2021 GMC Acadia

Pros: Current generation Acadia has improved maneuverability and fuel economy; good selection of available technology and safety features; availability of well-trimmed Denali model

Cons: Current generation Acadia also has reduced cargo room; third-row seats are cramped; some safety features restricted to higher-line trim levels

CG Says: The 2021 GMC Acadia gets wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality and there is a new Elevation appearance package. Acadia was redesigned and downsized for 2017. Acadia is a crossover midsize SUV that has a standard third-row seat with 6-, and 7-passenger seating configurations or 5-passenger seating when the third-row is deleted. A 193-horsepower 2.5-liter four cylinder with fuel-saving automatic stop/start technology is the base engine. Also available are a 310-hp 3.6-liter V-6 with cylinder deactivation and a 230-hp turbo 2.0-liter four. All. Engines are paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive are available. The AT4 model includes a more sophisticated all-wheel drive system than the other AWD Acadias. Available safety features include a surround-view camera, a “Rear Seat Reminder” that sounds an alert to check the backseat for passengers before leaving the vehicle, and a forward collision mitigation system with low-speed automatic braking and pedestrian detection. Other available features include OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, heated/ventilated front seats, and power tilt/telescopic steering. Compared to the first-generation Acadia, the current version gives up some passenger room and cargo space, but gains maneuverability, fuel economy, and a host of up-to-date technology features. Acadia’s tidier size puts it direct competition with the leaders of the midsize crossover segment, where it stacks up very well.