2022 GMC Terrain vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was anything but boring. It stood out among midsize SUVs and crossovers with its distinctive design. The front end, while less dramatic than the 2021 Sienna minivan, made a statement with wide headlights, a long hood, and an assertive trapezoidal grille. The side profile featured a character line reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and the taillights borrowed elements from Lexus models. The Highlander managed to look longer and lower than its predecessor without sacrificing size.

The Highlander XSE trim level, new for 2021, added a more aggressive front end, 20-inch wheels with black accents, and a unique front fascia. The Limited trim, just below the Platinum, featured chrome roof rails and accents, giving it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Limited trim shone with near-flawless fit and finish, tan leather seats, dark brown trim, and wood details. The Highlander excelled in comfort and convenience, making it a strong contender for family car shoppers.

GMC updated the Terrain’s front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim for the 2022 model year. The new AT4 trim level featured a bolder grille design, black 17-inch alloy wheels with sport-terrain tires, and AT4 badges. The AT4 trim also included a steel skid plate under the front end for off-road protection. Our test vehicle came with Ebony Twilight metallic paint, black leather interior, and several packages, bringing the MSRP to $41,810.

The Terrain offered more affordable SLE and SLT trim levels with standard front-wheel drive, while the Denali trim added luxury. However, the Terrain’s entry-level status was evident in the quality of materials and execution. The optional head-up display projected data onto a clear plastic panel rather than the windshield, and the pushbutton transmission controls were not intuitive. Despite these drawbacks, the Terrain AT4’s caramel-colored contrast piping and stitching added a touch of luxury.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options. While not designed for drag races, the Highlander provided smooth and predictable operation, making it a reliable family car. The XSE trim added higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, power steering, and a rear stabilizer bar for a slightly sportier feel.

The 2022 GMC Terrain came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The previously available turbocharged 2.0-liter engine was discontinued. The 1.5-liter engine could handle a trailer weighing up to 1,500 pounds. The nine-speed automatic transmission kept the Terrain in the torque band, but the engine lacked rapid acceleration. The Terrain AT4 offered FWD, AWD, Off-Road mode, and Hill Descent Control. However, torque steer was an issue in FWD mode. The Terrain AT4’s 7.9 inches of ground clearance was less than competitors, and it struggled off-road.

The 2021 Highlander excelled in interior space and comfort. It featured large shelves ahead of the front seats, a wireless charging pad, and plenty of legroom for second-row passengers. The third row could accommodate adults with the second row moved forward. However, the rear-seat climate control vents were positioned on the ceiling, blowing straight down on passengers’ heads. Cargo space measured 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.3 cubic feet with both rows folded.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered a roomy interior with power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The AT4 trim featured perforated leather upholstery with caramel-color contrast stitching. The back seat provided proper support, legroom, and a rear USB charging port. The Terrain had numerous storage solutions, including a large storage bin under the trunk floor. Cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The front passenger seat could also be folded down for longer items.

The 2021 Highlander came with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 12.3-inch touchscreen on the Limited and Platinum trims. Both systems were easy to use, but navigation struggled with points of interest. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard. The 12.3-inch screen looked bright and crisp, but only certain apps used the full width. The JBL audio system was good but not impressive.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered a 7-inch touchscreen on the SLE trim and an 8-inch touchscreen on higher trims. Both systems included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and GMC Connected Services. The larger screen came with connected navigation, improved voice recognition, and a Bose audio system. The voice recognition system was excellent, but the Bose speakers were less impressive. 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 Highlander came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support, road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. The NHTSA awarded it five stars, and the IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick+.

The 2022 GMC Terrain included the GMC Pro Safety Package with 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.