GMC Terrain vs Mazda CX-5

When buying an SUV, plenty of nice options are on the market. However, being nice on the surface doesn’t always mean it carries over into the rest of the vehicle once you’re inside. GMC is well known for offering SUVs and trucks that are engineered and built to a high standard of reliability, functionality, and usability. While the Mazda CX-5 is a great vehicle, the GMC Terrain has a leg up in a number of ways. 

Trim Levels & Engine

There are five trim levels offered on the 2024 GMC Terrain models: SLE, SLT, Elevation, AT4, and Denali. All models feature a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that produces 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. The base MSRP of the Terrain SLE is $28,700. Front-wheel drive is standard, while all-wheel drive is optional. The EPA estimated that the fuel economy for SLE and SLT models is 24 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The AT4 and Denali trim levels lose just one mpg on both driving cycles, as they have standard AWD. 

Compared To The Mazda CX-5

Compared to the CX-5, the Terrain does a little more with less. The Mazda has a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that puts out 187 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque. While it has a ten horsepower advantage, it loses 18 lb-ft of torque to the GMC, which is better when it comes to towing and can also affect how much strain the engine feels when trying to gain speed on the highway. 

Cargo Volume

The Mazda falls short compared to the GMC in cargo capacity. The CX-5 has 29.1 cu.ft. of space behind the rear seats and 59.3 cu.ft. with the rear seats folded. Compare that to the Terrain, which has 29.6 cu.ft. in the hatch area and 63.3 cu.ft. with the rear seats folded flat. That may not seem like much of a difference, but four cubic feet is 2.5 times more than the size your bag has to be to fit into an overhead compartment. 

Active Noise Cancelation

Another area where the Mazda CX-5 is unable to compete is in the sound department, most notably sound cancellation. The 2024 Terrain can be optioned with active noise cancellation, which allows the cabin to feel more comfortable and prevents you from having to turn up the sound on your radio to compete with road noise while driving down the highway. 

Safety First Always

The GMC Terrain also features GMC Pro Safety, which consists of Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Front Pedestrian Braking, Following Distance Indicator, and IntelliBeam automatic high beam control. Stepping up to the AT4 and Denali will get buyers GMC Pro Safety Plus, which has everything listed above, plus Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane-Change Alert, Blind-Spot Warning, and Rear Parking Assistance.

At Ewing Buick GMC, we take pride in offering the best vehicles to our customers. With hundreds of new and used cars to choose from, our amazing sales team and finance department will find you the right vehicle at the right price. Once you’ve purchased your vehicle, our stellar service department will ensure that your car stays in the best shape. We look forward to taking care of you in the future.