Five Reasons to Choose the Acadia

All the major updates for the Acadia happened in the 2024 model year. And “Big” is the key word, as the Acadia regained all of its size from two design generations ago and then some. On the other hand, it got a more efficient drivetrain and a “big” tech upgrade. There are plenty of reasons to consider the Acadia for your next large family vehicle, but in this post, Ewing Buick-GMC highlights the top five.  

Plenty of Space 

Space is a major reason to choose a 3-row crossover, and the Acadia provides plenty of it. The first and second rows offer 44.3 and 41.5 inches of legroom, respectively, allowing passengers to stretch comfortably. The third row still provides 32.1 inches of legroom, surpassing many rivals. For those with broad shoulders, cabin width is not an issue, as the Acadia’s shoulder room is best-in-class in the first and second rows and nearly so in the third. Three rows of passengers may bring plenty with them, so there is 23 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats—more than the Pilot, Explorer, Palisade, Grand Cherokee L, or Grand Highlander. The Toyota comes closest, with only 20.6 cubic feet. When folded down, the Acadia offers 97.5 cubic feet of cargo space, tying with the Grand Highlander for the most space.  

Comfortable Ride 

GMC recognizes that when hauling passengers, not many are interested in sports car-like handling. If you drive as such, you may consider converting the cupholders into sickness bag dispensers. Thus, the Acadia is tuned for a smooth ride, efficiently absorbing bumps on long highway drives without feeling bouncy or floaty. Even with the Denali’s 22-inch wheels, the ride remains comfortable.  

Super Cruise 

The Acadia is the only model among those mentioned above that is available with the Super Cruise hands-free highway driving system – the most acclaimed and advanced system of its kind. With Super Cruise, the Acadia will not only maintain a steady speed and stay within its lane on highways but can also initiate passing maneuvers. Specifically, it will change lanes, overtake, and return to the original lane without the driver having to touch the wheel. The highway miles mapped for the system have long exceeded expectations, covering all the interstates, most major highways, and even some smaller highways across North America.  

Comfortable Cabin 

While you may have determined that the Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse share the same platform and drivetrain, their exterior styling is completely different. The Acadia has design cues that resemble those of its trucks, whereas the Traverse remains close to Chevrolet’s established SUV designs. This difference is even more noticeable in the cabin, where even the base Elevation model features a configurable digital driver’s display. The 15-inch infotainment touchscreen powered by the Google Built-in operating system also shows status displays for the nearby, convenient physical climate controls. Opt for the Denali trim, and you’ll find authentic wood accents, high-quality leather, an 8-inch head-up display, and power-folding seats in the second and third rows.  

Powerful Drivetrain 

The standard engines in the Pilot, Palisade, Grand Cherokee L, and Grand Highlander all produce between 265 and 293 hp, while the Explorer is the only model reaching 300 hp. By contrast, Acadia’s 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 delivers a strong 328 horsepower. Its peak torque surpasses all these models at 326 lb-ft, with the Explorer and Grand Highlander tied at 310 lb-ft. Meanwhile, Acadia’s combined fuel economy ranks second only to that of Ford and Toyota.  

In addition to all these factors, the Acadia was named a TOP SAFETY PICK by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Clearly, the GMC Acadia should be on your list when shopping for a 3-row crossover. If you live anywhere near Plano, TX, the best place to shop is Ewing Buick-GMC, which, as of this writing, has in inventory no less than 16 GMC Acadia models from which to choose.