With the top score, Good, in frontal, side and rear impacts by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Terrain and Equinox have both been named IIHS Top Safety Picks. That's commendable, though it doesn't put the Terrain at a competitive advantage: All six major competitors are also IIHS Top Safety Picks. Standard safety features on the Terrain include six airbags, antilock brakes and an electronic stability system. Click here for a full list.

Standard features on the four-cylinder SLE1 include a six-speed automatic, a CD stereo with full USB/iPod integration, cruise control, air conditioning and a backup camera. Prices start at $24,250 — $1,810 more than the base Equinox LS, and on the higher end for this crowd — but the Terrain's robust standard-features list beats a lot of others', Equinox included.

Step up to higher trims, and you can get automatic climate control, a power driver's seat, steering-wheel audio controls, a moonroof, a navigation system and heated leather seats. On any trim, all-wheel drive adds $1,750. The V-6 runs $1,500 on all but the SLE1, where it isn't available. Otherwise, you don't have to have one to get the other.

Load up an all-wheel-drive SLT2, and the Terrain can top $36,000.