GMC is thinking about adding a brand-new utility vehicle to its lineup, however it probably will not be a Jeep Wrangler fighter. According to a report, GMC wants a crossover to slot below the Terrain to challenge Jeep’s Compass and Renegade compact utes.
Speaking at the launch of the 2018 GMC Surface, Buick and GMC chief Duncan Aldred stated the small SUV segment is “an obvious place” for GMC to broaden. It’s uncertain if such a vehicle would arrive in place of the long-rumored GMC Wrangler competitor if greenlit, however at any rate that model is most likely off the table now.
“I do not believe it’s worth attempting to take on Wrangler,” he informed in a different interview. “But I think there’s an opportunity somewhere in that space.”
Aldred has changed his position from two years earlier, when he stated a “Wrangler-esque type of vehicle” was a possibility. Knowing the United States vehicle market’s shift towards crossovers in last few years, the relocation isn’t all that unexpected. Providing a smaller, lower-priced crossover would assist GMC boost its sales, which have typically been supported by the Sierra full-size pickup but have more recently seen crossovers like the Acadia and Terrain comprise a bigger portion.
But although it’s not seeking to challenge the Wrangler anymore, GMC will be a much better foil to Jeep if it includes a crossover below the Surface. The 2018 GMC Terrain starts simply below $26,000, so a smaller sized GMC crossover may start somewhere in the $20,000 range to place itself against the Compass and Renegade.
It seems like we will not see a Wrangler competitor from GM anytime soon, however off-road fans can take comfort in that the upcoming JL Wrangler will probably be a good one. The next-gen Wrangler is expected to offer a diesel engine and a brand-new full-time four-wheel-drive system, to name a few upgrades.
