2010 GMC Terrain Priced at $24,995

So a can buy an uglier Equinox for a $1.5K premium? No thanks.

Still makes more sense than a Pontiac Torrent...

"So, GM will badge-engineer yet another crossover, but is letting the G8 die with Pontiac?

I'm at a loss for words."

+1. I'm right there with you. GM is still fully capable of shockingly inept management decisions.

AWFUL.

Pontiac was not a strong brand. I like the G8 but the reality is Pontiac relied on fleets more than any other GM division. The G8 has not sold well and GM is probably losing money on every one since it comes from Australia. This is about business, not which brands/vehicles are more fun to drive. GMC can pay its on rent, not Pontiac. when you are bleeding billions per quarter you can't keep cars alive just to make a handful enthusiasts happy. The G8 only started selling once GM announed Pontiac was being canned. Before that they couldn't give away G8s in spite of the reviews.

1487: I think the criticism is that GM is killing off the G8 entirely instead of just shifting it to another brand (namely Chevrolet). It's not badge-engineering if no other brand on the continent has it. Fritz Henderson said that the reason the G8 isn't going to be continued as another brand's vehicle is because he opposes badge-engineering, but that's exactly what the Terrain is. He defends the Terrain as being different enough from the Equinox that it's not badge engineering, an obvious lie. More of the same stupidity that caused GM's failure.

Jeez... yet another FWD crossover from the big 3. How many of these things can the US consumer consume? How about instead of a crossover that can't really go off road, yet doesn't handle anywhere near a regular car/wagon, someone gives us a true sportwagon like the Audi, Saab or Volvo versions. I'd imagine the Fusion or Malibu platforms would make for a nice size, 5 passenger wagon with much better driving dynamics than a x-over. Throw in optional AWD for the snow belt and perhaps a strong turbo diesel and keep the base just under 30k decently equipped. That offer the motoring public a better option than a x-over and would likely cost less to develop/sell/market to boot by virtue of common front sheetmetal and interior components. Looking forward to the upcoming Caddy CTS wagon and only wish it was a bit less expensive so I wouldn't feel guilty about kids and dogs trashing the inside!

wjtinatl,

I agree with your philosophy. But do yourself a favor and sit outside a Toyota dealership for day. For every Venza, which is basically what you describe (a awd wagon), they will sell five Highlanders and Rav4's. All share the same engine and platform. It's not that you're not right about what should be. But what should be isn't what is. GM is just creating product to satisfy consumer demand, which is what they should do doing. Unfortunately, they're doubling their effort yet again.

Is it just me or does the rear remind you of the Toyota Sienna?

orang:

The Terrain is not badge engineering. Henderson was talking about literally rebadging the G8 as a Chevy and selling it at Chevy dealers. I dont think thats the ONLY reason they arent going it, just one reason. Again, if the G8 is not profitable changing its name means NOTHING. It also amazes me that people think that totally different looking vehicles are rebadges. They are not. You might as well call the RX and Highlander rebadges.

wjnati:

Dont blame this on manufacturers. People dont want wagons. Remember the Magnum and Malibu Maxx? Ever wonder why they were discontinued? People like the ride height of crossovers and they are hear to stay. Wagons are a niche in the US market and many wagon variants have come and gone. Lets not forget there were Accord and Camry wagons at one time.

Wasn't GM "bailed out" with tax dollars? I mean, if Uncle Sam is giving them money, and Uncle Sam gets his money from us, don't we own GM? Why, then, do we have to pay for another lump of crap from a has-been automaker that we freakin' own?!

Please fans out there that still have faith with GM. Give te company some time to re-build the company. Who knows GM may come back and introduce again with some unique styling and performance vehicles.

I guess the Acadia, Outlook, Enclave, and Traverse aren't badge-engineering either then, 1487. It's one thing to share a platform, it's another thing to share everything except a few body panels and pricey features. By your reckoning the Mercury Mariner and Ford Escape aren't badge engineered. After all, the Mariner costs more, has more features, and looks different.

"Remember the Magnum and Malibu Maxx? Ever wonder why they were discontinued?"

The Magnum failed because it was a full size wagon with a small wagon cargo area. The sedan guys didn't want it because it was a wagon and the wagon guys didn't want it because it wasn't very useful for it's size. I see a lot around so they must have sold quite a few though.

The Malibu Maxx failed because it was butt ugly. I can't remember the last time I saw one of those.

People do want wagons, they just haven't the backbone to admit it. Crossovers are just wagons with a touch of SUV styling thrown in so people can say it's not a wagon.

BTW... the Terrain is badge engineered. They took an existing car, changed a few body panels and called it something else.

badge engineered- Terrain, SRX, Equinox
badge engineered- Sunbird, Cavalier, Cimarron

do these things even have AWD lock? I know the Escape does. Perhaps that would be the only one smaller SUV/CUV that comes with that true off road purpose?

I believe we should have more wagons. Subaru has managed to make a great wagon out of the outback. I think the reason the maxx and the magnum failed was because of things other than the fact they were wagons. With the maxx it in general was just not a great car that body style was only made a couple of years. With the magnum it was its base motor the 2.7 extremely underpowered and just not a great motor. To go up to a bigger motor shot the price up with it and it didnt make sense in my viewpoint. We dont need anymore badge engineered cars. Even with gm restructuring they can come up with good ideas that are different.

More expensive yet uglier and cheaper looking. Where do I sign?

badge engineered- Sunbird, Cavalier, Cimarron

Don't forget the Buick Skyhawk and the Olds Firenza.

all manufacturers re-badge... they change the outside but all the same underneath.
If you dont like GM vehicles why do people spend so much time commenting and reading about them??

alman:

SRX is not even on the same platform as the Equinox. You are very wrong.

Orang;

You obviously have trouble understanding badge engineering. Badge engineering is changing nothing more than the emblems and grilles. The Cobalt and G5 are examples. The Terrain shares NOTHING with the Equinox in terms of body panels. the interiors are very similar but the exteriors are totally unique. The lambdas are definitely not badge engineered. They all have different interiors and totally different panels. The Enclave/Traverse even have a different beltline from the other two. The Enclave and Traverse interiors are VERY different from the other two vehicles. All they share are steering wheels and shifters. Even the door panels inside each vehicle are different.

firstwagon:

I dont expect accuracy in much that you say but I will correct you anyway. Americans don't want wagons. Saying that Americans want them but wont admit it one of the most ridiculous things I've read in a while. There is a LONG list of wagon failures over the last 20 years. I notice you didnt explain why the Accord and camry wagon models failed miserably and got axed. The Europeans are the only ones that manages to sell a few wagon models here. As for the Maxx- I just saw one yesterday.

GMC didnt change "a few" panels on the Equinox, they changed all of them. Let me know where the common panels are since you know so much. The two vehicles look totally different. Far more difference than Yukon/Tahoe or Silverado/Sierra. Next you will tell me the Impala and Lacrosse are indistinguishable because they share a platform.

"If you dont like GM vehicles why do people spend so much time commenting and reading about them??"

Remember if GM and company X do the exact same thing its stupid when GM does it but a sign of effective cost cutting and utilization of economies of scale when company X does it. You didn't know that? But dont worry, the Accord and TL are most definitely DISTANT relatives- Honda would never change a few body panels, add some hp and then call a gussied up Accord a "luxury car".

Orang:

I would have to look at Escape and Mariner closely to see if they would be badge engineered. Right now I would say that exterior changes are minimal between the two and are most limited to front fascia/grille. They are certainly not as different as the GM crossovers. Much less different than lambdas.

Actually the new SRX and the new Equinox share the same platform. Are you honestly arguing that the Terrain and Equinox are separate vehicles sharing only a platform in common? The same for the Lambda quadruplets? To do so would be patently absurd. Appearances do not a separate vehicle make.

1487

I dont expect accuracy in much that you say either. You come across even more opinionated then even I do.

Maybe I should have said they need them rather then want them. Like I said SUV's and crossovers are just high riding wagons and they have sold in huge numbers over the last 20 years.

1487 What are you defending?

Do you like the idea of two vehicles being a whole lot alike? Example: same drivetrain and same exterior dimensions.

Or

Are you defending Fritz Henderson?

He should have done a better job explaining what exactly his definition of Badge engineering is. To me badge engineering is any vehicle that shares a drivetrain, and shares exterior dimensions, and is in the same class.

I think my interpretation is in line with the majority of readers.

So...what exactly are you trying to say?

1487
The new SRX would ditch the CTS platform and share the its platform with the new Equinox. Stop trying to be an expert when you don't even have the facts straight.

oh wait a min... I just remember saying to myself long ago to ignore poster 1487's comments because he's just as annoying as "the mechanic".
my bad for breaking my own rules...

Re: Malibu Maxx: I think all the US Maxxs have moved up here to Canada where we appreciate practical cars, not gas guzzling monster trucks. Wagon sales are much better here but unfortunately the Detroit Three have abandoned this market to the Europeans and Koreans. Too bad since Opel and Ford (Europe) make some nice mid size wagons which would fix well into their Canadian product mix. Why our government doesn't go after free trade with the EU and accept their fuel economy/safety standards is beyond me. At least the Equinox/Terrain twins are manufactured here in southern Ontario!