Compare the2025 Ford BroncoVS 2024 GMC Terrain

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Bronco have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The GMC Terrain doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Bronco has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Terrain doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Bronco. But it costs extra on the Terrain.

The Bronco Big Bend/Outer Banks/Badlands/Stroppe/Raptor/Heritage’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 Bronco and the Terrain have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Ford Bronco weighs 624 to 2314 pounds more than the GMC Terrain. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Bronco is safer than the GMC Terrain:

	Bronco	Terrain
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	287	376
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Ford Bronco 4-Door is much safer than the Terrain:

	Bronco	Terrain
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	31	131
Neck Tension	134 lbs.	290 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	112 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	.75 in	1.73 in
Shoulder Force	223 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.67 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	469 lbs.	781 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Injury Criterion	62	733
Head Peak Forces	no contact	101 G’s
Neck Compression	89 lbs.	491 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.98 in	1.65 in
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.59 in	1.57 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	7 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	535 lbs.	669 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

Warranty

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

There are over 73 percent more Ford dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Bronco’s warranty.

Reliability

The Bronco has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Terrain doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Bronco has a standard 800-amp battery. The Terrain’s 700-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 7 places higher in reliability than GMC.

Engine

The Bronco’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 125 more horsepower (300 vs. 175) and 122 lbs.-ft. more torque (325 vs. 203) than the Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Bronco’s optional 2.7 turbo V6 produces 155 more horsepower (330 vs. 175) and 212 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 203) than the Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Bronco Raptor’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 243 more horsepower (418 vs. 175) and 237 lbs.-ft. more torque (440 vs. 203) than the Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Bronco 2-Door’s standard fuel tank has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Terrain FWD’s standard fuel tank (16.9 vs. 14.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Bronco 4-Door’s standard fuel tank has 5.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Terrain AWD’s standard fuel tank (20.8 vs. 15.6 gallons).

Transmission

The Bronco offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Terrain doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

A 10-speed automatic is available on the Ford Bronco, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the Terrain.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Bronco	Bronco Raptor	Terrain
Front Rotors	12.2 inches	13.8 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	12.1 inches	13.2 inches	11.3 inches

The Bronco’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.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Bronco has larger standard tires than the Terrain (255/75R17 vs. 225/65R17). The Bronco Raptor’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Terrain (37 x 12.5R17 vs. 235/50R19).

The Ford Bronco’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The GMC Terrain only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Bronco 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.

Suspension and Handling

The Bronco Badlands/Stroppe/Raptor has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Terrain doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Bronco offers an optional 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 or off-road. The Terrain’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Bronco’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Terrain doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Bronco 4-Door’s wheelbase is 8.8 inches longer than on the Terrain (116.1 inches vs. 107.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Bronco is 5.2 inches wider in the front and 5.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Terrain.

For better maneuverability, the Bronco 2-Door’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Terrain w/17” wheels’ (35.5 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Bronco 4-Door Sasquatch’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Terrain w/19” wheels’ (39.9 feet vs. 41.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Bronco 2-Door has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Terrain SLE (8.3 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Bronco to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Bronco 4-Door has 5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Terrain (108.2 vs. 103.2).

Cargo Capacity

The Bronco 4-Door has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Terrain with its rear seat up (38.3 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The Bronco 4-Door has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Terrain with its rear seat folded (83 vs. 63.3 cubic feet).

The Bronco 4-Door’s optional sliding cargo floor makes loading and unloading cargo easier and safer. The Terrain doesn’t offer a sliding load floor.

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

The Bronco’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the right swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Terrain’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Towing

The Bronco’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Terrain’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Terrain is only 1500 pounds. The Bronco offers up to a 4500 lbs. towing capacity.

The Bronco can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Bronco can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Terrain can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Bronco 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.

Ergonomics

The Bronco’s front power windows 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 front passenger window doesn’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 Bronco’s available 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.

Consumer Reports rated the Bronco’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Terrain’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

Model Availability

The Ford Bronco comes in four door and soft top bodystyles; the GMC Terrain isn’t available as a soft top.

Economic Advantages

The Bronco will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Bronco will retain 60.22% to 71.6% of its original price after five years, while the Terrain only retains 53.97% to 56.81%.

Recommendations

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Bronco as the 2022 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Terrain has never been chosen.

The Ford Bronco outsold the GMC Terrain by 24% during 2024.

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