Compare the2025 Hyundai TucsonVS 2025 GMC Terrain

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Tucson are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The GMC Terrain doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Tucson’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Terrain doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Tucson and the Terrain have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Hyundai Tucson has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Terrain has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The Tucson comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Terrain’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Tucson 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than GMC covers the Terrain. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Terrain ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Tucson’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Terrain’s (7/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. GMC only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Terrain.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Tucson has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Terrain’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Tucson third among compact suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Terrain isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 39 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 20th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than GMC With 8 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Hyundai higher than GMC.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 13 places higher in reliability than GMC.

The Tucson’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 12 more horsepower (187 vs. 175) than the Terrain FWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Tucson’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 12 more horsepower (187 vs. 175) than the Terrain AWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Tucson gets better mileage than the Terrain:

For better stopping power the Tucson’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Terrain:

For better traction, the Tucson SEL/XRT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Terrain (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R17).

The Tucson has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Tucson flat and controlled during cornering. The Terrain’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Tucson’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Terrain doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For greater off-road capability the Tucson has a 2.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Terrain (8.3 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the Tucson to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Tucson has .1 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more rear headroom, 2.1 inches more rear legroom, 2.9 inches more rear hip room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Terrain.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Tucson’s rear seats recline. The Terrain’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Terrain with its rear seat up (38.7 vs. 29.8 cubic feet). The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Terrain with its rear seat folded (74.8 vs. 63.5 cubic feet).

The Tucson’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Terrain’s (2000 vs. 800 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Tucson uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Terrain doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Tucson has a higher standard payload capacity than the Terrain (1288 vs. 1184 lbs.).

The Tucson Limited has a standard heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Terrain doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Tucson SEL/XRT/Limited’s front power windows both open or close with one touch of the switches. The Terrain’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

The Tucson Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Terrain doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Tucson, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Hyundai Tucson outsold the GMC Terrain by almost three to one during 2023.