Comparison: 2022 GMC Terrain AT4 versus 2022 Toyota RAV4 Trail/TRD Off Road

2022 GMC Terrain AT4 

Starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $36,198 CAD 

Pros

• Low starting price
• Roomy rear legroom

Cons

• Weak engine
• Odd gear-shift buttons
• Tight cargo area

Highlights

The updated 2022 GMC Terrain takes an often-overlooked compact SUV and makes it more interesting. Attracting buyers who may want to take their vehicle off the pavement for adventures, there’s the new AT4 trim with an emphasis on off-road capability.

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices in Canadian dollars for the 2022 GMC Terrain start at $30,598 for the base SLE in front-wheel-drive form. The range tops out with the luxury-oriented, all-wheel-drive $41,598 Denali. The trail-ready AT4 trim starts at $36,198 with traction at all four wheels.

Driving the 2022 GMC Terrain is a rather unremarkable experience, but for most drivers in the market for a compact SUV, that’s not a bad thing. The sole engine is a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder gas engine that makes adequate power (170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque) hooked up to a 9-speed automatic transmission. The ride is smooth and refined, which contributes to the upscale character of this SUV.

The interior of the 5-passenger Terrain has truck-like simplicity but with a decidedly upscale nature. One notable frustration is the learning curve of the odd, horizontally-mounted gear-shift buttons. The seats are comfortable, and there’s plenty of room in both rows of seats, especially in the back where’s there’s more legroom than in the Toyota RAV4. However, cargo space is a little tight, with only 838 litres of room compared to the 1,059 available in the Toyota.

Off-road chops are about average for this segment when equipped with all-wheel-drive. The new AT4 is a capable off-road trim with its Traction Select System with an off-road mode, hill descent control, and a rugged appearance package with a front steel skid plate and off-road tires. The Terrain AT4 is not an insane off-roader, but it can tackle moderate off-roading while looking great doing it. It’s great for drivers looking for an SUV that rarely leaves the pavement but is still up for an off-pavement adventure.

2022 Toyota RAV4 Trail/TRD Off Road

Starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $42,910 CAD

Pros

• Loads of rear cargo space
• Good power and fuel economy
• Excellent towing capacity

Cons

• Cabin can be noisy
• One of the pricier contenders in this class

Highlights

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 does everything most people need a compact SUV to do. Not surprising, really, since Toyota pretty much invented this kind of vehicle with the first RAV4. The current generation is the fifth, which debuted for 2019.

Not including the Prime plug-in gas-electric hybrid models, there are a whopping 13 RAV4 trim levels for 2022. Pricing starts at $28,590 for the LE trim with front-wheel-drive. The most expensive RAV4 is the all-wheel-drive Hybrid Limited at $43,350. The most off-road-ready RAV4 is the $39,380 Trail trim with the $3,520 TRD Off Road package.

Although the 5-passenger 2022 RAV4 range includes hybrids, this conventional Trail trim has a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder gas engine developing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission is the only engine choice. Despite more juice under its hood, the Toyota’s 8.5 litres per 100 kilometres combined city and highway fuel economy estimate gives it a slight advantage over the Terrain’s 9.0 rating.

As you may have guessed, traction at all four wheels is standard on the Trail trim. The TRD Off Road additions include specific off-road tires and wheels, LED fog lights, and TRD-spec skid plate and badging, plus navigation and a JBL premium audio system.

Although the TRD Off-Road package adds all-terrain tires and a specialist suspension, it still has the same ground clearance of 8.6 inches as other RAV4s. Anyone hoping for rock-crawling thrills shouldn’t throw away the Jeep catalogues just yet. And when compared to the GMC, the Toyota suffers from more road noise.

If buyers interested in the GMC Terrain AT4 and Toyota RAV4 Trail/TRD Off Road wanted to tow a trailer for their weekend warrior adventurers, there’s a notable difference between this pair of rugged car-based SUVs. The RAV4 Trail/TRD Off Road’s maximum towing capability is 3,500 pounds, well above the 1,500 pounds the Terrain AT4 can haul.

Final Recommendation

Neither of these off-road-oriented compact SUVs has the chops to tackle serious adventures a 2022 Jeep Wrangler or 2022 Toyota 4Runner could tackle with ease. But for those looking to get to a hiking trail or a ski chalet on a gravel road or two-lane trail, both the 2022 GMC Terrain AT4 and 2022 Toyota RAV4 Trail/TRD Off Road are more than capable.

If price and back seat legroom are a priority, the Terrain AT4 will do most of the tasks asked with a bit of extra off-road style.

But from a sheer practical standpoint, the pricier RAV4 Trail/TRD OFF Road offers more power and better fuel economy, more rear cargo room for your adventure gear, and the ability to tow lot more of your weekend warrior toys.