The 2016 GMC Terrain Denali gets minor cosmetic changes and added safety features.
With a surprisingly quiet cabin and comfortable ride this crossover delivers. Add the optional V6 to the mix and you’ve got a winning combination.
The 2016 GMC Terrain is available in five trim levels: SL, SLE-1, SLE-2, SLT and Denali. This review will focus on the Denali trim.
The range-topping Denali has a Denali-specific comfort-oriented suspension setup, wheels and interior/exterior trim. It also includes the Memory and Driver Alert I and II packages plus the SLT features of: 18-inch wheels, chrome exterior accents, remote engine start, ambient lighting, heated front seats and perforated leather upholstery. In addition, two Driver Alert package levels are available for the SLE-2 and SLT. The first level includes blind spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic detection, rear parking sensors and an adjustable power liftgate (SLT only). The second level adds forward collision and lane departure warning systems. The SLT-only Memory package includes driver memory settings and an eight-way power passenger seat.
With the upgraded V6 on my test model the Terrain Denali produced 182 horse and 172 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a six speed automatic trany the Deanli is plenty powerful. Mileage estimates are 16/city, 23/highway and 18/combined mpg.
The Denali was awarded four out of five stars in government crash test, with four stars for frontal-impact and five stars for side-impact.
On the inside the Denali is a powder-puff with soft-touch materials and an elegant design. Tech-wise the Denali is full of gadgets and gizmos controlled by a touchscreen with logical inputs
Both the front and back seats are comfortable and the rear sliding seat is especially useful for maximizing trunk space which is 63.7 with the seats down and 31.6 cubic feet with the seats up.
When cruising in the Denali you’ll notice the wonderful quiet of the cabin and relatively smooth ride. It’s great on long trips, however cornering is the price paid for this cushy drive. But the car does not want for get up and go with the optional V6 there will be no problem with merging or passing on the highway.
The GMC Terrain AWD Denali is definitely worth a look-see when shopping for a crossover.
