GMC Terrain Towing Capacity

As their name suggests, SUVs provide drivers with exceptional utility. Towing capabilities are one major part of that value proposition, which Americans continue to embrace in large numbers. The GMC Terrain offers exceptional towing capabilities across its various models, allowing you to attach trailers when you need to for work, travel, or other personal uses.

The breadth of the GMC Terrain line, with its four trim categories, means you will have plenty of choices to make as you consider which model to bring home with you. The Terrain is GMC’s entry-level SUV with a starting suggested price of $27,990. The team at Cochran Chevrolet Buick GMC has put together this guide to answer your questions about the towing capacity of the GMC Terrain.

GMC Terrain SLE/SLT

Putting out an estimated 25 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg on the highway, the 2022 GMC Terrain SLE/SLT serves as a workhorse vehicle in the company’s SUV lineup. The Terrain SLE/SLT runs on a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Expect a smooth ride with electronic stability control and some built-in safety measures, such as hill descent control.

Both models are equipped to tow a maximum payload of 1,500 pounds. Remember that the payload maximum will depend on the extra features you add to the vehicle, as well as the weight of passengers and the cargo itself. Follow the safety precautions in your owner’s manual.

The SLT has an initial price of $34,695; the SLE starts at $30,695.

GMC Terrain AT4

For the first time, GMC is offering the AT4 in the Terrain chassis for the 2022 model year. This impressive, premium SUV, which seats up to five passengers comfortably, comes with an initial suggested list price of $34,000 and features that will suit you both on-road and off. As with all Terrains, the AT4 version comes with the Traction Select System as a standard feature, allowing you to adjust on the fly to changing road conditions. 

Along with Traction Select and exclusive rugged tires, you can conquer wet, dry, and hilly terrain. If you are a frequent off-roader, you may wish to add on the Denali Premium Suspension with Enhance Shock Control. The AT4 also gets power from a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder gas engine, along with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This configuration produces up to 20 mpg in city driving and 23 mpg on the highway.

The maximum towing capacity is also 1,500 pounds, and the same caveats apply. Factor in the weight of passengers, cargo, and optional features when evaluating your load, and make sure to follow the owner’s manual safety advice.

GMC Terrain Denali

The 2022 Terrain Denali will get you to the top of the mountain — or wherever you want to go. With an initial suggested list price of $36,600, the Denali comfortably seats up to five people. Thanks to premium suspension with enhanced shock control, you will be able to enjoy off-road and on-road adventures with reduced noise and a smoother ride. The Denali gets an estimated 25 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, according to EPA estimates.

As with other Terrains, the Denali works off a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. For safety purposes, you will appreciate automatic emergency braking, descent control, and electronic stability control to provide traction when you need it, no matter the conditions. To help maneuver, the car has an HD rear-vision camera and an available option for HD surround vision.

The maximum towing capacity of the GMC Denali is also 1,500 pounds. Add in the weight of passengers and other features on the SUV in calculating the load of your haul. As always, follow the safety directions in your owner’s manual in attaching and aligning to your hitch.

Traction Select System

GMC has built the Terrain with features to help make your towing experience as safe as possible. All GMC all-wheel-drive vehicles come equipped with the GMC Traction Select System, which offers several driving modes to fit road conditions as they change. Traction Select allows drivers to toggle between three modes:

• FWD mode: This mode disconnects the rear axle to eliminate drag and improve fuel economy. This is most effectively used during everyday driving conditions. The front-wheel-drive mode includes a setting for towing and hauling, as well as a snow mode, in addition to a normal setting.
• AWD mode: This mode directs power to both the front and rear wheels to improve traction and handling on wet, snowy, or icy roads. The all-wheel-drive mode can also improve traction on dry roads as well.
• Off-road mode: Taking your Terrain onto dirt, gravel, and sand provides a unique set of challenges for the vehicle. This mode provides adjustments to settings to produce greater traction and stability control on those atypical road surfaces.

Drivers manually select their adjustments as they perceive the changing driving conditions. This capability provides added flexibility and greater peace of mind during towing. The Terrain also offers a hill descent control feature using antilock braking to allow for a regular, controlled trip down steep roadways.

For more than a century, Cochran Chevrolet Buick GMC has been serving the transportation needs of the people of Youngstown and surrounding areas in Ohio. We’d love to have you take the GMC Terrain for a test drive. We can also show you new models from across our inventory of new Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC vehicles.

If you’d prefer a pre-owned vehicle, check out alternatives from our giant inventory of used cars, featuring models from all the major manufacturers as well as Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC cars. Our experienced finance team maintains excellent relationships with the major local vendors and can help you find a loan with the right monthly payment, and when you need maintenance and repair, our service technicians will spring into action. Call us with questions, contact us online or just stop in to see us. We’d love to earn your business.