2021 GMC Acadia

The 2021 GMC Acadia comes in a total of 4 different trims. Prices range from an MSRP of $30,995 for the SL(fleet variant) to the $42,295 for the top-end AT4 trim. The base SLE comes with a 2.5 L inline 4 cylinder while the SLT comes with a 2.0L turbocharged inline 4 and gets the 3.6L V6 as an option. The AT4 trim and Denali trim come with the V6 unit as standard along with a host of model exclusive features.

The SLE trim starts at $34,795 and comes with a lot of standard safety and convenience features. The downside is most of them come as options. The SLT trim starts from $39,995 and comes with auto-dimming inside and outside rearview mirrors, perforated leather upholstery among a lot of other features. Customers can choose between different engine options.

The AT4 starts from $42,295 and comes with AWD as standard. The 2021 AT4 is an off-road intended trim with scuff plates and fiber cladding supplied across the underside of the vehicle. The V6 engine is offered as standard. The Denali variant starts at $46,300 and comes with a lot of standard safety and convenience features. The Denali comes equipped with the V6 as standard.

Which 2021 GMC Acadia trim should you choose?

We recommend going ahead and buying the SLT trim, given that you can opt for the potent V6 engine. It can be had with the option of a sunroof and comes with advanced safety and driver assistance features, including Blindspot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and much more, courtesy of the new GMC Pro Safety Suite Plus. Although for a premium of $9,000, the 2021 Acadia SLT with an MSRP of $39,995 is a safe bet in our opinion.

Check out the Warranty, Maintenace Costs, and Reliability Ratings of the 2021 GMC Acadia>>

Credit the Acadia's agile handling for its ability to shrink around you and drive similarly to a smaller vehicle - MOTORTREND

The 2021 GMC Acadia comes with 3 different engine choices. A 2.5L inline 4, a 2.0L turbocharged inline 4, and a 3.6L V6. Power figures stand at 193 hp, 230 hp, and 310 hp respectively which cater to a large variety of audiences and a wide price bracket ranging from $30,995 - $46,300.

Transmission options are limited to a 9-speed automatic with a choice of FWD or AWD drivetrains. The AT4 and Denali trims of the 2021 Acadia are offered with the 310 hp V6 as standard, whereas the other trims get it as an optional extra. 

In terms of braking the 2021 Acadia can come to a complete emergency stop from 60 mph in 126 feet. This is an impressive figure for a near 4000 pound SUV. 

How fast is the 2021 GMC Acadia from 0-60 MPH?

The 2021 Acadia, in its 2.5L NA avatar, can go from 0-60 mph in 8.5 seconds. That said if equipped with the 3.6L V6 unit the 2021 Acadia does the 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds. 

It can be seen that the GMC Acadia has a power advantage over its rivals. Not to mention the towing capabilities of the car, if equipped with the V6 the Acadia can tow up to 4,000 pounds. The closest in terms of raw numbers would be the Toyota Highlander. In terms of torque generated, the Mazda CX-9 sits right at the top with 310 lb-ft.

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In its base 2.5L NA guise, the 2021 Acadia S and SLE trims manage to return a modest 21 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway. The turbocharged 2.0L unit, such as in the $39,995 SLT trim manages to deliver an even modest 22 MPG in the city and about 29 miles to the gallon out on the highway. Now regardless of the not-so frugal numbers, the 2021 Acadia does have a 19-gallon fuel tank, which allows it to have one of the best-in-class range.

The GMC Acadia in its 3.6L guise is not a very frugal consumer of fuel, with it delivering only 19 MPG in the city and 25 out on the highway. These numbers are with the FWD setup, as the AWD system further takes it down a notch by 1 MPG.

The Acadia plays it simpler, with a shield-shaped dash and clusters of controls that don't look as fresh as those rivals' linear looks - The Car Connection

With a standard seating capacity of 7, the interior of the 2021 GMC Acadia is simple yet practical and can accommodate up to seven occupants in the utmost comfort. Although not the best in terms of third-row space, the Acadia does offer middle row captain’s chairs in all the trims except the base SL trim(fleet variant). Going with the $39,995 SLT will land you with leather bathed interiors along with a decent-sized sunroof. 

The 2021 Acadia comes with the Next Generation GMC Infotainment system, which offers an 8-inch diagonal color touch screen with an improved user interface. This system also offers Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, along with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Still, the infotainment unit could’ve been better when compared with that of the VW Atlas, which uses Audi’s MMI system.

The winning statement here would be that the Volkswagen Atlas has a better spaced interior and cargo capacity, although for a premium of $2000 more than the base Acadia. That said, the Toyota Highlander and the GMC Acadia are not far behind when it comes to the overall space offered. Acadia has a cargo capacity of 12.8 cubic feet which is the lowest here.

Also Read

• What should you pick between the 2021 GMC Acadia and the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas?
• What is the difference in Configurations between the 2021 Acadia AT4 and Denali variants

Thanks to its recent facelift, the Acadia is still a handsome and modern-looking crossover - CARBUZZ

A bold and beautiful front end flanked by the new slimmer LED headlights inspired by the Sierra 1500 adorn the front of the $30,995 GMC Acadia.

What are the new colors of the 2021 GMC Acadia?

Three new color shades are introduced with the 2021 Acadia- Cayenne Red Tintcoat, Hunter Metallic, and Midnight Blue Metallic.

In terms of proportions, the Acadia sits tall and is unmistakably a GMC. Acadia is the lightest SUV of the lot at 3923 lbs. Further changes include the 20-inch wheels and black exterior accents, courtesy of the Elevation Edition package.

In terms of competition, the $31,555 Volkswagen Atlas looks smart and elegant. In terms of sheer size, the Volkswagen beats the rest of the competition here. A close second would be the $33,690 Mazda CX-9, which surprisingly has the highest ground clearance of them all.

Also Read

• What is the towing capacity of the 2021 GMC Acadia?
• What sort of a warranty package does the 2021 Acadia offer?

In every safety review of the GMC Acadia by US authorities, the crossover rates highly - CARBUZZ

Is the 2021 GMC Acadia safe?

Driver Safety aids like Forward collision alert, lane departure warning, Rear-cross traffic alert make the 2021 GMC Acadia stand up against the likes of its competitors. GMC Pro Safety Plus Suite is now optional on the SL, and SLE trims, whereas it is standard on the $39,995 SLT variant and the higher trims.

Also, the improved chassis architecture helps the occupants when in the unfortunate event of a crash by dissipating the shock waves across the whole body away from the cabin. Both the NHTSA and IIHS seem very pleased with how the 2020 GMC Acadia turned out to be a safe package, awarding it with a ‘Good’ rating overall

2021 GMC Acadia Vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander is one of the oldest nameplates in the 3 row SUV segment and offers decent performance. The advantage the GMC Acadia has over the Highlander is its power and smaller dimensions.

The Acadia is a boon in city driving when compared to the Highlander and has better performance on offer. The Highlander (MSRP $34,600) is more spacious and costs a bit more. It’s a Toyota and therefore comes with unmatched reliability.

2021 GMC Acadia Vs 2021 Volkswagen Atlas

The VW Atlas is one of the most spacious cars out there. In fact, it is the most spacious car in this comparison. Although not the most enthusiastic SUV out there, it still manages to offer premium features along with a utilitarian’s most important attribute; space.

The GMC Acadia cannot match the Atlas in terms of space offered but in terms of performance, the Atlas is long gone in front of the 2021 Acadia.

The 2021 GMC Acadia is a note-worthy offering with 7 seats and a ton of features all for the starting price of MSRP $30,995. Plus the new package offerings only add to the praise. The choice of 3 potent powertrains makes the 2021 Acadia a good performer both on and off-road. Plus the exterior updated styling gives it a strong and bold personality throughout, especially when you opt for the $46,300 Acadia Denali trim. GMC has a long market experience of making capable SUVs which makes it a supremely reliable vehicle too.