2018 GMC Acadia

The 2018 GMC Acadia is available in four major trims - SL, SLE, SLT, and Denali - of which the mid-level trims are further divided into two levels. The MSRP of the range starts with the SL at $29,000 while the fully-loaded Denali trim will set you back by $45,100. As for the features, the SL gets heated mirrors, 17-inch alloy wheels, tri-zone automatic climate control, keyless ignition and entry, a height-adjustable driver seat, and GMC's Teen Driver system. 

The SLE and the SLT get divided into two grades - 1 and 2 - which add significant upgrades to the available features for the “2” trim. The Denali sits right at the top of the food chart with a fully-loaded features list consisting of every amenity that the segment has to offer, and the option to go with the Technology package that adds adaptive cruise control and 360-degree parking camera to the mix. 

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The SL trim is the most lucrative with all the features it brings in but there’s a catch: it is a made-to-order trim and is not available easily for the people to buy. The SLE-1 is the next-best option but the features it adds on is limited and the price increase is rather steep. If one wants the best value, the SLE-2 is the one you should be going for because of all the features it brings in with itself and also the amenities like heated front seats, power-adjustable front seats and power liftgate. Also, the Driver Alert I package costs an insignificant amount more but adds blind-spot monitoring to the mix. 

The 2018 GMC Acadia’s base engine - a 2.5L inline-4 - is a rather slow one when compared to the other vehicles in the segment but works pretty well when it comes to being fuel-efficient. The base engine gets an EPA rating of 21 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway for a combined 23 MPG from its 19.0 gallon fuel tank. If one opts for the bigger V6, expect a drop in the economy by a couple of MPGs across driving conditions. 

The Acadia is pretty much on-par with the competitors while the Highlander’s 4-cylinder mill is almost as frugal as the Pathfinder’s V6. The latter also has the biggest tank in the group which lends it a massive advantage in the highway range and also in the combined range. Apart from the Pathfinder, the CX-9 is the only one to run more than 500 highway-miles in a full tank of gas, with the Acadia following pretty close.

The 2018 GMC Acadia’s interior carries a very simple and visually-appealing design which is very suitable for the price tag that the crossover demands. Right from the base trim onwards, the cabin exudes poshness that only more expensive cars can offer. There are soft-touch areas on the door panels and the dashboard, with the higher trims getting brushed aluminium and other trim pieces to complete the visuals. The dashboard is pretty low and maes up for a good view upfront while the material quality is top notch. 

In the centre console, there are the usual controls for the climate settings and for the heated/ventilated seats. The console also gets a rather deep open cubby space which could’ve used a door to cover the void-ish looks. Towards the driver are a couple of cup holders and a knob to switch between the different drive modes, along with the gear shifter. The centre armrest gets a soft-touch treatment to rest your hands on and has a lot of space for storing small things. 

The seats are super comfortable and can be had with leather upholstery way down in the trim table. There is ample support for the occupants with cloth being the standard upholstery material which can be upgraded to leather in the higher trim. As standard, the seats get power adjustability while the trims SLE-2 onwards get heating, with the Denali topping the cake with ventilation. The rear seats are super comfortable as well with the third-row not skimping out on the comfort. There is ample room in the cabin for the first two rows, but the third row can be tight for adults. 

All the crossovers can seat 7 people, with the Highlander having a rear bench seat to accommodate one extra soul in the cabin. The Acadia’s cabin is pretty spacious and with tremendous shoulder room and impressive headroom across the three rows of seating. The legroom is justified in the front and the second row, while the third row has impressive space which comes at the cost of rear cargo space. As for the others, the Pathfinder is the most spacious and also has pretty impressive cargo space - nearly 26.5% bigger than the Acadia’s. 

Some of the highlighting interior features of the 2018 GMC Acadia are:

• Keyless ignition and entry
• Leather-wrapped, heated, and power-adjustable steering wheel 
• Tri-zone automatic climate control
• Eight-way power-adjustable driver seat
• Power lumbar adjustment for the front seats
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Cloth/leather upholstery

What’s there to keep you entertained in the 2018 GMC Acadia?

In the centre of the dashboard, the 2018 GMC Acadia has a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system which runs GMC’s OnStar and has a very fluid interface with crisp graphics and smooth transitions. The screen can be upgraded to a bigger 8-inch one in the Denali trim that also brings in-built navigation to the equation. Both the systems also bring in basic necessities like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while also offering Bluetooth and multiple USB ports and a 12V socket. The standard music system is a 6-speaker unit but paying a bit more gets you an 8-inch BOSE system that is good enough to satisfy the audiophile in you. Some of the highlighting features in this system are:

• 7-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Navigation
• Bluetooth
• HD radio
• Satellite radio
• Multiple USB ports
• 6-speaker music system
• Optional 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Optional 8-speaker BOSE speaker system 

The 2018 GMC Acadia got a refresh last year and looks as handsome as ever with a more European-ish look. The front-end of the Acadia is a neat design sweep and has a nice sculpted headlight. The front bumper gets the fog lights, which are surrounded by chrome in the Denali. The front grille is proportionately massive and has the GMC logo on it which is, again, covered in chrome on the higher trim. 

The sides have typical crossover styling but with a lot more jazz and with stylish alloy wheels upping the styling quotient. The windows get chrome treatment and look posh, while the rear quarter-window seamlessly wraps around to the rear windshield. The rear is flat and nothing protrudes. Ending the styling note is the exhaust setup that brings in a lot of sportiness to the overall character. 

The GMC Acadia is the lightest of all the crossovers here which is the primary reason for such agile handling characteristics, despite the weak base engine. Dimensionally, it sits in just right for the segment with a spacious cabin and a big enough cargo space. The Nissan Pathfinder is the heaviest with the biggest engine and shares its dimensions with the CX-9. 

Some of the highlighting exterior features of the Acadia are:

• Xenon headlights
• 18-/20-inch alloy wheels
• Heated mirrors
• Fog lights
• Roof rails
• Power liftgate with programmable height stops

If safety is one of your major requirements for an ideal crossover, the 2018 GMC Acadia has you backed up with the latest technology that the company has to offer. Although the standard driver-assistance list is short, the American carmaker has ensured to make available most of the features in their “Driver Alert” packages which are available as options on the SL and the SLE, while the features come standard in SLT and Denali trims. Some of the highlighting safety features of the Acadia are:

• Blind-spot monitoring 
• Rear cross-traffic alert 
• Rear parking sensors 
• Auto-dimming driver-side and rear view mirror
• Lane departure warning 
• Lane departure mitigation
• Forward collision warning
• Automatic braking
• Pedestrian detection
• Front parking sensors
• Automatic high beams
• Safety-alert driver seat
•  360-degree parking camera 
• Adaptive cruise control

2018 GMC Acadia Vs. 2018 Toyota Highlander

The GMC Acadia is a better overall package with a spacious cabin, posh material quality, plethora of customisations, and a strong features list. It is also more powerful and has more MPG to offer, but the acceleration on the Toyota is quicker. It also has a slightly bigger fuel tank which has some advantage over the Acadia in terms of range, but overall remains very similar. 

2018 GMC Acadia Vs. 2018 Nissan Pathfinder

The Pathfinder has a V6 as standard and as such, has quicker acceleration and lower fuel economy. It also has a big cabin, like the GMC, but the overall quality isn’t that good because of the materials used inside. The Pathfinder has a bigger cargo area as well. The Acadia has a lighter curb weight, better driving dynamics, a more potent optional V6 engine, and a strong list of features to make its way ahead of the Nissan. 

2018 GMC Acadia Vs. 2018 Mazda CX-9

The Mazda CX-9 is a strong contender for the Acadia’s badge with its driving capabilities, posh interior, superbly comfortable seats, and a good features list. The Acadia’s design, on the other hand, has a wider appeal with the refreshed design and also has decent fuel economy to boast of. It also has a cheaper price tag and for the price the Acadia is more value than the Mazda. 

The 2018 GMC Acadia isn’t the most popular offering in the class but is surely worth the price tag it demands. It has a solid trim line-up with the super-posh Denali having each and everything one desires, while the engine options are powerful as well. The crossover drives well and is super comfortable for long trips with good fuel economy. Inside, the Acadia has a very comfortable cabin with the latest infotainment system and a comfortable seating for 6 people. Given the safety n offer along with the handsome looks, there isn’t a reason why this shouldn’t be your next choice.