At the Detroit Auto Show, the 2018 GMC Terrain made its debut, an all-new design to the brand’s compact crossover SUV that gets three new engines including a diesel.

Terrain has always had bold styling, but the 2018 model takes that legacy one step further with an unforgettable new face that echoes some of what the new Acadia brought last year but also brings much of its own character to the game.

In fact character might be too subtle a word. While the grille says GMC, the headlights are likely the most creative thing yet from the brand, sculpted and creased into the fenders as they are. A lower front fascia garnish also turns up at the ends in an unexpected fashion.

From the side and at the rear, we see the first application of the floating roof design element from the brand, ever. And to their credit, it’s real glass with see-through capability, not a black trim piece like some brands have applied.

As the GMC Terrain shares its chassis with the recently unveiled Chevrolet Equinox, it will also share much in the way of powertrains – three of them to be exact.

The first, a 1.5 liter turbocharged four with 170 horsepower will be the gas mileage play with 31 mpg we’re told. For performance you can go up to a 252 horsepower 2.0 liter turbocharged four. A segment first option for GMC will be an available diesel engine. The 1.6 liter turbo-diesel will offer up 136 horsepower, and could offer up to 40 mpg highway.

An all-new GM designed nine-speed automatic transmission will be available with the 2.0 liter engine, a transmission we’ll likely see in many other of the brand’s vehicles over time. All three will be available with the a new fully disconnecting all-wheel drive system that offers efficiency in passive driving and all-wheel traction when its needed or asked for by drive mode.

Shifting gears to drive away in the 2018 Equinox might at first be vexing to drivers though as the traditional shifter has been replaced by a bank of push-buttons that hide just below the HVAC controls. Called Electronic Precision Shift, the arrangement frees up the center console, but its design might leave some scratching their heads until they get used to it.

A new fold-flat front passenger seat augments a fully flat load floor when the rear seats are folded, allowing for long items like skis or materials from the home store. Additional under-floor compartments add versatility as well.

The rest of the interior is more traditional in the GM design sense with an upgrade in materials this year including more soft-touch surfaces for those wanting a better feel than yesterday’s cheap hard plastics offered up.

A list of new infotainment tech features is entirely too long to list here but includes the expected array of OnStar services, AppleCar Play, Android Auto to play with while the newly added driver assistance and automatic emergency safety system options. watch your back.

The 2018 Terrain goes on sale this summer in SL, SLE, SLT and Denali trim grades. More detailed specifications and pricing will be announced later this spring.