2012 GMC Terrain Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 GMC Terrain review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Terrain, and includes GMC Terrain safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The GMC Terrain is a five-passenger crossover SUV that straddles the middle ground between compact and midsize competitors. More upscale than the Chevrolet Equinox with which it shares underlying engineering, the well-equipped Terrain provides good value and up to 32 mpg on the highway.

For 2012, GMC adds new equipment to its popular Terrain model. The standard four-cylinder engine is now E85-compatible, and all models have an in-dash touch screen used to control the standard stereo functions and display the standard reversing camera’s images. GMC IntelliLink smartphone integration allows for music streaming through Pandora or Stitcher SmartRadio, and a set of new chrome 18-inch wheels is optional on the SLE and SLT models. If you get a loaded Terrain with SLT2 trim and a V6 engine, you can also opt for a Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Alert system.

One reason the GMC Terrain is so popular is because even the base SLE models are well equipped. The usual standard equipment features are accounted for, of course, including air conditioning, cruise control, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, power windows, power mirrors, power door locks with remote keyless entry, floor mats, and a stereo with a CD player and an auxiliary audio input jack. Additionally, the Terrain SLE has satellite radio, a USB port, a reversing camera with an in-dash display, a trip computer, an outside temperature gauge, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and ambient cabin lighting. On the outside, SLE models include dark tinted rear glass, heated side mirrors, automatic headlights, fog lights, and 17-inch alloy wheels, while the interior features a Multi-Flex rear seat that slides forward and back to create more passenger or cargo room as is necessary. OnStar telematics is also standard, with a free six-month trial subscription that includes a variety of services, including Automatic Crash Response and Turn-by-Turn Navigation.

If you want Bluetooth, an upgraded audio system, an eight-way power driver’s seat, automatic climate control, a roof rack, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, the Terrain’s SLE2 Package is right for you. Add this, and you can also get options such as a rear-seat entertainment system, a navigation system, a power sunroof, heated front seats, and trailer-towing equipment. The SLE2 models can also be outfitted with a choice between 18- or 19-inch wheels.

The main reason to choose the more expensive Terrain SLT is to get leather seats, remote engine starting and, in the SLT2 Package, rear park assist sensors, a programmable power liftgate, a power sunroof, memory for multiple driver settings, and a bunch of extra chrome trim. The SLT’s standard 18-inch wheels feature a machined finish, but the SLT2 comes with chrome wheels as standard equipment. Navigation, rear-seat entertainment, and towing equipment are optional on any SLT. The SLT2 can be outfitted with 19-inch chrome wheels, and if the V6 is ordered, a new Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Alert system is optional for 2012.

With a choice between four-cylinder or V6 engines, each E85 compatible and available with optional all-wheel drive, the 2012 GMC Terrain offers variety.

For the best fuel economy, the 182-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is the best choice. It employs a six-speed automatic transmission, and in front-wheel-drive format is rated to get 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. All the optional AWD, and fuel economy ratings drop to 20-city/29-highway.

If you plan to tow, the optional 264-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6 engine is the right selection, and when properly equipped can tug up to 3,500 pounds. Fuel economy, however, is not very good with this engine. The Terrain V6 is rated to return 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway with front- or all-wheel drive, but the E85-compatible version is rated 16/23 with AWD.

In addition to antilock brakes, traction and stability control, and six airbags, the 2012 GMC Terrain includes a reversing camera system and OnStar telematics with Emergency Services and Automatic Crash Notification. In the event the Terrain’s driver or passengers need to summon emergency help, a button connects the SUV to a live OnStar operator for assistance. When the Terrain’s airbags deploy, Automatic Crash Response activates, and the OnStar operator contacts the vehicle to see if everyone is OK and, even if nobody is able to respond, dispatch rescuers to the Terrain’s exact location. Of course, once the free six-month OnStar subscription runs out, these features won’t work unless you pay a monthly service fee.

In crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Terrain receives a 4-Star overall rating. The SUV’s 5-Star performances are for the driver in a frontal-impact crash, for the rear passenger in a side-impact crash, and for the driver in the side pole test. All other test results produce 4-Star ratings. As this review is written, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not rated the 2012 GMC Terrain. However, last year the IIHS called the SUV a Top Safety Pick.

Unfortunately, both Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates predict below average reliability from the Terrain, and the SUV has performed poorly in J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study in recent years.

The Terrain’s rugged styling, generous standard equipment levels, and solid safety ratings are attracting plenty of people to GMC dealerships. Unfortunately, research shows that Terrain owners are unhappy with the quality and reliability of their SUVs, according to Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates. Until GMC ups its game on this front, Vehix recommends choosing a different model.

By Christian Wardlaw