The 2020 GMC Terrain offers three flavors of turbocharged power including one diesel engine, a sign of the times. With its smooth and composed ride and slick-shifting 9-speed automatic transmission helping to offset a bizarre all-wheel-drive system, the Terrain earns 6 out of 10 here. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

A 1.5-liter turbo-4 is standard, making 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque which is helpful around town but can be breathless when asked to haul the Terrain’s 3,500-pound heft around at speed.

Higher trims get the option for a 2.0-liter turbo inline-4, this one with 252 hp and 260 lb-ft, and only a $1,300 premium over the base engine. This powerplant is capable of towing up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped, and for the money it’s the best option. It’d be worth a point if it was the standard choice. 

Both gas engines get a smooth 9-speed automatic transmission and either front-wheel-drive as standard or optional all-wheel-drive for the gas engines.

The 2020 Terrain will also continue to offer a 1.6-liter turbodiesel with 137 hp and 240 lb-ft, but with a two rating of only 1,500 pounds and an extra cost over the gas engines, we recommend skipping this power plant and its sluggish 6-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive will also no longer be offered with the diesel engine due to very low sales figures in that configuration.

All-wheel drive is a part-time affair for the Terrain, as the system defaults to front-wheel drive full time with power sent to the rear wheels additionally only when the driver rotates a knob on the console to engage it. This is meant to save fuel and likely cost, but it feels clunky and dated in comparison to rivals that have automatic systems that don’t require any driver input for slippery situations.

Thankfully, the Terrain delivers in the ride comfort department. While not sporty, the suspension is controlled and smooth, and with small 17-inch rims as standard equipment, the Terrain is as comfortable as some much more expensive SUVs. The tip-tier Denali suspension is equally capable, as it’s tuned to handle the glitzier model’s bigger 19-inch wheels.

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