Our Opinion - 2024 GMC Acadia Review The 2017 GMC Acadia is back where it belongs in the market for three-row mid-size SUVs, along with the Kia Telluride, Volkswagen Atlas, and Ford Explorer. The third-generation Acadia is taller, longer, and wider than the second-generation model. It also rides on the same base as the Chevrolet Traverse. It only has a turbocharged 328-hp inline-four engine, which gives it an edge over the Chevy. It comes stock with front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive can be added as an option. An eight-speed automatic transmission makes the moves. The interior of the Acadia has also been greatly improved. Because the Acadia is bigger, it can carry a lot more stuff, and there is a big storage space under the floor behind the third-row seats. The quality and technology inside are a big step up from the cardboard container that people used to ride in. The tough-looking AT4 model is still available in the new Acadia range. It has an extra inch of ride height and underbody skid plates to handle rougher lifestyles. What's New? When the third generation of the Acadia starts to be made in 2024, it will be completely different from the first two. The V-6 engine has been phased out this year and replaced with a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that makes 328 horsepower. It comes with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and all-wheel drive is available as an option. After this change, the Acadia is 3.2 inches taller and 10.6 inches longer on the wheelbase. The next version of the Acadia will come out in early 2024. Pros and Cons Pros It’s bigger on the inside than before. A strong standard engine. There is a SuperCruise system. Cons Prices are expected to go up. Learning how to use a vertical screen might take a while. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The Acadia has a 2.5-liter inline-four turbocharged engine that makes 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. It comes with an automated transmission that has eight different gear ratios. Standard is front-wheel drive, but most trim levels offer all-wheel drive, which is standard on the AT4. That quick little engine has more power than the available 310-hp 3.6-liter V-6 engine in the old model, which we tested and saw go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The current Acadia and the new Chevy Traverse share many structural parts. Previous Acadia models shared a platform with the Cadillac XT5, Buick Envision, and Chevrolet Blazer. The 2017 Acadia has 13 more horsepower than the Chevrolet Avalanche that goes with it. We won’t know for sure until we test one, but the bigger, heavier Acadia will be a little faster than the old one. General Motors’ Super Cruise technology helps you drive without using your hands. It’s offered on the GMC Elevation, Premium AT4, and Denali trim levels, as well as the Cadillac Escalade and Lyriq electric cars. The AT4 trim level comes with GMC’s Active Torque Control all-wheel-drive technology, as well as skid plates, a higher ride, and an off-road-specific suspension. A terrain drive mode and hill slope control are two more features of the AT4. Safety Some of the driver-assistance features that come standard on the Acadia are lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, and blind-spot monitoring. Check out the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) webpages to learn more about Acadia’s crash test scores. Some important safety factors are: Most automatic emergency brakes can tell who is on the road. Normal lane exit alarm that helps you stay in your lane. It comes with adaptive speed control. Internal and External Cargo Capacity Better things were done inside the new Acadia than inside the old one. GMC has used better products and worked hard to improve its technology. The bigger size, more storage cubbies, and the removal of a shifter button panel in favor of a column-mounted switch make it much easier to carry things and fit more people. Depending on whether it’s meant for seven or eight people, the Acadia’s second row can be set up with captain’s chairs or a full bench. Both the AT4 and the Denali come with captain’s chairs as standard. After the third row, there is more room for items, and there is even a useful storage place under the floor in that area. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG The EPA hasn’t released its predictions yet, but the 2024 GMC Acadia will be a little better than the last model. The old Acadia had front-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. The EPA said it would get 25 mpg overall, 22 mpg in the city, and 29 mpg on the highway. It didn’t use a lot of gas. The all-wheel-drive V-6 model will get much better gas mileage than its forecast 21 mpg combined, 19 mpg city, and 26 mpg highway. We will change this information as soon as the EPA approves figures for the 2024 Acadia’s gas mileage and we get the results of our 75-mph highway test. Infotainment and Connectivity Every GMC Acadia comes with a big 11.0-inch digital gauge panel and a 15.0-inch touchscreen for entertainment. Voice commands and the built-in Google software can be used to set the infotainment screen. You can get a theater system with 16 speakers, but the basic setup comes with a Bose sound system with 12 speakers. Price and How to Choose The price for the Elevation model is fair, so we would keep using it. All versions of the Acadia come with the same drivetrain and all-wheel drive. The only difference is that the Elevation model has extra features like infotainment and driver-aid systems. All Acadia types have the same powertrain, which includes all-wheel drive, so the technology inside the Premium is the main reason we would choose it. There are also 18-inch wheels, a wireless charging pad for smartphones, a motorized rear liftgate, and heated front seats that come as standard. A panoramic sunroof can be added as an extra. Towing and Payload Capacity Any GMC Acadia with the extra tow package can pull up to 5,000 pounds, the same as the Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride, and Toyota Grand Highlander. The Acadia can pull about the same amount of weight as the Traverse, which it shares a base with.
