2022 GMC Terrain AT4 Review: Completing the Family

The GMC Terrain is the last member of General Motor’s truck division to receive the AT4 trim level.

Despite only being on sale since 2019, the AT4 is the fastest selling trim across the brand’s lineup. On average, model to model, AT4 is the top volume seller, even outpacing the Denali. GMC’s aim with the AT4 is to attract younger, affluent families. So having it on the most affordable model in the brand’s stable, the Terrain, makes sense.

The built in Mexico compact SUV is refreshed for the 2022 model year and headlining the update is the addition of new trim level. Like most automakers, GMC has a lot of trims that are shared across the brand’s vehicle lineup. Basically, every model includes an Elevation, AT4 and/or Denali.

But unlike some competitors, these are not arbitrarily applied labels. To GMC, and hopefully the automaker’s customers, they mean something. Elevation is the entry point that brings fancier styling to lower end vehicles. The AT4 trim level is a more premium trim level that focuses on off-road and convenience. The most well-known trim at GMC is Denali, which has been around for over two decades. It denotes the highest in luxury available on any given model.

On the Terrain, the AT4 comes with standard all-wheel drive, a front steel skid plate, all-terrain tires, black 17-inch wheels, as well as a unique grille, exterior accents, and interior trim. For both the Canadian and American markets, the AT4 is packaged the same.

Besides the new trim level, other exterior changes for the 2022 model year include new standard LED headlights, other new grilles, and new wheel options. Inside, the Terrain receives a new optional head up display, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, and an optional 8-inch driver information display.

Pricing for the At4 is very class competitive. The entry point begins at $35,195 USD ($38,098 CAD) after destination charges, and our as tested vehicles stickered in at $37,870 USD ($41,988 CAD) with nearly every available option added.

The Terrain’s general interior design hasn’t changed much for 2022. It’s well laid out and easy to use. It doesn’t feel as premium as some similarly priced competitors, as the Terrain has a mixture of high-end and low-end materials. But I’ll gladly take the user friendliness and well thought our storage compartments of this vehicle over one with a slightly nicer lower dash finish.

SEE ALSO: 2022 GMC Terrain Shows Off New Face, AT4 Model

With 40-inches of head room and over 40-inches of legroom, the front seating area is more than sufficient for this six-foot tall tester. The seats remained comfortable during our five-hour day of driving.

The rear seats offer 39.70 inches of rear legroom which is class competitive, as is 38.50-inches of headroom. The rear cargo area can swallow 29.60 cubic feet of gear, or 63.30 cubic feet which the rear seats folded down. This is a bit on the low side, as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Hyundai Tucson can all carry more.

Options included in the Terrain AT4 include heated, power front seats, dual zone climate control, and an 8-inch infotainment screen. Since our test vehicle came fully loaded, it added the panoramic sunroof, surround vision cameras, and safety seat alert.

The Terrain AT4 wears 17-inch wheels, which are smaller than the 18-inch units found on the Denali. During our first drive, we had a chance to sample both vehicles and found there was a comfort advantage to the AT4 thanks mainly due to larger sidewalls and squishier all-terrain rubber. On the downside, those more aggressively-tread tires do add to a bit more road noise.

The vehicle’s ride comfort and handling are exactly what one would expect for this segment. Nothing stands out as exceptional, but more importantly, nothing stands out as a major determent. The small GMC SUV is a perfectly fine vehicle to spend time in. It’s unassuming and goes about its job exactly as intended.

Astute readers out there will know that the GMC Terrain is a close corporate cousin to the Chevrolet Equinox. The vehicle’s share a platform and engine, but the Terrain one-ups the Equinox in terms of transmissions. Whereas the Chevy must make do with a six-speed automatic, the GMC has nine full forward gears to play with.

SEE ALSO: Cadillac XT4 vs GMC Terrain Denali: Which Crossover is Right for You?

Those extra cogs shine around the city and on country roads. They make the most of the 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine’s 170 hp and 203 lb-ft. of torque. Power delivery is robust at lower rpms but feels less stout as the revs climb. On the highway, this behaviour left me wanting more. Don’t get me wrong, the engine is well suited for its task and isn’t overstressed. But don’t expect an extra oomph of acceleration when on the freeway; it’s just a steady, mild-stream of power as speeds build.

It would be great if the AT4 and Denali received an engine upgrade option, like maybe the 2.0-liter turbo found in larger GM products. Then again, that would hurt fuel economy and the Terrain AT4 with all-wheel drive does quite well, achieving 25 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. That’s better than all-wheel drive versions of the regular Hyundai Tucson, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Kia Sportage.

The compact SUV market is a fiercely contested segment. It’s also one that accounts for a huge number of sales annually. There’s plenty of pieces of the pie to go around.

GMC is well aware of this, and the brand is smart for tailoring the Terrain to satisfy specific niches within the segment, capitalizing on the truck-pedigree that comes from having that GMC badge on the nose. Rather than try to be all things to all people, GMC has a specific set of customers in mind with the Terrain.

The Denali trim has satisfied buyers looking for a more premium mainstream small SUV for quite some time now, and we fully expect the AT4 to be just as successful. By trading in a bit of luxury for a more rugged appearance, the AT4 should succeed in its mission of attracting younger, affluent families looking for a solid vehicle that’s a little bit different.