GMC Terrain - Your Well Equipped, Stylish Crossover

General Motors recently breathed new life into its GMC brand, when it signaled that Pontiac would be discontinued while Cadillac, Buick, GMC and Chevrolet would live on. That news means one thing - new products for GM's truck brand including an all new crossover model, the 2010 GMC Terrain.

Like the larger GMC Acadia, the GMC Terrain is a crossover vehicle which means that it has the look of a sport/utility vehicle yet it rides on a car platform. SUVs, which once dominated the market, are based on truck platforms, but offer a less comfortable ride and generally consume more gas. Thus, consumers are embracing crossovers as they want still want many of the attributes of an SUV without the fuel disadvantages.

Class Leading Fuel Economy

Available in front or all wheel drive, the GMC Terrain offers distinctive styling and shares the styling cues used to design the GMC Acadia. Powered by a standard 2.4L direct-injection I4 engine and paired with a six speed automatic transmission, this powerplant combination allows the Terrain to achieve remarkable fuel economy, achieving a class leading highway fuel economy rating of 32 miles per gallon. That figure even bests the highway mileage of the Ford Escape Hybrid by one mpg.

The Terrain features what GM calls a MultiFlex rear seat configuration which can be configured to extend legroom or maximize cargo capacity. Indeed, with rear seats folded down, the Terrain offers 64 cubic feet of cargo space, just the sort of capacity needed by yard sale devotees.

Well Appointed, High Technology

Cabin amenities are many and include a six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with USB connectivity, XM satellite radio service, integrated rear-view camera system, and plenty of safety features including OnStar, stability control, integrated navigation system and six airbags.

Higher trim levels of the Terrain offer additional amenities including a premium Pioneer sound system, power liftgate, chrome appearance package and a sunroof.

Will you embrace the Terrain? GMC certainly hopes so. In a crowded segment dominated by the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Ford Escape, the GMC Terrain is a welcome alternative, an all new model offering excellent fuel economy and a competitive sub-$25,000 base price.