Compare the2026 GMC TerrainVS 2026 Chevrolet Trax

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Terrain has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Trax doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Terrain AWD has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Trax doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Terrain AWD’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Trax doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Terrain offers an optional HD Surround Vision to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Trax only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The GMC Terrain offers an optional HD Surround Vision and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Chevrolet Trax doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

The Terrain has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Trax’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Terrain has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Trax and the Trax’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the Terrain and the Trax have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 and rearview cameras.

The GMC Terrain weighs 410 to 745 pounds more than the Chevrolet Trax. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

The Terrain FWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 38 more horsepower (175 vs. 137) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 162) than the Trax’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Terrain AWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 38 more horsepower (175 vs. 137) and 41 lbs.-ft. more torque (203 vs. 162) than the Trax’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Terrain AWD is faster than the Chevrolet Trax:

	Terrain	Trax
Zero to 60 MPH	9.4 sec	9.9 sec
Quarter Mile	17.1 sec	17.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	80.2 MPH	78.2 MPH

The Terrain FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Trax (14.8 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Terrain AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Trax (15.6 vs. 13.2 gallons).

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the GMC Terrain AWD, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Trax.

The Terrain FWD has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Trax doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Terrain stops much shorter than the Trax:

	Terrain	Trax
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	180 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	127 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the Terrain has larger tires than the Trax (235/65R17 vs. 225/60R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Terrain Denali offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Trax’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For superior ride and handling, the GMC Terrain has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Chevrolet Trax has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Terrain’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Trax (107.5 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Terrain is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Trax.

For better maneuverability, the Terrain’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Trax’s (37.1 feet vs. 38 feet).

The Terrain has 1 inch more front headroom, 2.1 inches more front legroom, 3.2 inches more front hip room, 2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 1 inch more rear legroom, 5.2 inches more rear hip room and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Trax.

The Terrain has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Trax with its rear seat up (29.8 vs. 25.6 cubic feet). The Terrain has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Trax with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 54.1 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Terrain’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Terrain’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Trax doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The Terrain has a 800 lbs. towing capacity. The Trax has no towing capacity.

When two different drivers share the Terrain, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Trax doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Terrain’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Trax doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Terrain’s driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Trax’s power windows’ switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

On a hot day the Terrain’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Trax can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Terrain’s standard Keyless Open and Start allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Start is an extra cost option on the Trax and only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

The Terrain’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Trax’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Terrain’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Chevrolet charges extra for heated mirrors on the Trax.

When the Terrain with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Trax’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Terrain’s optional rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Trax doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

The Terrain has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Trax. The Terrain also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Trax.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Terrain keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Trax doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Terrain has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Trax.

The Terrain has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Trax doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Terrain’s optional dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Trax doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Terrain and the Trax offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Terrain has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Trax doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

With standard Natural Voice Recognition, the Terrain offers the driver hands free control of the radio, climate controls and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Trax doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Compared to the Chevrolet Trax, the GMC Terrain eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the infotainment system.