The 2024 GMC Terrain SLT: The Best Minivan Alternative For Day-to-Day Family Use

As modern crossovers and SUVs evolve, we are seeing a move from rugged mudslingers, towards tough luxury drivers.  GMC has embraced this trend, creating a lineup of stylish, spacious vehicles that still hold their own off-road. These SUVs combine powerful performance with fuel efficiency and offer a variety of sizes to fit different lifestyles. The hardest part might be choosing the perfect GMC for you and your family! In this article we're comparing the Big GMC Terrain, Bigger GMC Acadia, and Biggest GMC Yukon. The Big: GMC Terrain There is plenty to love about the GMC Terrain, which now comes with a little extra toughness. Adding all-wheel-drive is an important move for GMC because it further defines the Terrain crossover as something a step above the others in its class. AWD offers more power than front-wheel-drive, but it doesn’t guzzle as much gas as four-wheel-drive. It’s a great in-between that still gives enough power to haul friends and family up a mountain or comfortably cruise down the open road. What we like about the GMC Terrain is that it's a big enough SUV to make it substantial, but it’s still compact enough to maneuver easily through cities like Charlotte. Inside, the cabin is spacious, with a plethora of switches and controls running the dash. Some of the knobs and shifting controls may seem a bit small, but Terrain drivers have expressed that this is easy to get used to. Need to haul a larger-than-usual load? The Terrain, even at the standard trim level, comes with 60/40 split-folding rear seats and an available fold-flat front seat. Though the Terrain is the smallest of GMC’s SUVs, it certainly is not tiny. In a test to see how much carry-on luggage could comfortably fit inside the Terrain, 24 cases could fit in the back (with the seats folded) and still allow plenty of room up front for a driver and passenger. By offering an SUV with a roomy interior yet with a smaller frame, the GMC Terrain is your perfect driver for zipping around the city. The Bigger: GMC Acadia The GMC Acadia is an SUV for the entire family. It offers plenty of room, creating a comfortable atmosphere for short or longer drives. It may not be as easy to maneuver in the city as the Terrain, but a few practice rounds of parking in tight spaces is all it takes to feel like a parking pro. The third generation of the Acadia is a little taller and wider than it has been in years previous, and now it comes with a turbocharged, 328-horsepower inline-four engine. There is also a front-wheel-drive with all-wheel drive as an option. What makes the Acadia so spacious is the three rows of seating that fold and tuck away if needed. Throughout the interior, there is evidence of high-level tech with shiny buttons and switches strewn across the dash. There is plenty of cargo space, including a substantial storage area under the floor behind the third-row seats. What’s more, there’s a ton of safety tech added to the new Acadia, including the following: Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking When driving below 50 miles per hour, this feature will alert you if there is a potential for a front-end collision and automatically apply emergency braking if the driver does not respond quickly enough. Safety Alert Seat This specialized seat vibrates and pulses at the bottom of the seat for various warnings—this is an option instead of having auditory or visual warnings. This is a great option to keep you safe when you have a car full of talkative kids, or you feel like blasting your favorite song. Front and Rear Park Assist Park assist detects objects or people around you while driving at low speeds. Typically, it gets used when parking or navigating through congested areas. We have found this feature to improve even the worst of parallel parkers. High Definition Surround Vision This digital bird’s-eye-view comes in high definition and gives a crystal clear image of the area around your vehicle when driving at low speeds. The image of your area pops up on the Infotainment display, helping you to avoid objects and perfectly park in just about any spot. The Biggest: GMC Yukon The designers at GMC utilize space well, and the new GMC Yukon is their masterpiece.  The new GMC Yukon comes with a V-8 engine—and a very unique engine at that. The Yukon’s V-8 has the capability to reduce itself, when activated, to only operate on four cylinders (for those slower, laid-back drives in town), saving you gas and unneeded wear and tear on the engine. This feature alone will add years of life to your Yukon. Perfect for large families and long road trips (even if that includes a little off-roading), the Yukon comfortably seats the entire family and easily stores all your cargo. Here is a good gauge on whether or not you need the biggest Yukon: if you have at least two child car seats, and you want everyone to be as comfortable as possible, the Yukon is the right choice. As mentioned, the full-size Yukon offers three rows of seating and can fit up to eight passengers while allowing plenty of room to stretch and relax. If you are worried about fuel economy with such a large SUV as the Yukon, check out the turbo-diesel inline-six engine option that provides an EPA-estimated 27 miles per gallon. Since the Yukon is one of the most popular SUVs on the road today, and has been this popular for some time now, Yukon drivers have been anxiously awaiting what GMC will bring by way of upgrades. The first bit of excitement is the arrival of the Denali Ultimate: a fancier version of the (already fancy) Denali trim level. What does the Denali Ultimate include? Check out these features: Alpine Umber leather upholstery throughout the SUV. 16-way power front seats, including a message feature. Open-pore wood trim running throughout. 18-speaker Bose sound system with all the modern features. Super Cruise Control, which is a hands-free, autonomous driving system that helps to keep you safe and on the road at all times. When shopping for that perfect family vehicle, look no further than GMC’s big, bigger, and biggest lineup. Come test drive an SUV the entire family will enjoy.

Across the country, housing prices have soared, and the outlook for an affordable market is still far off in the future. Much of this is due to the lack of housing being built, which slowed down drastically post-2008 and has yet to recover. “Housing supply remains at near historic lows—especially entry-level supply-–consequently propping up demand and sustaining higher home prices.” - Forbes Advisor. So, if you’re in the market for a home, you’ve likely felt this pressure. Because of that, more folks than ever are moving towards tiny home living and taking their life on the road. RV and tiny home living has exploded over the past few years because of this tough housing market and the benefits they offer. Though you can’t hit the road with just any vehicle, you’ll need a capable, dependable, and powerful vehicle that can move you and your new home across the country and many landscapes. But GMC has the answer to just that. Liberty Buick GMC offers many trucks that can out-compete nearly any vehicle on the market. Leaving you with one less thing to worry about as you hit the road. The Tiny Home Boom According to a survey by HomeAdvisor, a large percentage of Americans (86%) say they would live in a tiny home. That’s a surprising statistic, meaning more Americans than ever are looking for advice on how to begin their mobile journey.   Affordability is one of the main reasons for the move to tiny home living, echoing the dire housing market we outlined earlier, but it isn’t the only benefit of tiny home living. Those looking to downsize into tiny living can anticipate a number of positives — No Mortgage - Being locked into a mortgage for decades can be daunting, leaving many families with no light at the end of the tunnel. Investing in a tiny home can break a cycle of mortgage debt and leave you with some extra monthly cash to splurge on things you were missing out on! Reduce Carbon Footprint - For those who are environmentally conscious, downsizing your home is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Larger homes require more energy, construction materials, etc. resulting in overall more impact on carbon output. Easier To Furnish - Furnishing a new home can be one of the biggest headaches of a new move. Finding the perfect piece for every room is difficult and leaves people searching and tweaking their decor for years after settling in. A tiny home leaves less work for that decorating and lets you get your new home in order in record time. Flexibility - Being able to relocate is arguably one of the biggest perks of tiny home living. Road trips are just the start of the advantages of having a home that’s easily moved. Don’t like your neighbors? In need of new scenery? Looking to move closer to family? Whatever the case, you’ve got home ready to move, leaving you with one less worry! Affordable Utilities - Tied to the reduction in your carbon footprint, less house means less you don’t need to pay as much in utilities to get everything you need. This translates to more money saved, letting you spend on what else matters! Though questions related to zoning laws, costs, and limitations of one’s ability to haul their home leave many asking for more information. Where To Begin? Joining this growing trend can be daunting, leaving many families with one question — “Where do we start?” Most tiny homes are already on wheels as a way to get around some standards related to minimum housing size regulations. This is a bonus because it allows you to travel on a whim. It’s essential you have a vehicle capable of moving your tiny home before you make the leap. But knowing what vehicle will get it down can prove to be a challenge. Though tiny homes are just that, tiny! So you won’t necessarily need the most powerful truck on the market to haul your new home. Light to medium-duty vehicles will handle much of your potential load. GMC’s 2023 Canyon is a perfect fit when it comes to mid-size trucks. The Canyon is shorter and narrower than the Sierra, its larger GMC truck counterpart, by about 3.5 inches and nearly six inches, respectively. Even with the size discrepancy, the truck is more than capable of hauling a tiny home. GMC Global Vice President Duncan Aldred puts it best, “GMC is flexing the might of our off-road muscle. (The) Canyon benefits from key learnings gained from our AT4 strategy to bring customers the most advanced off-road midsize truck.” The Canyon will be the first mid-size truck that combines a handful of revolutionary features. Underbody cameras Digital driver information center Available Google built-in features Available head-up display Wireless Appleplay and Android Auto compatibility And Liberty Buick GMC has experience in connecting customers with the excellent GMC Canyon. Look no further than their countless positive reviews — Moving away from the trend-setting mid-size Canyon is GMC’s Sierra. GMC’s 2023 Sierra is a heavy-duty truck that can do everything, including quickly hauling your tiny home. The 2023 Sierra offers unparalleled off-roading capabilities and can haul nearly anything you can conceptualize, with the capability of moving over 13,000 pounds —  that’s a weight that can many things, like your future tiny home! Trucks aren’t the only vehicle that is capable of hauling tiny homes. Several of GMC’s SUVs have hauling capability that would be able to handle the load of your new home. While we would recommend a truck because of the storage capacity, here are some solid SUVs fit for a road trip. The Yukon and Yukon XL, Acadia, and Terrain all offer spacious SUVs equipped for off-roading, going long distances, and hauling thousands of pounds. So, if SUVs are more your style, look at the 2023 models through Liberty Buick’s digital showroom. Seizing on Freedom Once you hit the road in your new GMC, hauling your tiny home in tow, you’ll have a newfound sense of freedom and some distance from your past rent or mortgage costs! But freedom is one thing; knowing what to do with it is another. Thankfully, the growing trend in those who’ve chosen the independent lifestyle on the road has illuminated a handy roadmap to enjoying your newfound freedom.  Here are some of the best sites to visit once you’re on the road — Gunnison National Forest, Colorado. - 1,672,136 acres spanning huge swaths of Colorado gives anyone with a sense of adventure limitless places to explore and set up camp. It borders several other national forests, positioning it as the perfect destination to get the most out of a long west journey. Big Bend National Park, Texas - Big Bend National Park is located in West Texas along the border of Mexico. The park encompasses an area of 801,163 acres and includes a large piece of the Rio Grande, the natural boundary between Mexico and the United States. Folks who travel there can expect to see an impressive amount of biodiversity and immerse themselves in the impressive deserts of the Americas. Acadia National Park, Maine - Being in North Carolina, we know — the Western USA doesn’t hold all the spots with adventure and fun. Acadia National Park has quickly become a must-visit destination for those living on wheels—47,000 acres of land, including islands off the coast of Maine. Folks looking to camp can easily find public land to park their new home and take all the time needed to explore this east coast gem. Why a GMC Truck? When picking a vehicle to haul your new lifestyle, you must be sure you’re picking the perfect partner. Car and Driver has consistently honored GMC as a standout brand when it comes to towing. Both the Canyon and the Sierra are recognized as top-of-the-line competitors in the towing game. The Canyon is capable of hauling 7,700 pounds and the Sierra 13,200, one of the many reasons the trucks are highlighted. If you’re settled on the brand, knowing where to buy your next GMC truck is the important next step. Make the first destination on your road trip to Matthews, North Carolina, so you can visit Liberty Buick GMC and be equipped for a life of travel and adventure. Call and schedule an appointment today to start the next chapter of your life, filled with road trips!

The GMC Acadia and Terrain have been favorites among families and adventure-seekers since they first hit the market, offering spacious and comfortable interiors, impressive performance, and an array of tech and safety features. The 2023 model year doesn’t bring major overhauls for the SUVs, but car buyers will enjoy refreshed styling, updated technology, and other minor updates. The 2023 Acadia is ideal for growing families (or people who simply want more space for comfort and cargo). The GMC Terrain has made a name for itself as a more compact SUV option, with a refined and versatile design, strong performance, and plenty of advanced safety and convenience features. Whether you're in the market for a family-friendly SUV or a more compact and sporty option, the 2023 GMC Acadia and Terrain are definitely worth keeping an eye on. Below, Liberty Buick GMC takes a closer look at these two models so that you can choose which one is the best fit! 2023 GMC Acadia Features If you’re looking for a mid-size SUV that offers versatility, comfort, and style, the 2023 GMC Acadia should be on top of your list. With its eye-catching design and outstanding performance, this vehicle is a perfect blend of luxury, capability, and practicality. Advanced Safety Features One standout feature of the 2023 Acadia is its array of advanced safety technologies that help keep you and your passengers safe on the road. It comes with lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and much more. Such cutting-edge systems mean that you can feel confident and secure during every journey. Spacious and Comfortable Interior The 2023 GMC Acadia has a roomy and well-designed interior that offers plenty of space for passengers and cargo. You can enjoy comfortable seating for up to seven people, with ample legroom and headroom. The seats are also supportive and have heating and ventilation settings, so you can enjoy a comfortable ride regardless of the weather. The rear seats fold down easily, giving you up to 79.0 cubic feet of cargo space and making it easy to transport large items. Powerful and Efficient Engine The 2023 GMC Acadia comes with a choice of two different powertrains, both of which deliver a great balance of power and efficiency. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder offers better performance and fuel economy; it produces 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. For those who need more power, there’s a 3.6-liter V6 with 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. User-Friendly Technology The 2023 GMC Acadia is packed with the latest technology that makes driving easier and more enjoyable. The infotainment system features an easy-to-use 8.0-inch touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.   The system also comes with a Wi-Fi hotspot and a six-speaker audio system, providing you with a high-end audio experience. Other notable tech features include wireless charging, USB ports, and a customizable digital instrument cluster. Stylish Exterior Last but not least, the 2023 GMC Acadia is an SUV that turns heads, thanks to its bold and modern design. The exterior features a prominent grille, striking LED headlights, and sleek body lines that enhance aerodynamics and reduce wind noise. The vehicle sits on 18-inch wheels (with 20-inch wheels available); chrome accents and a dual-exit exhaust system give it a sporty flair. The 2023 GMC Acadia is an impressive SUV that offers a wealth of features and benefits. It gives buyers advanced safety technologies, a spacious and comfortable interior, a powerful and efficient engine, user-friendly technology, and a stylish exterior. In other words, it ticks all the boxes. If you’re looking for a reliable, practical, and stylish vehicle, the 2023 GMC Acadia has you covered. 2023 GMC Terrain Features The 2023 GMC Terrain is another model worth considering if you’re in the market for a new SUV that’s reliable and stylish. It has a sleek and modern design, advanced technology, and superior performance capabilities. The Terrain is arguably one of the best investments you can make in the compact SUV segment. Let's explore some of the impressive features and benefits of this remarkable vehicle. Exceptional Performance The 2023 GMC Terrain is equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, producing 175 hp (a five-point jump from last year) and 203 lb-ft of torque. This SUV is also available in an all-wheel-drive system to ensure maximum traction and stability in diverse driving conditions. Advanced Technology The Terrain is designed with advanced technology features to enhance your driving experience. A highlight is the latest-generation IntelliLink infotainment system that puts entertainment, navigation, and communication at your fingertips. You can enjoy an immersive and high-quality sound no matter where you go with the available Bose premium audio system. Safety and Security If you need a compact SUV that brings a range of safety and security features to keep you protected while on the road, the Terrain fits the bill. It comes with advanced driver assistance features like lane departure warning, following distance indicator, and automatic emergency braking. It also features a rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring system, and rear cross-traffic alert to help prevent accidents and collisions. Stylish Design The 2023 GMC Terrain boasts a bold and modern design that sets it apart from other SUVs in its class. Its distinctive front grille, sleek body lines, and LED lighting accents make it an instant head-turner. Then there’s the available panoramic sunroof, which provides a spacious and airy feel and creates an unforgettable driving experience. Spacious Interior Despite its overall size, the Terrain offers a spacious and comfortable interior that fits the needs of all passengers. You can fold the rear seats flat to get up to 63.3 cubic feet of cargo space, providing ample room for your family's luggage and equipment. Also, the available leather seats, eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats lend themselves to a comfortable and luxurious travel experience. There’s no doubt the 2023 GMC Terrain is stylish. But it’s also packed with features and benefits that make it stand out from other SUVs on the market. We highly recommend it to any car buyer who values exceptional performance, advanced technology, safety and security, stylish design, and spacious interior! Do You Need Two or Three Rows? Choosing a suitable family car is crucial when you’re a parent. But why settle for “suitable” if you can find the “perfect” vehicle? The problem is there are so many options available on the market. One way to quickly narrow your options is to determine whether you need a five-passenger or seven-passenger SUV. Both the Terrain and Acadia are exceptional family vehicles. The two-row Terrain seats five adults, while the Acadia seats six or seven in its three rows, depending on the variant you choose. Let’s discuss the differences and factors you need to consider before making a decision. Number of Family Members The size of your family is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing between a five- or seven-passenger SUV. If you have a small family of four or five, a five-passenger SUV will give you adequate space. A seven-passenger SUV will be the more practical choice if you have more than five family members or plan to expand your family in the future. Lifestyle and Activities Do you love going on road trips or camping with your family often? If so, then a seven-passenger SUV with a spacious cargo area and a powerful engine will be more convenient. On the other hand, if you mainly use your car for daily commutes and errands, a five-passenger SUV will prove to be more than enough. Budget As with any life decision, money is another crucial factor when choosing which vehicle to buy. Seven-passenger SUVs are usually more expensive than their five-passenger counterparts due to the additional seats and space they provide. If you have a smaller budget or don't need extra passenger space, the Terrain may be the wiser choice. But if you have a bit of room in your budget and need to accommodate more passengers, going with the Acadia would be a good investment. Fuel Efficiency Seven-passenger SUVs tend to have larger engines and consume more fuel than five-passengers. If fuel efficiency is a concern for you, assume that a two-row SUV like the Terrain will be more economical on gasoline. Remember, however, that it really comes down to what your family needs. If you require more passenger space, this is an area where you may need to figure out the extra funds for fuel. Safety Features Safety is paramount when it comes to choosing a family car. Both the Acadia and Terrain are equipped with various safety features — from airbags and anti-lock brakes to rear-view cameras and automatic emergency braking. In some cases, larger vehicles (in this case, a three-row SUV) will offer a few more safety and driver-assist techonolgies. The key is to do your research to discover precisely which safety features each vehicle has.   Choosing the right SUV for your family can be tough, but carefully considering these factors will help you make an informed decision. Ultimately, it all comes down to your family's specific needs and preferences, and you should pick a car that meets those needs! Summary The 2023 GMC Acadia and Terrain offer car buyers everything they would expect from a GMC vehicle: reliability, performance, safety, and style. But the new model year also provides some minor updates and a few optional features that could help you make a decision. If you're in the market for a new SUV, there’s a good chance the Acadia or Terrain can fit your family’s needs. Get in touch with our dealership to learn more about these models or schedule some test drives! The good news is that whatever your driving needs or preferences, GMC has something for everyone in its 2023 lineup. So don’t be afraid to broaden your horizons!