Compare the2027 GMC Terrain VS 2026 Honda CR-V

With its standard Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking, the GMC Terrain is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Honda CR-V, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Terrain	CR-V
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	-10 MPH
25 MPH	-22 MPH	-18 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-17 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
37 MPH Low beams	-22 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.3 sec	No Warning

The Terrain offers an optional HD Surround Vision to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The CR-V only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the 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 Honda CR-V doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

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. Only the CR-V EX/Hybrid offers Cross Traffic Monitor and the CR-V’s Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the Terrain and the CR-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available all-wheel drive.

The Terrain’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the CR-V’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 54 percent more GMC dealers than there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Terrain’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Terrain has a standard 760-amp battery. The CR-V’s 410-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC above average in long-term dependability. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Honda is rated lower.

The Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 24 lbs.-ft. more torque (203 vs. 179) than the CR-V’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

Both the Terrain and the CR-V have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Terrains have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Terrain uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CR-V with the 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Terrain AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the CR-V (15.6 vs. 14 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the GMC Terrain higher (6 out of 10) than the Honda CR-V (5 to 6). This means the Terrain produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CR-V every 15,000 miles.

The Terrain stops much shorter than the CR-V:

	Terrain	CR-V
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	182 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	127 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

The Terrain Denali’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

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

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

The Terrain AT4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid (28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

The Terrain is 3.8 inches shorter than the CR-V, making the Terrain easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Terrain has .6 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front legroom and 1 inch more rear headroom than the CR-V.

The Terrain’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CR-V’s (1500 vs. 1000 pounds).

The Terrain has a much higher standard payload capacity than the CR-V (1184 vs. 850 lbs.).

The Terrain has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the CR-V (1252 vs. 850 lbs.).

The Terrain’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The CR-V has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Terrain and the CR-V have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Terrain is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CR-V prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Terrain’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The CR-V’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically.

The Terrain’s standard Keyless Open and Start allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from pocket or purse. Pushbutton Start standard on the CR-V only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

The Terrain’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the CR-V EX/EX-L/Sport/TrailSport/Sport-L/Sport Touring.

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 CR-V’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Terrain has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the CR-V EX/Sport. 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 CR-V.

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 CR-V 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 is only available on the CR-V TrailSport/Sport Touring.

Compared to the Honda CR-V, 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.

Compared to traditional radio, the GMC Terrain’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the CR-V EX-L/Sport-L/Sport Touring.