2022 GMC Terrain vs 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, which debuted in 2005 and entered its second generation in 2014, received a significant refresh in 2018 that carried over into 2021. This refresh introduced a dual-screen center console, a hallmark of recent Land Rover interiors. The 2020 model year saw the addition of a plug-in hybrid variant and the inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Range Rover Sport offered various trims, including SE, HSE Silver, HST, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography, SVR, and SVR Carbon Edition, each with a range of luxurious features and powerful engine options.

In contrast, 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, black 17-inch alloy wheels, and sport-terrain tires, along with a steel skid plate for off-road protection. The test vehicle came with Ebony Twilight metallic paint, a black leather interior, and several packages, bringing the MSRP to $41,810. The Terrain offered more affordable trims like SLE and SLT, as well as the luxurious Denali. However, the Terrain's entry-level status was evident in the quality of materials and execution of details, such as the less intuitive pushbutton transmission controls and a narrow storage tray.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a variety of powertrains. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain, available in the SE and SE Silver Edition, combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST model featured the P400 powertrain, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition also offered plug-in hybrid and diesel options, with the P400e plug-in hybrid generating 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, and the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 producing 254 hp and 443 lb-ft. The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims boasted a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft, while the SVR and SVR Carbon Edition had an even more powerful version of this engine, making 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD, with a towing capacity of up to 7,716 pounds (except the SVR, which could tow 6,613 pounds).

The 2022 GMC Terrain, on the other hand, came with a single engine option: a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. This engine replaced the previously available turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which had offered better acceleration and a higher towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The 1.5-liter 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 its predecessor. The Terrain AT4 featured FWD, AWD, Off-Road mode, and Hill Descent Control, but torque steer was an issue in FWD mode. The AT4's 7.9 inches of ground clearance was less than competitors like the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk and Subaru Forester. The Terrain AT4 provided a smooth ride on paved surfaces but struggled off-road, with limited grip from the sport-terrain tires and a lack of power.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. An optional third row increased seating capacity from five to seven, but with only 10.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind it. Both the first and second rows provided ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was best suited for children.

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 with rear air-conditioning vents. The back seat offered proper support, plenty of legroom, and a rear USB charging port. Cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The front passenger seat could also be folded down for longer items.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's interior was dominated by a dual-screen center console. The lower screen controlled climate settings and vehicle settings, while the upper screen housed the infotainment system. Although the system had a learning curve and earlier models had bugs, the dual dials on the lower screen were versatile, controlling everything from fan speed to off-road settings. The upper screen featured reasonably sized icons for easy navigation between menus, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. However, the system was not as intuitive as some competitors.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems: a 7-inch touchscreen for the SLE trim and an 8-inch high-definition 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 also offered connected navigation and a Bose premium sound system. The voice recognition system was excellent, accurately responding to various prompts. The Terrain's head-up display, part of the Tech Package, projected information onto a clear plastic panel rather than the windshield. The package also included front and rear park assist sensors and a surround-view camera system.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with standard driver assistance features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. However, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. Other available features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and parallel and perpendicular park assist.

The 2022 GMC Terrain included the GMC Pro Safety Package as standard, featuring 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, standard on Denali and optional on other trims, 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, 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.