2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4: MPG and fuel economy
The 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 25 combined MPG, with 24 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. That lands well below the average for cars in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain.
Key takeaways
- Returns 48% worse combined MPG than the average car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2026 model year (48.5 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2026 model year is the Tesla Model Y Standard AWD at 127 MPG.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 25 MPG |
| City MPG | 24 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 26 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,400 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 358 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 compares
The 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 returns 25 combined MPG. Cars in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year average 48.5 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 48%.
The most efficient car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2026 model year is the Tesla Model Y Standard AWD at 127 MPG. The bar chart below puts the GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2026 model year (across all classes) returns 45.5 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2026 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 600 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,200 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,400 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $4,000 |
Compare against other Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD for 2026
If you are cross-shopping the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Tesla Model Y Standard AWD leads this group at 127 MPG, 102 MPG ahead of the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4.
Specifications
The 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 runs a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a automatic 8-spd, sending power through all-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
- Engine
- 1.5L 4-cylinder turbocharged
- Transmission
- Automatic 8-spd
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 11.9 barrels per year
- Start-stop system
- Yes
Common questions about the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4.
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Is the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 fuel efficient?
Not particularly. The 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 returns 25 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year by about 48%. -
What MPG does the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 get?
The EPA rates the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 at 25 combined MPG, 24 MPG in city driving, and 26 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,400 for the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
What fuel does the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 use?
The EPA lists the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
How much CO₂ does the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 358 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 5,370 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4?
City driving returns 24 MPG and highway driving returns 26 MPG, a gap of 2 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns. -
What engine is in the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4?
The 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 has a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine (EPA description: SIDI). Smaller turbocharged engines like this one tend to deliver bigger-engine power on demand while keeping fuel economy closer to a non-turbo version of the same displacement. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 have?
The 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 comes with a automatic 8-spd transmission and all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive variants typically read 1 to 3 MPG lower than the front-wheel-drive equivalent of the same engine, since the extra hardware adds weight and parasitic loss. -
How does the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2026 model year is the Tesla Model Y Standard AWD at 127 combined MPG. The GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 returns 25 MPG, a gap of 102 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look. -
How much more does the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 cost in fuel compared to an average car?
The EPA estimates that over five years, the 2026 GMC Terrain AWD Denali/AT4 will cost about $1,250 more in fuel than an average new vehicle of the same model year. The difference accumulates because the car uses more fuel per mile, not because of any one-off charge at the dealership.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.