GMC Acadia goes big with all-new version of SUV

Detroit — The GMC Acadia is going big.

General Motors’ premium brand unveiled an all-new version of its mid-size SUV at the Detroit auto show Wednesday, and it might have fit half the grandstand that attended. The third-generation expands its wheelbase by 8.4 inches, its overall length by 10.6, and its height by 3.2 inches — for a much larger interior. The Acadia now comes only as a three-row SUV with seating for seven or eight, and an 80% cargo increase behind the first row seats (a 36% increase if the third-row seat is stowed).

In the outgoing two-and-three-row Acadia, GMC skimped on third-row space. Now Acadia lavishes its third row customers with attention. Not only does the third-row seat provide enough head-and-legroom for six-footers, but designers re-engineered the C-pillar to accommodate a much bigger window for third-row passengers to count cows on long road trips.

There’s more glass room overhead as well as the Acadia now options a panoramic roof in upper trims. Speaking of trims, Acadia ditches, entry-level alphanumeric trims for an Elevation base model followed by the Elevation Premium, rugged AT4, and posh Denali.

The pricey AT4 and Denali trims are expected to make up 50% of Acadia sales in the hot-selling mid-size gas segment — along with the huge Chevy Traverse and Buick Enclave that are built on the same bones. Big margin, high volume gas SUVs from the GM trio are crucial at a time when Cadillac is expected to go all-electric with its next-generation, 2025 XT6 amid uncertainty about the future of large, battery-powered SUVs.

Beginning with the 2017 model year, Acadia was built on the same, smaller, gas-powered chassis as the current XT6 — but GMC marketing since found that American crave more space and so the GMC has joined its Chevy and Buick siblings in offering a penthouse-sized interior.

“For this next generation, our mission was to reimagine the design and the proportions of the Acadia to create a bolder, more commanding presence,” said design lead Ben Zavala. “With its assertive, powerful stance, the 2024 Acadia evokes a truck-inspired persona, infused with the brand’s signature premium feel.”

The penthouse includes the latest tech as Acadia gains an enormous, thin, 15-inch vertical screen that dominates the center console. It’s similar to the 17-inch screen unveiled on the 2024 GMC Sierra EV pickup truck. The lovely console screen combines the thin, vertical screen that wowed on the Jeep Grand Cherokee in 2021 with the Mustang Mach-E-like volume knob and classic GMC piano key buttons at the base as climate controls.

The infotainment screen features Google built-in5 compatibility for navigation similar to that on a Google Maps.

GM’s Super Cruise drive assist is offered for the first time on GMC’s mid-size chariot (eat your lunch hands free behind the wheel! Watch it change lanes automatically!) and is available beginning with the Elevation Premium trim — as is a head-up display.

Move up to the top-drawer Denali trim and you can option a rear camera mirror and heated front and rear seats. But unlike past GM products, Acadia doesn’t skimp on standard safety features including blind-spot assist (with auto steer to avoid a side collision), adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, seven camera views, and more.

About the only thing that hasn’t been supersized on the Acadia is the engine bay. Acadia choices have shrunk as the model dropped its V-6 engine (due to tightening federal emissions regulations) and now only offers a 4-banger mated to an eight-speed, automatic transmission. The 2.5-liter turbo-4 is a bear. It packs 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque — more than the outgoing V-6 — as well as increasing the SUV’s towing ability to 5,000 pounds.

That torque will be useful off-road in the AT4 model which sports Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires, a 1-inch lift, all-wheel-drive with a dual-clutch in the rear, and front skid plate should you want to take your family picnic off-road.

You’ll know the AT4 by its signature, red tow hooks. Inside it gains Terrain mode and Hill Descent Control. The Denali, meanwhile, is distinguished by 22-inch machined aluminum wheels outside. Inside, that panoramic sunroof is available, as well as laser-etched wood, available second-row, heated seats, and one-touch folding second-row seats and power-folding third row

All this capability is wrapped in a new, bold design with a different grille for each trim framed by dramatic, C-clamp shaped headlights.

Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne