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GMC Terrain vs Honda CR-V

2026 GMC Terrain vs 2026 Honda CR-V — two rivals compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

GMC Terrain

2026 GMC Terrain

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WD
VS3 – 3Tie: 3 categories each
Honda CR-V

2026 Honda CR-V

Midsize Station WagonsAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The Honda CR-V is more fuel-efficient: 40 vs 27 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $800 a year less in fuel for the Honda CR-V (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Honda CR-V is the bigger car, about 4 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the GMC Terrain has had fewer recall campaigns (22 vs 60).

The two cars

The 2026 GMC Terrain is a small SUV offered with a 1.5L 4-cyl turbo engine and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 181 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 107-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,598 lb (4dr SUV AWD).

The 2026 Honda CR-V is a midsize station wagon offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl and 1.5L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 185 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,635 lb (4dr SUV AWD).

Buying used? The 2024 Terrain and the 2022 CR-V have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2015 Terrain and the 2018 CR-V.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Class
Midsize Station Wagons
Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid, eFCV, Regular Gasoline
1.5L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

27 MPG
Best combined MPG
40 MPG
26 city
City / highway MPG (best)
43 city
$2,500
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,700

Performance & space

–
Horsepower (most powerful)
190 hp
181.1 in
Length
184.6 in
74.4 in
Width
73.6 in
65.7 in
Height
66.1 in
3,446 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,525 lb

Safety & reliability

12
Driver-assist features standard
14
1
Recalls (2026)
2
22
Recalls, all years since 2005
60
33
Owner complaints (latest year)
177

Interest

6,767
Wikipedia views, 30 days
36,497

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2022
2015
Year to avoid
2018

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the GMC Terrain if…

  • You want something easier to park (4 in shorter)
  • You put reliability history first (22 vs 60 recalls since 2005)

Choose the Honda CR-V if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (40 vs 27 MPG)
  • You want more room (4 in longer)
  • You want a hybrid or electric option
  • You want more standard driver-assist tech

Pros & cons of each

2026 GMC Terrain

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2026 Honda CR-V

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 40 MPG combined — 56% better than the average 2026 midsize station wagon (25.7 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 GMC Terrain specs →Full 2026 Honda CR-V specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →