Summary
- The GMC Acadia has been redesigned to be longer, taller, and wider, offering more space in its third row and a more modern exterior.
- The Acadia now features a 2.5-liter inline-four cylinder engine with a turbocharger, producing more power than its previous V-6 engine.
- The interior of the Acadia has seen significant upgrades, including a customizable 15-inch touchscreen and advanced driver-assistance technology such as Super Cruise2.
One of the reveals that has hit the stage today at the Detroit Auto Show is the brand-new reshaping of the GMC Acadia. If your main problem with the midsize SUV in the past was that it was just a little bit too small then your prayers have been answered. GMC has rehauled the Acadia, and it is now longer, taller, and wider and boasts much more space in its third row.
Space isn’t the only upgrade though and GMC claims to have made a ton of updates to the Acadia to convince new buyers of its merit. This includes a plethora of tech enhancements including upgrades to the infotainment system, new driver-assist technology, and new integration with Google.
The Acadia is up against big competition in the mid-size three-row segment and it questions whether it’ll be up to the challenge. The Ford Explorer, Kia Telluride, and Volkswagen Atlas have all solidified themselves as leaders and it’ll be hard for GMC to convince buyers that the Acadia is the way to go.
GMC has definitely shaken things up with the exterior of their three-row SUV, with the Acadia taking on a much more modern persona. It definitely looks sleeker than the current generation, but it also looks better put together. We definitely give GMC points for making the next generation of the Acadia look like it actually belongs in this decade.
GMC Follows Powertrain Trends And The Acadia Ditches The V-6
Back in the day people would have scoffed at an all-American company dropping the V-6 engine for an inline-four. People still scoff at the idea. However, it has become a growing trend to ditch displacement for more efficient and more reliable boost. Such is the path that the Acadia has followed. Across all trims the Acadia now hosts a 2.5-liter inline-four cylinder with a turbocharger that helps it achieve a fairly impressive 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque.
Despite the swap from a much bigger engine, the Acadia produces more power than it used to which will definitely help it deal with the added weight. Its V-6 was also fairly unimpressive in the past, so hopefully this new powertrain will shake things up. The most capable of the Acadia trims, the AT4, comes with all those off-roading extras including lifted ride height, Active Torque Control AWD system, and off-road suspension.
AT4 Exluisive Features
- Front fascia accented with signature AT4 red tow hooks and integrated skid plates
- Exclusive AT4 interior elements featuring Forest Storm interior with Mahogany stitching and additional chrome-metallic trim
- A 1.0-inch taller ride height and a wider track, coupled with 18-inch AT tires enhancing stability, handling and capability when driving off road
- Off-road-tuned suspension with hydraulic rebound control
- AT4-exclusive Active Torque Control all-wheel-drive system with twin-clutch rear differentials for optimal traction and control in demanding scenarios
- Selectable drive modes including Terrain mode and Hill Descent Control
The Acadia Now Shares A Platform With The Traverse
GMC didn’t simply make the Acadia a little bit roomier, they have completely shifted it to a new platform. Where it used to share its platform with the Chevrolet Blazer, it now sits on the same platform as the 2024 Chevy Traverse. This comes with a ton of benefits, including the fact that its towing package now boosts its capacity to 5,000 pounds.
Its improvements in space are also nothing to scoff at, with the GMC boasting that the new Acadia is 10.6 inches longer and 3.2 inches taller. Huge improvements to cargo space have also been made with there being 80 percent more space behind the third row and 36 percent more behind the second row. The all-new model brings all-new styling with a bold new front facia and the Denali trim gets a signature grille. Upto 22-inch wheels are available
The Interior Of The New Acadia Boasts A Ton Of User Focused Technology
The exterior of the new Acadia has definitely undergone some changes but its most impressive advancements lie within the cockpit, with upgraded tech just about everywhere. A new portrait-oriented 15-inch touchscreen sits as the focal point in the SUV and boasts Google built-in compatibility. The touchscreen is fully customizable.
A ton of improvements to the Acadia’s driver-assistance technology have also been showcased, the most impressive of which being Super Cruise2 which claims to be the industry’s first hands-free cruise control technology, available on a over 400,000 miles of charted road according to GMC. The new Acadia also comes with trailering assist technology and automatic lane change. Production and delivery of the next-geenration GMC Acadia should happen early next year. Although pricing hasn’t been announced yet, expect it start somewhere in the ball park of $40,000.
