First Drive: 2013 GMC Terrain Denali (Left Lane News)

[ne_one]

First Drive: 2013 GMC Terrain Denali
Left Lane News
June 13, 2012
by Andrew Ganz

Denali means big business at GMC and GMC means big business for General Motors.

Although its sister brands under the GM umbrella might get (too?) much of the attention these days, a lot of good news actually comes out of the automaker’s truck division. Sales are up across the board – especially for the range-topping Denali trim level offered on the Sierra pickups, Yukon SUVs and Acadia crossovers.

So while it came as little surprise when GMC unwrapped a Denali package for the smaller Terrain crossover earlier this year, what we weren’t expecting was a newly optional 301-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 for all Terrains.

The recipe for success has proven almost laughably simple: Denalis get a light cosmetic upgrade, a few interior touches and a bucks-up price. In this case, the premium is somewhere around $1,500, although pricing for the standard 2013 Terrain is being kept under wraps.

Leftlane’s bottom line
Gussying up a mass-market crossover with a few styling goodies doesn’t automatically make it a luxury vehicle, but the Terrain Denali is nearly a match for the particularly composed and similarly priced 2013 Acura RDX.

Although the new V6 is a marked improvement over last year’s 3.0-liter lump, it’s still burdened with this crossover’s porky curb weight and a compromising transmission. Our money would be on the far more fuel efficient (and not that much slower) 2.4-liter four-cylinder base engine, but we can see where upwardly-mobile buyers will be smitten by the stylish Denali trim package.

Full article at link.

[Envoy4Life]

It's scary to hear that the 3.6L V6 struggles with the Terrain...

[V8GMT360 Guy]

It's scary to hear that the 3.6L V6 struggles with the Terrain...

They should never have "tweaked" it from the version in the SRX. I've driven one of those and it had plenty of power without feeling like it was struggling.

[K-1]

It's scary to hear that the 3.6L V6 struggles with the Terrain...

The 3.6L in the (4200lb) SRX moves it to 60 in 6.7 seconds. Not exactly struggling. The SRX is a bit heavier than the Terrain, too. Perhaps LLN's seat-of-the-pants gauge needs to be recalibrated, or the Terrain's transmission does. Though you'd think the gearing would be equivalent to that in the SRX. Who knows.

[b4z]

2.77 gear in the terrain/equinox. 3.39 gear in the SRX. That's a 22 percent tq. Multiplication advantage for the SRX.

[1487]

It's scary to hear that the 3.6L V6 struggles with the Terrain...

CTS with the lfx weighs about the same as Terrain and gets to 60 in 6.2 secs. There is no way the terrain is struggling with the new engine. Its 400lbs lighter than the SRX.

[b4z]

At certain speeds and at certain rpms the v6 in the SRX feels like. Mini v8. Sounds like GM should have given the twins the same gearing.

[ponchoman49]

There is no way that the new LFX 3.6, of which I have driven 3 different vehicles so equipped, barely feels any quicker than the sluggish 2.4, especially in the AWD version. Even the 3.0 liter V6's felt way faster once the engine starts to rev compared to the 4 which only has 172 torque at 4900 RPM for 3800-4000 LBS of ute to move around.

[10shelby]

I can't believe the six banger isn't much faster than the four banger. I have an 11 NOX with the four banger.......I love the little thing but my wife calls it the Flintstone mobile.......she's says start peddling or feed that girble under the hood.
The four banger is absolutely sick until you either rev it to blow-up standards are just patient.
It does get 20mpg around town in the hills of Western PA.

[b4z]

I wouldn't mind these low tq high in the rpm motors if they wouldnt hold gears so tenaciously.

[jbartley]

Left Lane seems to have overlooked how ugly the RDX is.

[mjd1001]

2.77 gear in the terrain/equinox. 3.39 gear in the SRX. That's a 22 percent tq. Multiplication advantage for the SRX.

If the gearing on the Terrain is so 'low', can anyone explain to me why it gets such bad mileage? 17/24 is less than Ford gets out of the even-heavier Edge Sport with their 305hp engine with more torque.

[cemaxc]

If the gearing on the Terrain is so 'low', can anyone explain to me why it gets such bad mileage? 17/24 is less than Ford gets out of the even-heavier Edge Sport with their 305hp engine with more torque.

2.77 is for the FWD V6 version, AWD gets a 3.39... I think? Its in the official press release from the autoshow.

[b4z]

If the gearing on the Terrain is so 'low', can anyone explain to me why it gets such bad mileage? 17/24 is less than Ford gets out of the even-heavier Edge Sport with their 305hp engine with more torque.

Another reason why I am looking at the edge.

[newdude]

My thoughts on the 6 speed and 3.6 combo in FWD applications. At work, I sometimes will take a car from our one dealer to the other. Drove a 2012 Lacrosse (6T70, 3.6) and in drive, it holds the gears for a long period of time, or so it felt. It would, with under 1/2 throttle, maybe 1/4 throttle take 1st to 3000-3500, repeat for 2nd and 3rd, etc. Drove strange to me.

I put it in M and what a difference. Hit the toggle to go 1st to second and at 2500rpm it changed gears instantly. Not hit the toggle and wait for the computer to change it, it was more like Ferarri paddle fast. I had full control of how it shifted and was way more enjoyable to drive.

Even on a 2010 Traverse, the 6T70 just holds gears (29k miles on it). Its not just "shift" its wind then shift.

On topic, Autoblog seemed to have loved the new powertrain combo in their drive. 0-60 in 6.5 seconds: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/14/2...-drive-review/