2026 GMC Acadia Review: Expert Insights, Pricing, and Trims
From GMC's range of upscale SUVs, the 2026 Acadia blends family-friendly versatility with a rugged, upscale design. The 3-row crossover features modern tech, solid towing capability, and a comfortable ride, making it a practical choice for daily driving and weekend adventures.
The automaker first began selling the Acadia for the 2007 model year, and 2024 was the first year of its latest redesign. Competitors include the Hyundai Palisade and Toyota Grand Highlander. What's New
A redesigned Acadia emerged for the 2024 model year and received small updates last year. Changes for the 2026 Acadia include: A standard key card, a physical card that allows users to access and start the SUV (like the one that comes with Teslas)
Glacier White Tricoat relaces White Frost and Riverstone Metallic replaces Deep Bronze exterior paint What We Think
The third-generation GMC Acadia builds on its predecessor with a longer, wider, and taller body, offering more space for passengers and cargo. Powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine with up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity, it's well suited for both family duties and weekend adventures.
Although the steering lacks feedback, the chassis is solid, and the transmission delivers quick, confident shifts. The AT4 trim strikes a good balance between comfort and light off-road capability. Where the 2026 Acadia could improve is its engine, which is noisier than we'd like for a 3-row SUV.
Inside, the Acadia impresses with modern tech that includes large standard displays, Google built-in apps, and available Super Cruise hands-free driving. However, it's the upscale yet practical cabin design that truly elevates the experience, delivering premium feel without sacrificing usability.
With major improvements across the board just a couple years ago, the Acadia is a much stronger contender in the 3-row SUV segment. Top-Ranked Competitors: Chevrolet Traverse
Toyota Grand Highlander MotorTrend Tested
All 2026 Acadias are equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces a healthy 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque. The engine is linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and models are configured with FWD or AWD.
In MotorTrend testing, the Acadia accelerated to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds. That's a half second quicker than the less powerful Toyota Grand Highlander gas model we tested, which comes with a slightly smaller turbo engine.
With its bigger non-turbo V-6 engine, the previous Hyundai Palisade is almost a second quicker even though it produces less power (291 hp). MPGs and Range
With fewer driven wheels, the Acadia FWD returns better fuel economy than AWD versions, 20/27 mpg city/highway versus 19/24 mpg. A 19.4-gallon fuel tank enables 446 miles of driving range with FWD and 407 miles with AWD. Those are about average for the gas models in the class, though some rivals like the Toyota Grand Highlander and Hyundai Palisade are available with more efficient hybrid powertrains.
The Grand Highlander turbo gets slightly better numbers than the Acadia, 21/28 mpg city/highway with FWD and 20-21/26-27 mpg with AWD. The outgoing Palisade is also somewhat in the same ballpark, 19/26 mpg city/highway with FWD and 19/24 mpg with AWD, even though it comes with a much bigger engine. Safety Ratings and Features
The Acadia performs well in safety testing. Last year's model is an IIHS 2025 Top Safety Pick, the institute's second highest award. FWD and AWD models also took home NHTSA's top distinction, a five-star overall safety rating.
All 2026 GMC Acadia come with standard driver assist safety features, including Front and rear automatic emergency braking
Blind-spot monitoring
Lane keeping
Adaptive cruise control Cargo Space and Interior Room
With seating for up to eight, the 3-row Acadia delivers plenty of cabin space. Legroom and cargo capacity in most configurations compares favorably to the Grand Highlander and Palisade. Technology
Infotainment
Standard features include an 11.0-inch driver display and a 15.0-inch vertically oriented touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Every Acadia also comes with a wireless phone charger, six USB ports (two for each row), and two 120-volt power outlets, one up front and the other in the hatch.
Sound System
A Bose 12-speaker system with subwoofer is standard on all models. A 16-speaker upgrade is also available.
Available Upgrades
The Super Cruise package is available at every trim level, adding GM's brilliant self-driving tech to the vehicle. An 8.0-inch head-up display, heated rear seats, power steering column, and many other features are also on offer. Value
Recommended Trim
The top two 2026 Acadia trims cover a lot of ground. The AT4 comes prepped for the trails with all-terrain tires, a dual-clutch AWD system, off-road tuned suspension, a 1.0-inch lift, and red tow hooks.
That's enticing, but we might pick an Acadia Denali. That top model is outfitted with 20-inch wheels, heated rear seats, seat-folding switches in the hatch, acoustic glass, and more. The GMC nameplate isn't as synonymous with luxury as, say, Lexus, but the Denali maximizes the Acadia's premium feel.
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View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Lithia Motors, Inc. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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Product expansion — which includes the Cybertruck, monetization of Full Self-Driving (FSD), and the energy storage division — could stabilize revenues and diversify sources of profit. In a more stable context, where revenue achieves modest growth of 5–8% yearly and net margins recover to 6–8%, earnings could bounce back to $4–5/share. Even at a reduced 40–50x multiple, this would suggest a valuation of $200–250, which would still represent a 10% decline from the current value. An optimistic recovery scenario could entail favorable macroeconomic conditions: lower interest rates, supportive policies, or a resurgence of investor enthusiasm for clean technology. Should earnings rise to $6–7/share and the P/E ratio expand to 60x, Tesla could once more approach $400+. At $285, Tesla's valuation still reflects significant growth expectations — despite cautionary signals in the most recent earnings report. A P/E of 156x with only 1% revenue growth and declining margins is a precarious situation. The 9% revenue decline and margin drop in Q1 FY2025 highlight the increasing risk of a sudden earnings decline. If those trends continue, a drop toward $150 is not simply likely — it is arguably justified. That being said, Tesla continues to be a frontrunner with long-term potential and dedicated shareholders. If it can navigate short-term volatility, restore margins, and revitalize its product strategy, the upside potential remains a valid consideration. For the time being, however, the risk-reward balance appears increasingly uncertain. Investing in a single stock like TSLA can be risky. On the other hand, the Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, which includes 30 stocks, has consistently outperformed the S&P 500 comfortably over the last four years. What's the reason for that? 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