Exterior Colors & Dimensions Comparison
2026 GMC Terrain Exterior Design
The
2026 GMC Terrain is a five-door compact crossover SUV with all-terrain tires, LED lighting, and a lightweight, rust-resistant aluminum body. The AT4 and Denali trim levels unlock standard roof-mounted side rails and a hands-free
AutoSense power liftgate that opens/closes automatically when you approach with a key fob (Elevation available).
It has eight paint colors, with premium two-tone options available and select availability per trim level:
- Downpour Metallic
- Ebony Twilight Metallic
- Glacier White Tricoat
- Rapids Metallic
- Riverstone Metallic
- Sterling Metallic
- Summit White
- Volcanic Red Tintcoat
The 2026 Terrain exterior dimensions are 181.0" L x 74.5" W (without mirrors) x 65.81" H.
2026 Chevrolet Equinox Exterior Design
The
2026 Chevrolet Equinox is a five-door compact crossover SUV with a bold grille, LED lighting, and unique grille and front fascia designs for each trim level. The RS and ACTIV trim levels unlock standard roof-mounted side rails and the hands-free AutoSense power liftgate (LT available).
It has seven paint colors with premium two-tone options available and select availability per trim level:
- Cacti Green
- Lakeshore Blue Metallic
- Mosaic Black Metallic
- Polar White Tricoat
- Radiant Red Tintcoat
- Reef Blue Metallic
- Sterling Gray Metallic
The 2026 Equinox exterior dimensions are 183.2" L x 74.9" W (without mirrors) x 65.6" H.
2026 GMC Terrain vs. 2026 Chevrolet Equinox Exterior Design
When comparing the Terrain vs. Equinox exterior, they're both compact crossover SUVs with similar body styles and share some of the same features. The 2026 Terrain is slightly taller with one more paint color option, while the 2026 Equinox is wider and longer.
Interior Design & Features Comparison
2026 GMC Terrain Interior Design
The
2026 GMC Terrain has two rows and seats up to five passengers. It has front bucket seats and 60/40 split-folding rear seats for additional cargo room. There's also a deep underfloor storage compartment and a redesigned, large center console that has increased in volume for larger items.
It offers seven cabin themes with select availability per trim level:
- After Dark CoreTec
- After Dark cloth
- After Dark with perforated leather
- Forest Storm with Mahogany accents CoreTec/cloth
- Gideon Gray/After Dark CoreTec
- Gideon Gray/After Dark premium cloth
- Light Ash Gray/Very Dark Atmosphere with perforated leather
All trims come standard with a 15.3" GMC infotainment touchscreen with built-in Google, an 11" driver information center, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. Available features include a rear camera mirror, ventilated front seats, and an eight-way power front passenger seat.
The 2026 Terrain interior dimensions are:
- Front Head Room: 40.58"
- Front Leg Room: 43.95"
- Front Shoulder Room: 57.69"
- Front Hip Room: 55.25"
- Second Head Room: 39.18"
- Second Leg Room: 39.70"
- Second Shoulder Room: 55.70"
- Second Hip Room: 51.00"
- Max Cargo Volume: 63.50 cu.-ft.
2026 Chevrolet Equinox Interior Design
The
2026 Chevrolet Equinox has two rows and seats up to five passengers. It has front bucket seats and a 60/40 split-folding rear bench for additional cargo room. There's also a hidden space under the rear cargo floor for more storage.
It offers five cabin themes with select availability per trim level:
- Artemis Gray Evotex
- Black cloth
- Black Evotex
- Black with Red accents Evotex
- Maple Sugar sueded microfiber
All trims come with a standard 11.3" infotainment touchscreen with built-in Google, an 11" driver information center, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. Available features include wireless charging, a dual-pane power sunroof, and an eight-way power front passenger seat.
The
2026 Equinox interior dimensions are:
- Front Head Room: 40.00"
- Front Leg Room: 40.90"
- Front Shoulder Room: 57.70"
- Front Hip Room: 54.20"
- Second Head Room: 39.20"
- Second Leg Room: 39.90"
- Second Shoulder Room: 55.80"
- Second Hip Room: 51.70"
- Max Cargo Volume: 63.50 cu.-ft.
2026 GMC Terrain vs. 2026 Chevrolet Equinox Interior Design
When comparing the Terrain vs. Equinox interior, they both have a similar layout and share many of the same features. However, the 2026 Terrain has larger passenger room specs for additional comfort, a bigger infotainment screen by four inches, and two more cabin theme options.
Shop 2026 GMC TerrainAcceleration, Horsepower, & Torque Comparison
2026 GMC Terrain Powertrain
The
2026 GMC Terrain has a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is paired with FWD models, producing up to 175 hp and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is paired with AWD models, producing up to 175 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in
8.9 seconds.
The 2026 Terrain MPG ratings vary per configuration:
| MODEL & CONFIGURATION | MPG RATINGS |
| 2026 GMC Terrain AWD | 25 MPG city/ 28 MPG highway/ 25 MPG combined |
| 2026 GMC Terrain FWD | 26 MPG city/ 28 MPG highway/ 27 MPG combined |
There are
six driver-select modes to customize the Terrain's driving settings for various terrain and road conditions:
- AWD (AWD models)
- Normal
- Off-Road
- Terrain (AT4 exclusive)
- Tow/Haul
- Snow/Ice
2026 Chevrolet Equinox Powertrain
The
2026 Chevrolet Equinox has a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine. A CVT is paired with FWD models, producing up to 175 hp and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is paired with AWD models, producing up to 175 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque.
The
2026 Equinox MPG ratings vary per configuration:
| MODEL & CONFIGURATION | MPG RATINGS |
| 2026 Chevrolet Equinox AWD | 25 MPG city/ 29 MPG highway/ 26 MPG combined |
| 2026 Chevrolet Equinox FWD | 26 MPG city/ 29 MPG highway/ 27 MPG combined
|
There are
seven driver-select modes available:
- AWD (AWD models)
- Auto Hold
- Low
- Normal
- Off-Road
- Snow/Ice
- Sport (RS exclusive)
2026 GMC Terrain vs. 2026 Chevrolet Equinox Powertrain
When comparing the Terrain vs. Equinox powertrain, they both have the same engine, transmission options, and performance specs. The 2026 Equinox offers one more driver-select mode and slightly better fuel efficiency. However, both have one unique drive mode exclusive to each model.
Towing Capacity & Payload Rating Comparison
2026 GMC Terrain Towing Capacity & Payload Rating
The
2026 GMC Terrain can tow up to 1,500 lbs and has a max payload rating of
1,251 lbs when equipped with AWD and the factory-installed Trailering Package (AT4 and Denali standard). The Trailering Package includes Hitch Guidance with Hitch View, a wiring harness, and a factory-installed trailer hitch.
The
StabiliTrak Trailer Sway Control system comes standard across the lineup, helping limit side-to-side trailer motion. It can haul loads like small trailers and outdoor recreational equipment.
2026 Chevrolet Equinox Towing Capacity & Payload Rating
The
2026 Chevrolet Equinox can tow up to 1,500 lbs and has a max payload rating of
1,950 lbs when equipped with AWD and the dealer-installed Hitch Trailering Package. The package includes a two-inch receiver and a four-pin wiring harness.
The StabiliTrak Trailer Sway Control system is standard across the lineup. It can haul loads like small campers, a single jet ski, and kayaks.
2026 GMC Terrain vs. 2026 Chevrolet Equinox Towing Capacity & Payload Rating
When comparing the Terrain vs. Equinox towing power, they both have the same max towing capacity and share some of the same features. To achieve that on the 2026 Terrain, it requires the Trailering Package, which is standard on all trims but the base-level Elevation. To achieve this on the 2026 Equinox, it requires the Hitch Trailering Package, which is only available.
The Equinox also doesn't have a Tow/Haul mode, which is standard on the Terrain. However, the Equinox has a bigger max payload rating than the Terrain.
Advanced Technology & Safety Equipment Comparison
2026 GMC Terrain Safety Features
The
2026 GMC Terrain has
17 standard safety and advanced driver assistance features, including:<
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking
- Blind Zone Steering Assist
- Following Distance Indicator
- Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
There are also additional safety features available, including an HD Surround Vision camera (Denali standard), a rear camera mirror (Denali standard), a head-up display (Denali standard), and Super Cruise hands-free driving.
2026 Chevrolet Equinox Safety Features
The
2026 Chevrolet Equinox has 17 standard safety and advanced driver assistance features, including:
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Following Distance Indicator
- Forward Collision Alert
- IntelliBeam
- Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
There are also additional safety features available, including an HD Surround Vision camera, a rear camera mirror, a head-up display, and Super Cruise hands-free driving.
2026 GMC Terrain vs. 2026 Chevrolet Equinox Safety Features
When comparing the Terrain vs. Equinox safety features, they both have the same list of technologies. The key differences are the availability of optional safety features.
While they both offer an HD Surround Vision camera, a rear camera mirror, a head-up display, and Super Cruise hands-free driving, none of these features are standard on the 2026 Equinox trims. These features come standard on the 2026 Terrain AT4 and Denali.
Terrain vs. Equinox: Why the 2026 GMC Terrain is the Top SUV All-Around
Now that we've compared the Terrain vs. Equinox,
the 2026 GMC Terrain pulls ahead for several reasons.
While the 2026 Equinox offers an electric-powered variant and cheaper pricing, it has less feature availability across the lineup, making the 2026 Terrain a better overall value.
The Equinox's ACTIV has a higher ground clearance than the Terrain's AT4, but it lacks the features off-road drivers need. It doesn't have a skid plate, locking differentials, standard AWD, and permanently mounted recovery hooks to protect the SUV's underbody and navigate rugged environments.
The Terrain has a bigger standard infotainment touchscreen by four inches. It also has a dedicated Denali luxury trim level that includes upscale features like a head-up display, an HD Surround Vision camera system, and a rear camera mirror-which is only available on the Equinox.
Even with slightly higher base pricing, you'll end up paying more to upgrade necessary features with the Equinox.
Does the Terrain sound like the SUV for you?At Octane GMC in Santa Fe, our
Octane Advantage program offers exclusive benefits on all new vehicles. From a 48-hour love it or leave it guarantee to lifetime 101-point safety checks, we bring the best deals you won't find anywhere else in the area.
Browse our 2026 Terrain
inventory or
contact us for any questions today!
2026 GMC Terrain vs. 2026 Chevrolet Equinox FAQs:
