2024 GMC Acadia

The AT4 and Denali trims distinguish themselves on the outside. The AT4 sports black rubber on the rocker panels and rounded wheel arches, and has gloss-black trim accents, whereas the Denali opts for sleeker body-color garnishes and chrome-like accents on the rockers, greenhouse and grille. The AT4 rolls on 18-inch black wheels wrapped in Goodyear all-terrain tires, and twin red tow hooks stud the lower grille over the steel skid plate. The wheel openings are wider than other models to compensate for the bigger tires, and it has molding lights on the top of each wheel arch like other GMC trucks. It has a ground clearance of 7.8 inches, which is a half-inch higher than the Denali and 1.2 inches taller than the Elevation model. GMC says the differences amount to an increased approach angle for off-roading. 

Out back, the new Acadias house a wider tailgate, an integrated rear roof spoiler that acts like a hood over the raked rear glass, and a light bar that dashes out Morse code between the taillights. Below, every Acadia flexes quad exhaust tips, all functional, we’re told. 

The changes become more pronounced inside. A standard 15.0-inch touchscreen oriented vertically centers the dash and is flanked by C-shaped vents. With a volume dial in the lower center of the screen, it looks like Ford’s screen setup, which itself feels like a Tesla knockoff, but toggles for climate settings on the bottom lend the Acadia that GMC truck feel. Dressed in available leather and cross-stitching, the hood of the dash abruptly ends at the touchscreen, dropping off like a Frank Lloyd Wright roof to the passenger side. GMC says the Acadia showcases the brand’s new interior design language. Wood trim, a panoramic sunroof, chrome accents, and other luxury touches define the Denali grade. 

The gear shifter moves from the console back to the steering column, which is backed by a standard 11.0-inch digital gauge cluster, and Google built-in operating system runs all the apps for the customizable screens. The move of the shifter to the column opens up storage space in the tiered console, and the armrest console has truck-like depth.

It’s offered with front- or all-wheel drive, though the AT4 has standard AWD. Owners must turn on the AWD system when needed most of the time, but the AT4’s Off-Road and Terrain modes engage it automatically. Both relax the stability and traction control systems for off-roading, but the Terrain mode is meant for speeds below 31 mph and it can act as a hill-descent control system for lower-speed needs. 

The AWD system of the AT4 has a more advanced twin-clutch pack that can split power between the rear wheels to find traction in more off-road or slippery situations. In the Terrain mode it also adjusts the standard 70:30 front-to-rear torque bias to an even 50:50. 

This system can get the Acadia over divots that put it on two-wheels, the left front and right rear for instance. It’s aided by the AT4’s 265/65R18 Goodyear Wrangler Territory AT tires, which are knobby enough to dig in when off-road traction is lacking. Multiple camera angles, including views to the front and sides, also help place the vehicle in tricky off-road situations. The AT4 is great for getting to a campsite located off of two-track dirt roads, but it lacks the front and rear lockers and available disconnecting sway bars of real off-roaders like the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

How fast is the GMC Acadia?

It’s competent but not quick. The new turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-4 makes 328 hp, and its full 326 lb-ft of torque arrives at a fairly high (for a turbocharged engine) 3,500 rpm. The turbo-4 has a lot of vehicle to carry around, with curb weights ranging from roughly 4,500 to 4,700 pounds, so we estimate a 0-60 mph time in the mid-eight-second range, which is perfectly adequate but not fast. While it doesn’t sound as good as the last V-6, and engine noise becomes pronounced at full throttle, it’s still pleasant enough on the ears.  

Every trim level can tow up to 5,000 pounds, up from 4,000 pounds for the outgoing Acadia. 

Ride quality checks in as the Acadia’s greatest dynamic strength. Whether on the taller sidewall 18-inch tires of the AT4 or the lower profile 22s available for the Denali, the Acadia smothers road imperfections and never pounds over sharper bumps. Both of these models use amplitude-reactive dampers with one valve for smaller road imperfections and another valve to calm the suspension over larger, harsher bumps and ruts. We haven’t driven the Elevation with its different dampers and standard 20s, but it should ride almost as well.

Otherwise, the Acadia feels controlled but not sporty. It leans noticeably in turns, especially the AT4 that rides 1.2 inches higher. The steering has little on-center feel, but is otherwise predictably reactive and direct.

This year’s standard second-row captain’s chairs put rear-seat passengers at ease. Once seated, occupants have a pair of USB-C ports on the back of the rear center console, as well as a 120-volt power outlet. The captain’s chairs also leave a passthrough to provide another easy way to get to the third row. The other choice is folding and sliding the second-row seats via latches on the tops of the seatbacks. Handles along the sides also fold them flat.

The third-row has belts for three, but they’ll have to be thin and very familiar with each other. However, two average-size adult males can fit back there with enough headroom and legroom, though they’ll sit in a knees-up position that precludes long-trip comfort. USB-C ports are provided on each side of the third row. The third row folds flat via straps on the seatbacks or power controls in the Denali. These controls also bring the third row back up, but they only fold the second row down. 

Compared with last year’s model, here’s 36% more space behind the second row at 57.3 cubic feet and nearly 80% more cargo room behind the third row at 23.0 cubic feet. Cargo space maxes out at 97.5 cubes behind the first row, which is quite useful for a trip to the big box hardware store. Even behind the third row, six adults could all stow a carryon bag for airport shuttles, and a tiered cargo floor helps the busy family on the go stow an emergency kit or a dump tray for stinky kid sports clothes. 

The Acadia feels slightly upscale from its Traverse sibling, with soft-touch materials covering most of the surfaces the driver will interact with. The AT4 has a dark blue-green synthetic upholstery, while the Denali sports leather seats and wood trim with either black or light gray color palettes.

The 2024 GMC Acadia has not yet been crash tested by the IIHS or the NHTSA. We’ll give it a safety rating when those scores come in.

Each of the three models has its appeal for the family buyer. We’d recommend the base Elevation as the budget pick, but the AT4 has more of an adventurous spirit to get to that remote campsite or even to just deal with bad weather. It runs $51,395 and comes standard with all-wheel drive, 18-inch all-terrain tires, a trailering package, additional off-road drive modes, and a front underbody skid plate.

How much is a fully loaded GMC Acadia?

The $55,695 Denali adds leather upholstery, heated outboard rear seats, cooled front seats, a head-up display, power-folding second- and third-row seats, driver’s seat memory, and a power tilt/telescoping steering column. 

Acadia infotainment

The Google-based infotainment system has a large portrait-style touchscreen with a physical volume knob embedded in the screen. GM plans to switch to a strict Google environment, but this system still comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It has a home button that shows all of the available apps and functions as tiles, and it also has a screen that shows three displays at once. For instance, CarPlay can run up top while you can still change radio channels and monitor the trip computer below. That’s some smart functionality. The navigation directions can also be shown in the digital instrument cluster. The system has simple controls and an ease of use that many systems lack.