2022 GMC Terrain vs 2021 Audi Q5

The 2021 Audi Q5 was a sharp-looking crossover SUV that carried the Audi design language well while maintaining its individual character within the lineup. It had an expressive face with LED headlights beside the big Audi Singleframe grille, emphasizing width. The body featured crisp character lines, and the rear had bold, large taillights. The plug-in Q5 wore S-Line trim pieces and enhancements, including standard 19-inch wheels or optional 20-inch wheels, giving it an even better look. Inside, the Q5 was classy and modern, packed with technology but maintaining an uncluttered appearance. The 10.1-inch touchscreen floated at the top of the center stack, and the second row was nicely appointed with standard leather seating surfaces.

The 2022 GMC Terrain received updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level featured a bolder grille design, black 17-inch alloy wheels, and AT4 badges. Our test vehicle had Ebony Twilight metallic paint, a black leather interior, and was loaded with various packages, bringing the MSRP to $41,810. The Terrain's interior was roomy, with power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The back seat offered proper support and plenty of legroom, and the cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV took a good thing and made it better. The Q5 was already fun to drive in its standard gasoline-only form, but the PHEV added an additional 114 horsepower and 96 pound-feet of torque with a 14.1-kWh battery, bringing the total combined output to 362 hp and 373 lb-ft of torque. This setup delivered convincing acceleration (0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds) and impressive fuel economy figures of 65 MPGe combined. The Q5 PHEV used a seven-speed S Tronic automatic transmission with full-time Quattro all-wheel drive and could be switched into modes for battery-only driving, hybrid mode, or to reserve battery power. Handling was good, with a slightly stiff, sporty setting that balanced comfort with road feel.

The 2022 GMC Terrain had a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The previously available turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, which provided great acceleration and a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, was no longer available. The 1.5-liter engine could handle a trailer weighing up to 1,500 pounds. The nine-speed automatic transmission did a decent job of keeping the Terrain in the thick of the torque band once rolling. The Terrain AT4 could run in FWD mode to conserve fuel, switch to AWD mode when necessary, and activate an Off-Road mode and Hill Descent Control system. The Terrain's ride was smooth on highways and city streets, but it struggled off-road, scraping the front end on the terrain.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV managed to carry its battery pack under the luggage compartment floor, so it didn’t eat up cargo space. There were 25.1 cubic feet of space behind the second row, expanding to 53.1 cubic feet with the second row folded down. The second row offered reasonable legroom (37.8 inches), headroom (37.7 inches), and shoulder room (56.5 inches). The front row featured super-comfortable and supportive seats with a wide range of adjustments, heating, and ventilation on the Prestige trim. The interior had several storage options, including cupholders, cubbies, and a small storage bin in the center-console armrest.

The 2022 GMC Terrain's interior was roomy for a compact crossover, with numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions. Our Terrain AT4 included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air-conditioning vents. The back seat was spacious, offering proper support and plenty of legroom. The Terrain had various storage slots and spots, including a small shelf in the dashboard and narrow shelves in the door panels. Cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The front passenger seat could also be folded down for longer items.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV featured Audi’s latest MMI 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which was impressive and easy to use. The Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus 12.3-inch HD instrument cluster offered three views: classic, sport, and dynamic. The Prestige Package included the Navigation Package, which optimized fuel consumption and battery usage based on route data. The Integrated Toll Module (ITM) was standard on all Q5 models, and a Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system with 19 speakers was available on Premium Plus models and standard on the Prestige trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay was included and worked seamlessly.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two different infotainment systems. The SLE trim had a 7-inch touchscreen display, while the SLT, AT4, and Denali came with an 8-inch touchscreen. Both systems offered Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar. Our test vehicle had the larger screen and the Infotainment Package II upgrade, which included connected navigation, improved voice recognition, and a Bose audio system. The voice recognition system was excellent, responding quickly and accurately to various prompts. The Tech Package option added a head-up display, front and rear park assist sensors, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV hadn’t been rated by the IIHS yet, but the 2020 Q5 received top “good” ratings in every category except headlights, which received a “marginal” rating. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 Audi Q5 gasoline model five stars but hadn’t rated the PHEV. Safety features included six airbags, an anti-lock braking system with brake assist, Audi Pre Sense basic preventative occupant protection, low-speed collision assist, power child safety locks, electronic stability control, and a rearview camera. Available driver-assistance features included Audi Advanced Key, Audi Pre Sense rear, Audi Side Assist with rear cross-traffic alert, Parking System Plus, adaptive cruise control, park steering assist, traffic-sign recognition, and a top-view camera system.

Every 2022 GMC Terrain had a GMC Pro Safety Package as standard equipment, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following distance indicator. The GMC Pro Safety Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat. The IIHS awarded the 2022 Terrain mostly “Good” crash-test scores, with a “Marginal” rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain’s crashworthiness at the time of the review.