Compare the2023 Jeep WranglerVS 2023 GMC Terrain

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Wrangler 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Wrangler. But it costs extra on the Terrain.

Both the Wrangler and the Terrain have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The Wrangler’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Terrain’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Wrangler for 3 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance (up to 3 oil changes). GMC only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Terrain.

There are over 43 percent more Jeep dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Wrangler’s warranty.

The Wrangler has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the Terrain AWD’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

The Wrangler’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 95 more horsepower (270 vs. 175) and 92 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 203) than the Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Wrangler’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 110 more horsepower (285 vs. 175) and 57 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 203) than the Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Wrangler 4Xe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 200 more horsepower (375 vs. 175) and 267 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 203) than the Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Wrangler Rubicon 392’s optional 6.4 V8 produces 295 more horsepower (470 vs. 175) and 267 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 203) than the Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

The Wrangler’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 85 more horsepower (260 vs. 175) and 239 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 203) than the Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Wrangler 4-door running on electricity gets better mileage than the Terrain:

The Wrangler 4Xe can travel with zero emissions for 22 miles. The Terrain can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Wrangler Rubicon 392’s fuel efficiency. The Terrain doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Wrangler 2.0 Turbo/3.6 eTorque/4Xe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Terrain doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Wrangler 4Xe/2-door’s standard fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Terrain FWD’s standard fuel tank (17.5 vs. 14.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Wrangler EcoDiesel’s standard fuel tank has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Terrain FWD’s standard fuel tank (18.3 vs. 14.9 gallons). The Wrangler 4-door’s standard fuel tank has 5.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Terrain AWD’s standard fuel tank (21.5 vs. 15.6 gallons).

The Wrangler offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Terrain doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Wrangler Rubicon 392’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Terrain doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Wrangler Rubicon 4xe/Rubicon 392’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Terrain are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Wrangler has larger standard tires than the Terrain (245/75R17 vs. 225/65R17). The Wrangler’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Terrain (315/70R17 vs. 235/50R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Wrangler Sahara 4Xe has standard 20-inch wheels. The Terrain’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Wrangler has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Terrain; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

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

The Wrangler Rubicon has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Terrain doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Wrangler 4-door 4x4’s wheelbase is 11.1 inches longer than on the Terrain (118.4 inches vs. 107.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Wrangler is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Terrain.

For better maneuverability, the Wrangler 2-door’s turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the Terrain w/17” wheels’ (34.5 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Wrangler 4-door’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Terrain w/19” wheels’ (40.8 feet vs. 41.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Wrangler Sport 2-door has a 2.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Terrain SLE (9.7 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Wrangler to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Wrangler 4-door has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Terrain with its rear seat up (31.7 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The Wrangler 4-door has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Terrain with its rear seat folded (72.4 vs. 63.3 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox and standard locking center console (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Wrangler. The Terrain doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Wrangler’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the left swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Terrain’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The Wrangler’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Terrain’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Wrangler can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Wrangler can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Terrain can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The engine in the Wrangler is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Terrain. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Wrangler’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Terrain’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Wrangler’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Terrain’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Jeep Wrangler JL comes in four door and soft top bodystyles; the GMC Terrain isn’t available as a soft top.

Insurance will cost less for the Wrangler owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Wrangler with a number “3” insurance rate while the Terrain is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

The Wrangler will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Wrangler will retain 70.15% to 81.11% of its original price after five years, while the Terrain only retains 48.41% to 52.67%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Wrangler is less expensive to operate than the Terrain because it costs $882 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Wrangler than the Terrain, including $92 less for a water pump, $667 less for a muffler, $94 less for front brake pads, $224 less for a starter, $177 less for fuel injection, $174 less for a fuel pump, $23 less for front struts, $71 less for a timing belt/chain and $667 less for a power steering pump.

Motor Trend selected the Wrangler as their 2019 Sport Utility of the Year. The Terrain has never been chosen.

The Jeep Wrangler outsold the GMC Terrain by almost three to one during the 2022 model year.