The GMC Acadia comes with a choice of two different engines--a fuel efficient 2.5L 4-cylinder making 193 horsepower or a 3.6L V6 with 310 horsepower. Engines send power to either the front wheels or to all four wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission. Even the all-wheel drive Acadia with the V6 manages 25 mpg on the highway, while 4-cylinder versions do remarkably well with a 21-mpg city rating for both front and all-wheel drive versions.
The GMC Acadia comes in SL, SLE, SLT and top-of-the-line Denali trims. The base SL model has plenty of features, despite its below $30,000 base price. Key amenities include keyless open and start, tri-zone climate control, a 7-inch touch radio with IntelliLink, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a rearview camera, ambient interior lighting and 4G WiFi technology, meaning that buyers can turn their Acadia into a mobile WiFi hotspot. The base Acadia also comes with 17-inch aluminum wheels, projector beam headlights and heated mirrors.
Key features included on the SLE are LED daytime running lamps, nicer floor mats and SiriusXM satellite radio. A programmable power liftgate, heated front seats, 8-way power adjustable driver's seat, a remote starter and 18-inch aluminum wheels are optional, as is the 3.6L V6 engine.
SLT models add perforated leather seats, auto-dimming mirrors both inside and outside, a Bose sound system, a blind spot detection system, a rear cross-traffic alert system, a parking assist system and a larger touchscreen in the dashboard. The V6, 20-inch wheels, heated second-row seats, a memory function for the driver's seat and safety systems such as a forward collision alert system and a lane keep assist system are available.
Top-of-the-line Denali models stand out with their unique signature Denali grille and 20-inch polished aluminum wheels. Front seats come heated and ventilated on the Denali, while the steering wheel also gets a heating function--essential for those really cold days. The Denali versions also get a power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, nicer floor mats and upgraded interior trim.
Big, Well-optimized Interior
Available All-wheel Drive
Fuel Efficiency
Stylish Exterior Styling
Luxury-oriented Denali Edition
The GMC Acadia gets a new special edition for 2019 dubbed the Acadia Black Edition. As its name would imply, the Black edition gets a blacked-out grille along with black mirror caps, roof rails, headlight surrounds and taillight details along with a set of machine-finished 20-inch wheels. Other changes for 2019 include a new set of 17-inch wheels for the All-Terrain trim as well as several new exterior colors.
The GMC Acadia starts at just under $30,000, competing in the increasingly crowded mid-sized crossover segment. Offering three rows of seating for up to seven people, the Acadia promises to move families and friends in both comfort and safety with a little dose of "go anywhere" thrown in as well. With its state-of-the-art safety features and enhanced connectivity, GMC is betting heavily on technology to make its entry into the segment stand out from the others.
