Day after day they haunt drivers. No matter how drivers try to avoid them someway the vehicle always drifts towards them. As soon as one is fixed two more seem to appear in its place. They cost drivers tons of money to fix their vehicles from their damage and in taxes to repair. Those pesky hollow cavities formed by the erosion of rock. I am talking about potholes, people. Houston has plenty of them. Because of this drivers seek vehicles that can handle the rough terrain and keep it moving. What better vehicle to do the job than the one named for that very purpose, the GMC Terrain.

When the 2010 GMC Terrain first made its debut in 2009 it was praised for its versatility, functionality, and upscale design. Seven years later and it is still known for those same three qualities and like a fine wine, it has improved with age. Let’s talk about the 2018 GMC Terrain AWD Denali.

Looking at the 2018 GMC Terrain and one thing is obvious. It is smaller than its predecessor. A few inches were shaved off the length and a little more off the wheelbase resulting in decreased cargo space and legroom for front and second-row passengers. That cargo space is reclaimed. I will tell you about that a little later. The redesigned of the exterior has made the GMC Terrain more modern and distinctive than any other model with bolder, sharper curves. Standout features like the “floating roof” keep it on trend. Spring for the Denali trim level to really give the GMC Terrain an upgrade of a prominent grille with GMC badging, more chrome and aluminum detailing, LED_-daytime running lamps, roof rack, side rails, dual exhaust tips, and 19” ultra-bright aluminum wheels.

Inside the two-tone leather seats command your attention as soon as you open the door. Simply giving the interior a glance over and I could tell that only top quality materials were used in the construction. That was further confirmed by further expectation. Seats are perforated and leather-appointed for a richness that makes the body feel good. Although backseat passengers don’t get the enjoyment of heated seats like front seat passengers, all will love the infotainment center. Now the 7-inch touch screen is standard in 2018 models or opt for the 8-inch screen to experience Bluetooth technology, audio streaming, Onstar connectivity, Apple Carplay, Android Auto, 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot, XM Radio, and navigation.

Being a gas-hungry SUV was not good for the GMC Terrain so for 2018 the fuel economy was improved with a smaller engine. Gone is the V6 and here is the 1.6-liter engine. However, my Denali trim level GMC Terrain was equipped with the more powerful 2.0-liter turbo engine four-cylinder engine that gets 21-mpg city and 26-mpg highway for better torque. And since I had the all-wheel drive model I was able to have the better fuel economy and save money on gas.

I opened this review speaking about potholes and how the Terrain was suited to handle those treacherous road conditions. Turns out the GMC Terrain can handle more than potholes but also pavement, snow, dirt, and rocks. Drivers just need to twist their wrist to utilize the terrain selector for most favorable use of the AWD system, transmission, and engine. With these changes, it is surprising that the GMC Terrain’s towing capacity has not been affected. It can still tow up to 3,500 pounds as previous models.

I enjoyed the GMC Terrain because I always felt prepared for whatever the road could dish. Usually, in my car, I feel like I am always in brace mode as I bounce around trying to avoid all the dips and drops on a normal route. But more than just a smooth ride. It was a safe ride. Safe because the 2018 GMC Terrain has a multitude of new safety features a surround-vision camera, forward collision alert, lane keeping assistance, blind spot monitoring, and safety alert seat. And the way all these alerts work to keep drivers on their toes will only make you a better driver. Drift into another lane and your seat vibrates. Open either of the backdoors before entering the Terrain to start a trip and the vehicle is “smart” enough to think there is something in the backseat (like maybe your child) and the vehicle will flash an alert once the engine is turned off. How cool and ingenious is that?

The 2018 GMC Terrain has been reinvented for the needs of today’s and future drivers making it ready and able for whatever. Sticker price for the base model starts just under $40,000 and can increase to almost $44,000 for the Denali trim level. For more information, visit gmc.com.