Compare the2026 Subaru OutbackVS 2026 GMC Terrain

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Outback are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The GMC Terrain doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Subaru Outback has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Terrain doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Outback has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Terrain doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outback. But it costs extra on the Terrain.

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the Subaru Outback’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system costs extra on the GMC Terrain.

The Outback’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Terrain doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Outback and the Terrain have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Outback’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Terrain’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Outback has a standard 150-amp alternator (190-amp - Outback XT). The Terrain’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. GMC is ranked 20th.

The Outback 2.5i’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (180 vs. 175) than the Terrain FWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Outback 2.5i’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (180 vs. 175) than the Terrain AWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 85 more horsepower (260 vs. 175) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 203) than the Terrain AWD’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Terrain doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Outback gets better mileage than the Terrain:

The Outback has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Terrain FWD’s standard fuel tank (18 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Outback has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Terrain AWD’s standard fuel tank (18 vs. 15.6 gallons).

For better stopping power the Outback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Terrain:

The Outback’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Terrain are solid, not vented.

The Outback Wilderness has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Terrain; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Outback has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Outback flat and controlled during cornering. The Terrain’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Outback offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Terrain’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Terrain’s (36.5 feet vs. 37.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a 2.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Terrain (8.7 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 3.1 inches higher than on the Terrain AT4 (9.5 vs. 6.4 inches).

The Outback has .4 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 4.1 inches more rear hip room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Terrain.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Outback’s rear seats recline. The Terrain’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Terrain with its rear seat up (34.6 vs. 29.8 cubic feet). The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Terrain with its rear seat folded (80.5 vs. 63.5 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Outback easier. The Outback’s trunk lift-over height is 28.3 inches, while the Terrain’s liftover is 29.9 inches.

The Outback’s cargo area is larger than the Terrain’s in every dimension:

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Outback’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Terrain doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Outback. The Terrain doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Outback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Terrain’s (2700 vs. 800 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Terrain AWD is only 1500 pounds. The Outback offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Outback uses the Vehicle Dynamics Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Terrain doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The engine in the Outback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Terrain. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than GMC. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 23% lower rating, GMC is ranked 15th.

The Outback’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Terrain’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s exterior PIN entry system. The Terrain doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Outback has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Terrain doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Outback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Terrain doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Outback’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Terrain offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Subaru Outback and GMC Terrain offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Outback offers optional power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Terrain’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Subaru Outback outsold the GMC Terrain by 89% during 2024.