers.

What Makes a Good SUV

One of the main marks of a good crossover SUV is how it drives on different types of surfaces. Often, SUVs get caught up trying to be rugged and rough and forget that these vehicles are going to be lived in daily by people on the go, families, highway travelers, and the like. GMC developed the Terrain to be responsive and comfortable, with the added ability to get through more challenging scenarios when the weather turns bad.

How Does the New Terrain Drive?

“The Terrain Denali benefits from a suspension set-up that includes Smart Frequency Damper Technology. Basically, this uses ground frequencies from each wheel to adapt suspension pressure on the fly. It works quite well as the GMC SUV blends ride comfort with response. Neither a performance SUV nor a cushy yacht wafting down the road, the Terrain Denali has a solid feel that never gets out of sorts during moderate driving, smoothening out most bumps and remaining semi-flat in corners.”

Premium Tech for An Entry-Level Crossover

Just because the Terrain is an entry-level small crossover doesn’t mean it has to have the features of an entry-level vehicle. In fact, it offers much of the same tech as its bigger sibling, the Acadia. A 15-inch Premium GMC Infotainment System alongside the 11-inch digital gauge cluster display are both standard. The infotainment screen can display up to three apps at once, so you can see driving directions while the passenger looks at other content. With the standard Google Assistant, the GMC Terrain allows you to reply to text messages, ask for directions via Google Maps, or control apps like Spotify easily just with your voice.

Valley GMC Has the Perfect Car for You

When you’re ready to experience how great the all-new 2026 GMC Terrain is, stop by Valley GMC. The knowledgeable and helpful salespeople will never make you feel pressured; instead, they will assist you in getting the best information to make an informed decision and secure a great price.

Why Choose Valley GMC

At Valley GMC, we take great pride in providing some of the best sales and service to our customers. With dozens of new and used vehicles available, our incredible sales team and finance department can help you find the best truck or SUV for you and your family. And our fantastic service department will work hard to maintain your vehicle to the highest standards. We look forward to serving you.