It's bigger and better in every way, but you'll have to get used to the noise. (2024)

The GMC Acadia is all new this year, marking the third generation of this three-row SUV. It’s a family hauler with more room than the GMC Terrain and a more manageable size than the Yukon. It's ideal for those who want plenty of room for people and cargo along with an attractive interior. GMC isn’t a luxury brand, but it is a premium offering, so even the base trim of the Acadia is nicely equipped.

2024 GMC Acadia

Base MSRP

$42,600

Engine

2.5L Gas

Horsepower

328 hp

Torque

326 lb-ft

Pros

• Bigger size means more space inside
• Super Cruise is available across the lineup
• Interior is significantly better in terms of tech and quality
• Smooth ride and confident handling

Cons

• Just enough power - nothing more
• Engine is noisy and it intrudes into the cabin under hard acceleration

This year, there’s more of everything. It’s taller, longer, and wider than the prior generation. It also has a new portrait-style infotainment touchscreen, available Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance for the full lineup, and upgraded interior trims that significantly improve the Acadia’s appeal. There’s also a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the only option across a range of just three trims. GMC invited CarBuzz to Savannah, Georgia, to drive the new GMC Acadia and see how the multitude of changes makes it a better SUV.

Exterior: Unapologetically Bold

The thing about the GMC Acadia, and the brand in general, is that it’s not shy. There’s nothing demure or understated about the Acadia. It’s a large vehicle that’s technically a mid-size SUV, but it looks much larger when you’re standing outside staring at that grille. This Acadia is now 10.6 inches longer, 4.2 inches wider, and upwards of three inches taller (depending on the trim), which makes a big overall difference. The Acadia commands attention, whether the elegant styling of the Denali with its distinctive grille or the off-road ready AT4 with its bright red tow hooks.

The Denali and AT4 are two very different trims, each with its own unique look and feel. The Denali sits at the top of the lineup as the most luxurious version of this SUV. Along with the bright chrome grille, it also has 22-inch machined aluminum wheels that make the side of the Acadia just as eye-catching as the front. The AT4 targets someone who wants a bit more off-road capability with dark chrome accents, a one-inch higher ride height and a more rugged design with a unique front fascia and integrated skid plates. Whichever you choose, the Acadia is an attractive SUV.

Interior: Greatly Improved

Any time a vehicle is all-new, there are interior upgrades - but they don’t always make a huge difference. In the case of the Acadia, they make a massive difference giving this SUV a truly premium feel. It’s not just the materials, but the design. The first leg of our drive was spent behind the wheel of the Denali and the moment you open the door you notice the difference.

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There’s laser-etched wood, chrome accents, and beautiful perforated leather seats with eye-catching contrast stitching. That same stitching adorns the steering wheel and dashboard, but manages not to be overdone. Again, this is not a luxury car, but it delivers a true premium experience with the same bold, strong design inside that it shows off on the outside.

The AT4 was also available for drives, and it has a markedly different interior aesthetic. There are front sill plates to protect from scuffs and scratches and a more rugged interior with cloth and CoreTec vinyl seating surfaces with a less ornate design. It’s still attractive and looks like it could handle the kids or the dog or a little outdoor adventuring. Details include an embossed AT4 logo on the front headrests and matching red interior accents.

Seating: Room To Get Comfortable

There’s room for up to eight people in the GMC Acadia with available second-row captain’s chairs that take seating down to seven; the Acadia gets an honorable mention on our list of Best SUVs with Captain's Chairs. There’s a standard eight-way power driver’s seat with a six-way power front passenger seat, both with four-way power lumbar. A heated steering wheel and heated front seats are standard with the option for heated and ventilated second-row outboard seats available. The seats are roomy and comfortable with minimal bolstering - this isn’t a vehicle that you’ll be taking hard through the corners anyway; it’s an SUV for road trips and weekend adventures that wants you to relax.

The larger dimensions of the Acadia this year mean there’s more room for passengers, too. That extra 10.6 inches of length shows up as extra legroom for the front occupants. The second-row captain’s chairs in our test cars were comfortable and easy to adjust with plenty of headroom and legroom.

The third row, as usual, isn’t where most adults will be comfortable for an extended period of time; it's meant for short trips or for kids who don't need as much space. How easy it is to fold those seats depends on the trim. The Denali has a one-touch flat-folding and sliding second row along with a power-folding third row. It’s quick and easy to raise or lower the seats, even with your hands full. The AT4, however, has a manual third row. You need to pull a strap on the back of the seats, but that doesn’t fully disengage the locking mechanism. You then need to give the seats a good push forward to get them down. It’s not complicated, but you do need both hands free for the job.

Infotainment: Bigger Screens

The last generation of the Acadia had an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, which is small, especially for a premium vehicle. This year, GMC fixed that problem with a standard 15-inch portrait-style infotainment screen within easy reach of driver and passenger. It has crisp graphics with good responsiveness, and there’s also Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Google as standard, so you’re connected in whatever form you choose.

The digital instrument cluster also grows from eight inches to 11 inches with a fully customizable display. Rounding things out is an eight-inch head up display, which is two inches bigger than what was offered last year. It’s available on base trims, but standard on the Denali. The trio of displays, all with larger dimensions, adds to the premium vibe of the Acadia with a tech-forward first impression.

Wireless charging is standard, as is Wi-Fi hotspot capability and USB ports for all three rows, so everyone stays charged. Up front there’s a type-A and type-C port, which is nice, because not everyone has both cables. It’s a small thing that makes a big difference. Since this is a premium vehicle, it gets a premium 12-speaker Bose audio system as a standard feature. The Denali offers a 16-speaker upgrade that includes a subwoofer, but it is, unfortunately, an upgrade only, rather than standard, even though this is the top trim of the lineup.

Cargo: Room For More

In addition to upping the passenger room, the Acadia’s increased size also makes extra room for cargo, with 80 percent more space behind the third row and 36 percent more behind the second row. This makes it far easier to carry a full load of people and their luggage. With 23 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.3 cubes behind the second, and 97.5 cubes with those two rows folded, the Acadia has more cargo space than the Kia Telluride and the Hyundai Palisade:

• 2024 GMC Acadia

  Cargo Space

  23 - 97.5 ft³

• 2024 Kia Telluride

  Cargo Space

  21- 87ft³

• 2024 Hyundai Palisade

  Cargo Space

  18 - 86.4 ft³

There’s a standard power liftgate that automatically opens when the key fob is within three feet of the vehicle for three seconds, which is wonderful when your hands are full. The rear cargo floor also has a bit of hidden storage underneath, and we love that when you lift the floor to stow things, it stays propped open so you don’t have to hold it the whole time. If whatever you need to bring along is too big to fit inside the Acadia, then you can tow up to 5,000 pounds of additional cargo behind it.

Powertrain: Only One Engine

The full line-up is powered by a new 2.5-liter turbocharged engine with 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive. It’s a responsive powertrain that easily gets this large vehicle up to highway speeds with plenty of oomph leftover for passing slower vehicles.

There are up to seven available drive modes that let you tailor the ride to a variety of driving conditions. Choose Normal, Sport, Snow, Off-Road, Tow/Haul, All-Wheel Drive, or Terrain mode depending on the trim. The Acadia has a drive mode to improve traction and increase driver confidence for almost all road conditions.

Drive Impressions: Better In Every Way

The GMC Acadia shows off big improvements in style, features, and overall drive. The engine is responsive without being overly aggressive. Press the gas and it moves, but it’s not a performance vehicle, so you shouldn't expect it to act like one. The Acadia is more of a cruiser, so there’s enough power, but not an overabundance. Our chief complaint here wasn’t the power, but the noise. Under hard acceleration, more engine noise intrudes into the cabin than we’d expect for a premium vehicle.

The ride, however, is wonderful. It’s smooth and composed even on rough road surfaces and handled beautifully during highway driving. We also had the opportunity to take the AT4 along some rutted dirt roads with a few tricky spots GMC created just to show off the Acadia’s capabilities. While this isn’t a hardcore off-road vehicle, it’s no wimp, either. It’s perfectly capable of handling dirt roads, whether packed soil or the loose, soft stuff that tends to kick up lots of dust. The available drive modes make off-road surfaces easier to tackle, and the suspension system did a solid job of absorbing road roughness, so passengers can simply relax.

Three Well-Equipped Trims

The GMC Acadia offers more of everything this year with a simplified three-trim lineup. The base FWD Elevation starts at $42,600, excluding destination, keeping it more affordable. AWD costs $2,000. The mid-range AT4 is priced at $50,000 with an off-road focus (standard AWD) combined with premium features. At the top of the lineup is the Denali, which comes in at $54,300 (FWD) or $56,300 (AWD). That’s a significant price jump from the base trim, but the Denali is stunning and pushes hard toward luxury car territory.

This is a popular segment, but the Acadia stands out for its uniquely bold approach. While the ride is more refined, its style is bold and aggressive, no matter the trim. It combines its luxury amenities and eye-catching styling with versatility for people and cargo. The all-new 2024 GMC Acadia is vastly improved this year with great style, better features, and pricing that makes it good value.