2026 GMC Acadia

The GMC brand has found a sweet spot in producing trucks and SUVs that fall somewhere between mainstream and luxury. The GMC Acadia is one such example: a midsize 3-row family SUV that’s a little more rugged and upscale than most of its rivals while remaining more affordable than similar SUVs from luxury brands. It makes a strong case as a practical family hauler with one of the biggest interiors in its class and excellent safety ratings. Meanwhile, the capable AT4 trim and fancy Denali model give the Acadia a unique personality that makes it stand out.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize SUVs, including the GMC Acadia.

For 2026, the Denali Reserve package is discontinued and effectively replaced by the Denali Ultimate trim. It’s the new peak of luxury and tech in the Acadia lineup, with unique aesthetics inside and out, upgraded interior materials, and premium features like a panoramic sunroof, performance suspension, 22-inch wheels, and a Bose Performance Series 16-speaker audio system.

Also, the Acadia has two new paint options: Glacier White replaces White Frost, and Riverstone replaces Deep Bronze. Additionally, a new Key Card feature allows owners to use a card instead of a traditional key fob to lock, unlock, and start the car.

Because it’s well equipped at the base level and gets pretty luxurious when fully loaded, the GMC Acadia’s pricing is a bit above the average for a midsize 3-row SUV. Keeping it in the GM family, the mechanically identical Chevy Traverse is a little cheaper, and the Buick Enclave is a little pricier.

Before buying an Acadia, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. GMC Acadia resale value is below average for the segment. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 2026 GMC Acadia is powered by a 328-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. We tend to like having an old-fashioned V6 in a vehicle dedicated to hauling lots of people and cargo, but this turbo-4 did just fine when we tested it in real-life family car duty with all three rows occupied. Even when full of passengers, the Acadia never felt underpowered, but the engine did get a bit noisy under hard acceleration, subtracting from the luxurious feel.

Ride quality is a strong suit of the GMC Acadia. In the Denali model we tested, GMC hit the mark in providing a ride comparable to that of a more expensive luxury SUV. The suspension is supple (especially the optional adaptive suspension in the Ultimate Package), the steering is just right, and the brakes are adequate.

One of our favorite features of the Acadia is Super Cruise (optional on every trim), which allows for almost effortless hands-free driving on more than 750,000 miles of North American highways. It even does automatic lane changes. The Acadia’s plush driver’s seat with Super Cruise on and the Bose audio system delivering your music or podcasts isn’t a bad way to eat up miles on the highway.

This might seem like a small thing, but the recently redesigned GMC Acadia remedied one of our biggest gripes with the previous generation. The frustrating, horizontally oriented gearshift buttons are gone, replaced with GM’s easy-to-use electric column shifter. It makes every drive that much more pleasant.

Fuel Economy

According to EPA estimates, the GMC Acadia’s only engine option returns 20 city/27 highway/23 combined mpg with front-wheel drive and 19 city/24 highway/21 combined mpg with all-wheel drive. These efficiency ratings are just okay for this class, especially with hybrids getting more popular.

The GMC Acadia’s interior upholds its brand’s reputation for blending rugged and luxurious. The front seats are comfortable, and the recent redesign made the technology more modern and intuitive. We like the 15-inch touchscreen display with Google built-in, so all of the familiar apps like Google Maps are at your fingertips. The Acadia gets especially nice in the Denali trim, which offers luxuries like diamond-stitched leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, open-pore wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof. Climb in the back, and the second row is almost as comfortable as the front, especially with the second-row captain’s chairs that are standard in the AT4 and Denali trims (optional in Elevation).

We’ve tested more than enough midsize 3-row SUVs to confirm that not all third-row seats are created equal. However, the way back of the GMC Acadia is one of the good ones. Third-row access is fairly easy when the car is equipped with Smart Slide seats. Once you’re back there, third-row accommodations are pretty good, with 32.1 inches of legroom, four cupholders, two USB-C ports, and two air vents. This third row is still more suitable for kids than adults, but it’s one of the roomier and more easily accessible seating arrangements in this class.

Another strength of the GMC Acadia is its cargo room. There are 23 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 57.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 97.5 cubic feet behind the first row. That puts it up there with the Toyota Grand Highlander and Volkswagen Atlas as one of the roomiest midsize SUVs available.

All of this to say that the GMC Acadia is one of the most ready and willing midsize SUVs to comfortably carry seven people and a load of groceries with little compromise.

GMC did a nice job visually differentiating the three trims of the GMC Acadia. The base Elevation trim looks nice, if a bit basic, the AT4 model is decidedly rugged, and the Acadia Denali looks like a luxury SUV.

Super Cruise
GM’s hands-free driving system is among the best of its kind, and it’s optional on all three trims of the GMC Acadia. Super Cruise allows for relaxed, hands-free driving on over 750,000 miles of North American highways.

Rugged AT4 model
In addition to standard all-wheel drive and a handsome appearance package, the Acadia AT4 comes with an off-road-tuned suspension system, hill descent control, all-terrain tires, and a little extra ride height.

Fancy Denali model
The Denali name is synonymous with luxury in trucks and SUVs, and the Acadia Denali doesn’t disappoint. It has stylish Galvano Silver exterior trim, 20-inch wheels, a head-up display, and a premium leather interior with heated and ventilated front seats, plus power-folding third-row seats. It gets even fancier in the new Denali Ultimate trim.

Smart Slide seats
These second-row seats can tilt and slide for easy access to the third row. We can confirm from experience that they work well even with child car seats installed.

15-inch touchscreen
This customizable Google-based infotainment system has a 15-inch screen, Google Maps, voice control, and so much more. Other standard tech features include an 11-inch digital gauge cluster, Bose premium audio, and a wireless charging pad.

Drive modes
In addition to the comfortable Tour mode, the GMC Acadia is available with Sport, Snow/Ice, Off-Road, and Tow/Haul drive modes, making it ready for just about anything.

A turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder under the hood of the GMC Acadia makes 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque. This engine links to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is the default setup, with all-wheel drive available as an option or standard in the more off-road-focused AT4 variant. Maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds, which is about average for the class.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

GMC’s new vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles, and roadside assistance is included. These are typical terms in the segment. The first scheduled maintenance visit is also free.

Safety

The GMC Acadia earned a 5-Star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It’s also garnered the Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) because of favorable crash-test results. Moreover, the Acadia provides a comprehensive array of standard safety features, including active blind spot assistance, Side Bicyclist Alert, and automatic emergency braking at intersections.