To align its menu of trucks and people movers with rising interest in smaller, more fuel efficient transportation, GMC has broomed the hoary Envoy in favor of a fraternal twin to Chevy's Equinox called Terrain. This brings an efficient four-cylinder engine into the lineup, highway mileage topping the crucial 30mpg barrier, and a fresh load of tantalizing creature features.
RIGHT SIZED FOR TENUOUS TIMES
From GMC's point of view, Terrain is a compact. That assessment references the huge Acadia and Yukon XL residing across the showroom. However, Terrain is considerably larger than the Honda CRV and Toyota RAV4 that dominate the small SUV category so, in the greater scheme of crossovers, it's a midsize.
DESIGNED BY A RECOVERING CORVETTE ARTIST
Blocky proportions, a chunk of bling at the leading edge of the hood, oversized headlamps, and exaggerated fender flares seem contrived to make Terrain appear larger than it is. GM's crossover vehicle chief designer John Cafaro Jr., a major contributor to the C5 Corvette, calls the look "tailored toughness." Riding on a 112.5-inch wheelbase, Terrain is half a foot shorter and two inches narrower than the Envoy it replaces but more than 10-inches longer than a Ford Escape.... Read full article