2021 Ford Explorer vs 2022 GMC Terrain

The 2021 Ford Explorer showcased a design philosophy that aligned with Ford's "small, medium, large, XL" approach to SUV production. It bore a striking family resemblance to other Ford SUVs, with its sporty, raked belt lines and squinting visages. The Explorer's exterior varied depending on the trim, featuring different grille designs and chrome accents. Inside, it offered three rows of seating as standard, with cloth upholstery on the base model and leather available on higher trims. The dash was clean and user-friendly, dominated by an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and a rotary gearshift that freed up storage space.

In contrast, the 2022 GMC Terrain received updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level added a bolder grille design, black 17-inch alloy wheels, and AT4 badges, along with a steel skid plate for off-road protection. The interior featured power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Terrain's back seat was roomy, with plenty of legroom and foot room, and the cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, at its lightest, weighed 4,345 pounds. Its base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivered 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, outperforming competitors like the Kia Telluride. The Explorer Limited Hybrid offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, with the sport-oriented Explorer ST offering 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer's towing capacity ranged from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and engine.

The 2022 GMC Terrain, on the other hand, was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. This engine could tow up to 1,500 pounds. The nine-speed automatic transmission helped keep the Terrain in the torque band, but the engine's performance was less impressive compared to the Explorer. The Terrain AT4 offered 7.9 inches of ground clearance and a good ride on pavement, but it struggled off-road. The Terrain's fuel economy was commendable, with an EPA rating of 26 mpg.

The 2021 Ford Explorer had seating for seven in the base model, with captain’s chairs in the second row for other trims, reducing capacity to six. It offered 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers and 21 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row deployed. However, the overall cargo volume with the rear seats folded was 81 cubic feet, which was less impressive compared to some competitors.

The 2022 GMC Terrain provided a roomy interior for a compact crossover, with numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions. The AT4 trim included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The back seat was spacious, and the cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The Terrain also featured a large storage bin underneath the trunk floor and the ability to fold the front passenger seat for longer items.

The 2021 Ford Explorer came with an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, offering AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system, and a six-speaker audio system. Higher trims offered a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and an upgrade to a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Charging options included two USB ports and five 12-volt power points, with a 110-volt AC power outlet available on higher trims.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems: a 7-inch touchscreen for the SLE trim and an 8-inch touchscreen for the SLT, AT4, and Denali trims. Both systems included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar. The larger screen offered connected navigation and a Bose premium sound system. The voice recognition system was highly praised for its accuracy and responsiveness. The Terrain also featured a head-up display, front and rear park assist sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a Tire Fill Alert system.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top "Good" scores on all crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. The Explorer came with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. Higher trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and speed sign recognition.

The 2022 GMC Terrain came standard with the GMC Pro Safety Package, which included 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 Terrain mostly "Good" crash-test scores, but it received 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.