Compare the2025 Subaru ForesterVS 2025 GMC Terrain

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Forester 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 Subaru Forester has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Terrain doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Forester has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Terrain doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Forester. But it costs extra on the Terrain.

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

The Subaru Forester 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 an “Acceptable” 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 Forester’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Terrain’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is rated below 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 Subaru vehicles are more reliable than GMC With 8 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than GMC.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 18 places higher in reliability than GMC.

The Forester’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (180 vs. 175) than the Terrain FWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Forester’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (180 vs. 175) than the Terrain AWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Forester lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Terrain doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

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

The Forester has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Terrain FWD’s standard fuel tank (16.6 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Forester has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Terrain AWD’s standard fuel tank (16.6 vs. 15.6 gallons).

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

The Forester’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.

The Forester’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Terrain’s standard 65 series tires. The Forester Sport/Touring’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Terrain’s optional 55 series tires.

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

For better maneuverability, the Forester’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Terrain’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Forester has a 2.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Terrain (8.7 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the Forester to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Forester has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom, 2.7 inches more rear hip room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Terrain.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring’s rear seats recline. The Terrain’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Forester has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Terrain with its rear seat folded (74.4 vs. 63.5 cubic feet).

The Forester’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Terrain’s (1500 vs. 800 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Forester uses the Vehicle Dynamics 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 engine in the Forester 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than GMC. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 25% lower rating, GMC is ranked 20th.

The Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring’s front power windows both open or close with one touch of the switches. The Terrain’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Forester has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Terrain doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Forester to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Terrain doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Forester’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Terrain offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Forester has a standard 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. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Terrain.

The Subaru Forester outsold the GMC Terrain by over two to one during 2023.