​​The Terrain Denali is a Luxury Take on the Compact Crossover​ 

At Sharp Automotive, we carry three options in America’s most popular vehicle category. There is the best-selling RAV4, now a 100% hybrid model line; the sporty-looking Chevrolet Equinox; and the upscale-looking GMC Terrain. Admittedly, as GM models, the latter two share quite a bit, at least in the mechanical bits you can’t see. While the Equinox comes in both a sporty form with the RS and an off-road dress with the ACTIV, it lacks a dedicated luxury trim. But GMC has that covered with this year’s addition of the Terrain Denali.   

As a luxury model, the Denali sits at the top of the model line’s pricing structure. While the base Elevation trim has an MSRP of $34,195 (including the destination charge for an AWD model), the Denali has an AWD MSRP of $43,895 and justifies the extra cost. (Sharp Automotive stocks all AWD models). This is evident at first glance, with the large GMC grille featuring a complex chrome-finished mesh, nicely complemented by 19-inch machine-finished wheels, chrome trim on the side windows and lower rocker panel, and roof rails that are themselves chrome-finished. The Convenience Package and Technology packages available on the rest of the model line are standard on the Denali and include: 

• Ventilated driver and front passenger seats 

• 8-way power adjustable front passenger seat 

• 2-way power front passenger lumbar seat adjuster 

• Driver memory settings recall 2 “presets” for the power driver seat and outside mirrors. 

• Heated rear outboard seats 

• Traffic Sign Recognition 

• Rear Pedestrian Alert 

• HD Surround Vision 

• Rear Camera Mirror 

• Front LED fog lamps 

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Denali without soft, perforated leather seating surfaces. The dashboard, which is unique to the Denali and not shared with the Equinox, features a 15-inch vertical center touchscreen with a large physical volume knob built into it.  

Auto Guide had this to say about the 11-inch digital driver display and the center screen: “These two screens, and the software that powers them, are among the best control/display technologies on the market. The center screen can be subdivided, with Apple CarPlay in the top portion and multiple customizable information windows below. 

Configuring the screen exactly how we want it was so easy to do. A cool feature is the bottom of the screen where HVAC controls are always displayed. Below them are toggle switches which can be used to operate the climate control, or the driver can use the touchscreen itself. It’s great having choice.” 

The Denali shares the rest of the Terrain lineup drivetrain, with a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 producing 175 horsepower. With AWD, it also generates 203 lb-ft of torque, and the engine is paired with an 8-speed transmission. The AWD is primarily for safety and optimizing traction on the road. With 7.7 inches of ground clearance, the Denali can traverse tire-rutted, snow-covered roads, but the relatively low sidewalls of the 19-inch or optional 20-inch tires do not encourage adventurous off-roading. However, the drive mode selector does offer Normal, AWD, Snow, and Off-road modes for the AWD model. 

On the road, the Denali benefits from the Smart Frequency Damper Technology, which can mechanically differentiate between low-frequency vibration from body roll, braking, and acceleration, where the dampers will be stiff, and high-frequency inputs such as potholes and rough surfaces, in which the dampers will become more compliant to provide a better ride.  

It all comes down to GMC’s entry in the compact crossover class, offering a vehicle with the looks of the upper-level larger GMC models while providing a level of luxury and refinement that sets it apart from the competition. We invite you to visit Sharp Automotive to experience the Terrain Denali for yourself.