The GMC Acadia was introduced in 2006 for the 2007 model year. The Acadia doesn’t stand out in any significant way because it shares design and engineering resources with a bunch of other General Motors SUVs, crossovers, and even minivans. Examples include the Buick Enclave, the Chevrolet Traverse, the Saturn Outlook and, briefly, the Holden Acadia from GM’s Australian brand.
The Acadia was developed specifically to consolidate GM’s lineup of three-row vehicles across North America. At the time, this included fleet-focused models such as the GMC Safari and the Pontiac Montana minivan. As such, the Acadia was marketed more to families, while other GMC vehicles tended to target commercial/fleet buyers or professional tradespeople. GMC’s familiar tagline, “We Are Professional Grade,” predates the Acadia. An example of this strategy is that the Acadia was GMC’s first front-wheel-drive-based vehicle.
In recent years, the Acadia has shifted from a full-size to a midsize crossover design. Although it’s survived lots of GM’s bloodshed over the years (unlike its predecessor, the Oldsmobile Bravada, and the aforementioned Saturn Outlook), it has a lot of competition even from within its own family. This might make it a great choice as a used crossover SUV. Look to the GMC Acadia Denali for a truly upscale experience.
GMC Acadia Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- GMC Acadia Pros and Cons
- GMC Acadia Generations
- Third Generation (2024-)
- Second Generation (2017-2023)
- First Generation (2007-2016)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which GMC Acadia years are the best?
Stick with late used GMC Acadias. In particular, the 2016, 2019, and 2022 model years have better reliability ratings than other Acadia model years.
What are the worst GMC Acadia years?
Data shows the 2007 and 2008 model years have lower-than-average reliability. As well as being the first years of Acadia, these years also coincide with the timeframe of the General Motors government bailout and the shuttering of several brands.
Is a used GMC Acadia a good deal?
A used GMC Acadia can be a good deal. The Acadia isn’t as recognizable as similar crossovers and SUVs from Chevy and Buick, which means it may not be as sought after on the used market. Buying the right Acadia trim and model year is a good way to find a bargain.
GMC Acadia Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Three generations to choose from
- Full-size and midsize versions
- Similar to Chevrolet and Buick SUVs
Cons:
- Dull styling in older generations
- Dull to drive
- Below-average fuel economy mpg in older versions
GMC Acadia Generations
Third Generation (2024-)
The GMC Acadia was fully redesigned for the 2024 model year. The new Acadia is spacious for a midsize SUV and features more rugged styling than many competitors. However, it has a very high starting price for the class — an MSRP of $56,633 for the base trim in Canada at the time of writing — which is higher even than some more upscale or luxurious competitors.
This Acadia earns praise for its user-friendly infotainment system, its spacious rear seats, and its good cargo capacity. However, many other SUVs are a better value and have more performance options, even at a Buick-GMC dealership.
The 2024 Acadia was designed on the larger GMC Yukon’s platform, hence its cavernous interior. It’s available with just one powertrain, a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit with 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a choice of standard all-wheel drive (AWD) in Canada.
The third-generation Acadia is available in Elevation, AT4, and Denali trim levels as of this writing. Common amenities across the GMC Acadia trim levels include the GMC infotainment system, a sunroof, Bluetooth, a power liftgate, captain’s chairs instead of a second-row bench seat, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, a Bose 12-speaker audio system, a Trailering Package with 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds) of towing capacity, and driver assistance features such as lane departure warning, a head-up display, and rear park assist. All models ship ready to equip GM’s available Super Cruise limited hands-free highway driving system.
Elevation is a well-equipped base trim, though expensive for a midsize crossover. The GMC Acadia AT4 is off-road focused and includes GM’s Active Torque Control AWD system, plus upgrades such as hill descent control, an outdoors-inspired cabin, and all-terrain tires. The Denali goes upscale with leather upholstery and more in the way of comfort features, such as cooled front seats and heated second-row seats for the window-seat passengers, and exclusive designs for the aluminum wheels.
As of this writing, there are no recalls in the Transport Canada database for the 2024 and 2025 GMC Acadia, which indicates there are no serious known problems at this time.
The third generation of the GMC Acadia has only been on the market since 2024. There are not yet many used car listings in Canada as of this writing, and prices are only about $5,000 off new. Expect more used models to hit the market in 2027 and later as the bulk of the initial lease returns start coming in.
Second Generation (2017-2023)
The second generation of the GMC Acadia marked the move from a full-size to a midsize SUV. Prices were lower as a result, but accessibility was compromised because it lost its optional eight-seat configuration.
This generation was updated in 2020 with a new infotainment system that included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, which itself was upgraded to available wireless smartphone compatibility in 2021.
The Acadia was introduced with a choice between a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine rated for 193 hp and 188 lb-ft, or a 3.6-litre V6 generating 310 hp and 271 lb-ft. In 2020, the four-cylinder was replaced with a 2.0-litre turbo four with 230 hp and 258 lb-ft. In Canada, front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) were available for most of this generation, though AWD was standard in Canada in 2023.
The trim lineup was extensive, consisting of SLE, SLT, and Denali designations, as well as a late-addition AT4 trim that added rugged styling elements.
The second generation of the GMC Acadia is known to be fairly reliable. Shoppers in search of a used model should always do the usual research, including taking a test drive.
According to CarGurus data, early second-generation Acadias can be had for as little as $15,000 in lower trims with reasonable odometer readings. A late-model Denali will run you closer to $50,000, which isn’t far off what they sold for new. In between, expect to pay an average of between $25,000 and $40,000 depending on model year, odometer reading, and trim.
First Generation (2007-2016)
The Acadia was unveiled in 2006 for the 2007 model year. It was GMC’s first unibody vehicle, sharing design and engineering with the likes of the Buick Enclave and the Saturn Outlook, as well as being as GMC’s first vehicle with FWD. This full-size crossover SUV was designed to replace several three-row vehicles from across the General Motors portfolio. There were other GMC SUVs on the market at the time, but this was the brand’s first venture into the family-friendly crossover market, which prioritized affordability and comfort over performance and capability.
This generation came exclusively with a 3.6-litre V6 engine. The early years were rated for 275 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. In 2009, its power specs were upgraded to 288 hp and 270 lb-ft. A six-speed automatic transmission was standard across the lineup, and the Acadia was available with FWD or AWD.
Early Acadias came in SLE and SLT trims, with the luxurious Denali introduced for the 2011 model year. While the base and mid-level trims concentrated on practicality, the Denali wore unique front and rear-end treatments, a honeycomb-pattern grille, chrome brightwork, unique 20-inch wheels, and inside, premium perforated leather upholstery and wood trim. These upgrades were consistent with other GMC models bearing the Denali badge on the Terrain and the Yukon. GMC designated the S-trims with -1s and -2s in some model years to further differentiate between feature packages.
The 2007 and 2008 Acadia model years were problematic, typical of a new model introduction. General Motors as a whole also wasn’t in great shape at the time, as the company was negotiating a government bailout and shuttering brands. That said, known issues related to assembly line problems were quickly rectified. Today, these models are the least reliable simply because they’re the oldest.
Prices for first-generation GMC Acadias range from an average of about $6,000 for high-mileage early models to about $25,000 for a late model with less than 100,000 kilometres. In between, average prices on the majority of used units run from $13,000 to $20,000.
