Though tall and heavy, the Terrain handles well and feels very stable in the corners. That’s mostly because, though it looks like a truck, the Terrain is a crossover with car-like unit body construction, a long (2,857 mm) wheelbase, a wide track, and a four-wheel independent suspension. The Denali adds exclusive dual-flow shock absorbers which improve the ride by adapting to different road surfaces.

All Terrains come with standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control and traction control which help maintain traction and steering control in slippery situations. Braking chores are handled by standard four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock, panic Brake Assist, and Hill Hold Assist to prevent rolling back on hills when starting off. Optional on some Terrains and standard on the Denali are Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert which use radar to detect another vehicle in the Terrain’s blind spot or one crossing behind the Terrain. Another option package includes Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Alert which use a camera to warn the driver of an impending collision or unintended lane departure by sounding an alarm and flashing a warning light in the instrument cluster or side mirrors. These features don’t take the place of shoulder checks but they can prove a lifesaver when other vehicles “appear out of nowhere”.

As one of the largest vehicles in the compact SUV class, the Terrain has above-average interior room but not necessarily above-average cargo room. Its boxy shape provides plenty of headroom front and rear while its standard sliding rear seats can move forward and back up to 200 mm (8.0 in.) to provide generous rear legroom, or to improve cargo space behind the rear seats. The front seats in the Denali are very comfortable with multiple power adjustments including lumbar adjustment. The split rear seatbacks recline for greater comfort and one or both of the 60/40 split folding rear seatbacks can be folded down to accommodate various passenger and cargo arrangements.

The instrument panel’s sensible layout includes a four-gauge instrument cluster surrounding a configurable trip computer/information display, a 7-inch central touchscreen with a hood over top to reduce glare on the screen, and straightforward buttons for audio and climate controls. The steering wheel also features controls for telephone, audio volume and station seek, cruise control and an on/off switch for Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Alert. Voice activation commands can also operate the telephone, radio, and memory sticks plugged into the USB port in the centre storage bin.

GM’s IntelliLink system (available in SLE-2, SLT and Denali) includes navigation and 4G LTE connectivity and Wi-Fi hotspot that comes with a three-month, three-gigabyte data trial. It also includes OnStar with a free six-month subscription and Sirius/XM satellite radio with a free three-month subscription. IntelliLink enables Bluetooth audio, text messaging alerts, Siri iPhone capability, Android phone voice activation, and smartphone music apps, depending on whether your phone is compatible with the IntelliLink system.

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