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- Highs Seating for seven, handsome styling, a high-tech cabin.
- Lows Uneven interior build quality, disappointing fuel economy, a tight third row and cargo hold.
- Verdict The GMC Acadia is a fully modern—but fully mundane—three-row crossover.
Overview
Handsome styling, a well-connected infotainment system, and room for up to seven passengers make the Acadia an easy family favorite. GMC's mid-size crossover was all new for 2017 and sports a more compact body and a host of modernized features that make it leaps and bounds better than the larger, more old-school SUV it replaced. A V-6 engine is optional and provides decent hustle, while the standard four-cylinder engine is the choice for buyers mindful of fuel economy. Acadia buyers will have to choose between maximizing cargo hauling or people hauling, however, as its trimmer dimensions have less interior room.
What's New for 2019?
GMC has launched the Acadia Black Edition package on the SLT model for 2019. It adds 20-inch wheels with black accents and other black exterior trim. Otherwise, changes are minor: A new 17-inch wheel design comes with the All Terrain package and four new colors join the palette: Dark Sky Metallic, Pepperdust Metallic, Red Quartz Metallic, and Smokey Quartz Metallic.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
We'd go with the mid-range SLE-2 model, as it adds heated front seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, fog lamps, 18-inch wheels, remote start, a power liftgate, and second-row captain's chairs. We'd also upgrade to the 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display, which adds an eight-speaker Bose sound system and a multicolored driver-information center. We'd order the strong 310-hp 3.6-liter V-6 engine, but we would stick with the front-wheel-drive Acadia since all-wheel drive adds $2000 to the bottom line.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Likes: Brisk acceleration from V-6 model, relaxed ride, available adaptive suspension.
Dislikes: Weak base four-cylinder engine, unenthusiastic during cornering, pronounced body roll in high-speed maneuvers.
The Acadia's base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder good for 193 horsepower, but the optional 3.6-liter V-6 makes 310 horsepower and hustled our Denali test vehicle from zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. A six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive are standard with either engine; all-wheel drive is optional. The 2.5-liter is good for maximizing fuel efficiency, but not much else—it has a measly 1000-pound towing capacity whereas the V-6 can tow up to 4000 pounds.
While you'll never forget that you're driving an SUV, the Acadia is competent and reasonably composed. The Acadia feels ponderous during high-speed cornering, but when driven in a less aggressive manner (as most people drive most of the time), the ride is forgiving and stable. An adaptive suspension—standard on the Denali and optional on SLT-2 trims with all-wheel drive—adjusts the dampers every two milliseconds to help smooth out the ride over bumps or to tighten things up if the driver starts feeling frisky.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
No matter how you configure an Acadia, the fuel-economy numbers are only average. With all-wheel drive, the Acadia Denali we tested returned disappointing real-world fuel economy in our testing at 20 mpg; a front-wheel-drive SLT-1 variant fared better in our test and returned exactly the 25 mpg that the EPA predicted.
Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo
Likes: Stylish interior, roomy first and second rows, high-tech infotainment offerings.
Dislikes: Some cheap materials expose cost-cutting, only one 12-volt outlet, limited cargo room behind third row.
The Acadia's compact exterior may help it fit into garages and parking spaces, but it imposes consequences on interior spaciousness. The interior design is pleasing to the eye, and most controls are intuitive and within reach of the driver. A black-and-white gauge cluster with red needles provides information at a glance; Denali models feature a reconfigurable center screen that provides a plethora of additional vehicle information depending on the driver's settings. The tilting-and-telescoping steering column could use more range to give very tall or very short drivers a comfortable position, but it still works for most people. The leather-wrapped steering wheel features aluminum trim that is convincingly upscale. Unfortunately, some of the interior materials have a cheap look and feel.
When it comes to technology, the Acadia offers plenty for the whole family. From an abundance of USB ports to onboard 4G LTE Wi-Fi, passengers can easily stay connected. The touchscreen infotainment system is intuitive and responsive; charging more than one device that requires a 12-volt outlet may prove a challenge, as only one of those outlets is provided.
With the third row in use, we were only able to fit two carry-on suitcases in the Acadia, but with the second- and third-row seats stowed, we were able to fit 28. The Dodge Durango held four cases behind its third row and 30 with the rear rows of seats folded, so it might be a better choice if you'll be frequently hauling people and cargo at the same time.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)
The Acadia did great in its crash tests with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety but missed out on a Top Safety Pick award because its headlamps scored only Marginal in that test; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the all-wheel-drive Acadia five stars and gave four stars to the front-wheel-drive model. Its driver-assistance technologies add an additional level of protection, but they're either expensive options or they force the buyer to choose one of the costly top trims. Key safety features include:
- Available automated emergency braking
- Available lane-keeping assist
- Available blind-spot monitoring
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The Acadia comes with a comprehensive warranty and maintenance coverage package as standard, with additional protection plans available from dealers. Hyundai offers longer limited and powertrain warranties, but GMC does cover the Acadia's first maintenance visit within the first year of ownership.
- Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit
