2024 GMC Acadia: A heavyweight returns to the ring with more space

GMC's redesign of the Acadia is meant to bring in new customers by offering them a roomier option than a standard crossover.

The 2024 Acadia returns to a larger, three-row footprint focused on space after the brand heard complaints that the second-generation version was too cramped.

The redesigned Acadia is 10.6 inches longer than the outgoing model and the wheelbase has been extended by 8.4 inches. The vehicle is also just over 3 inches taller. Space behind the third row has increased by 80 percent, according to GMC.

When stacked up against key rivals, it is 5.3 inches longer than Ford's venerable Explorer, 4.1 inches longer than a Honda Pilot, 7.3 more than a Hyundai Palisade and 2.6 more than Toyota's new Grand Highlander.

The Acadia is powered by a 2.5-liter engine that produces 328 hp and 326 pound-feet of torque, and can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The vehicle costs $43,995 for the front-wheel-drive version in the base Elevation trim including shipping. Journalists were invited to test drive Denali and off-road AT4 versions of the latest Acadia, and Automotive News has collected reviews.

"GM's Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance system is optional across the Acadia lineup, and our Denali had it. It's still a great system, reducing fatigue and inspiring confidence in its abilities as it deftly moves along with traffic — or around it with automatic lane changes. As GM adds more mileage to its map of compatible roads (about 750,000 miles now!), we were sometimes surprised by some of the smaller highways it would work on. One such stretch of road had its share of intersections with stop lights. Ahead of some of these busier intersections, the Acadia would let us know to take over steering with a red light on the steering wheel, a message on the driver display and a vibration of the seat cushion (a great way to deliver an alert without freaking out any passengers on board). Super Cruise remains one of the more advanced driver assist systems that we actually enjoy using.

The 2.5-liter turbo engine felt like a good fit for the Acadia. While it may not seem as macho as a V6, it offered plenty of power to get and keep the Acadia moving. It doesn't sound bad, either, and what you do hear isn't very loud. Turbo lag is at a minimum, and there's enough power on hand to get the front wheels to spin from a stop (which is accompanied by a suggestion on the driver display to switch to AWD mode). We'll be interested to see if the engine still feels up to the task when loaded up with passengers and a trailer in tow, but nothing so far suggests it won't."

— John Beltz Snyder, Autoblog

"I drove an Acadia Denali and AT4 over the course of two days through the fields, highways and wetlands of the Carolina Lowcountry.

Interior room and accommodations are excellent. The second row captains chairs in the Acadias I drove were comfortable and access to the rear seat was simple, either between the second-row seats or by tipping and sliding them forward. You can tip and slide the second row seats without removing a forward-facing child seat.

The rear seat is more than acceptable for two adults and can hold three. On long drives, I'd probably use it and turn the second-row seats into foot stools.

The Denali is very quiet, thanks to acoustically treated windshield and front side windows and other sound absorbing material.

The AT4 surprised me in a very brief off-road demo. Its dual-clutch rear axle, which can direct full torque to whichever rear wheel has traction, allowed the SUV to easily negotiate ruts and rises that lifted either rear wheel into the air.

The electronic traction control managed wheelspin to all four wheels for satisfying performance on soft sand, where some wheelspin is desirable. The driving modes also affect steering feel and transmission shift points for optimal performance.

Oddly, the Acadia's metal paddle shifters have no effect unless the driver also pushes a button labeled 'L' on the steering wheel. That done, the transmission shifts up and down in response to the driver's instructions.

I find paddle shifters anachronistic and silly. Under nearly all circumstances, modern automatic transmissions deliver better performance and efficiency when their computer does the shifting. Nonetheless, I don't understand why GMC felt it had to add an extra step for the drivers who want the feature."

— Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press

"Now sporting more weight due to its larger size, the Acadia comfortably seats seven or eight people across its three rows and feels like it grips the road without lumbering. It's 10.6 inches longer and 3.2 inches taller than before and offers more cargo space; GMC says it boasts a nearly 80 percent improvement behind the third row alone and 36 percent more behind the second row. And yet, it feels light on its feet, the transmission smoothly parsing out gears with efficiency. The Acadia is a little noisy during acceleration, but active noise cancellation and a premium audio system from Bose cushion the engine sounds.

GMC isn't the only company downsizing its engines, either. Aiming for better fuel efficiencies and fewer emissions, automakers are making changes. Toyota left its V-6 behind in favor of a turbo four-cylinder in the new Tacoma, and Bentley left its W12 in the past for a V-8."

— Kristin Shaw, Popular Science

"Right angles dominate the dashboard, with the 15.0-inch vertically oriented touchscreen infotainment system serving as the focal point. To its left sits a smaller 11.0-inch instrument cluster screen. Both displays come standard across the board, as do niceties such as a surround-view camera system, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a wireless charging pad.

Predictably, the Acadia's insides are far roomier too. The longer wheelbase and additional width notably improve legroom and shoulder room throughout, and GMC claims each row benefits from gains in all passenger-space-related dimensions. Cargo capacity grows drastically, as well, with the brand reporting an 80 percent increase in space behind the third row and a 23 percent increase aft of the driver and front passenger seats.

For perspective, the outgoing Acadia held just two carry-on-size boxes behind its rearmost row and 28 with its second- and third-row seats folded in our testing. Meanwhile, the previous-gen Chevy Traverse, which is similarly sized to the 2024 Acadia, fit six carry-on-size boxes in its cargo hold with all seats in place and 40 with all rear seats folded."

— Greg S. Fink, Car and Driver

"The 2024 GMC Acadia has a hefty 15-inch screen as its interior centerpiece. Like other automakers, this screen has a bunch of functions behind pages and menus. However, GMC has thought about the end user here.

The first thing I liked about the GMC Acadia's infotainment display was the fact that navigation didn't take an IT degree. There's a clear home button at the top left of the screen and going through the system's pages felt like using a big tablet. It's not the easiest system I've ever used, but you aren't going to have steam coming from between your ears trying to figure out your Acadia's average fuel economy. Google is also built-in, so Maps is right there and you can ask Google Assistant questions. But you still get full-screen Apple CarPlay if you're an iPhone user and Android Auto connectivity with your phone.

I also like how the display has a constant lower taskbar. It doesn't matter if you have a giant map up or are trying to view the crossover's up to nine cameras, there's a taskbar right there with common functions ready for you to tap. Admittedly, I would have loved for the heated and ventilated seats to have been buttons rather than screen prompts, but at least the function is within easy reach without having to open any menu.

What I really dig is how GMC arranged the buttons. I get it, the buttons don't look great, but GMC made them work. The 2024 GMC Acadia, like the GMC Sierra EV and the Ford F-150 Lightning, has a giant screen. However, there's a large volume knob down at the bottom. There's no tapping the screen or anything like that. Just twist the large knob to bring on the tunes."

— Mercedes Streeter, The Autopian

"The all-wheel-drive AT4 has a unique suspension tuned for light off-roading with hydraulic rebound control. It pays off on the road, too, where the extra control helps tame body roll. Both trims are comfortable enough for the average consumer, but we prefer the ride of the AT4. In the dirt, Terrain mode's one-pedal driving and dual-clutch rear differential that shifts torque from side to side is a formidable combination. We drove through a short sand feature that forced one or two wheels off the ground, and the AT4 plowed through. The acceleration through deep sand almost felt quicker than on pavement. The tow hooks up front are true anchor points mounted to the frame. It isn't a hardcore off roader, but the AT4 should take rougher terrain than most drivers are willing to attempt."

— Matthew Chudzinski, MotorTrend

"Bear with me here; this one might be a stretch. This hands-free driving tech can sometimes seem a little gimmicky, especially if you've never experienced Super Cruise before or used the adaptive cruise control your current car probably already has. But trust me when I say Super Cruise is the thing you never even knew you needed. You've gotta try it.

The beauty of Super Cruise is in the confidence the system inspires. With this latest iteration of Super Cruise, thousands of miles of additional roads and highways have been mapped and made available to the system. This means that on more roads than ever before, you can activate Super Cruise and stay centered in your lane, maintaining a speed to keep you at a safe distance from the car in front of you, all while your hands are off the wheel. When it is safe to change lanes to pass another vehicle, Super Cruise can handle this, too…But trust me when I tell you that Super Cruise is another tool that makes the Acadia more of a pleasure to drive."

— Carrie Kim, Edmunds