Two compact SUVs that come up often in Winnipeg’s market are the 2026 GMC Terrain and the 2026 Honda CR-V. The Terrain arrives this year as a broader lineup — Elevation, AT4, and Denali — covering everything from adventure-ready off-road use to premium daily driving. The CR-V is a well-known option in this class, but when the numbers line up side by side, the Terrain’s cargo advantage, torque lead, and trim depth give Manitoba drivers a stronger answer.

Here is the direct comparison.

At a Glance: 2026 GMC Terrain vs. 2026 Honda CR-V

Feature	2026 GMC Terrain	2026 Honda CR-V (Gas)
Engine	1.5L Turbo 4-cylinder	1.5L Turbo 4-cylinder
Horsepower	175 hp	190 hp
AWD Torque	203 lb-ft	179 lb-ft
Towing Capacity	1,500 lbs (680 kg) AWD	1,499 lbs (680 kg) AWD
Max Cargo (seats up)	1,798 L	1,113 L
Infotainment Screen	11.3 inches (all trims)	9 inches
Off-Road Trim	AT4	TrailSport Hybrid
Luxury Trim	Denali	Touring Hybrid

Torque, AWD, and Manitoba Winters

The Terrain’s 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder produces 175 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque in AWD configuration. AT4 and Denali trims pair with an 8-speed automatic transmission — a conventional, confidence-inspiring setup for Winnipeg’s winters, where predictable AWD pull through snow-covered Pembina Highway and Kenaston interchanges matters most.

The CR-V gas variant produces 190 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque with a CVT. The Terrain’s AWD torque figure of 203 lb-ft exceeds the CR-V’s 179 lb-ft — a 24 lb-ft advantage that drivers notice in cold-weather starts, on-ramp merges, and any moment where confident thrust from a stop makes a difference.

Terrain Elevation AWD fuel economy:

• City: 9.9 L/100 km
• Highway: 8.5 L/100 km

That is the figure for a fully AWD-capable compact SUV with 1,798 L of cargo, three distinct trim levels, and 203 lb-ft of torque — a strong value for Manitoba drivers.

Cargo: 685 More Litres With Passengers On Board

The 2026 Terrain delivers 1,798 L of maximum cargo volume with the rear seats folded — the same number whether the buyer goes Elevation, AT4, or Denali. Behind the rear seat with passengers in place, the Terrain provides 844 L.

The CR-V gas model offers 1,113 L with passengers aboard. That is 685 L less usable cargo room in the configuration most Winnipeg families use every day.

• Terrain max cargo: 1,798 L
• CR-V gas cargo (seats up): 1,113 L

When fully loaded with rear seats down, the CR-V’s total reaches 2,166 L — a higher maximum. But for school runs, grocery trips, and weekend drives to Birds Hill Provincial Park with a full car, the Terrain carries more.

Three Trims That Mean Three Different Vehicles

The 2026 Terrain’s expanded lineup gives Manitoba buyers options the CR-V lineup cannot match on range:

Terrain Elevation brings AWD availability, the 11.3-inch infotainment screen, GMC Pro Safety standard across the board, and a practical everyday capability that handles all of Winnipeg’s road conditions without compromise.

Terrain AT4 is a purpose-built off-road trim with hardware the CR-V TrailSport Hybrid does not include:

• AEV-stamped steel front skid plate
• AT4-exclusive Terrain Mode
• Hill Descent Control
• Lifted ride height
• Red front recovery hooks
• 17-inch all-terrain tires

The TrailSport Hybrid adds all-terrain tires and a styled exterior, but without a dedicated skid plate or selectable Terrain Mode, it does not match the AT4’s off-road engineering depth.

Terrain Denali brings the premium compact SUV experience with features the CR-V Touring Hybrid does not offer:

• Unique Smart Frequency Dampers for enhanced ride comfort
• 19-inch wheels (20-inch available)
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated rear outboard seats
• Full Denali-exclusive interior and exterior styling

The Touring Hybrid is CR-V’s top trim and covers heated and ventilated seats plus a 12-speaker Bose audio system. Solid content — but the Terrain Denali’s Smart Frequency Dampers and dedicated suspension tuning put it in a different league on ride quality.

Technology

The Terrain carries an 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, an 8-inch digital driver display, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, Google built-in compatibility, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability on every trim. Denali adds Traffic Sign Recognition as standard.

The CR-V starts with a 9-inch touchscreen on LX and Sport gas trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the lineup, and upper hybrid trims add USB-C rear ports and a larger audio system.

The Terrain’s 11.3-inch screen is standard from the Elevation up — Winnipeg buyers do not have to spend into a higher trim to get the display size they want.

Safety

All Terrain trims carry GMC Pro Safety standard: Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking, Rear Cross Traffic Braking, Reverse Automatic Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking, and Side Bicyclist Alert. Hill Descent Control is standard on AT4 and Denali.

The CR-V carries Honda Sensing across all trims: Collision Mitigation Braking, Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Information, and Cross Traffic Monitor.

Both suites cover the essential safety bases for Winnipeg’s mix of icy intersections, ring-road speeds, and open highway driving.

The Right Compact SUV for Winnipeg Drivers

More torque. More cargo room with passengers aboard. A larger standard screen. A purpose-built off-road AT4 trim that goes further than the TrailSport Hybrid. A Denali luxury tier with suspension engineering the Touring Hybrid does not match. The 2026 GMC Terrain makes a stronger case for Manitoba drivers at every trim level.

Visit McNaught Buick GMC in Winnipeg

The 2026 Terrain Elevation, AT4, and Denali are ready at McNaught Buick GMC. Come in and walk through all three trims — the team is here to match you to the right build for how you drive in Manitoba.