What is Terrain Mode in the 2022 GMC HUMMER EV?

In a recent blog we took a look at some of the different off-road driving technologies that will be found in the upcoming 2022 GMC HUMMER EV. One that we mentioned was Terrain Mode, and we said we’d dive into more detail about what exactly that feature is later. So, today we figured we’d do just that, by figuring out what exactly this new feature is and how it works.

[ READ MORE: What kind of off-road driving technologies are standard in the 2022 GMC HUMMER EV Edition 1? ]

“Whether driving on the highway or climbing over rocks, the HUMMER EV will be configurable for driver preferences. It’s an incredibly personalized and engaging driving experience that makes the full capability of the vehicle simple and comfortable to use. It offers a great feeling of control, by optimizing regenerative braking, friction braking and drive motor torque all through the accelerator pedals. Once you’ve tried it off-roading, you’ll quickly realize the benefits.”

– Aaron Pfau, Lead Development Engineer, HUMMER EV

What is Drive Mode Control?

Before we can truly dive into what exactly Terrain Mode is, we need to address Drive Mode Control. This is the feature that enables drivers to quickly adjust the vehicle’s settings to be optimized for certain driving conditions. The vehicle comes standard with five different modes, which include Normal, Off-Road, Tow/Haul, a completely customizable My Mode and, you probably guessed it, Terrain Mode.

What does Terrain Mode do?

When setting your HUMMER EV into Terrain Mode, you’ll be able to choose between two different braking calibrations. One is a mild braking option that utilizes the traditional two-foot driving method, while the other is One-Pedal Driving, a feature purpose-built for low-speed off-road driving. The One-Pedal Driving technology was originally designed by General Motors for other vehicles, so this isn’t the first time it has appeared. It enables the driver to both accelerate and decelerate with just the gas pedal.

The version of One-Pedal Driving found in Terrain Mode is slightly altered, featuring a unique set of calibrations limiting speed for these specific off-road driving conditions. It was designed with driving up steep grades or crawling over rocks in mind. Hopefully, this gives you a better idea of what this unique feature has to offer. We’ll continue addressing these new technologies in the weeks to come, like we did with Super Cruise, so check back often for more updates.