Are you looking for a compact SUV with an all-wheel drivetrain that could be perfect for the adventures you have planned, if not simply for your daily life? If you’re stuck deciding whether to visit a GMC lot or a Chevy dealer, then it’s probably because the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain have equally caught your attention.
They’re common competitors, as they are both produced by General Motors. They’re certainly both quality compact SUVs with bold styling, comfortable interiors, and appealing price tags. For a long time, people haven’t really been able to tell the difference between the two. Given their identical 1.5L turbocharged engines and accompanying 8-speed automatic transmissions, along with dimensions that differ by only mere inches in some areas (and not at all in others), it’s no surprise people struggle to tell the two apart.
So, the question is, for 2025, was General Motors able to make these two models truly different? I’ll list below what’s different about the two, but the differences are typically so small or few that you’d probably still struggle to discern one from the other if they were parked side by side and the logos had been stripped away.
One or Multiple Trim Levels
I’ll give GMC this: It made a bold choice by giving the 2025 Terrain just one singular trim option in the Elevation. It’s distinctly rugged and refined, and it starts at $30,000. Meanwhile, the Equinox comes in three trims, with the base trim starting at $28,600 and the upper two trims both at $33,000. So, if you’re pinching pennies, there isn’t a whole lot of money to be saved on the Terrain. Meanwhile, the Equinox’s upper trims see a pretty notable price jump from the Terrain Elevation.
To be honest, two of the Equinox’s trims—the LT and the ACTIV—together mirror a lot of what the Terrain Elevation has to offer. However, I will say the Equinox ACTIV does have all-terrain tires, which the Terrain Elevation doesn’t even offer as an option. Other than that, you could practically swap these three trims in and out for one another and it might be difficult to keep track of which is which.
Where the Equinox is truly distinct is its RS trim, which boasts some cool street-ready style points like high-gloss black mirror caps and 19-inch carbon flash metallic machined-face aluminum wheels. Plus, inside, it gets a wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel. This trim would make the 2025 Equinox the obvious choice for someone who likes performance-focused details and urban-esque aesthetic details.
Two-Tone Roof Options
Both the Equinox and the Terrain offer a two-tone roof design. It looks like GM tried to make the two models different by making the Equinox’s roof white and the Terrain’s roof available in either what they call “sterling metallic” or “ebony twilight metallic.” You might as well call these “gray” and “black,” which they are; it seems GM only knows of a monochromatic palette when it comes to roofs.
GMC’s Massive Touchscreen
General Motors did make the interesting choice to give the Terrain a huge, 15-inch infotainment screen that they’ve withheld from the Equinox for now. The Equinox’s infotainment screen maxes out at 11.3 inches. So if you’re a sucker for a big display, you’ll prefer the Terrain. It’s also worth noting that the Terrain’s screen is vertical, while the Equinox’s is horizontal. This definitely creates a different vibe.
The vertical screen feels very tactical, as if you’re in an army or safari vehicle, tracking the enemy or a pack of jaguars on wild terrain. A horizontal screen feels very much like a laptop screen, so it evokes a more laid-back and sophisticated feeling, as if it’s more equipped for streaming videos or podcasts than pouncing on enemy territory.
Slight Dimension Differences
There are some slight variances between the two models’ dimensions. The Terrain is a little shorter and not quite as long as the Equinox, at 66.1 inches tall and 181 inches long. The Equinox is 65.6 inches tall and 183.2 inches long. Additionally, the Terrain offers a minimum ground clearance of 8.1 inches, while the Equinox’s minimum ground clearance is 7.6 inches.
The more condensed, taller, and higher stance of the Terrain does make it feel more ready for adventure and tricky terrain. The slightly longer and lower Equinox feels generally more relaxed and ready for cruising paved streets. Ironically, though, the Terrain could be better for those with super tight parking spots because of its smaller length.
Drive Mode Selector Availability
The Terrain and Equinox both have a drive mode selector that allows the driver to tell their vehicle what sort of environment they’re in. The vehicle will then adjust its dynamics to better command the terrain. FWD models have normal and snow modes, while AWD models add an off-road mode. This feature comes standard on the Terrain, whereas it’s only available on the upper trims of the Equinox. So, if you go for that base-level LT, you won’t get it; it’s not even available for the LT. This also makes the Terrain feel more focused on adventurers.
The Terrain Has Bolder Styling
Just by looking at the two models, you will notice some exterior style differences. The Terrain has a really basic, no-frills slatted grille. Something about it says, “Not for the suburbs or a cosmopolitan area.” Meanwhile, the Equinox’s diamond grille on the ACTIV and RS trims feels more decorative. The Terrain also has those big, bold “GMC” letters on its grille. Meanwhile, the Equinox has opted for the more subtle, small Chevy bowtie, in lieu of the brand name.
The Terrain’s big, C-shaped LED headlamps make a big statement, too—bigger than the Equinox’s more standard bar lights. All in all, I’d say the Equinox could transition between city/corporate settings and rugged environments easily, while the Terrain would look a bit out of place anywhere a valet stand and cummerbunds exist.
The 2025 Terrain and 2025 Equinox Are Siblings, Not Twins
As you can see, General Motors didn’t make any major efforts to ensure the 2025 Equinox and 2025 Terrain stand out from one another. Their safety and comfort features are practically identical; their powertrains are the same; they both offer AWD and a drive mode selector. The biggest difference has to be that the Equinox offers variety between its three trims, and the Terrain just comes in the Elevation—and that’s really it.
Sure, the two differ in dimensions by a matter of inches and have some price discrepancies, but if you were to drive one for months and someone swapped it out for the other without telling you, I doubt you would notice immediately. The only thing that might give it away is that the touchscreen is oriented differently.
I’m unclear why GMC chose to only offer the Terrain in the Elevation trim; it almost feels like we can’t truly know the Terrain’s identity until its off-road AT4 and luxury Denali trims come out in 2026; only then will we learn how GMC sees its compact SUV. A stronger pivot in either direction (off-road or luxury) would help differentiate the Terrain from the Equinox, which, for now, just has a modest off-road option in the ACTIV and a whiff of a luxury option in the RS.
