2021 GMC Terrain

small SUV / 4-door SUV

2021 GMC Terrain 4-door SUV
2018 GMC Terrain shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Side: updated test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Advanced

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4-door 4wd

The Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain were redesigned for the 2018 model year. Both vehicles are smaller and lighter than the earlier design and therefore are now classified as small SUVs. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by General Motors as part of frontal crash test verification.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTN1801
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Footrest (cm) 5
Left toepan (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 5
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 5
Upper dash (cm) 5
Lower instrument panel (cm) 5

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTN1801
Head
HIC-15 86
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 8
Maximum Nij 0.17
Chest maximum compression (mm) 22
Femur (kN)
Left 0.7
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.47
Right 0.51
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.2
Right 0.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 56
Right 43

How the driver-side small overlap front test is conducted

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4-door 4wd

The Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain were redesigned for the 2018 model year. Both vehicles are smaller and lighter than the earlier design and therefore are now classified as small SUVs.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame and dashboard after the crash test indicates that the passenger’s survival space was maintained reasonably well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the passenger dummy’s head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

Intrusion of the dashboard and door hinge pillar contributed to a moderate risk of injury to the right lower leg.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID CEP1811
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 11
Footrest (cm) 7
Right toepan (cm) 3
Center toepan (cm) 2
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 6
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 11
Upper dash (cm) 9
Right lower dash (cm) 11

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CEP1811
Head
HIC-15 109
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 16
Maximum Nij 0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm) 16
Femur (kN)
Left 0.0
Right 1.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 9
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.43
Right 0.82
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 1.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 63
Right 41

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEP1811
Head
HIC-15 90
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 14
Maximum Nij 0.16
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Femur (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.28
Right 0.19
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 54
Right 42

How the passenger-side small overlap front test is conducted

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Premier 4-door 4wd

The Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain were redesigned for the 2018 model year. Both vehicles are smaller and lighter than the earlier design and therefore are now classified as small SUVs. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by General Motors as part of frontal crash test verification.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1801
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 5
Left (cm) 7
Center (cm) 7
Right (cm) 6
Brake pedal (cm) 7
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -3
Rearward (cm) 1
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1801
Head
HIC-15 163
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 4
Maximum Nij 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.0
Femur force - right (kN) 0.4
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.34
Maximum tibia index - right 0.67
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.7
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 3.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 54
Right 81

How the moderate overlap front test is conducted

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Premier 4-door 4wd

The Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain were redesigned for the 2018 model year. Both vehicles are smaller and lighter than the earlier design and therefore are now classified as small SUVs. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by General Motors as part of side crash test verification.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1802
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -20.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1802
Head HIC-15 151
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 38
Lateral force (kN) 1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 38
Average deflection (mm) 33
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.51
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.77
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.9
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.2
Combined force (kN) 2.0
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.7
L-M moment (Nm) 19
A-P moment (Nm) 84

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1802
Head HIC-15 194
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.2
Compression (kN) 0.8
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 31
Lateral force (kN) 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 22
Average deflection (mm) 19
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.34
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.31
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.1
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.9
Combined force (kN) 3.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.1
L-M moment (Nm) 15
A-P moment (Nm) 27

How the side crash test is conducted

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4-door 4wd

The Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain were redesigned for the 2018 model year. Both vehicles are smaller and lighter than the earlier design and therefore are now classified as small SUVs.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection
The dummy's head contacted the C-pillar hard, through the side curtain airbag. The head protection is inadequate.

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

The dummy's head contacted the C-pillar through the side curtain airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2107
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -21.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2107
Head
HIC-15 131
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 44
Lateral force (kN) 1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 43
Average deflection (mm) 39
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.63
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.76
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.5

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2107
Head
HIC-15 733
Peak gs at hard contact 101
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Compression (kN) 2.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 42
Lateral force (kN) 1.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 40
Average deflection (mm) 36
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.20
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.60
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.0

How the side crash test is conducted

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2018-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Premier 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,460 lbs
Peak force18,196 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.26

How the roof strength test is conducted

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 26
Distance below top of head (mm) 24
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 11.9
Head contact time (ms) 60
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 26
Max neck tension (N) 443

How the head restraint & seat test is conducted
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • SL trim
  • SLE trim
  • SLT trim
Low-beam headlight typeHID projector
High-beam headlight typeHID projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Excessive glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right and gradual left curves and fair on the sharp left and sharp right curves.

The low beams created excessive glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual right and gradual left curves and inadequate on the sharp left and sharp right curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on both left curves and on the gradual right curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • SL trim
  • SLE trim
  • SLT trim
Low-beam headlight type HID projector
High-beam headlight type HID projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2018-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 122.0 m 308.9%
Straightaway left edge 84.8 m 308.9%
250m radius right curve, right edge 68.4 m 290.5%
250m radius left curve, left edge 66.8 m 152.7%
150m radius right curve, right edge 52.4 m 440.8%
150m radius left curve, left edge 53.8 m 68.6%
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 125.5 m
Straightaway left edge 100.7 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 69.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 67.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 51.6 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 54.3 m

Trim level(s)

  • Denali trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Excessive glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams created excessive glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Denali trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2018-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 98.4 m 387.6%
Straightaway left edge 77.6 m 387.6%
250m radius right curve, right edge 50.3 m 229.2%
250m radius left curve, left edge 47.0 m 94.1%
150m radius right curve, right edge 43.6 m 393.7%
150m radius left curve, left edge 41.1 m 96.8%
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 102.3 m
Straightaway left edge 88.2 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 51.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 49.0 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 44.8 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 43.1 m

How headlights are evaluated

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Automatic Emergency Braking
  • Standard Forward Collision Alert

Package name

  • Standard GM Pro Safety

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020-21 models

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 22 mph.

How front crash prevention is evaluated

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard Front Pedestrian Braking

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2019-21 models

Advanced
Advanced

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 10 mph.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 17 mph.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 18 mph.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 17 mph. A warning was issued 1.6 seconds before impact.