2025 GMC Terrain Gets Pickup-Inspired Design, Massive Tech Update

GMC revealed the third-generation Terrain today, showing off a handsome new design inspired by pickup trucks, and an enormously improved tech suite for the 2025 model year.

The crossover is wider than ever before, and benefits from new fasciae and bumpers at the front and rear. For the redesign, GMC says its designers were looking to make the Terrain look more like the Canyon pickup truck, so they gave it an upright, truck-like grille. To help it stand out, the crossover also gets a new two-tone option, which allows buyers to have the roof of their vehicle painted black or gray, no matter which colour they choose for the rest of the body.

Inside, GMC designers worked to incorporate horizontal lines into the cabin to make it look wider and roomier. The Terrain is also wider and longer than before, which helps make room for the new standard infotainment display, a tablet-style touchscreen that is 15 inches across, diagonally. That’s a huge improvement over the 2024 model, whose screen was just seven inches across as standard, and topped out at a maximum of eight inches in the highest trim models.

To go with the new centre screen, GMC has also installed an 11-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. The displays feature Google Built-in software and are compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 2025 Terrain will also be available with 15 advanced safety systems across all trims, including automatic emergency braking that recognizes vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, rear cross-traffic braking, side bicyclist alert, blind zone steering assist, and more.

To make things easier for shoppers, GMC decided to simplify the Terrain’s trim lineup, winnowing it down the list to just three options: Elevation, AT4, and Denali. The base model will arrive first, and it comes with 17-inch wheels, as well as LED headlights and taillights. The Elevation Black Edition comes with 19-inch wheels and high-gloss black accents around the grille, the lamp bezels, the roof rails, the emblems, and optional black GMC badging.

The AT4 trim is equipped with 17-inch wheels that are wrapped in rugged All Terrain tires. The off-road-capable wheel package goes well with the lifted ride height, the Crawl/Terrain mode, the hill descent control mode, the front skid plate, the fog lamps, and the red tow hooks.

Whereas the AT4 trim is focused on capability, the Denali trim is focused on comfort. It comes with 19-inch wheels as standard or, optionally, 20-inch wheels. It also gets chrome accents, a unique Denali grille, LED lamps with animations, standard HD surround vision, and a premium suspension.

Regardless of which trims buyers opt for, they will get a familiar 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque, just like the second-generation model. All models will also benefit from an eight-speed automatic transmission, AWD, and 1,500 lbs (680 kg) of towing capacity.

GMC plans to roll out the Terrain Elevation first, and it will reach dealerships later this year, as a 2025 model year vehicle. Meanwhile, the AT4 and Denali trims are expected to hit dealerships next year and will be sold as model year 2026 vehicles. Prices have yet to be announced.