An overhauled 2018 GMC Terrain will get power from a trio of turbocharged engines — including a diesel option.
Unveiled on the eve of the Detroit auto show, the new version of the brand’s compact crossover ditches the boxy look of old for something much more in line with the new Acadia that launched last year. But the big news is the three turbocharged engines that will be offered under the hood, including a diesel to go along with a pair of gas options.
The standard powerplant will be a new turbocharged 1.5-liter gas
engine that makes 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque, which should be more than enough to motivate the smallest vehicle in GMC’s lineup. Also of the gas-powered variety is an available 2.0-liter turbo borrowed from the
Buick Envision that makes 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.
Both four-cylinders, which power the same-sized Envision in China, feature direct injection and idle-stop technology, and come paired to GM’s new nine-speed automatic
transmission. The larger of the two engines allows for a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lb (1,585 kg), matching what the current 3.6-liter V6 version is able to do.
Joining the new gas engines is a turbocharged 1.6-liter diesel-powered four-cylinder that’s good for 136 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. The turbodiesel engine also features idle-stop technology, and comes mated to a
six-speed automatic transmission.
Like in its current form, the 2018 GMC Terrain will come in the choice of front- or four-wheel drive layouts, with the latter featuring a fuel-saving mode that allows the system to be disconnected until four-wheel traction is needed.
On the design side, the second-gen Terrain signals a major departure from its predecessor’s look, and features a Nissan-esque 'floating' roof look that compliments a similar design language introduced on the new
GMC Acadia. Like its larger sibling, it will be available in three trims ranging from base to Denali.
