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2022 GMC Acadia vs Terrain

2022 GMC Acadia vs Terrain
Reviewed & fact checked by
James Murdoch

2022 Acadia vs Terrain - How Do They Stack Up? What are the differences?

The 2022 GMC Acadia is the perfect companion for family adventures! With its four doors, rear liftgate and roomy interior with three rows of seats - accommodating up to seven passengers comfortably – it provides plenty of storage space for all your necessities. Enjoy a ride like no other in this luxuriously comfortable SUV that offers maximum versatility when packing gear.

GMC has taken the signature design cues of the Acadia and implemented them into their newest compact SUV, 2022 Terrain. Not only visually appealing on both exterior and interior fronts, this vehicle also provides comfort for up to five passengers while they zip around town with its impressive fuel economy ratings. Added bonuses include safety features galore and state-of-the art technology that are sure to make your drives much more enjoyable.

GM's popular Acadia and Terrain models make for an interesting comparison, as they share similar starting prices but significantly differ in terms of interior capacity. It may look like a tough choice from the outside, however diving deeper reveals distinctive features that set each vehicle apart - perfect for buyers searching to find their ideal match! Let's take a closer look at how these two vehicles compare across some key categories.

Size and Styling

The 2022 GMC Acadia and Terrain are two vehicles that may look nearly identical at first glance, but they offer plenty of differences to choose from. Both SUVs portray a strong and bold image with their truck-like exteriors - four doors paired along an easy access liftgate make them ideal for loading up cargo or heading out on the road. Despite being similar in style, anyone can find just the right fit among these models' distinct design features.

The Acadia and Terrain are two SUVs that offer similar features at their respective trim levels. From the 18-inch aluminum wheels on the SLE/SLT models to 17-inch machined alloys with all-terrain tires for extra grip in bigger adventures, there's something available no matter what kind of driver you are. And if want luxury too? You can't go wrong with a Denali - it comes standard with 20 inch Ultra Bright machined wheels making this SUV ready to tackle any challenge.

On the smaller GMC Terrain, the SLE trim gets 17-inch aluminum wheels while the SLT has 18-inch aluminum wheels. The wheels come painted silver on both models. Both trims get all-season tires. The Terrain's AT4 model gets 17-inch wheels in a glossy black finish. This version of the AT4 again gets all-terrain tires. The Terrain Denali has Bright machined-aluminum wheels with painted gray accents.

The GMC Acadia and Terrain have heated, power-operated exterior mirrors. They both get LED headlights, taillights and turn signals. Both get LED daytime-running lamps and available fog lamps as well. These SUVs offer roof-mounted side rails and cross rails for some extra storage space up top. Most trim levels of the Acadia and Terrain have a power-operated, hands-free tailgate that makes it easy to load and unload cargo.

The 2022 GMC Acadia is a spacious SUV that can conveniently accommodate up to seven people. Both the 2022 Terrain and Acadia boast optional SkyScape® power sunroofs, intermittent windshield wipers, single intermittent rear window wipers, deep-tinted glass all around for both models of the vehicle as well as an optional Keyless Entry Keypad exclusive to those driving in an Acadia! With its dimensions measuring 193-inches long by 75 inches wide and 67 inches high with 12.8 cubic feet of storage space available even when fully occupied there's more than enough room for everyone heading out on your next adventure!

The Acadia's seats in the second and third rows can be folded down flat. This will expand the cargo area up to 79 cubic-feet. The 2022 Acadia has around 40-inches of headroom and 41-inches of legroom up front. There's 39.6-inches of headroom and 39.7-inches of legroom for the last row of seats.

The 2022 GMC Terrain provides the perfect combination of comfort and cargo capacity. At 182-inches long, 72-inches wide and 65 inches high, it offers a roomy interior with plenty of headroom (40" in front; 38.5" in back) as well as generous legroom (40.9" up front; 39.7” rear). With all seats occupied there is 29 cubic feet for storage - or fold down the second row seats to maximize space utilization with 63+ cubic feet available.

Drivability

The 2022 GMC Acadia packs a powerful punch with two different engine options. Whether you're looking for the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder in SLE and SLT trims, or if you want to take it up a notch with the available 3.6-liter V6 paired with AWD on AT4 and Denali models - this vehicle is sure to exceed your expectations!

All configurations feature a 9-speed automatic transmission so that every drive will be smooth sailing along any terrain, while uniquely designed offroad ready performance levels provided by its AT4 trim are unparalleled.

With impressive performance capabilities, the Acadia offers a broad range of models to meet every driver's needs. Equipped with either an efficient FWD or powerful AWD system and offering gas tank sizes ranging from 19-22 gallons, these vehicles achieve fuel economy ratings up to 25 mpg combined (for the base engine).

The V6 model provides robust power while retaining respectable MPG levels at 22/21 respectively for FWD/AWD configurations - plus AT4 editions offer even more driving versatility through its Active Torque Control AWD System with Hill Start Assist and Descent Control features! Each configuration also benefits from fully independent suspension systems in both front and rear that keep you handling confidently no matter what terrain lies ahead.

The GMC Acadia is designed for maximum control and comfort, even when the terrain or conditions get rough. It features StabiliTrak - their electronic stability control system - as well as Traction Select which allows drivers to choose different modes depending on where they're going. Plus, it provides a smooth ride with precise steering and excellent visibility so that navigating any road becomes easier than ever! And you needn't worry about noise inside the cabin either; this SUV ensures your journey will be quiet too.

The 2022 GMC Terrain is packed with power, performance, and personality! Drivers can choose from the SLE or SLT trim levels in either FWD or AWD - but for a truly special ride they'll want to go with the AT4 model featuring an impressive 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that generates 170 horsepower along with 203 pound-feet of torque plus 9 speeds through its automatic transmission. And if it's extra luxury you're after then look no further than Denali which exclusively offers all weather capability & refinement across every terrain.

The GMC Terrain provides an impressive ride, with a choice of either FWD or AWD capabilities. Fuel economy is quite respectable across the board - 25 mpg in city driving and 28/30mpg on highways depending on whether you choose the 4-link rear suspension provided by standard models or opt for their upgraded Denali Premium Suspension available at higher trim levels. With soundproofing that holds up to even its sister model, Acadia's standards, rest assured your drive will be nice and quiet.

Taking on the most rugged terrain is no problem for GMC's Terrain and Acadia: both boast impressive off-road capabilities. The former shines in steering, handling and maneuverability thanks to its smaller frame size while the latter packs more power under the hood with standard Hill Descent Control across all trim levels. To top it off, skid plates come equipped as a means of protection against obstacles when traversing varying terrains - just one example of this dynamic duo's adventure-ready design.

Whether you're an avid outdoorsman or a city dweller, the GMC terrain and Acadia have got your back. The Terrain offers exceptional maneuverability for urban navigating while also boasting the StabiliTrak system for enhanced safety on off-road excursions -- but trailer weights should be kept near 1,500 pounds maximum. Families needing more horsepower may want to opt up from the V6 engine in their Acadia as it can tow up to 4,000 lbs.-- offering strength without compromising size.

Comfort, Options and Performance

From the entry-level SLE trim up to each vehicle's highest performance level, the GMC Acadia and Terrain have been crafted with a near identical interior design. Both offer luxe features like 8-way power driver’s seat adjustments plus an exceptional infotainment system guaranteed for all models. These advanced systems come complete with 7 or 8 inch touchscreen interfaces as well as voice recognition technology so you can stay connected on your drive.

The GMC Infotainment System is compatible with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Wireless Android Auto. A navigation system is included for every trim but the base level on the Acadia, but is only included for the Denali trim in the Terrain. The Acadia gets Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control for all trim levels. The base model of the Terrain has basic A/C while the remaining trims get Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control.

The Acadia has a 6-speaker audio system for the base model. The remaining trim levels get an 8-speaker premium audio system by Bose®. This includes a subwoofer for amazing bass sounds. The Terrain gets the 6-speaker system for all models except for the Denali. The Denali gets the upgraded Bose system. Both SUVs get ambient interior lighting.

GMC's 2022 Acadia and Terrain both come with power door locks and power windows at every trim level. They each offer perforated-leather upholstery, a leather wrapped steering wheel, heated seats and ventilated seats up front, for specific trim levels, or as an option. Most trim levels come with premium-cloth trim for the seats.

The layout design of both interiors is comfortable and ergonomic. They mirror each other in most ways. The Acadia, with its three rows, gets more cup holders and more small-item storage spaces. The Acadia isn't any more luxurious or comfortable than the Terrain, but it does come with far more standard features. The overall driving performance and experience is simply better inside of the Acadia.

Safety

GMC knows safety is important, and they've gone all out with the 2022 Acadia and Terrain models. Both vehicles come standardly equipped with advanced airbag systems to protect passengers in any seat position against front-impact or side-impact crashes. The driver of an Acadia gets extra knee protection for added security on top of that. But it doesn't stop there - these nifty SUVs also have HD rear cameras, Front Pedestrian Braking, Rear & Front Park Assist as well as Lane Change Alerts & Side Blind Zone Warnings (standard on Acadia trims but can be added to Terrains). Plus both get a useful lane keep assist feature so you don't ever veer off course without knowing about it. All together creating peace of mind when behind the wheel.

Rear Cross-Traffic Alert is yet another feature that's standard for the Acadia but only on the higher trims of the Terrain. Every Acadia gets GMC's Safety Alert Seat. This seat gives feedback on impending crashes and lets the driver know which direction the danger is coming from. This feature is only stock on the Denali model of the Terrain.

All models of the Acadia and Terrain get a Tire-Pressure Monitor and GM's Teen Driver package. This package allows the owner to save settings to a key FOB for younger or inexperienced drivers. The technology also gives the owner a report on the driving habits of secondary drivers. All models of both vehicles have the LATCH system for securing child safety seats.

Each model of the Terrain and Acadia offers child safety locks and rear windows. All trim levels of these two SUVs are OnStar® & GMC Connected-Services capable. All models of these SUVs get the aforementioned StabiliTrak system and anti-locking disc brakes.

Which Model to Choose?

The 2022 GMC Acadia and Terrain are both great SUVs, but if you're looking for the most bang-for-your-buck option, then it's hard to beat the Acadia. It may cost a bit more up front, but with its range of features like extra space inside and in cargo capacity plus an engine that provides immense power combined with quick acceleration - even when compared to the single engine offering on the Terrain - makes this SUV worth every penny.

The Terrain is a budget-friendly option for those looking to zip around town, but its low horsepower means it won't be making any off-road trips. While economical in many ways, the Acadia may provide drivers with the better overall experience out on the highway and beyond.

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2021 GMC Acadia VS Terrain