The end of the year is the best time to buy a new car. As the next year’s models are released, the current models are discounted, giving you an opportunity to make the most of your hard-earned money. With the end of 2018 fast approaching it will soon be that time again, and depending on how decisive you are, now might be the best time to start researching the kind of car you want to drive in 2019. If you’re curious at all about GMC SUVs, then take a quick look at these 2018 models, and maybe you’ll see something that piques your interest.
2018 Terrain
Performance
The 2018 Terrain has three available engines, two gas, and one diesel. The standard 1.5-liter engine provides 170 horsepower and 203 lbs per foot of torque, and the other gas engine, a 2.0-liter, offers 252 horsepower and 260 lbs per foot of torque. The two engines deliver combined city/highway mileage of 28 MPG and 24 MPG respectively. The 1.6-liter diesel option offers 137 horsepower and 240 lbs per foot of torque, as well as a combined fuel economy of 32 MPG. No matter what you need in your SUV, these three turbocharged engines provide an impressive range of both power and efficiency.
Entertainment
Technology in our world changes and improves every day, so it only makes sense that the technology in our cars gets some updates every now and then as well. The 2018 Terrain makes a decent number of improvements in terms of technology and entertainment, increasing the number of USB charging ports and the overall responsiveness of the vehicle’s entertainment display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both come standard, which are of course superior interfaces than most other software, but if your phone isn’t compatible then the GMC Infotainment System is a perfectly sound and reliable option. A built-in 4G wireless hotspot comes standard, and it works with up to seven devices at a time. You might not need a mobile internet connection, but it’s still great for entertaining impatient passengers on long rides as well as working on the go. If you think about how often you’ve been left waiting in your car for one reason or another and then consider how different those situations would have been had you been able to watch Netflix or Hulu, you’ll probably have a good idea of how valuable this addition will be for you.
Safety
When it comes to the safety of you and the ones you love, there isn’t anything more important. Thankfully the Terrain has plenty of available features to help prevent accidents, and protect the precious cargo inside in case one does happen. Rear cross traffic alert and rear park assist systems both use sensors located at the back of the vehicle to detect oncoming traffic or obstacles behind you as you reverse, which is perfect for busy parking lots or backing into a garage. Similar sensors are used by the lane change and blind zone alert systems to help you maintain full situational awareness when you’re driving on the highway, and Lane Keep Assist subtly influences steering to keep you centered and stable. A safety alert seat is also available, providing your butt with tactile alerts based on the direction of possible dangers, allowing you to respond to threats outside your visibility. Automatic braking technology uses cameras to detect an imminent collision and reduce the force of the impact, and at low speeds even potentially prevent the impact altogether.
2018 Acadia
Performance
The Acadia has two available engines, a 2.5-liter standard option, and an available 3.6-liter upgrade. The standard engine produces 193 horsepower and 188 lbs per foot of torque while achieving a fuel efficiency of up to 26 MPG on the highway. The optional engine has a major strength advantage, and with 310 horsepower and 271 lbs per foot of torque, it has the ability to tow up to 4,000 lbs at a time. It does take a hit to its combined gas mileage, only achieving 20 MPG, but it’s an even trade for such a drastic bump in capability.
Entertainment
Since both models are the same brand and year, the interior technology features on the 2018 Acadia are almost indistinguishable from the Terrains. There are some minor differences in which options come standard; the Acadia comes with an 8-inch infotainment system while the default display on the Terrain is 7 inches. The Acadia also has more speakers, and a Bose premium system comes stock, but the Terrain only has room for 7 speakers, and starts with brand-name speakers. There are other differences, such as a difference in the number of USB ports, but they get less and less significant as the list goes on.
Safety
Much like with their entertainment features, GMC’s safety and driver assistive features are relatively uniform across similar models. The Acadia is no exception; it provides standard use of technologies only available to the Terrain as optional upgrades. The most basic trim for the Acadia comes equipped with rear cross traffic alert and rear park assist, as well as lane change and blind zone alert systems, while the same features only come standard on the highest possible trim for the Terrain.
2018 Yukon
Performance
The Yukon has one major advantage over the other two GMC SUVs we’ve talked about today. When measured against the strength offered by the other models, its capabilities far surpass them, opening consumers a wealth of new possibilities. There’s only one available option, but the 5.3-liter engine delivers 355 horsepower and 383 lbs per foot of torque. Power like that makes trailering a breeze, and the Yukon more than doubles the Acadia’s maximum towing capacity. With just an 18 MPG combined fuel efficiency, it makes a sacrifice for its increased strength, but the added functionality is again, more than a worthy trade.
Entertainment
Once again, the entertainment technology in this GMC SUV is practically indistinguishable from the other two on this list, however, in the case of the Yukon there is one major additional option that the other vehicles don’t have. A rear-seat display screen is available for each of the two passenger rows, with DVD and Blu-Ray capabilities as well as audio/video input jacks, though I don’t know how many devices still use AV cables as opposed to HDMI anymore. Either way, if you’ve ever had to deal with backseat feuds then you’ll recognize the value of rear passenger entertainment.
Safety
The Yukon has mostly the same safety capabilities of other models on this list while adding an electronic stability control system and daytime running lamps. Every safety feature that’s been mentioned for these three SUVs comes standard with any trim higher than the base level Yukon, excluding the Standard Edition SLT which is missing Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Alert, and Blind Zone Alert systems. With all their bases covered, there’s no doubt that the Yukon is the safest option out of the three we’ve seen today.
GMC SUVs – An Easy Choice
Choosing a new vehicle can take a while. If you care about what you drive, you probably like to do a lot of research before making any decisions. Even if it takes some time, it’s important to find a car that you really love, because there’s a good chance you’ll end up spending numerous hours with it. Hopefully one of these models caught your eye, but if not there’s still plenty of 2018 vehicles just waiting to be bought at a reasonable price— just don’t take too long!
