Summary
The 2019 GMC Acadia is a midsize crossover SUV which competes against vehicles such as the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Subaru Ascent, Kia Sorento, Nissan Pathfinder.
Available with six or seven seats, the Acadia also competes with two-row SUVs such as the Toyota 4Runner, Honda Passport, Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Edge, Nissan Murano and Jeep Grand Cherokee. It's also closely related to the new Chevrolet Blazer, which comes only as a five-seat SUV.
The GMC Acadia is also related to the Chevrolet Traverse and the Buick Enclave. The Traverse offers more space at a closer price point to the Acadia than the Buick, and it offers similar features. The Enclave is more similar in size to the Traverse and also has a standard V6, a standard third-row seat with seating for up to 8, and is generally more upscale.
The 2019 Acadia was last throughly redesigned for 2017 and offers the Black Edition trim as the sole new feature for this year. The Black Edition Acadia adds black wheels, black exterior styling trim, and black roof rails. A more substantially updated 2020 model has already been announced.
The GMC Acadia falls in between its larger sibling, the GMC Yukon, and its smaller sibling, the GMC Terrain within the GMC SUV lineup for its size.
SUV buyers looking for conservative styling, a pleasant driving experience, and satisfactory fuel economy at a reasonably low starting price should consider the Acadia.
Exterior
Compared to many of the newest and most recently redesigned SUVs, the Acadia certainly has a conservative look to it. The front fascia contains a rounded grille that looks like it would fit on the larger Yukon SUV. From the side, the Acadia is simple. Black and chrome trim pieces border the bottom of the vehicle and its slightly squared wheel arches.
The rear continues the trend of simplicity. The Acadia's taillights are similar in shape to its headlights with a chrome trim piece making up the space between the two. Dual tailpipes ensure a clean finish to the Acadia's form and add a nice touch of quality to the SUV.
Overall, the Acadia has soft lines without being overly rounded and has no overwhelming styling elements. Buyers may find the Chevrolet Blazer or Mazda CX-9 more visually interesting, however.
Seventeen-inch wheels are offered on the base trim of the Acadia, which are relatively small by today's standards, but the 18, 19, and 20-inch wheels are available on higher trims.
Interior Quality and Comfort
Reviewers praise the Acadia's ride comfort as one of the best in class. Seats are noted to be comfortable without being overly supportive. Even the second-row seats are reportedly comfortable for adults.
The back seats in three-row configurations are noted to be cramped as the Acadia is smaller than the previous generation and many other true three-row SUVs. Reviewers note that even small children may be uncomfortable for long periods of driving.
Cabin quality and styling are simple, non-offensive, and perhaps bland, according to reviewers. Quality materials are used throughout the cabin with simple infotainment and climate controls, though many reviewers note that fit and finish is not as good as it should be. Panel gaps are noted to be larger than average.
Reviewers praise the limited amount of cabin and road noise with the lack of suspension crashing over bumps and rough roads.
Utility & Practicality
Utility and practicality are both average by the standards of this class. Rivals such as the Chevrolet Traverse and Honda Pilot offer considerably more space.
Even though the third-row seats are cramped, the way the second-row seat slides allows reviewers easier access to it. Wide door openings allow for reviewers to step comfortably into the first and second rows.
The cargo area in the Acadia is only average for the class, but a wide cargo deck and fold flat seating allows for easy loading and unloading with plenty of usable space, according to reviewers.
Two additional cargo areas can be found under the load floor, further increasing usable space in the rear cargo area. The number of interior storage compartments is noted by reviewers to be lacking compared to competitors.
Cargo capacity comes in at almost 13 cubic feet of space with all seats in their upright positions, 41.7 cubic feet of space with the third row folded down, and 79 cubic feet of space with all rear seats folded flat.
Adding to the Acadia's versatility is the available All Terrain package, which adds hill descent control and GMC's advanced twin clutch all-wheel-drive powertrain. Detracting slightly from its utility is its 4,000-pound maximum towing capacity, less than many other SUVs in the segment.
Visibility is noted by reviewers to be average. The driver's seating position is reportedly good, but the steep windshield and rear pillars obscure views on all sides, according to testers.
Technology & Infotainment
Standard technology and infotainment features make a strong showing with many additional options available.
The standard IntelliLink infotainment system comes with a 7-inch touchscreen display, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. An upgraded 8-inch touchscreen IntelliLink infotainment system is available in higher trim models.
Reviewers praise infotainment features and smartphone connectivity for being simple, easy to use, and easily configurable. Other notable technology features include drive mode selection, hill descent control, an available 8-speaker Bose audio system, a rear seat entertainment system, rear seat alert system, Teen Driver system, and tri-zone automatic climate controls.
Safety & Driving Assistance
The Acadia is a very safe vehicle, earning a five-star crash test rating from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and a Good overall rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
It should be noted that the front-wheel-drive Acadia only earned a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS awarded the Acadia a Superior score for its wide array of available driver assistance systems.
All Acadias come standard with a LATCH child safety seat system, a rearview camera, electronic stability control, traction control, and cruise control.
Other safety features available on the Acadia include blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, lane departure mitigation, rear cross-traffic alert, low-speed automatic braking, forward collision warning, and pedestrian detection system.
Driving Experience
Acadia reviewers are very pleased with the overall driving experience it provides. Though not a performance vehicle, the Acadia is well suited for regular commuting, family trips, and as a run-around vehicle for the average consumer.
The 2019 GMC Acadia is offered with two different engines. The base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine produces 193 horsepower and 188 lb.-ft. of torque. The 3.6-liter V6 engine produces 310 horsepower and 271 lb.-ft. of torque.
All engine options are paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission which is noted by reviewers to be smooth and surprisingly responsive.
Almost all reviewers praise the power availability provided by the V6 engine. Acceleration is noted to be surprisingly quick for a vehicle of this size. It only took testers 6.3 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour, a best-in-class time.
Comfort is a strong suit for the Acadia with sharp, precise handling being left for others in the class, according to reviewers. Steering is relatively numb but is easy, making the SUV surprisingly maneuverable, according to reviewers. Parking sensors, when equipped, make its ease of use even greater.
Braking is another highlight for Acadia testers. It is noted to have a solid feel throughout the pedal travel with a consistent, firm bite.
Fuel efficiency
Fuel economy is near the top of the class when compared to its competitors, especially when equipped with the smaller four-cylinder engine and front-wheel-drive.
The 4-cylinder engine provides an EPA estimated 21 miles per gallon in the city and 26 miles per gallon on the highway when equipped with front-wheel-drive.
The V6 engine returns an EPA estimated 18 miles per gallon in the city and 25 miles per gallon on the highway when equipped with front-wheel-drive. All-wheel-drive models drop one mile per gallon in city driving, and highway estimates remain the same.
However, the Honda Pilot returns the same combined fuel economy when equipped with front-wheel drive and its 3.5-liter V6 engine as the Acadia does from its four-cylinder engine. The Acadia falls behind the Pilot by one combined mile per gallon when equipped with all-wheel drive and its V6 engine.
Pricing & Value
The GMC Acadia provides an average value for buyers considering its low starting MSRP, high safety ratings, and available amenities. Value decreases slightly for the highest trim levels as pricing rises. Many competitors also offer better quality and better-equipped trim options.
Buyers who want a reasonably-priced, safe, fuel efficient, comfortable crossover SUV with a third-row seating option for emergency use will get the most out of the Acadia. Its optional four-cylinder engine makes it an appealing choice over many competitors who only offer a V6 engine.
Its reasonable variety of standard infotainment equipment and technology features are enough for most any family to be comfortable on a daily basis.
For those who need the maximum amount of interior cargo capacity, a consistent third-row seating option, and some adventure-focused versatility, the Acadia falls short.
Though the All Terrain package does offer an advanced all-wheel-drive system, which increases its poor weather capability, the Acadia is not well-suited for serious off-roading the way a Jeep Grand Cherokee or Toyota 4Runner is.
A six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive come standard on all Acadia models. All-wheel-drive is optional on all trims except for the base SL. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is standard on all trim levels except the top Denali trim, and the V6 is optional on all trim levels but the base SL. The Denali comes standard with the V6.
The GMC Acadia is available in four different trim options, with several subtrim options for further customizability:
GMC Acadia SL:
The base model GMC Acadia SL comes standard with the 2.5-liter engine, front-wheel-drive, and is a strictly built-to-order model, offering only white and silver color options. Pricing starts at $30,195 with destination charge included.
Standard features on the SL include 17-inch alloy wheels, GMC's IntelliLink Infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen display, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, Teen Driver, OnStar, 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated side mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a USB port, and a 6-speaker audio system.
The SL comes with second-row bench seating, allowing it to seat up to seven passengers.
GMC Acadia SLE:
The Acadia SLE starts at $33,995, including destination, and comes standard with front-wheel drive and the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The SLE-1 and SLE-2 are both SLE subtrims.
Opting for all-wheel-drive, a $2,000 upgrade, also automatically adds the V6 engine for $1095. In total, about $3,100 will be added to the price of both SLE-1 and SLE-2 Acadias for the powertrain upgrade.
The SLE-1 comes standard with a second-row bench seat, allowing seating for up to 7 passengers. It also comes standard with satellite radio and LED daytime running lights.
The SLE-2 is much more generously equipped and starts at $36,395. It comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, a power adjustable driver's seat, a power liftgate, foglights, and roof rails.
Second-row captain's chairs replace the bench seating from the SLE-1 and below, decreasing passenger capacity to six.
The Driver Alert I package is optional for the SLE-2 and adds blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors. Also optional on SLE-2 trims and higher is the larger 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system which includes the Bose sound system.
Other optional extras on the SLE-2 include a dual-pane sunroof, All Terrain Package, and the Trailering Package, which consists of an advanced cooling system, trailer hitch, wiring harness, and an enhanced rearview camera with a centerline display.
GMC Acadia SLT:
The Acadia SLT starts at $39,195 with destination included. It comes standard with front-wheel-drive and the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It is also broken down into SLT-1 and SLT-2 sub trims, both of which come standard with second-row captain's chairs rather than bench seating.
Standard features on the Acadia SLT-1 include leather upholstery, power front seats, safety features included in the Driver Alert 1 package, automatic dimming rearview mirror, upgraded driver information display, and the Bose 8-speaker stereo system.
Both the All Terrain Package and Trailering Package are available upgrades.
The Acadia SLT-2, starting at $43,095, comes standard with the V6 engine, front-wheel-drive, 20-inch alloy wheels, automatic high beam headlights, driver memory seat, heated second-row seats, and Driver Alert II Safety Package.
This package includes front parking sensors, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane departure mitigation.
The Trailering Package is standard on SLT-2 models.
GMC Acadia Denali:
The top-of-the-line Acadia Denali comes standard with the V6 engine and front-wheel-drive. It starts at $46,695, including destination. All-wheel-drive is a $2,000 option.
Standard features include a hands-free power liftgate, xenon headlights, heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, navigation, and 20-inch aluminum wheels.
Optional features include a rear entertainment system and the Technology package. Included in the Technology Package are adaptive cruise control and a top-down 360-degree camera.
Fully optioned, a 2019 GMC Acadia Denali will top out around $55,500.
More Photos
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