GMC Terrain 2010

The 2010 GMC Terrain is not your typical crossover SUV. It might be smaller on the outside but it certainly offers more on the inside. The GMC Terrain 2010 has the rugged appeal of a truck for those who like bold styling, yet it has premium features,functionality and amazing fuel efficiency for those who are looking for a crossover that's driver and fuel friendly.

The brand new 2010 GMC Terrain replaces the Pontiac Torrent, which has been discontinued as General Motors phases out the entire Pontiac brand after this year. The Terrain has a bigger sibling, the full-size Acadia, and it is similar in architecture to the new Chevrolet Equinox.

For those who want to drive something with the look of an SUV but the fuel economy of a car, the 2010 GMC Terrain is an excellent choice. The Terrain boasts a very attractive EPA fuel economy rating of 32 mpg highway on its front-wheel-drive version with a six-speed automatic and the 182-horsepower, 2.4-liter Ecotec inline-4. That is a very modern engine with variable valve timing and direct injection. With an EPA city rating of 22 mpg and a combined rating of 26 mpg, the Terrain has better fuel-efficiency than the Asian imports.

If you choose the all-wheel drive model of the 2010 GMC Terrain, the fuel-efficiency only a bit to 20 mpg city/29 mpg highway. Still excellent for a crossover that looks like rugged SUV.

There is one more option for the GMC Terrain that will lower the fuel economy but step the model up to a more typically GMC truck-feel. An optional 264-hp 3.0-liter V6 coupled to a different six-speed automatic delivers 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway. It more than doubles the towing capacity from the base model's 1,500 pounds to 3,500 pounds.

The 2010 GMC Terrain has the bold design of a GMC sport utility vehicle. The Terrain's front end, with squared-off edges and flared fenders, appeals to those who want a something stronger looking vehicle with truck-like appeal.

The 2010 Terrain seats five with no option for an additional row. For more seating, you wou ld have to move up to the Acadia SUV. However, it's a big five seater compared to other crossovers that are out there. With its 112.5-inch wheelbase, the 2010 GMC Terrain is one of the larger five-seat crossovers and boasts 63.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the front seats, or 31.6 cubic feet with the rear seatback up.

A great standard feature of the new GMC Terrain is the rear view camera. With the optional navigation system, the back-up camera shows up in that display; otherwise it appears on the left portion of the inside rear view mirror. Even without the optional navigation system, the fact that the camera is standard is an excellent safety feature.

Aside from the rear view camera, there is a host of other standard safety features in the 2010 GMC Terrain. These include: OnStar communications (with automatic accident reporting), front seat-mounted side air bags, roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows, electronic stability and traction control, and four-wheel antilock disc brakes. XM satellite radio is standard on all models.

Families will love the storage space in the 2010 GMC Terrain. There are multiple storage cubbies, including an oversized glove box, a bin above the center stack in the instrument panel and a closed bin under the front center armrest that is big enough to hold a laptop computer.

There are also four power outlets for phone chargers, laptops and other can't-live-without-them portable devices. Ambient interior lighting is also a standard, yet luxurious feature, on the new Terrain. The use of red ambient lighting warms up the passenger space with a comfortable glow instead of glaring, bright lights.

GM notes that the seats have been made more comfortable than those in the Terrain's predecessor, the 2009 Pontiac Torrent. The "floating" center instrument stack was designed to make it easier to operate the climate-control and audio systems. Overall, the Terrain has a very attractive interior with easy to use features and spaciousness.

For 2010, Terrain prices begin at $24,250 (plus $745 freight) for the base front-wheel-drive SLE1 model, while the all-wheel-drive version starts at $26,000.

Next in line is the SLE2, with a two-wheel-drive base price of $25,850 and $27,600 for the all-wheel-drive model.

SLT1 versions list for $27,450 with two-wheel drive and $29,200 with all-wheel drive, while the top model, the SLT2, starts at $29,250 with two-wheel drive and $31,000 with all-wheel drive.

The all-new 2010 GMC Terrain is on its way to dealers and has begun showing up on the lot in many states already. For anyone looking for a reasonably priced, brand new crossover vehicle with great fuel economy, it might be worth taking a test drive in the new 2010 GMC Terrain.