Overview & Reviews

Building tough trucks for tough work has been the focus of GMC for years, but even GMC couldn't avoid the onslaught of the crossover SUV revolution. That's where the GMC Acadia comes in.

The Acadia is a large crossover SUV. Mechanically, it's very similar to its platform-mates -- the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and now-discontinued Saturn Outlook. Thanks to its spacious interior, strong V6 engine and competitive price, the Acadia is one of the better crossover SUV choices. Although there were styling updates and a few other minor changes made for 2013, shoppers should know that Acadias from any year share most of the same pros and cons.

Current GMC Acadia
The GMC Acadia is a large crossover SUV that's offered in five trims: SLE-1, SLE-2, SLT-1, SLT-2 and Denali. Each comes with a 3.6-liter V6 engine that makes 288 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive are standard, but all-wheel drive is an option. Although even the base SLE-1 is fairly well-equipped, moving up through the trims brings luxuries such as Bluetooth phone connectivity, leather upholstery, heated seats, a navigation system, smartphone app integration and a panoramic sunroof.

The GMC Acadia is one of the roomiest crossover utility vehicles in its class, with seating for up to eight passengers. The second-row seats are captain's chairs, but a 60/40-split-folding bench is available as an option. Those second-row seats also slide 4 inches fore and aft and easily flip up and out of the way for access to the third-row seats. There's room for adults in the back two rows, though leg support is a bit lacking. With both the second and third rows folded down, the Acadia's substantial cargo space is topped only by minivans and extra-large SUVs like the Chevy Suburban.

In our road tests we've found the Acadia's handling respectable, especially considering the vehicle's large size, and its buttoned-down and quiet ride is particularly impressive. The V6 won't blow you away with its power, but it moves the Acadia out with decent authority. Overall, our editors feel that the GMC Acadia represents a compelling combination of functionality, luxury and value.

Used GMC Acadia Models
The GMC Acadia debuted for the 2007 model year. Its 3.6-liter V6 lacked direct injection until 2009, and hence was rated at a slightly lower 275 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque for its first two years of production. The transmission was reprogrammed for 2010 to address previous complaints of sluggish downshift response. That year also saw new features like Bluetooth connectivity, real-time traffic updates for the navigation system, and available heated and ventilated seats. The plush Denali trim debuted the following year.

For 2013, GMC heavily updated the Acadia. Changes included refreshed front and rear styling, improved interior materials and a new front-center airbag as well as larger, easier-to-use controls for the audio, climate and navigation systems. This year also brought GM's IntelliLink system, with its smartphone integration capability, as well as a slight shuffling of equipment and trim levels.

User Reviews:

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  price is high for this suv,better buy,s out there. - 2017 GMC Acadia
  By mrs r - January 26 - 2:35 pm

  door,s lock.s system stink.s motor,s noise is louder,

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  Good Choice - 2008 GMC Acadia
  By Bob S - January 20 - 7:03 pm

  We usually bury our vehicles, so after 14 yrs and 150k miles on our 94 Explorer we decided it was time. Looked at all the SUVs including Acadias two siblings, the Saturn Outlook and the Buick Enclave but picked the GMC. So far we love it! Great inside and out, and the ride is perfect. Two things stand out. We are only getting 19.8 mpg on the highway which is about 10% less than the 22 mpg advertised, whic is the same as my 94 Explorer was getting. Next, I find that on hills especially it hesitates getting into high gear and I have to push down hard on the gas pedal until it slips into high gear, this is very annoying.

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  Satisfied customer - 2007 GMC Acadia
  By Vaughn - January 11 - 2:16 am

  I have taken 2 thousand mile trips and several shorter ones this summer and have enjoyed the comfort and handling of this vehicle. Very stable ride, and reasonably good mileage to date. Lots of complements about its appearance even 4 months after purchasing. Have not used the OnStar phone feature much due to limited reception in our area

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  Best vehicle for the money - 2008 GMC Acadia
  By acadiaowner - December 24 - 4:13 am

  The Acadia is a good value for a 6000 pound crossover SUV. It has a good ride and decent performanace. I came out of a Tahoe and had to get used to the V6, but I must admit GMC did a pretty good job with the 275 available horses.

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  Mini van inside, head turner outside - 2008 GMC Acadia
  By Ken - December 17 - 10:10 am

  We have had our Acadia for about 10 months and I still really love it. It has a nice ride and its very easy to maneuver, especially for its size. Very comfortable and huge cargo space with the seats down. We had to find a vehicle that would accommodate three kids car seats. Being able to walk around the 2nd row seats to access the 3rd row was a huge thing for us (seat wont fold w/ car seat installed). The tranmission is a mess, however! It makes it very difficult to accelerate smoothly to try to save on gas. My MPG avg. is 15.5. I am also having trouble with the Stabilitrak and opening one of the 2nd row windows at highway speed is a very scary experience. Overall we love our Acadia.

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  Love the Acadia so much, we bought two! - 2008 GMC Acadia
  By Daphne Bernstein - November 16 - 4:33 am

  Before buying the Acadia, we looked at the luxury options at BMW, Acura, Mercedes, and Lincoln. The Acadia offered similar features at a fraction of the cost. While the gas mileage isnt great, we get lots of enjoyment from the bose speakers, ipod jack, heated seats, dvd player, two sun roofs, OnStar navigation, hands-free calling through my Verizon service, remote start that automatically adjusts the interior temperature, and the best cup holders ever made. The design is sleek, and we notice everyone takes a look when we drive by. There is lots of room for our kids, their friends, and everything that comes with them. We like the car so much, we bought a second one just a few days later

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  Neil - 2008 GMC Acadia
  By Neil - November 3 - 12:10 am

  Fantastic, smooth, comfortable, quiet. We had a 02 Trailblazer prior and it was a great vehicle but this Acadia is so much more refined. Love the dash color at night, fun to drive (but not quite as much as our 01 Corvette). Love the heads up, power rear gate, remote start etc. etc. The imports have nothing on this unit. It is a solid well built machine. You might get a little better mpg with a smaller eco-box but no other SUV this size will get better, Ive checked.

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  Performs well in collision - 2007 GMC Acadia
  By JennyT - October 30 - 7:43 pm

  Unfortunately my two month old Acadia was already hit pretty hard ($6000+damage) and it took it so well. Everyone at the scene could not believe it held up so well. The other car was totalled. I love this car and cant wait to get it back. We got all the features we wanted and for an unbeleivable price. It feels so much bigger inside than it looks on the outside, but it still drives like it is small, I love that.

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  Great Ride and Comfort - 2008 GMC Acadia
  By Pete Montalvo - October 19 - 12:23 pm

  I have about 3k miles on my Acadia and am very happy with it. I usually get about 21-22 mpg on a tank of gas, not too bad for new and I notice the faster I go, the better the mileage. The tranny seems abit sluggish through its changes especially around 45 mph, but even that is improving as I use it. The ride is great!

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  Love it! - 2016 GMC Acadia
  By Maria G - September 25 - 4:45 am

  Love my car!