2026 GMC Terrain Denali Review: Near Greatness

The GMC Terrain might not be the first vehicle thought of when it comes to the highly populated, highly competitive compactish SUV class. But, with a length of 181.1-inches (4,599 mm) and a width of 74.5-inches (1,893). It slots right into the heart of that segment.

As is tradition for Denali-branded GMC models, the Terrain gets some exterior upgrades. There are exclusive body colored mirror caps, the ubiquitous chrome grille, unique wheels, and other chrome-finished trim bits. With all of these changes, the Terrain looks a lot like its bigger siblings. There is also a trailer package that’s hidden behind a removable cover.

All GMC Terrain models come with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, including the Denali. With 175 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque, the engine is class competitive. But up at the price point where the Denali plays, it’s under-equipped. Competitors like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited, Honda CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring, and Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus all come with a good bit more power. We wish GMC would give the Denali a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine option.

As it stands, the 1.5-liter turbo is responsive around town, as the torque figure would suggest. Power builds quickly, and the 8-speed automatic transmission changes gears smoothly and intuitively. At highway speeds, though, the lower power figures are more noticeable.

The Terrain Denali benefits from a suspension set-up that includes Smart Frequency Damper Technology. Basically, this uses ground frequencies from each wheel to adapt suspension pressure on the fly. It works quite well as the GMC SUV blends ride comfort with response. Neither a performance SUV nor a cushy yacht wafting down the road, the Terrain Denali has a solid feel that never gets out of sorts during moderate driving, smoothening out most bumps and remaining semi-flat in corners.

Although not an off-road specialist either, with 7.7 inches (196 mm) of ground clearance, the vehicle can travel over medium-sized snowbanks, tire ruts, or those pesky parking curbs. Weight is acceptable for the class, tipping the scales at 3,728 pounds (1,691 kg). Towing capacity, though, is at the low end, rated for 1,500 pounds (680 kg).

Inside, the cabin has all the comfort expected for something wearing a giant Denali badge. Up front, there is 40.0-inches (1,015 mm) of headroom and 40.6-inches (1,030 mm) of legroom. Those front seats are covered in perforated leather and are power adjustable, heated, and ventilated. We found them easy to adjust to an optimal comfort position and had no issues spending hours behind the wheel. 

The rear seat area is spacious with nearly as much passenger space as up front, measuring 39.2-inches (995 mm) of headroom and 39.2-inches (996 mm) of legroom. The outside rear seats are also heated and there’s still 29.8 cubic feet (844 L) of cargo capacity in the rear, which expands to 63.5 cubic feet (1798 L) with the rear seats folded.

The 2026 GMC Denali Terrain has a restrained interior design, available in two choices, Light Ash Gray / Very Dark Atmosphere, or how our tester was equipped, After Dark. Basically, it’s a choice of light cream or black themes.

After Dark features contrasting chrome elements in the dash, center console and doors. There are also dark wood inserts on the doors and dash. The most attention grabbing detail is the 15-inch vertical center screen that does protrude outward from the center stack, but does not stick up above the top of the dash.

Complementing that big infotainment screen is an 11-inch digital driver information centre. These two screens, and the software that powers them, are some of the best control/display technologies on the market. The center screen can be subdivided to have Apple CarPlay on the top portion of the screen, while still having multiple, customizable windows of information below.

Configuring the screen exactly how we want it was so easy to do. A cool feature is the bottom of the screen where HVAC controls are always displayed. Below them are toggle switches which can be used to operate the climate control, or the driver can use the touchscreen itself. It’s great having choice.

Same applies to the driver information center. It’s rare to have all the exact information we want, displayed at the proper place, all the time. Like many vehicles with digital driver information centers, it's possible to have the navigation map be displayed here. What's unique is if Apple CarPlay is connected, we can choose which map is displayed; either the standard map or one from my phone like Waze. On the downside, there are other controls that are touchscreen dependant, like the exterior lights. But overall, this is a great, modern system with a well thought user interface and experience.

Other technology highlights include a heated wiper park, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charger, WiFi hotspot capable, rain sensing wipers, and an autosense hands-free programable liftgate. The later we had to completely turn off as it would randomly open the tailgate when we were close to the rear of the vehicle, or beside it, or near the front - it didn’t matter. Then, when we came right up to the tailgate to open it with purpose, it wouldn’t open without a few attempts of depressing the button on the lift gate.

Safety technology on the 2026 GMC Terrain Denali is in abundance. Rather than going through the entire laundry list of typical active safety features, a few highlights include rear pedestrian alert, HD surround vision, and a rear camera mirror.

The Denali designation refers to the premium trim in a vehicle lineup, so it’s understandable it commands a price premium as well. But it might not be as much as one thinks. The 2026 GMC Terrain starts at a price of $31,895 (all prices include destination charges). As tested, our Denali came in at $44,090.

That splits the Forester Touring Hybrid and non-hybrid in terms of price, and is less than Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited, or Honda CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid. In fairness, the Toyota and Honda both have more power and much better fuel economy, and the Terrain Denali can get pricier if more options are selected like the power moonroof.

In Canada, the 2026 GMC Terrain starts at a price of $37,899. As tested, our Denali trim came in at $52,294.

It’s impressive what a refresh and new trim can do for a vehicle. Previously, the Terrain felt like just another player in the uber-competitive compactish SUV segment. With the new 2026 Denali trim though, it’s a standout in many ways. The technology, comfort, and drivability all make the SUV feel premium and a half class above many of its competitors. With a better powertrain, GMC could really have something here.

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