3 Best GMC Models for College Freshmen
GMC has versatile options to suit your transportation preferences and needs as you head off to college for the first time this fall. Here are our top three picks to lease or buy as you begin your undergrad adventure.
Terrific Terrain: Discover the strengths of the 2020 GMC Terrain
Terrain
The Terrain is a rewarding choice if you want a five-passenger SUV with notable gas mileage — 30 mpg on the highway — and the latest infotainment and safety tech. It’s spacious, while still being compact enough to maneuver in cramped parking and traffic situations. This comes in useful if your campus is located in an urban setting or you’ll be commuting to an internship in a metropolitan area.
With a towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds, the Terrain seamlessly shifts into weekend getaway mode when you and your college friends need a break from the books. It proves a reliable companion whether you’re camping in the woods or taking water skis to the lake.
Available built-in navigation will help you avoid getting lost as you learn the streets of a new town. GMC has also incorporated a bevy of safety technologies to shield you from harm and protect the SUV from scratches and dents. Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Alert, and Available Rear Park Assist are just a few of these progressive tools.
Canyon
If you prefer the energy and body style of a truck and want the ability to go off-roading to burn some academic stress, the GMC Canyon is a good option. It can achieve 30 mpg on the highway and tow up to 7,700 pounds when properly equipped. It has the bed space and towing strength to make moving into a new dorm or apartment simpler.
Go with the AT4 trim, available later this year, if you want to channel 369 lb-ft of torque on your excursions. It also comes with an Off-Road Suspension Package and Advanced Hill Descent Control to boost stability and confidence on your adventures. The 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac Tires provide aggressive style and extra traction so you can plow through the mud with ease.
Acadia
With three rows and an adaptable seating layout, the Acadia embodies the comfortable interior you crave for commutes, errands, and road trips home to visit your family. Fold the back-row seats flat to take advantage of 79 cubic feet of maximum cargo space when you’re transporting your belongings from home to the dorm or vice versa.
It also has the latest safety systems to boost your confidence on the road, such as Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Alert, and Side Blind Zone Alert. These technologies will help you stay awake and increase your alertness when you’re driving home or across town after pulling an all-nighter.
Like the Canyon, GMC also offers the Acadia in an AT4 trim if you prefer an SUV that’s a bit more rugged. This version is a smart pick if your commute to campus involves driving on some dirt roads or if you’ll be going on weekend off-roading trips with friends.
Check out these other great models from Chevy that are well-suited to freshman life.
The All-Star Acadia: Learn more about the Acadia’s safety tech, spaciousness, and cabin amenities
Whitney Russell resides in Dayton, though her spirit can be found beach-bumming in Puerto Rico (the land of her half-Puerto Rican heritage). When not crafting car-related content, she can be found chasing after the most amazing toddler in the world, watching her “beaver” of a husband build amazing woodworking projects, hanging out with two crazy dogs, and visiting family and friends. She also enjoys traveling, crafting, and binge-watching period dramas when time allows. See more articles by Whitney.