It’s surprising to see how, in light of the recent upheavals over at GM, some things never change despite our best efforts. Everyone knows the Chevrolet Equinox, the überpopular ride that’s one of GM’s major success stories.
Everyone knows the GMC Terrain too, the Equinox’s nearly identical twin that’s proving more or less as popular. What is surprising however, is the care GM has taken in preserving the Terrain’s somewhat rustic style, macho attitude and manly curves. What’s bred in the bones comes out in the flesh, as they say. GMC has always been first and foremost about work vehicles, and despite its best efforts, it just can’t seem to suppress that particular trait. Which, in the case of the Terrain, is not a bad thing – far from it.
It’s got some nerve
Whoever takes a gander at the GMC Terrain can’t help but notice the masculine aura that has historically surrounded the banner. The square maw that is the grille proudly displays the big GMC logo, while the typically square lines have been spruced up with a few side bulges in order to better establish its stance. Without a doubt, this is one charmer that’s got some flair. But it’s definitely not in touch with its feminine side.
At the most it shares its roof line with its Equinox cousin, which softens its contours a bit, but on the whole, we’re really just dealing with a slightly tamer truck. And I don’t want to ruffle any feminist feathers, but I’m a real sucker for these macho man type vehicles. So it’s hard for me to find anything bad to say about the Terrain’s looks, which confidently stand out on the road.
The cabin was made to reflect this boldness. The dials are simple and sober, well ensconced in a riot of chrome running the length of the dash. And the centre console is just teeming with switches of all kinds, as usual grouping together the audio, air conditioning and navigation controls in a package that looks, well, a little improvised. Everything is brightly backlit too, resulting in a very impressive central area.
Alas, more isn’t necessarily better, and in the precise case of the Terrain, the heaps of style poured into the dash make for a rather confusing visual effect. Despite that, once you’ve spent a few minutes behind the wheel getting your bearings, the rest is child’s play.
 |
| The GMC Terrain definitely stands up to its utility vehicle competitors. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
Everyone knows the GMC Terrain too, the Equinox’s nearly identical twin that’s proving more or less as popular. What is surprising however, is the care GM has taken in preserving the Terrain’s somewhat rustic style, macho attitude and manly curves. What’s bred in the bones comes out in the flesh, as they say. GMC has always been first and foremost about work vehicles, and despite its best efforts, it just can’t seem to suppress that particular trait. Which, in the case of the Terrain, is not a bad thing – far from it.
It’s got some nerve
Whoever takes a gander at the GMC Terrain can’t help but notice the masculine aura that has historically surrounded the banner. The square maw that is the grille proudly displays the big GMC logo, while the typically square lines have been spruced up with a few side bulges in order to better establish its stance. Without a doubt, this is one charmer that’s got some flair. But it’s definitely not in touch with its feminine side.
At the most it shares its roof line with its Equinox cousin, which softens its contours a bit, but on the whole, we’re really just dealing with a slightly tamer truck. And I don’t want to ruffle any feminist feathers, but I’m a real sucker for these macho man type vehicles. So it’s hard for me to find anything bad to say about the Terrain’s looks, which confidently stand out on the road.
The cabin was made to reflect this boldness. The dials are simple and sober, well ensconced in a riot of chrome running the length of the dash. And the centre console is just teeming with switches of all kinds, as usual grouping together the audio, air conditioning and navigation controls in a package that looks, well, a little improvised. Everything is brightly backlit too, resulting in a very impressive central area.
Alas, more isn’t necessarily better, and in the precise case of the Terrain, the heaps of style poured into the dash make for a rather confusing visual effect. Despite that, once you’ve spent a few minutes behind the wheel getting your bearings, the rest is child’s play.
 |
| The cabin was made to reflect this boldness. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |