Hot off an assembly line in Canada, the new GMC Terrain small SUV has begun to trickle into area dealerships. Earlier this week, the folks at Kelly GMC invited me out to test one. Our base 2010 Terrain tester is rated at 32 mpg highway. In mixed city/highway driving, the Terrain will average about 26 mpg, the government says. “I think the customer (for the Terrain) will be (former) mid-size SUV owners who still want the seating height of an SUV but with better fuel economy,” said Bridget Sanders, Kelly GMC saleswoman.

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS: As I drove the Terrain through rush-hour traffic on Highway 153, the 4-cylinder engine felt more like a small 6-cylinder. (And indeed there’s a 6-cylinder variant for those who want a few more horsepower.) I tested the base-trim Terrain after spending several days in a Honda CR-V. GM clearly has the small import SUVs from Honda and Toyota in its crosshairs.

STYLING: Here’s where the Terrain thrives. It looks like a full-blooded SUV. Its bold, chrome grill would look at home on a full-sized truck. Flaring wheel wells and a tall roof line contribute to the aggressive look. Our tester, coated in Merlot Jewell Metallic paint, was striking. The interior materials and fit and finish are upscale. A nifty power driver’s seat offers a near infinite number of driving positions. The back seat slides fore-and-aft to adjust knee room.

BOTTOM LINE: At a shade under $25,000, the base Terrain feels like a more expensive vehicle compared to bargain-basement crossovers. Little flourishes like a nifty back-up camera (with screen in the rear view mirror) and tire-pressure monitors elevate the Terrain to higher ground.

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