2010 GMC Terrain FWD SLE-2

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GMC is producing some fine products. Sierra, Yukon, Acadia, Envoy, Canyon, and Savana just to name a few. But of all the new products or those that have been improved, I like the Terrain the best.

Direct-injection engine technology and standard 6-speed automatic transmission combine fuel economy with spirited performance. The 2.4L 4-cyl DOHC engine gets 30 mpg on the highway and 25 in the city.

The standard rearview camera is a must. Just shift into reverse, and a view of what’s behind the vehicle displays in a portion of the rearview mirror or on the available touch screen navigation display.

I have a wonderful little 5-year old friend who lives next door. When he hears my garage door open, he instantly runs toward the door to wave at me when I pull out. Last week as I pulled out of the garage I could just see the top of his head in the review camera as he was hiding behind the rear bumper to scare me. Well, I was scared all right. Fate, providence, and the rearview camera saved me from a catastrophe.

The multiflex sliding second-row seat combines three-passenger comfort with flexible utility. The front passenger seat folds down, allowing you to haul longer items inside the cabin with the liftgate closed. Also the generous cargo capacity with storage features suitable for a variety of items. My favorite is the compartment in the center console center designed for laptops.

At no extra cost you get the 5-year/100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty, oil life monitoring system, and antilock brakes. You are surrounded by safety features like the tire pressure monitoring system, air bags, (dual frontal) side impact airbags (driver and front passenger), and head curtain side airbags with rollover protection for all rows. Even the kids will be safer with the child safety latch system.

Cruise control, power windows, XM satellite radio, and am/fm stereo CD with aux. Input, USB port and Bluetooth for phone are all part of the standard package. All this, for less than $25,000. I couldn’t believe the price and actually went to a GMC dealer for verification. The salesman just smiled and said that was the sticker price. But he was willing to talk some more.

As I sat in the cabin of this beautiful and luxurious-feeling SUV with my fingers wrapped around the leather wrapped steering wheel listening to a little Bob Dylan on the radio, I couldn’t help but be proud of this American designed and superbly engineered product, made by GMC workers in Canada.

Durhl Caussey writes an automobile column read around the world. He may be reached at this newspaper or dcaussey@sbcglobal.net .