2025 GMC Terrain vs 2026 Subaru Outback

$30,000 · Crossover

$34,995 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Deciding between a slightly cheaper crossover with less ground presence and a more expensive, roomier counterpart is a common hurdle for buyers. The 2025 GMC Terrain starts at an accessible $30,000 MSRP, undercutting the 2026 Subaru Outback's $34,995 entry point by nearly $5,000. While the Outback offers slightly more muscle with 180 horsepower compared to the Terrain's 175 hp, the Terrain claims a marginal advantage in torque, producing 203 lb-ft versus the Subaru's 178 lb-ft. Practicality swings toward the Outback, which boasts significantly more cargo space at 34.6 cubic feet versus the Terrain's 29.8 cu ft, despite the Terrain being slightly shorter in length at 181.0 inches versus the Outback's 191.7 inches. Both models achieve the same 27 MPG combined, relying on regular unleaded fuel, making the decision a balance between initial budget savings and long-term space advantages.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 GMC Terrain

The slightly smaller footprint and lower initial cost of the GMC Terrain make it marginally better suited for easier city navigation and budget-conscious driving.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Subaru Outback

The 2026 Subaru Outback clearly wins for families due to its superior 34.6 cu ft of cargo capacity, offering substantially more room for gear than the Terrain's 29.8 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Subaru Outback

The Outback's standard All-Wheel Drive system and marginally higher 180 horsepower give it a slight edge in dynamic driving scenarios over the front-wheel-drive Terrain.

💰 Best Value

2025 GMC Terrain

The $4,995 lower MSRP on the 2025 GMC Terrain provides a compelling value proposition, especially since both vehicles achieve an identical 27 MPG combined.

Choose the GMC Terrain if...

Your primary concern is keeping the initial purchase price as low as possible, starting at only $30,000 MSRP.
You prioritize slightly more low-end grunt, as the Terrain offers 203 lb-ft of torque compared to the Outback's 178 lb-ft.
You prefer a marginally shorter vehicle (181.0 inches long) for fitting into tighter parking spaces.

Choose the Subaru Outback if...

You absolutely require maximum storage space, as the Outback provides 34.6 cu ft versus 29.8 cu ft in the Terrain.
All-Wheel Drive capability is a necessity for your climate or driving style.
You want the slightly higher output of 180 horsepower, even though it comes at a higher initial cost.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	GMC Terrain	Subaru Outback
Length	181.0"	191.7"
Width	74.5"	74.0"
Height	66.2"	67.5"
Wheelbase	107.5"	108.1"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	GMC	Subaru
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Front Cross Traffic Alert	✓	—
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	—
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	—	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
Adaptive Headlights	—	✓
Self-Leveling Headlights	—	✓
Front Fog Lights	—	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	—	✓
Front Multi-Adjustable Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	GMC	Subaru
Base Engine Displacement	1.5 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	flat 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	175 hp @ 5800 rpm	180 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque	203 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm	178 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	GMC	Subaru
Transmission Type	continuously variable-speed automatic	continuously variable-speed automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	✓
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip

Fuel

Feature	GMC	Subaru
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	26/28 MPG	25/31 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	27 MPG	27 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	384.8/414.4 mi.	450.0/558.0 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	14.8 gal.	18.0 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	GMC	Subaru
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
Front Parking Sensors	—	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	—	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	—	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	—	✓
Cargo Floor Mats	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	GMC	Subaru
Infotainment Display	15.0 in	12.1 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	6
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	✓	—
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	—
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—
Satellite Radio Trial Length	—	4 months

Power Feature

Feature	GMC	Subaru
One-Touch Power Windows	4	2
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	GMC	Subaru
Front Head Room	40.0 in.	40.2 in.
Front Leg Room	40.6 in.	43.0 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.7 in.	57.9 in.
Front Hip Room	55.3 in.	55.5 in.
Seat Material: Premium Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	4-way
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Seat Material: Cloth	—	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power
Passenger Seat Heating	—	Multi-level

Rearseats

Feature	GMC	Subaru
Rear Head Room	39.2 in.	40.5 in.
Rear Leg Room	39.2 in.	39.5 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	55.7 in.	57.4 in.
Rear Hip Room	51.0 in.	55.1 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	GMC	Subaru
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	17 x 7.0 in	18 x 7.0 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	235/65R17	225/60R H
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted

Suspension

Feature	GMC	Subaru
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Stabilizer Bar	✓	—
Front Stabilizer Bar	—	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	—	✓

Warranty

Feature	GMC	Subaru
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	6 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	1 yr./ unlimited mi.	—

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 GMC Terrain and 2026 Subaru Outback.

Which car has better fuel economy for my daily commute?

Both the 2025 GMC Terrain and the 2026 Subaru Outback are rated for 27 MPG combined, so you won't see a major difference in fuel costs between their respective 26/28 MPG (Terrain) and 25/31 MPG (Outback) ratings.

Is the $4,995 price difference between the two crossovers worth it for the Subaru?

That depends on your needs; the Outback costs $4,995 more but includes standard All-Wheel Drive and an extra 4.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which adds significant utility.

How much more power does the 2026 Outback have over the 2025 Terrain?

The Outback has a slight horsepower advantage, offering 180 hp compared to the Terrain's 175 hp. However, the Terrain counters this with significantly more torque at 203 lb-ft versus the Outback's 178 lb-ft.

Which crossover is physically larger for hauling purposes?

The 2026 Subaru Outback is the larger vehicle overall, being 10.7 inches longer (191.7 inches vs. 181.0 inches) and providing 34.6 cu ft of cargo capacity, notably surpassing the Terrain's 29.8 cu ft.

Do I need premium gasoline for either the 2025 Terrain or 2026 Outback?

No, both vehicles are designed to run efficiently on regular unleaded fuel, making routine fueling costs consistent between the two models.

Does the standard drive type favor one vehicle for bad weather?

Yes, the 2026 Subaru Outback comes standard with All-Wheel Drive, which typically offers better traction in snow or rain compared to the 2025 GMC Terrain's standard front-wheel drive configuration.