In its latest move to get General Motors' Buick, Pontiac, and GMC divisions aligned, the embattled Detroit automaker introduced the 2010 GMC Terrain at the 2009 New York Auto Show.

Terrain will become GMC's smallest vehicle and the division's second crossover after Acadia came online in 2007. It replaces the ill-fated Pontiac Torrent and shares its basic design with the redesigned 2010 Chevrolet Equinox.

Terrain seats five passengers and is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Like other common Chevrolet and GMC vehicles, Terrain is designed to be a slightly more up-market version of the Equinox. It will have a higher level of standard equipment, including a rearview camera.

Also like Equinox, Terrain will be available with a choice of two engines. The base engine is a 182-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder. Optional is a 264-horsepower 3.0-liter V6. Both engines use high-pressure direct injection and a 6-speed automatic transmission. SLE and SLT trim levels are offered, both with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. GM claims a front-drive 4-cylinder Terrain will achieve 30 mpg on the highway, while a front-drive V6 will achieve 25 mpg.

GM's MultiFlex rear seat is standard. Terrain's rear bench seat can slide fore or aft up to 8 inches to accommodate passenger or cargo room. Terrain represents the first application of GM's new "Active Noise Cancellation" technology. ANC acts like a set of noise-canceling headphones. A series of microphones throughout the vehicle detect cabin noise, while counteracting sound waves come through the audio system to quell it.

Pricing was not announced, but Terrain should start higher than $23,185; the cost of a 2010 front-drive 4-cylinder Equinox.

CG Says...
This is long overdue. Torrent represented a rather hasty cash-in in order to get Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealers some kind of 5-passenger crossover SUV. With GM looking to scale back Pontiac into more of a niche brand, it only makes sense for GMC to be this channel's sole purveyor of trucks and SUVs (Buick Enclave not withstanding). The redesigned Equinox, which is lending its basic design to the Terrain, should be markedly better than the former Equinox/Torrent un-"dynamic duo." We'll see what happens when Terrain makes its way to dealers.

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