Friend of the site Connie Peters has a review of the 2026 GMC Terrain AT4 for us.
Click on over to see what she has to say about the Terrain. Or read the transcript below if you that’s more your style.
Connie Peters is an automotive video creator and journalist covering all types of cars and trucks for the past 10 years in suburban Vancouver. You can watch all of her videos on her YouTube channel or find here on social media: Instagram.com/xoconniepeters, TikTok.com/@xoconniepeters, Facebook.com/xoconniepeters, Threads.net/@xoconniepeters
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A transcript, cleaned up by AI and edited by a staffer, is below.
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Transcript:
All right, today I have GMC’s smallest and least expensive offering in the lineup: the compact SUV, the Terrain. It received updates for 2025 as part of a new generation, and for 2026 we get this new AT4 trim, which hasn’t previously been offered on the Terrain.
With the AT4 trim, you get all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels, a different grille, a front skid plate, and GMC’s multi-terrain select system. The AT4 also sits slightly higher than the other Terrain trims. Below this is the Elevation, above it is the Denali. This example has the optional black roof, and you also get red recovery hooks exclusive to the AT4.
Let’s go for a drive.
For a small SUV, there’s a surprising amount of space. There’s plenty of room in the back, three tether points for child seats, and good underfloor storage. A privacy shade is available, though it’s not on this vehicle. The rear seats fold 60/40.
Power comes from a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The AT4 is all-wheel drive in both Canada and the U.S. In Canada, all Terrain trims are all-wheel drive, while in the U.S., the base Elevation trim is front-wheel drive.
On the road, it’s very comfortable. Small SUVs are easy to drive while still offering good cargo space, and the camera system is excellent. That said, 175 horsepower isn’t a lot of power, so if outright performance matters to you, keep that in mind. If you’re just looking for a comfortable, easy-to-drive vehicle, this works well.
I really like this screen, which was new for 2025. It’s a Google built-in system, but it still supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it connects almost instantly. You get dual-zone climate control, along with heated and ventilated seats on this trim.
I appreciate the round volume knob and the fact that you can adjust the climate either through the touchscreen or with physical piano-style buttons. That’s a great design choice. I also like the gear selector, which I’ve seen on other GM products, including Cadillacs.
The backup camera is very high-definition and looks excellent. There’s a fully digital driver display that’s crisp, clear, and customizable. I like the layout it’s set to right now. The heated steering wheel is very welcome today, as it’s about six degrees Celsius outside and quite chilly.
You get cruise control and adaptive cruise control, though not Super Cruise on this trim. There’s one USB port and one USB-C up front, and since CarPlay is wireless, that works well. The cup holders are a bit small—I have a large smoothie cup that takes some effort to push in—but it holds it very securely.
There’s a wireless charging pad, and while the seats aren’t leather, they’re a mix of cloth and faux leather. You do get a center armrest with two cup holders. In the back, there are latch points for two child seats, a completely flat floor for the middle passenger, rear vents, and heated outboard seats, which is a nice surprise. There are also two USB-C charging ports and some storage. I’m 5’1″, and I have plenty of legroom back here.
This vehicle also has the optional panoramic sunroof, which doesn’t come standard on the AT4.
So what do we think of the GMC Terrain AT4? It’s a solid five-seat SUV with some rugged touches in this trim. If you want more luxury, you’d move up to the Denali, but this sits nicely in the middle of the lineup. In Canada, the Terrain starts around $38,000. In the U.S., the base Elevation trim starts just under $30,000 and is front-wheel drive. The AT4 is all-wheel drive in both markets.
As tested, this one comes in at $51,588 Canadian, or about $41,590 in the U.S., if I’ve priced it correctly. The options on this vehicle include the panoramic sunroof, the black roof, and an equipment package that adds features like heated and ventilated seats, among a few other items. Those are features I generally think are worth having.
Let me know what you think in the comments. Don’t forget to subscribe, and you can find me on social media at XO Connie Peters. I’ll see you soon.
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From Connie Peters