Noise, Ride & Handling

A defining attribute of GM's latest crossovers is improved noise insulation. Road and wind noise are hushed, leaving the cabin exceptionally quiet — at least until you hit a bump. The suspension isn't a particularly quiet one — it responds to potholes and expansion joints with loud, echoing noises — and, as we noted in the Equinox review, some may find the ride too firm overall.

The steering wheel turns with light effort at low speeds; it firms up progressively as you reach highway speeds, but I still found it a bit loose at 70 mph. Take an off-ramp quickly, and the Terrain has carlike resistance to body roll. Unfortunately, patches of rough pavement belie any cornering confidence: Steering response becomes sloppy, giving the Terrain a floaty sensation of being disconnected from the road. It reminds me more of traditional truck-based SUVs than car-based crossovers, to which the Terrain and its Chevy cohort belong.

    See also:

    Hydraulic Power Steering
    Your vehicle has hydraulic power steering. It may require maintenance. See Power Steering Fluid on page 10‑21. If power steering assist is lost due to a system malfunction, the vehicle can be s ...

    Transmission
    Electronic Range Select (ERS) Mode ERS mode allows you to choose the top-gear limit of the transmission and the vehicle's speed while driving downhill or towing a trailer. The vehicle has an electro ...

    Easy Exit Driver Seat
    This feature can move the seat rearward to allow extra room to exit the vehicle. (Easy Exit Driver Seat): Press to recall the easy exit seat position. The vehicle must be in P (Park). If the easy ...