SLT 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLT-1 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLT-1 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLE 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SL 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLE 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLT-1 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
Denali 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
Denali 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
Denali 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
Denali 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLT 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
Denali 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLT-1 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
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Find all cars near me?SLE 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
Denali 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLT 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLT-1 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
Denali 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLE 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLE 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
Denali 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLT-2 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLT 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
Overall Rating
The 2011 GMC Acadia gets an all-new Denali trim that offers the maximum comfort and luxurious features the brand can offer in this SUV. The Acadia comes with a great ride quality, a maximum seating capacity of up to 8 people, a massive cargo area, and top-notch safety scores making it a perfect utility vehicle.
With crossovers getting more and more popular, GMC has the Acadia lineup to lure potential buyers looking for space and convenience. The Acadia is one of the Lambda platform trios, with the Buick Enclave and the Chevrolet Traverse based on similar builds. The SUV has a unibody architecture and a refined powertrain with a 3.6L V-6 motor mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The drivetrain comes as a front-wheel-drive as standard, though a rear-wheel drive can be had optionally. The Acadia has great safety scores and can carry 8 passengers.
The SLT-1 trim allows for a luxurious and well-outfitted family car, with a plethora of features and options. However, people looking to save a buck could be better suited for the SLE trim. But if you want the very best the lineup can offer, you have to go with the top-end Denali trim as it brings with it extreme comfort and luxury.
SLE 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLT-1 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLT 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
Denali 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
Denali 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
SLT-2 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
The 2011 GMC Acadia gets an all-new Denali trim that offers the maximum comfort and luxurious features the brand can offer in this SUV. The Acadia comes with a great ride quality, a maximum seating capacity of up to 8 people, a massive cargo area, and top-notch safety scores making it a perfect utility vehicle.
With crossovers getting more and more popular, GMC has the Acadia lineup to lure potential buyers looking for space and convenience. The Acadia is one of the Lambda platform trios, with the Buick Enclave and the Chevrolet Traverse based on similar builds. The SUV has a unibody architecture and a refined powertrain with a 3.6L V-6 motor mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The drivetrain comes as a front-wheel-drive as standard, though a rear-wheel drive can be had optionally. The Acadia has great safety scores and can carry 8 passengers.
The GMC Acadia is offered in a total of 5 trims: the SL, the SLE, the SLT-1, SLT-2, and finally the Denali. Seven passenger seating is the default configuration, though an 8th seat can be added. The engine is a 3.6L V-6 mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The standard drivetrain is front-wheel-drive, while there is an all-wheel-drive available for $2,000 over the base price.
Trims |
SL |
SLE |
SLT-1 |
SLT-2 |
Denali |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP (FWD) |
$32,000 |
$34,625 |
$38,345 |
$39,250 |
$43,380 |
MSRP (RWD) |
$34,000 |
$36,625 |
$40,345 |
$41,250 |
$45,380 |
Key Features |
18-inch alloy wheels |
Add on to SL trim, |
Add on to SLE trim, |
Add on to SLT-1 trim, |
Add on to SLT-2 trim, |
Front and rear air-conditioning |
Rear parking sensors |
Leather upholstery |
Power-folding heated mirrors with driver-side auto-dimming |
20-inch chrome wheels with black chrome accents |
|
OnStar telematics (with a six-month subscription to Directions and Connections) |
Auto-dimming rearview mirror |
10-speaker Bose stereo with a USB audio jack |
Additional power adjustments for the front passenger seat |
Xenon headlights |
|
Six-speaker CD/MP3 stereo system with satellite radio |
Leather-wrapped steering wheel |
Variable-assist steering system |
Driver memory functions |
"SkyScape" power front/fixed rear dual sunroofs |
|
Power front seats (eight-way driver/two-way passenger) |
Tri-zone automatic climate control |
Towing Preparation package |
Head-up display |
||
Back-up camera with a small rearview-mirror-integrated display |
Perforated leather upholstery |
||||
Heated/ventilated front seats |
|||||
Leather/wood steering wheel |
We Recommend
The SLT-1 trim allows for a luxurious and well-outfitted family car, with a plethora of features and options. However, people looking to save a buck could be better suited for the SLE trim. But if you want the very best the lineup can offer, you have to go with the top-end Denali trim as it brings with it extreme comfort and luxury.
The GMC Acadia comes with a single-engine option. The powertrain is a 3.6L V-6 engine with 288 horsepower and 270 foot-pounds of torque. The gearbox is a 6-speed automatic, which seems to be a bit on the sluggish yet smoother side. The acceleration is nevertheless quite capable and perfect for a daily driving car. The car offers an all-wheel-drive system that is great for muddier roads or even snow, though it cannot take full-on offroading. The 2011 GMC Acadia even has 5,200 pounds of towing ability.
Model |
GMC Acadia |
Chevrolet Traverse |
Mazda CX-9 |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$30,050 |
$30,795 |
$29,990 |
Engine |
3.6L V-6 |
3.6L V-6 |
3.7L V-6 |
Drivetrain |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
Transmission |
6-speed automatic |
6-speed automatic |
6-speed automatic |
Power |
288 hp @ 6300 rpm |
281 hp @ 6300 rpm |
273 hp @ 6250 rpm |
Torque |
270 ft-lbs. @ 3400 rpm |
266 ft-lbs. @ 3400 rpm |
270 ft-lbs. @ 4250 rpm |
0-60 mph (seconds) |
8.1 |
7.4 |
7.7 |
Quarter-mile (seconds) |
15.8 |
15.9 |
15.9 |
Top Speed (mph) |
151 |
151 |
148 |
Comparing the powertrain to its competitors, the GMC Acadia is quite well powered for the class. However, the heavy bodyweight and the sluggish transmission let it down in terms of acceleration. The Chevrolet Traverse is much faster at getting up to speed, especially when it has the same engine as the GMC except in a lower tune.
The 6-speed automatic with its wide range of gear ratios gives the 2011 GMC Acadia impressive fuel economy. The front-wheel-drive Acadia gives 17 mpg in cities, 24 mpg on highways, and 19 mpg combined. All-wheel-drive Acadias are very close in efficiency with 16 mpg in cities, 23 mpg on the highway, and 19 mpg combined.
Model |
GMC Acadia |
Chevrolet Traverse |
Mazda CX-9 |
---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) (mpg) |
17 |
17 |
17 |
MPG (Highway) (mpg) |
24 |
24 |
24 |
MPG (Combined) (mpg) |
19 |
19 |
19 |
Fuel Capacity (gallon) |
22.0 |
22.0 |
20.1 |
Range (City/Hwy) |
374/528 |
374/528 |
342/482 |
The Acadia and the Traverse are essentially quite similar, and as such, either car produces the same numbers for its consumption. The GMC Acadia has a 22-gallon fuel tank that gives it a range of close to 450 miles. The Mazda CX-9 also has similar efficiency numbers though it has a smaller fuel tank.
The interior space and the seating are well configured and quite comfortable. Third-row seats are standard, which gives room for either 7 or 8 passengers. The front seats in the Acadia are firm and comfortable at the same time. The second row is perfect for adults and even slides ahead to allow more legroom in the third row. The third row itself is quite spacious and can fit adult passengers. The 2011 Acadia’s interior is well-fit and quiet, with excellent road damping and ride quality.
Model |
GMC Acadia |
Chevrolet Traverse |
Mazda CX-9 |
---|---|---|---|
Seating Capacity |
7 |
8 |
7 |
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
40.4/61.9/40.5 |
40.4/61.5/41.4 |
39.6/59.5/40.9 |
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
39.3/61.1/36.9 |
39.4/61.0/36.8 |
39.0/58.7/39.8 |
Cargo Capacity (cu-ft) |
24.1 |
24.4 |
17.2 |
Comparing legroom, the Acadia offers great space in the rear row, though the Mazda comes to the top in terms of legroom on the second row. The car offers a cargo capacity of 24.1 cubic feet. When the seats are folded, the SUV gives a total luggage capacity of 115 cubic feet. Some standout interior features are:
The SLT-1 trim gets a 10-speaker Bose system with a 6 CD in-dashboard changer. There is even a head-up display on offer in the model. Other tools like Navigation and GPC can be had in either optional packages or on the Denali trim. XM Satellite Radio is standard on all models of the GMC Acadia. Some standout infotainment features are:
The GMC Acadia is perhaps the best looking of GM’s crossovers, including the Chevrolet Traverse and the Buick Enclave. The exterior has loads of lines with prominent wheel-wells. The car has tougher sheet metal on the exterior to improve the SUV’s ruggedness. The headlamps are futuristic with projectors, and the front grille when chromed out looks quite appealing.
Model |
GMC Acadia |
Chevrolet Traverse |
Mazda CX-9 |
---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
4656 |
4790 |
4330 |
Length (in.) |
200.7 |
203.7 |
200.6 |
Width (in.) |
78.2 |
78.5 |
76.2 |
Height (in.) |
72.8 |
69.9 |
68.0 |
Ground Clearance (in.) |
7.4 |
7.2 |
8.0 |
Wheelbase (in.) |
118.9 |
118.9 |
113.2 |
The GMC Acadia has similar dimensions to the Chevrolet Traverse, though the Mazda CX-9 cuts the smallest profile of the lot. The GMC Acadia is also one of the heaviest cars in the segment at 4,656 lbs, whereas the Chevrolet Traverse is the heaviest weighing 4,790 lbs. When it comes to ground clearance, Mazda CX-9 stands the tallest to the ground at 8 inches. Some standout exterior features include:
The SUV has a strong and large unibody platform designed to protect passengers. In the new federal crash-tests by the NHTSA, the Acadia earns a 5-star safety rating overall, with 4-star frontal impact and 5-star side-impact scores. The IIHS has also awarded the car “Good” ratings on almost all their tests. The Acadia though lacks outward visibility, which can be a problem for shorter passengers. Some standout safety features offered in the SUV are:
The 2011 GMC Acadia is a well-designed SUV meant to be the perfect vehicle for families. The car offers excellent interiors, space, and even storage capability. The GMC Acadia has a V-6 motor that has adequate performance to satisfy daily usability. Even the safety scores offered are quite brilliant. Overall the GMC Acadia is a highly recommended car in the 8-seater crossover segment.