Some may argue we forgot the Chevy Traverse existed, and the same could be said about the closely related GMC Acadia. But now, it heads into its third generation with an extensive redesign, featuring a new powertrain, more chiseled styling—and in this 2024 GMC Acadia Denali flavour, an interior that wouldn’t look out-of-place in a Range Rover.
When the Acadia first launched in 2017, GMC pitched it as a roomy three-row SUV that was better on gas than the Yukon. They lost the plot a bit with the second-gen version, having shrunk a great deal inside and out. This third-generation Acadia is a sizeable step up, literally, measuring more than 10 and a half inches wider, and just over three inches taller than the outgoing Acadia. It’s a big one.
Outside, this growth spurt results in a handsome and chiselled look overall. The in-your-face grille ties into a chrome strip spanning the width of the bumper, while the LED headlights bear more than a passing resemblance to the Yukon. Down the side, a couple of well-placed character lines effectively break up the otherwise slab-sided doors, and the brightwork around the windows and roof rails adds to the premium look, as do the optional 22-inch wheels. Around the back, C-shaped LED tail lights flank the shapely rear end, finished off by quad exhaust tips. Interestingly, the Denali badge is featured front-and-centre, while the GMC logo tucked into a corner. That’s how you know you’re driving a Big Deal.
Under the hood, all third-gen Acadias are powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-four. Replacing the previous 3.6L normally aspirated V6, the new engine puts out an impressive-on-paper 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. It’s teamed to a eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel-drive is standard across the Acadia lineup.
We’re not too thrilled about this update. Despite the respectable numbers on paper, the Acadia is a heavy thing, weighing in at 5,000 pounds. It’s about 500 pounds heavier than the old one, so it doesn’t feel particularly punchy when you’re first in line at the light and it just turned green. Moreover, the more you rev it out, the more its coarse soundtrack comes out to protest. We certainly miss the easy power and sweeter soundtrack of the old V6.
That’s not to say this new powertrain combo without merit. On the highway, the Acadia never left us wanting for more passing power, and the eight-speed automatic operates invisibly. Fuel economy is pretty decent for something this big, too. Officially, the 2024 Acadia is rated at 12.4 L/100 km in the city, 9.9 highway, and 11.3 combined. In our time with it, we averaged 11.2 combined in the real world—and best of all, the Acadia happily takes regular.
Beyond the straight-line beans, the Acadia Denali is well-behaved. It’s unfazed by most bumps and potholes, even riding on its dubs. Visibility all around is excellent; working with the light but easy steering, parallel parking this brute or squeezing through drive-thrus is a breeze. Wind and road noise are also well-hushed. All of this is befitting of something wearing the Denali badge.
Perhaps the most striking aspect to the 2024 Acadia Denali is the interior. Seriously, it’s a really nice space, with top-shelf materials and first-rate fit-and-finish. The cohesive blend of two-tone leather, tight contrast stitching, and metallic accents and wood trim look cohesive. The quilted seats are plush, and there’s plenty of room and storage regardless of where you sit, even in the third row. Between the rich materials, plush seats, and warm off-white colourway, the Acadia’s cabin wouldn’t look out of place in a Range Rover. It’s that nice—though we’re not sure how the light carpets would fare with kids. After all, the Acadia is a family hauler.
Fitting for its family hauler duties, the Acadia’s swelled footprint results in generous cargo space. With all seats up, you have a whopping 651 litres at your disposal—closer to the Yukon than you think. Fold the third row and that cargo hold expands to 1,614 L, and with all seats down, you’re looking at 2,775 L. That’s pretty much at the top of the midsize three-row SUV segment.
Infotainment is handled by a portrait-oriented 15-inch touchscreen running GM’s newest, Google-based software. There’s a bit of a learning curve to it, but once you master it, you’ll appreciate its snappy responses and crisp graphics. There’s also a big volume knob front-and-centre, and a row of physical switchgear handles climate control adjustments. The digital real estate doesn’t end there: drivers get an equally crisp-looking 11-inch digital gauge cluster, as well as a heads-up display on the Denali.
Tech-wise, the 2024 Acadia comes with everything you could possibly want in Denali flavour. In addition to the digital real estate, you have the requisite wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging for your phone, and of course, GM’s full suite of active driving and safety assists, including Super Cruise. It seamlessly manages its speed and following distance, and has excellent lane discipline, changing lanes on its own when it deems there’s enough space to do so. It’s perhaps the best hands-free driving assist among mainstream family haulers. If letting the Acadia do the work for you gives you the heebie-jeebies, you can toggle between Super Cruise and conventional adaptive cruise control.
The 2024 GMC Acadia is a return to form. Okay, we miss the creamy smoothness of the old, normally aspirated V6, but the rest of the package is a thorough improvement inside and out. The styling apes the Yukon without the unwieldiness, its driving manners are exemplary, there’s heaps of passenger and cargo space, and at $70,899 as-tested, it’s pretty good value considering it beautifully toes the line between mainstream and luxury. The Acadia knows its a big SUV, and it makes no bones about it.
