Shenanigans – and an idiot – bring the GMC Terrain ’s tenure on The Management Fleet to an end
| Engine | Power | Torque | 0-100kph | Top speed | Weight | Basic price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6, 3564cc | 297bhp@ 6500rpm | 272lb ft. @ 4800rpm | 7.9secs | 192kph | 1883kg(158bhp/ton) | TBC |
| Driver's Log | |
|---|---|
| Date acquired: | November2016 |
| Total kilometres: | 5,903087 |
| Kilometres this month: | 816 |
| Costs this month: | $0 |
| L/100km this month: | 9.9 |
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And so our time with the GMC Terrain, regrettably, comes to a premature end. We had hoped to bring you our thoughts on the Terrain’s off-road abilities in our final update, but this plan was scuppered at the last minute by a moron in a Camry who failed to see our 1900kg SUV parked at the side of the road.
Fortunately the impact damage was moderately light, a dented rear bumper and a cracked taillight bearing the brunt of it, a testament to the toughness of even GMC’s smallest SUV. Still, to be on the safe side, our tester was dutifully shipped off to General Motor’s Liberty Service Centre in Rashidiya, Dubai, for a spot of panel-bashing. Time though would work against us, despite Liberty’s typically excellent efforts, and the Terrain is now off on hopefully less crashy adventures with media outlets elsewhere. And to be honest, I can’t say I’ll miss it.
There is, don’t get me wrong, plenty to like about GMC’s baby model. The Nightfall Edition detailing received most of the team’s blessing early on. The 297bhp 3.6-litre V6, once given a proper bootful, can be surprisingly sprightly, and while the cabin could use a refresh, there’s still plenty of room for drivers and passengers alike.
However, there are a couple of niggles that left my feelings for the Terrain lukewarm at best. Yes, there’s plenty of room in the cabin, but a very button-heavy centre console, a small (admittedly touch operative) infotainment screen, and some retro red backlighting for the driver instrument panel struggle to hide their respective ages, as do some of the more plastic-ky panels. The boot space is impressive, if perhaps shallower than others in the segment and one does wonder why a step between the fold-flat rear seats and the boot itself was really necessary. Similarly, while rear passengers can make use of the foldaway TV screens, they may perhaps have wanted some climate control air vents too. Admittedly the seats themselves have made journeys comfortable, even if the surprisingly stiff suspension meant fidgeting throughout was an inevitability. Which leads us to the drive itself.
For its size, the Terrain is impressively nimble, offering nowhere near the body roll you’d expect, and only limited amounts of understeer. The steering is surprisingly weighty, and while that can prove bothersome in the tighter parking lots, it nevertheless offers a far greater sense of connection to the front wheels. You’d be surprised just how sprightly the Terrain can be when properly motivated.
Ironically then, our time with GMC’s baby boomer ends with both a bang and a mild whimper. But given that we recently drove – and enjoyed – the new GMC Acadia in the US, it does make us wonder what the next generation Terrain will have to offer. Hopefully not a dent in the rear bumper and a cracked taillight.
