GMC Terrain is a popular compact SUV across the US. It’s also capable of towing some weight, not enough though, but for heavy towers, it’s not that popular. In this article, we are going to discuss the towing capacity of GMC Terrain from the 2010 model year to the latest 2021 model year.
For ensuring data’s authenticity and accuracy, I have pulled out all the data from the Terrain’s owner manuals that I download from GM’s official website. This makes our data reliable.
GMC Terrain is known for its fuel efficiency and, to some degree, unique engine options. Terrain is one of the few SUVs that can be powered on Natural Gas, Gasoline, and Diesel. It has a seating capacity for 5 people in two rows. Besides this, the SUV also provides a comfortable ride, a roomy cabin, easy-to-use tech features, and smooth handling which appeals to many drivers.
GMC Terrain Towing Capacity: The towing capacity of Terrain ranges from 1,000 lbs (454 kg) to 3,505 lbs (1,590 kg). If your trailer doesn’t have a braking system, it limits the towing load to 1,000 lbs. While the minimum engine’s towing capacity in Terrain is 1,500 lbs.
What Affects Acadia’s Towing Capacity: Along with the number of occupants in the vehicle, their weight, and cargo, the following points, do affect Acadia’s towing capacity:
Engine: First-generation Terrain is equipped with the V6 engine, which is far better for towing than the L4 engine. In second-generation GMC dropped V6 engine, hence decreased in towing capacity for second-generation Terrain.
Trailer Towing Package: You can still install V92 Trailer Towing Package in your second-generation Terrain in order to tow load up to 3,505 pounds. But this package can only be installed in the vehicles from the 2018-2020 model years with the 2.0L L4 engine only. The 2021 model can’t have the package.
Wheel Drive: Though it’s not directly affecting towing capacity yet it impacts the GCWR. Hence indirectly affecting Terrain’s towing capacity.
Below in the article, you can find in-detail Trailer-Towing Tables.
Important points to keep in mind while towing Terrain:
- Do not use the SUV for towing in its first 500 miles (800 km)
- During the first 500 miles (800 km) of heavy towing do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/p)
- Maximum Trailer Tongue Weight = 10% – 15% the weight of a fully loaded trailer. If your trailer falls outside this limit, please refer to the trailer’s owner’s manual. Trailer tongue weight contributes to the GVWR. Refer to your SUV’s owner manual to know more about tongue weight.
- If the maximum trailer weight is over 1,000 lbs (450 kg), it requires a trailer brake system.
- Terrain has Tow/Haul Mode, which works effectively when the total vehicle and trailer’s weight is at least 75% of the Maximum GCWR.
- It is recommended to turn off the driving assistance feature while towing:
Automatic Parking Assist (APA)
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
Super Cruise Control
Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB)
Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
Park Assist
I have left much crucial information in the article which can only be found in your SUV’s owner manual. For this, I always recommend our readers to read their vehicle’s owner manual before towing. You can download the Terrain owner’s manual from their official website here.
Note: All towing numbers are assumed based on the tow vehicle has a driver along with a front-seat passenger, and all required trailering equipment. These numbers vary case by case, if you are having more passengers in your vehicle calculate the maximum towing load accordingly.
Always remember the golden rule: never exceed GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating), GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating), and GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating).
We have grouped GMC Terrain’s model years according to the generation they fall into.
Read More: GMC Acadia Towing Capacity (All Model Years)
2021-2018 GMC Terrain Towing Capacity – Second Generation
GMC continued Terrain’s legacy and stretch it to the second generation where it gets a fresh look, fully redesigned, and more safety features. GMC dropped the V6 engine for the Terrain in the second-generation and equipped it with an optional diesel engine.
Now, Terrain gives 3 engine options, 1.5L Turbo L4, 2.0 Turbo 2.0, and 1.6L Turbo Diesel. In this generation towing capacity of Terrain ranging from 1,500 pounds to 3,505 pounds. In the models without the V92 Trailer Towing package, your Terrain will only tow 1,500 lb. Meanwhile, with the towing package, it can pull up to 3.505 lb of load.
2021 GMC Terrain Trailer Towing Table
Image credit: 2021 GMC Terrain Owner’s Manual
2020-2018 GMC Terrain Trailer Towing Table (Following models are sharing exactly the same data across the years)
2017-2010 GMC Terrain Towing Capacity – First Generation
GMC introduced Terrain in 2009 for the US market. It was a replacement for Pontiac torrent. Both SUVs share the same Theta platform. In this generation, GMC introduced Terrain with two engine options, 2.4L L4 with 182 hp (136 kW) and 3.6L V6 with 301 hp (224 kW).
All this came with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It was, along with Chevy Equinox, the first-ever direct injection natural gas vehicle ever approved by US EPA. The towing capacity of the first-generation Terrain SUV ranges from 1,500 pounds to 3.500 pounds.
2017-2010 models are sharing exactly the same data across the years.
If you find any mistake or error in the data please let us know by commenting below.
