GMC Terrain vs Hyundai Palisade: Specs Compared
Also searched as Hyundai Palisade vs GMC Terrain specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Hyundai Palisade is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 34 mpg combined versus 32 mpg for the GMC Terrain, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $400 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Hyundai Palisade leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2027
GMC Terrain
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · 47 configurations
2020–2027
Hyundai Palisade
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 24 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | GMC Terrain | Hyundai Palisade |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 32 mpg | 34 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 28 mpg | 33 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 39 mpg ✓ | 35 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,200 | $1,800 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 316 g/mi | 258 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI, 1.6, SIDI; FFV | SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, SIDI |
| Transmissions | Automatic 8-spd, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic 9-spd | Automatic (S8), Automatic (AM-S6) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular, Premium, Diesel | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2027 | 2020–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 47 | 24 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
GMC Terrain vs Hyundai Palisade dimensions and size
The Hyundai Palisade is 15.4 inches longer than the GMC Terrain on a wheelbase 7.1 inches longer, and 716.5 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | GMC Terrain (2026) | Hyundai Palisade (2025) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 181.1 in | 196.5 in | 15.4 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 74.4 in | 78 in | 3.5 in |
| Height | 65.7 in | 68.9 in | 3.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 107.1 in | 114.2 in | 7.1 in |
| Curb weight | 3,598 lbs | 4,314 lbs | 717 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
GMC Terrain vs Hyundai Palisade: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Hyundai Palisade burns about $1,800 of fuel annually against $2,200 for the GMC Terrain. That $400 yearly gap compounds to roughly $2,000 over five years and $3,200 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the Hyundai Palisade is the stronger commuter at 33 mpg city, while the GMC Terrain pulls ahead on the interstate at 39 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the GMC Terrain is recorded with 3 distinct engine configurations (SIDI, 1.6, SIDI; FFV), the Hyundai Palisade with 3 (SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, SIDI). Across 47 recorded GMC Terrain configurations and 24 for the Hyundai Palisade, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the GMC Terrain is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Hyundai Palisade with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Hyundai Palisade emits 258 g/mile of CO2 versus 316 g/mile for the GMC Terrain. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
Terrain vs Palisade: common questions
Which is better on gas, the GMC Terrain or the Hyundai Palisade?
The Hyundai Palisade is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 34 mpg combined versus 32 mpg for the GMC Terrain, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $400 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Hyundai Palisade runs about $1,800 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,200 for the GMC Terrain — a difference of roughly $400 per year.
What engines do the Terrain and Palisade offer?
GMC Terrain: SIDI, 1.6, SIDI; FFV. Hyundai Palisade: SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, SIDI.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the GMC Terrain as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD and the Hyundai Palisade as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Terrain comparisons
More Palisade comparisons
Comparison id: gmc-terrain-vs-hyundai-palisade