GMC‘s popular crossover SUV, the Terrain, has registered increased sales every year so far, with last year’s figures at just under 100,000. It’s a solid-looking family vehicle with a choice of motors depending on whether you want power or a relatively economical ride. From the front it’s an imposing wall of chrome, while the side view with its low roof angle is more sleek and gives the impression of aerodynamic design. The 2015 models, however, are going to include an innovation that is likely to become standard across all but the most basic cars within a few years; a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot.
Internet On The Move
What this means is that anyone in the vehicle with a WiFi device, such as a laptop, tablet or smartphone, will be able to access the internet on the move. There are obvious benefits for passengers who want to work while traveling; they can up- and download files and use Skype, but perhaps the greatest benefit for the target market will be felt on medium-to-long family journeys.
4G Connection
No more leaving a pile of DVD’s in the car – the kids can stream movies using Netflix when they’re done chatting to their friends. Adult passengers can keep themselves entertained with a visit to an online casino like RiverBelle; useful if you’re all heading to Vegas. Passenger boredom looks like it’s going to be a thing of the past. The driver can access any radio station on the internet (which is pretty much all of them these days). The connection is 4G so there’ll be enough speed to keep most people happy. It’s not free of course, but a new Terrain will come with a 3 month trial before you have to decide whether you want to pay for it.
Options
The engine choice is between the 4-cylinder 2.4L which will return around 32mpg at highway speeds, or the V6 3.6L which offers over 300hp. There’s also a choice between front- or four-wheel drive. The top-of-the range model, the Terrain Denali, has a more luxurious interior with leather and mahogany details, including a soft leather steering wheel cover; GMC also promises a more comfortable ride thanks to the improved suspension damping system. State of the art safety features include a crash warning system and radar cross-traffic alerts.
Inside & Out
There’s plenty of room for 5 passengers in the Terrain as always, and with the rear seats folded the cargo space will be about 64 cubic feet; with the seat up, about 31. Also new for 2015 are two new colors; Sapphire Blue Metallic and Cypress Green Metallic, though the latter will cost a little more.
