LOOKS
If I had to use one word to describe the Terrain’s design externally, I would say “muscular” or “tough”; It’s unlike other small SUVs you will see, and that’s a good thing, as too many of them look alike. GMC’s chrome grille on the Denali trim is so clearly theirs, you’ll never mix this vehicle up with any others.

If you reach the top of the trim levels and drive a Denali, you’ll find that the interior of the Terrain will not disappoint. More basic models will be a bit more simple, understandable considering the price difference.
The back seat is somewhat roomy, but overall there is less storage space than some of the the Terrain’s rivals.

You'll also like the quiet interior, and the vehicle is well-designed inside and out.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER
It’s a tale of two engines on the Terrain.
First, you have a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine available; it will only get you 182 horsepower. This was in the vehicle I tested, and I was disappointed. It struggled to get up to speed, and rarely offered what I would consider a fun drive.
Or, you can upgrade to a V-6 that offers 301 horsepower, which is much better. In fact, I'd say everyone should skip the 4-cylinder option.

You’ll feel comfy and can tune out road noise in the Terrain due to a suspension aimed at easing your ride as much as possible. But the trade-off from that is less of a sporty feel than some competition, so it’s a matter of what is more important to you.

On all versions of the Terrain, front-wheel drive is standard; but you can upgrade to all-wheel drive on everything except the base model.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
While the look of the interior electronics in the Terrain remains a bit old-school, thankfully the technology is catching up inside and almost all the usual tech/safety features offered on the competition are available here too. The 7-inch display offers virtual buttons to control audio, climate and other features, but physical buttons also are offered (and are sometimes easier to use than the virtual ones).

The GMC IntelliLink system lets you stream audio in the vehicle. Blind-spot monitoring and other safety features that I view as critical are options. Standard features include: Rearview camera, the very helpful OnStar system, WiFi hotspot capability, Bluetooth phone connectivity, and a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio.

Options as you move up trim levels include: heated exterior mirrors, all-wheel drive; LED daytime running lights, automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth audio, and compatibility with Pandora and Stitcher smartphone apps. Once you reach Denali level, you are getting an even more comfortable suspension.

MPG
Fuel mileage on the AWD Terrain I tested is listed at 16 city/23 highway/18 combined). The front-wheel drive version is estimated at 22 city/32 highway.

PRICE
My test vehicle featured the Denali makeover and cost just over $41,000; the Denali's base price started just over $35K. The most basic model Terrain comes in at $23,975, and the trim lines include SL, SLE-1, SLE-2, SLT and Denali. … Toward the lower end, these prices are competitive, but as they grow it’s a harder sell for GMC in a segment with so many strong options (everyone and their mother is making a small SUV these days).

BOTTOM LINE
If you opt for the better engine, you might get some better enjoyment out of the Terrain than I did in terms of overall driving experience. And regardless of engine choice, anyone who chooses the Denali trim level on a GMC Terrain will be loving how it looks both outside and in, and will appreciate the overall feel and look of the vehicle.
Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of compact SUV options out there that will likely draw people away from the Terrain, but I currently see a lot of Terrains on the road and don’t anticipate that changing anytime soon, as it should remain a popular choice in the segment.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.