2019 GMC Terrain: First impression

GMC has a good experience when it comes to making large vehicles like pickup trucks, SUVs, and vans. We can say this just by looking at the GMC UAE product lineup. Everything you see here is big and intimidating. Continuing its habit of making such machines, GMC has launched the 2019 Terrain in the Middle East. The Terrain belongs to GMC’s 'compact SUV' family and is known for its refinement, power, efficiency, looks, and advanced features. Let’s see what the 2019 model has got up its sleeves in our first impression.

Exterior

The 2019 GMC Terrain is available in three variants - SLE, SLT, and Denali. In terms of looks, the Denali is a bit different than the other models. It is a bit more premium-looking. It gets GMC’s signature chrome grille with a chrome border. There is some use of chrome in the front bumper as well. A lot of shine that is. Apart from that, the bumpers, body-side molding, door handles, etc. are body colored. The LED headlamps here are quite unique and have got a stylish C-shaped LED DRL. So, you can easily spot the top-end Denali model.

The SLE and SLT variants feature the same size front grille but have less chrome work. The body-colored parts of the Denali are replaced by black ones. The headlamps are of the same design and get the same DRLs, but instead of LEDs, they are HIDs. The side profile of the 2019 GMC Terrain is not boring. We have got a pair of roof rails that add a bit sportiness. Also, the striking alloy wheels do a good job in keeping the aesthetic levels high. The SLE and SLT models have 17/18-inch wheels whereas the Denali comes with 19-inch machined-cut aluminium alloy wheels.

The rear end of the Terrain has a nice tall boy appearance. Maybe it is because of the location of the tail lights. They are quite up high, and the rear windscreen is not that huge. Talking about the tail lights, we like their design and how GMC used a black molding on the tailgate that flushes neatly with the tail lights.

Interior

The interior of the 2019 Terrain is quite luxurious. There is a lot of use of soft-touch materials to enhance the quality of the cabin. We get a typical GMC steering wheel with a number of mounted controls. Behind it is a conventional instrument cluster. The centre console in the dashboard has got a large 7 or 8-inch touchscreen with vertical AC vents on its either side. Below it, we have various controls knobs and switches, USB port, and cup holders. The touchscreen here works as a navigation system as well. The infotainment system also supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

One thing to notice here is the absence of a gearshift lever. Instead of that GMC has provided switches for selecting different gears. This switch-based transmission system has a sleek, compact design that frees up valuable storage space in the cabin. You can also select the 4WD or 2WD mode using the knob.

The seats look very comfortable and should offer a good amount of support. The front seats have a shared armrest. In terms of cabin space, there is plenty of it available for both the front and rear occupants. The rear passengers will be at comfort thanks to the rear AC vents. The boot space is also very large, and with the foldable rear seats, you can increase the space even further.

Engine

The 2019 GMC Terrain specs mention 2 engine options. The first one is a 1.5-litre unit which produces 170 hp of max power and 275 Nm of peak torque. This engine is available in the base model. The other engine option is a 2.0-litre unit that has been tuned to churn out 252 hp and 353 Nm. The transmission here is a 9-speed switch-based automatic package.

Safety features

The 2019 Terrain not only looks sturdy but it actually is. GMC has provided a number of safety features like Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and a Rear Vision Camera. Additional safety features such as the Surround Vision Camera are also available to help increase your awareness of nearby traffic or obstacles. All the 2019 Terrain variants come with 6 airbags as standard.

The 2019 GMC Terrain price starts at AED 93,700 for the base model and rises all the way up to AED 141,700 for the range-topping Denali variant. The Terrain does offer a good package for the price. All the variants are available in 7 different colors - Summit White, Graphite Grey Metallic, Quick Silver Metallic, Satin Steel Grey Metallic, Ebony Twilight Metallic, Blue Steel Metallic, and Red Quartz Tintcoat. To be honest, it is the Terrain Denali that is attracting us the most. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments.