2020 GMC Acadia

In a sea of cost-effective passenger cars, there are plenty of choices for a middle-class American. Sedans, hatchbacks, wagons, and even SUVs, you are simply spoilt for choice. Right now, we will concern ourselves with that last category. Compact SUVs have been flooding in the market, and for good reason too. The mix of frugality and practicality have people racing to the nearest dealership.

Affordable SUVs have captured the fancy of many families, owing to their space and comfort. The fact that they command better road presence than small sedans is just a bonus. GMC’s offering, the Acadia SUV, is a contender worth considering. It is a sweet looker, supple, comfy, and offers 2 engine options.

There are 5 trims for the 2020 GMC Acadia, with an additional version offered under the Denali sub-brand. There are two engine options, a 2.5 liter inline-4, and a powerful 3.6-liter V6. You get front-wheel drive as standard, and All-wheel drive is an option for all sans the base SL trim.

Trim	SL	SLE-1	SLE-2	SLT-1	SLT-2	Denali
MSRP FWD	$30,195	$33,995	$36,395	$39,195	$43,095	$46,695
MSRP AWD	-	$35,590	$37,990	$41,190	$45,095	$48,695
Engine	2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine	Same as SL	Same as SL with an optional 3.6-liter V6 option	Same as SLE-2	3.6-liter V6	Same as SLT-2
Key Features	2.5L DOHC 4-Cylinder Engine with Start/Stop Technology	Same as SL with following additions or replacements:	Same as SLE-1 with following additions or replacements:	Same as SLE-2 with following additions or replacements:	Same as SLT-1 with following additions or replacements:	Same as SLT-2 with following additions or replacements:
	Leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted audio and cruise controls	LED daytime running lamps	Programmable Power Liftgate	8-way power passenger seat with power lumbar	3.6L V-6 VVT Engine with Direct Injection	Signature Denali grille
	Seven passenger seating with second and third-row split-bench fold-flat seats	Front and second-row carpeted floor mats	Heated Driver and Front Passenger Seats	Perforated leather-appointed first and second-row seats	20" bright aluminum wheels	8" diagonal GMC Infotainment System with Navigation
	Keyless Open and Start	SiriusXM Radio	Fog Lamps	120V power outlet	Memory Package recalls 2 presets for power driver seat and outside mirrors	20" polished aluminum wheels
	Industry-First Front Center Airbag	Compact Spare Tire	8-way power driver's seat	Auto-dimming driver-side outside mirror	Heated second-row passenger seats (outboard only)	Bright roof rails
	A/C, Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control		Remote Start	Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror	Intellibeam Headlamps	Carpeted floor mats, first, second and third rows
	7-inch diagonal GMC Infotainment System		Silver roof rails	Bose premium 8-speaker system	Trailering Package with Active Tow	Hands-free power liftgate
	Apple CarPlay and Android Auto		18" aluminum wheels	Driver Alert Package I	Driver Alert Package II	Heated and ventilated front seats
	A Rear Vision Camera system		Standard 6-passenger seating	Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert	Front and Rear Park Assist	Automatic heated steering wheel with Denali logo
	Rear Seat Reminder			Rear Cross-Traffic Alert	Front Pedestrian Braking	HID headlamps
	4G Wi-Fi hotspot			Rear Parking Assist	Following Distance Indicator	Power tilt/telescoping steering column

We Recommend

The SLE-2 trim is the cheapest trim that is available with the optional V6. That makes it the best value for money. Then there are the additional features you get which are mostly driver aids like parking assist, lane change assist, auto-dimming headlights.

We were pleasantly surprised when the latest-generation GMC Acadia came to market for 2017, the slightly smaller size and lighter weight translating into an SUV that is both nimble and well-suited to handle everything from country roads to long highway stretches. -Kelley Blue Book

Engine and Transmission

The 2020 model uses the same engine as the 2018 GMC Acadia, a 2.5 liter 193 HP inline-4, and a 3.6-liter 310 HP V6. Both engines are available with both FWD and AWD configurations. The V6 is clearly the better engine of the two, as the tiny smaller 2.5 is extremely underpowered. However, if you're looking for fuel economy, the inline-4 is the engine you should pick.

The power is handled by a 6-speed auto, which comes standard. It isn't very fast, but it makes up for it by being quite smooth. It comes on the highway, being tuned for cruising rather than accelerating.

Models	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT	Chevrolet Traverse
MSRP	$32,800	$31,695	$31,450	$32,365	$31,995	$31,330	$29,995	$29,840
Engine	2.5 Liter Inline-4	3.6 Liter V6	3.5-liter V6	3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6	2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer 4-cylinder	2.7-liter 4-cylinder	3.6 Liter V6	3.6L V6
Transmission	6-speed automatic	8-Speed Automatic	6-Speed Automatic	6-Speed Automatic	CVT	6-Speed Automatic	8-speed automatic	9-speed shiftable automatic
Horsepower (hp)	193 @ 6300 rpm	295 @ 6400 rpm	280hp @ 6000 rpm	288 @ 6500 rpm	260  @ 5,600 rpm	185  @ 5800 rpm	293  @ 6400 rpm	310 @ 6800 rpm
Torque (lb/ft)	188 @ 4400 rpm	260 @ 4000 rpm	262  @ 4700 rpm	254  @ 4000 rpm	277 @ 2,000 rpm	184  @ 4200 rpm	2483  @ 4400 rpm	266  @ 2800 rpm

The segment consists of both, powerful SUVs, and simple crossovers. The weaker ones have sub 200 horsepower engines, while the strongest contender churns out close to 300. The transmissions are all traditional automatics, except the Subaru, which uses a CVT automatic.

Acceleration

As stated above, there aren't any mechanical upgrades in the 2020 GMC Acadia. The base 2.5-liter engine still posts the same figures as the previous model. 60 MPH comes up in a gentle 7 seconds. The V6 posts a time of 6.2 seconds for the same, while the quarter-mile run takes a respectable 15 seconds.

Models	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
0-60 MPH	7 sec*	N/A	6.2 sec	8.2 sec	6.9 sec	-	7.6 sec
Quarter mile	N/A	N/A	14.8 sec	16.3 sec	15.5 sec	-	15.8 sec
Engine	2.5 Liter Inline-4	3.6 Liter V6	3.5 Liter V6	3.5 Liter V6	2.4 Liter Boxer-4	2.7-liter Inline-4	3.6 Liter V6
Emission (Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	8.4	7.7	-	-	-	-	8.4

The mass of these huge cars prevents them from gaining speed quickly. Nonetheless, modern SUVs aren't slow by any means. Highway speeds are easily achieved with a heavy foot, and overtaking other cars doesn't require much effort, except for Ford's Explorer. This behemoth struggles to keep up with the others, contrary to what the engine would have you assume.

Ride and Handling

There is a popular proverb about having a cake and eating it. It goes like this- If your car has a great ride quality, it will roll under cornering and compromise handling. People familiar with this know what to expect from comfy, soft-sprung vehicles. That said, the Acadia isn't a slouch either. You can take a corner if you wish too, but you'd have to fight the inertia.

Adaptive suspension makes life easy for the passengers, and there isn't much to complain about. There is a little nosedive under hard braking. Speaking of braking.

Braking

If you remember that the Acadia is a near 2-ton car, the 172 feet braking distance from 70 to 0 isn't too bad. It could certainly have been better though, and with a little brake fade, you are bound to add a few more feet to that figure. The pedal feel deserves a special mention, as it is quite solid with great feedback.

Model	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
Brake Front (in.)	12.6	13	12.6	12.8	13.1	12.9	13.0
Brake Rear (in.)	12.4	13	13	12.8	13	12.2	13.0
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3956	4513	4036	4458	4430	4134	4680
60-0 MPH (ft.)	172 (70 to 0)	N/A	117 (est.)	108 (With optional tires)	119	126 (est.)	121

The Japanese contenders steal this show with their astonishing braking performance. The Explorer surprises here, and is able to mask all its bulk and post figures expected from a much smaller car.

Towing Capacity

GMC Acadia offers can also be used to haul quite a lot around. The company claims 2 tons, which should be plenty for hitching a trailer along for a ride.

Model	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
Towing Capacity	4,000	N/A	3500	5000	5000	1500	6200

The Durango is the strongest SUV here, good for a 3-ton haul. You could easily tow a colleague too, if their car broke down and they are left stranded.

The Acadia has a great fuel efficiency figure on the 2.5 inline engine, and workable efficiency on the V6. You could easily stretch a gallon for 21 miles in the city and 26 on the highway with the former. The latter drops the figures down to 18/25 for city/highway.

Model	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
MPG (city)	21	19	19	17	21	20	18
MPG (highway)	26	26	27	24	27	24	25
MPG (combined)	23	21	22	20	23	22	20
Fuel Tank (gallons)	19	24.6	-	-	-	-	24.6

The bulky Ford loses on the efficiency front, followed closely by the Dodge. Both the cars sport a 3.5-liter V6s, which are extremely powerful and very, very thirsty. Subaru Ascent is the most frugal car here, aided by the CVT gearbox.

The Acadia is a very comfortable vehicle for road trips or daily errands. It possesses soft, forgiving seats and a compliant suspension that smooths out most road imperfections. -Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

The interiors are quite bland, but considering the budget, this car adheres to, it should be much of an issue. What should be an issue though, is the space and seating. The company officially lists the Acadia as a 7-seater, but seating even 6 adults is a bit of a stretch. The first and second rows are decent, but the third row simply cannot fit in a full-sized human being.

Model	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
Passenger Capacity	7	5	8	7	8	8	7
Front Row Head room (in)	40.3	39.9	40.1	41.4	41.3	40.7	39.9
Front Row Shoulder room (in)	59.4	58.7	62	61.5	61.1	59.3	57
Front Row Leg room (in)	41	40.3	40.9	42.9	42.2	44.2	40.3
Second Row Head room (in)	39.6	39.2	40.2	40.6	40	40	39.8
Second Row Shoulder room (in)	58.7	58	62	61	60.3	60.3	42.8
Second Row Leg room (in)	39.7	38.6	38.4	39.5	38.6	38.6	38.6
Third Row Head room (in)	37.5	-	38.9	37.8	36.3	36.3	37.8
Third Row Shoulder room (in)	54.3	-	57.6	50.8	57.2	57.2	42.8
Third Row Leg room (in)	31.1	-	31.9	32	31.7	31.7	31.5

With the exception of Jeep Grand Cherokee, the entire segment sports 3 rows of seating as standard, with varying capacities of 7 to 8 people. With the Jeep, you only get 2 rows. Honda pilot simply wins in terms of space, great first and second row space, and manageable last row space.

Infotainment System

The 2020 GMC Acadia comes standard with a 7-inch diagonal GMC Infotainment System. It also offers a lot of other features as well. Standard features are listed below:

• Multi-touch display
• AM/FM stereo with SiriusXM
• Bluetooth streaming audio
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Voice commands
• Multi-touch display
• AM/FM stereo with SiriusXM
• Bluetooth streaming audio
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Voice commands

Cargo volume

SUVs have always held a natural advantage in terms of space, over other car types. This figure is usually the most apparent in trunk volume. Even with seat occupying a lot of the rear area, there is enough room for 2 small briefcases. If the need for more space arises, you can simply fold down as many seats as you don't need.

Model	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
Cargo Volume in the trunk (ft.3)	12.8	36.3	16.5	21	17.8	13.8	17.2
Cargo Volume 3rd Row folded (ft.3)	41.7	-	83.9	43.8	47.5	TBD	47.7
Cargo Volume 2nd row folded (ft.3)	79	68.3	46.8	80.7	86.5	83.7	84.5

Due to the lack of a 3^rd Row, Jeep pulls ahead in his category. It offers the most space upfront. However, with the seats folded down, little Subaru decimates the competition.

The 2020 Acadia features a utilitarian two-box design that features a number of interesting curves. Typical of other GMCs, the squared-off wheel arches make for a more truck-like look, and a chrome strip that loops around the front two rows is an interesting design feature. -The Car Connection

Design and Dimensions

Maneuverability is one of the biggest advantages of the compact Acadia SUV. Although it weighs nearly 2 tons, it can easily be flicked around tight spaces. There isn't much to distinguish it from the rest of the segment though. Owing to its 7+ inches of clearance, you get limited off-roading ability too.

Model	GMC Acadia	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
Curb weight (lbs.)	3956	4513	4036	4458	4430	4134	4680
Length(in)	193.6	189.8	196.5	198.3	196.8	192.5	201.2
Width(in)	75.4	63.9	78.6	78.9	76	75.8	75.8
Height(in)	66	69.3	70.6	70	71.6	68.1	70.9
Ground clearance (in)	7.2	8.6	7.3	7.8	8.7	8.0	8.1
Wheelbase (in)	112.5	114.8	111	112.8	113.8	109.8	119.8
Track width (in) F/R	64.5/64.5	64.1/63.9	66.3/66.3	67/67	64.4/ 64.2	64.4/64.2	63.9/64.1

Dodge Durango is the longest car here, exceeding 200 inches tip to tail. It also has the highest ground clearance, but not width. The Honda and Ford SUVs are the largest overall, with a relatively commanding stance.

It is safe to say that the Acadia won't be turning any heads at traffic lights. That doesn't mean it isn't pretty, it actually is. The headlights are quite shapely, and the tail section complements this design. Overall, the design is quite soothing, but it also is quite indistinct. The design isn't memorable, and you wouldn't really swoon if you spotted one basking in the sun. If you're looking for a laidback, understated design, this car will definitely suit you.

Safety features in the 2020 GMC Acadia include the following:

• StabiliTrak electronic stability control system.
• Airbag system.
• OnStar Basic Plan for 5 years.
• OnStar Guidance Plan Limited Service Trial.
• Rear Vision Camera.
• Child security rear door locks.
• Passenger Sensing System.
• Rear seat reminder.
• LATCH System.
• Teen Driver.
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control system.
• Airbag system.
• OnStar Basic Plan for 5 years.
• OnStar Guidance Plan Limited Service Trial.
• Rear Vision Camera.
• Child security rear door locks.
• Passenger Sensing System.
• Rear seat reminder.
• LATCH System.
• Teen Driver.
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System.

GMC Acadia vs Honda Pilot

Honda Pilot is the fresher car here, having received major updates and equipment upgrades for 2020. On the other hand, GMC Acadia was last refreshed in 2017 and has received only minor updates since. In terms of practicality, the Honda inches ahead, and its lower pricing makes it a much more lucrative deal too. In terms of gas mileage, the GMC is the better choice though.

GMC Acadia vs Ford Explorer

The Acadia offers better efficiency and upmarket interiors, although Ford is better at everything else. Passenger space is better, cargo volume is better, and you get a choice of three engines too, including a mighty EcoBoost V6 motor as well.

GMC Acadia vs Chevrolet Traverse

Both these cars share the same platform, and a lot of mechanical components as well, although surprisingly, the Traverse offers a lot more space inside. The GMC is much more plain looking though, and Chevy Traverse has a very sharp and futuristic look. Other than that, they offer similar sales support and warranty.

The GMC Acadia is a good car, but in these competitive times, good isn't enough. Other manufacturers offer a lot more than what this GMC SUV does. You might find better engines, better interior space, and better towing capacity and performance from a few of its competitors. Still, this one offers good gas mileage and good quality interiors. If you're lucky, you could coax the dealership into giving you a good discount too.