Test Drive GMC Terrain since 2009 SUV

Foreleg, sit down, two!

Fantastic Four. Can fully updated Hyundai Tucson exceed the standard (Honda CR-V), a beginner from GM (GMC Terrain) and a winner (Subaru Forester)?

In May 2008, when we last compared compact crossovers with four-cylinder atmospheric engines, fully the new Subaru Forester of the third generation deftly bypassed all his rivals: Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Saturn Vue and Toyota RAV4. Luck? Hardly. Shortly thereafter, a small, but brave subaru bit off a very large piece of cake: the title is the best SUV year.

However, since this grand victory has passed some time, and Forester has only reached the laurels, not going to change something. Under the hood, he has the same 2,5-liter 170-strong opposite motor, with the same four-stage automaton and the unchanged system of full AWD drive. The crossover market, on the contrary, has undergone significant changes, replenished with new strong players. For example, RAV4 became noticeably more powerful, receiving 179 horses instead of the previous 166, and the CR-V livestock increased from 166 to 180. Newbies appeared: twins from GM, Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain, as well as the second generation Hyundai Tucson. The brainchild GM received at its disposal the system of direct injection and 182 horses with a flow rate of 7.35 l / 100 km along the highway, and the handsome from South Korea is 176 hp. and 7.58 liters per hundred.

To find out who from crossovers will be the winner in a fierce fight, we returned the current champion and stirred it with more powerful CR-V, updated Terrain and promising Tucson. Since Rogue failed the last qualifying tour and did not provide any significant changes, this time was not taken. Well, for Saturn Vue 2009, it turned out to be the last model year. As for Equinox and RAV4, we wanted to get both, but the idea failed, because none nor the other is available with four-cylinder engines in combination with a full drive. Perhaps the next time we will be lucky.

In the meantime, let's concentrate on this test. As a result, the winner can surprise you greatly.

Best SUV last year

As we mentioned, Forester in this test was originally designated as a favorite that won our hearts of some 12 months ago. But this year is much, during this time it can happen much. For example, last year's winner can now finish the fourth in the comparative test of four cars. (Before you start to schedule angry letters with accusations of our address, let me remind you that the lion's share in the conquest of the Forester title lay on the shoulders of the turbo 224-strong XT configuration). You can not say that we no longer love, do not appreciate and do not respect the Forester, we are very far from this. Rather, in the light of new proposals, we love, appreciate and respect it a little less than before.

In the test, held in May 2008, 170 hp Forester with a flow rate of 11.76 / 9.04 l / 100 km allowed him to practically head the entire class of crossovers. In the fun company of 2010, these indicators omit it to the bottom of the list. In addition, by us in 2008, Forester 2.5x Premium weighing 1,500 kg accelerated from zero to hundreds of 9.9 seconds, which for a whole second is better than Vue. After 22 months, the test 2.5x limited weighing 1,502 kg turned out to be much faster (9.3 seconds), and yet slower than the remaining dough participants. If the 4-speed Subaru automaton was at the level, now it turned out to be suspiciously incompetent. Four-stage automatic? Asks our chief editor, St. Antoine, Subaru, what are you talking about? Hyundai, for example, he has long has six speeds. If for the forced XT four speeds is enough, then the atmospheric X of this is clearly not enough.

Take the main prize The best SUV year helped him another: its ability to tow 1,090 kg, 22 cm clearance, side acceleration 0.81g, reversal diameter 10.5 m and cost $ 25 294 The best indicators in the class at that time. Now we got even more worthy Forester worth $ 26,690, the 2.5x Limited equipment equipped with a navigation system, a premium class audio system and satellite radio, and all of this is less than $ 30,000.

It seems that in 2011, Forester expects a significant update, a new variator instead of a four-step automatic machine and a fresh design, both outside and inside. To stay competitive, it is necessary, as air.
All-Terrain.

After a trip to Terrain, I regretted that we did not choose Equinox, says Mike Conner, an employee of the publication. I like how GMC goes, but I don't care what it looks like. In general, he is long and bulky, while Chevy looks neat and tightened. Assistant web editor Scott Evans Notes: I like the style of the interior, although the sensation is cramped. Luke, hidden in roof, small windows, wide racks in a circle and an immense central panel All this causes a sense of claustrophobia. The Truck Trend resource editor, Ellison Harwood, adds: a good six-speed automatic transmission, but personally I love to switch velocity manually, with the help of stealless switches, and not with these stupid + and - on the side of the speed switching lever. Catch the course of our thoughts? In terrain we like a lot but

The first and basic is the cost. With such bonuses as the navigation system, the rear view camera, leather interior, 18-inch wheels, Bluetooth, hatch and fifth door electric drive, terrain is perfectly packaged. He has the highest value of the basic configuration of $ 29,945 and the maximum equipment will cost you more than everyone, at $ 34,170. And here is the first kick from the opponent: Tucson offers all the same, except for the electrotype of the rear door, without which it is quite possible to do with the cost of $ 4,680 less.

Then the oils in the fire poured the rather pale results of our tests. Despite the highest power and best consumption on the highway, Terrain failed to demonstrate neither the fastest acceleration or worthy praise for efficiency. Accusations? Yes, let it be charges: Terrain is heavier Forester by 328 kg. Yes, and style is also hard for perception. Design Exterior True Riddle, considers St. Antoine. Square wheel arches? The gap between the wheel and the body turned out simply huge.

If you close your eyes on a sugary appearance, the Terrain is impressed on the territory. St. Antoine noted a soft suspension, with good control and clear steering wheel. Evans adds: I would call him the most sporty car in the group, since it best he behaves on an asphalt track. If it were not for his high cost, disappointing dynamics and incredible mass, Terrain would score more points. But it is too weighty if.

 
Under the sun Tucson
Tucson is the first Hyundai crossover, designed and collected in Europe, and this is noticeable. This is the repeaters of turn signals integrated into the side mirrors of the rear view, and the signal change signal (triple blinking of the corresponding light bulb), and the streamlined design, and the collapsible 18-inch cast wheel drives Tucson exudes the personality that could be born only on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. And we like it. Everything is simple here: this is the most attractive car in the group, both inside and outside. Moreover, the new Tucson heads above the model of the previous generation and design, and the quality of execution, Evans believes. St. Antoine adds: I like it in shark streamlined Boca.

Hyundai was aimed at creating a high-class style and succeeded in this. Also stood the task of making a car sports and recognizable, and the designers coped with her just as well. Obviously, Hyundai decided to make a new Tucson sports with him very aggressive speaker, Connor believes. Test results confirm. Overclocking from scratch to 100 km / h (8.8 seconds) and time on the quoter (16.7 seconds, speed 133.3 km / h) best in the group, and side acceleration (0.79g), eight (28.5 C, side acceleration 0.58G) and a complete stop from 100 km / h (36.58 m) is inferior only to the weight of Forester. In addition, from all Tucson cars tested under this test demonstrated the smallest rins of the body on slalom, which can be safely written off on a rigid suspension.

But these tough shock absorbers, to our displeasure, have a weak side. On the road, overly aggressive Hyundai gives all the irregularities than absorbs them. The suspension is extremely tough, but not so assembled, like Honda or GMC, says St. Antoine. I did not arrange our judges and an electric power steering. The steering wheel seems artificial and unnecessarily twigs, Connor believes. With the exception of the suspension and steering wheel, as well as second-rate plastic in the cabin and seventure seats, the disadvantages are not detected. The 2.4-liter engine is energetic and assembled, a six-speed gearbox of smooth and responsive, and the price causes shock and trepid. Try to find another sports crossover, worth less than $ 30,000, with Bluetooth and high-quality acoustic system, navigation, panoramic hatch, leather heated seats, satellite radio and steep lifting / descent. Let you help you a little: you can not find anything else.

Over the next two years, Tucson inevitably inherits a 2.4-liter engine from Sonata, with direct fuel injection with a capacity of 200 hp. And if Hyundai, besides, fix the hard suspension and artificial steering wheel, then the rivals will have to be very hard.

 
High accuracy
This is the case when specialists from Honda did everything right, says Harwood about CR-V. In fact, Honda continues to surprise our demanding company. The 2,4-liter DOHC 2010 2,4-liter DOHC, which came to change, characterized by a higher compression (10.5: 1), large in the size of intake valves and more voluminous release, as well as increased to 180 livestock, causes 16-valve Unlocked envy. I adore this engine, Evans is recognized. It is easily spinning and provides excellent traction over the entire turn range, so that there is a feeling that the CR-V is the most frisky in the group, although in fact it is not so.

Perhaps, due to the steering wheel, praised for the organicity, and the ideal weight that makes the Honda control on the winding mountain serpentine Ribywood with a true pleasure, according to St. Antoine, Honda is deceptive quickly. And unlike tucson, sometimes hard, Honda suspension was moderately soft, responsive and obedient, on any type of road surface. The best car outside the road, and on the asphalt, too, considers Evans.

Inside a rich, well-performed salon, where we found a navigation system, rear view camera, Bluetooth, satellite radio, leather heated seats, automatic double-zone climate control, Honda talents continued to delight us. Amazing elegance for this price category, Harwood notes. The best materials in the interior decoration in the group. Honda has everything, from the quality of the skin to the quality of each plastic part in the cabin, an order of magnitude higher than that of rivals. Connor Notes: An excellent interior performed, the sensation of the mass of free space, the spaciousness, adjustable back of the rear seat, the biggest trunk (I adore this shelf) and the mass of compartments for storing things in the center console.

Of course, it was not without small shortcomings. The five-step automatic, for example, does not have a manual mode and switches roughly, which was not seen from Tucson. Some found the brake pedal are unnecessarily sensitive, the design is average, and the CD changer on 6 disks morally obsolete. But it's all slightly.

Per feeling of quality, high-quality interior materials, accuracy in the design of parts, I would count this car to a higher class, says St. Antoine. Harwood describes Honda so: it is not just a good solution for the crossover, it causes completely different emotions. He satisfies all the needs. And it is true.


1st place: Honda CR-V 4WD EX-L
The collected suspension, high-quality materials, perfect engine.

2nd place: Hyundai Tucson Awd Limited
Hard suspension and a challenged steering wheel, otherwise a quick and collected crossover, worthy of your attention.

3 place: GMC Terrain AWD SLT-1
Newbie from GM is perfectly packaged and does not allow to miss, although it is too expensive and heavy.

4th place: Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium Pzev
Archaic four-speed gearbox and small power: a former champion agrees.

Source: Motor Trend.