DecodedCars2026 GMC Terrain
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2026 models.
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Body styles
- 4dr SUV AWD, 4dr SUV FWD
- Engines
- 1.5L 4-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 27 combined · 26 city / 28 hwy
- Length
- 181.1 in
- Curb weight
- 3,446–3,598 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 1 campaign
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 42 similar 2026 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
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).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 27 MPG combined (26 city / 28 highway), 11% worse than the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG, for an estimated $2,500 a year in fuel.
It has 1 recall campaign on file and owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
What changed for 2026
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2025 Terrain — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2025; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2025 Terrain →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 4 2026 Terrain configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr SUV AWD | 181.1 in | 74.4 in | 65.7 in | 107.1 in | 64.2 / 64.2 in | 3,598 lb | |
| 4dr SUV FWD | 181.1 in | 74.4 in | 65.7 in | 107.1 in | 64.2 / 64.2 in | 3,446 lb | 58/42 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrain FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 28 / 27 | -11% | $2,500 | 329 |
| Terrain AWD | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 24 / 28 / 25 | -3% | $2,700 | 356 |
| Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 24 / 26 / 25 | -3% | $2,700 | 358 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2026 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2026 GMC Terrain.
Similar 2026 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 GMC Terrain (this car) | 27 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 43 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Honda CR-V | 40 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson | 38 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2026 Subaru Forester | 35 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2026 Mazda CX-5 | 26 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2026 Kia Seltos | 29 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
Recalls (1)
Equipment › Other › Owners/Service/Other Manual · Feb 26, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V114000 · 5,861 vehicles
- Problem
- General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, âOccupant Protection.â
- Risk
- Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic ownerâs manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.
Not every 2026 GMC Terrain is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Other Terrain years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Terrain | 26 | – | Not rated | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 Terrain | 27 | 181.1 in | Not rated | 0 | 13 |
| 2024 Terrain | 26 | 183.1 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 53 |
| 2023 Terrain | 26 | 183.1 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 41 |
| 2022 Terrain | 27 | 183.1 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 88 |
| 2021 Terrain | 27 | 183.1 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 36 |
| 2020 Terrain | 27 | 183.1 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 197 |
| 2019 Terrain | 32 | 183.1 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 187 |
| 2018 Terrain | 32 | 183.1 in | ★★★★★ | 5 | 226 |
| 2017 Terrain | 25 | 185.4 in | Not rated | 1 | 135 |
| 2016 Terrain | 26 | 185.4 in | Not rated | 2 | 153 |
| 2015 Terrain | 26 | 185.4 in | Not rated | 3 | 299 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or GMC. How we calculate this →