2020 GMC Acadia vs 2021 Toyota RAV4

The 2020 GMC Acadia was positioned as a premium brand, intended to be nicer than Chevys but not as luxurious as Cadillacs. Despite this marketing, the Acadia shared its platform, powertrains, and assembly location with the Cadillac XT5. The Acadia came in various trims, including the SL, SLE, SLT, rugged AT4, and luxurious Denali. The Denali trim, with optional all-wheel drive and extra-cost Satin Steel Metallic paint, featured a new front design with squared-off headlights and a boxier grille. Inside, changes were minimal, with new electronic transmission shift switches, a redesigned center console, and real open-pore wood trim for Denali models. The cabin had a mix of soft surfaces and hard plastic panels, with controls laid out logically. However, aside from leather upholstery and wood trim, the Denali lacked features to establish it as a premium choice.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 featured a rugged-looking exterior with boxy fender flares, chiseled taillights, and a scowling front end, contrasting sharply with previous generations and most other compact crossovers. The RAV4's exterior was aggressive for a family car, standing out against the competition. Underneath, it was based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, shared with other Toyota models. The RAV4 Adventure model added a retro look with an Ice Edge roof and orange interior accents, while the TRD Off-Road model featured matte black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, dark gray exterior trim, and red interior accents. The interior had rugged styling touches, including large rubberized knobs and door handles. Material quality was good on lower trims but didn't improve with higher trims. The TRD Off-Road model had SofTex upholstery, which was lighter and durable but lacked real leather, even on the range-topping Limited trim.

The 2020 GMC Acadia offered three engine options. Lower trims had a 193-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The Acadia SLT featured a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 230 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque. The AT4 and Denali variants included a 310-hp 3.6-liter V6 engine, available in most other Acadias. All engines were paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) options, except for the AT4, which had a dual-clutch AWD system as standard. The V6 and nine-speed automatic combination provided smooth, refined power and up to 4,000 pounds of towing capacity. The test vehicle's powertrain included automatic engine stop/start and cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 21 mpg combined. The Acadia's ride and handling were finely tuned, but the driving character was forgettable.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 had a single engine option: the "Dynamic Force" 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It came with standard FWD or optional AWD. The engine achieved 40% thermal efficiency, a level usually found in racing engines, and loved to rev, with power peaking at 6,600 rpm. However, the transmission hesitated to shift, and the steering lacked feel, making for a videogame-like experience. The RAV4 had a "Sport" driving mode, but it only added weight to the steering. The RAV4 Hybrid and RAV4 Prime offered more power and better fuel economy. On the highway, the RAV4 was quieter and had a comfortable suspension. The Adventure and TRD Off-Road models had a torque-vectoring rear axle and 8.6 inches of ground clearance, with a 3,500-pound towing capacity. The TRD Off-Road model had all-terrain tires and specific suspension tuning but lacked traditional off-roading features.

The 2020 GMC Acadia could seat five, six, or seven passengers, depending on the trim level and configuration. The Denali trim provided six-passenger seating with standard second-row captain’s chairs, with a bench seat as a no-cost option. The front seats were wide, supportive, and comfortable, with heating and ventilation. The second-row captain’s chairs were also heated and comfortable, with air conditioning vents, USB ports, and a household-style power outlet. The third-row seat was roomier than expected but had limited space between the seat and the back of the SUV. Interior storage space improved with new electronic transmission controls and a reconfigured center console. Cargo volume was 12.1 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 41.7 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded down, and 79 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded down.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 had a tall, upright roof providing good headroom and outward visibility. Legroom in both rows was slightly behind competitors. The front seats in the TRD Off-Road model were comfortable, but the rear seats had flat, hard cushions. The rear seat was a 60/40 split-folding bench but didn’t slide fore and aft. Cargo space was 37.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place, above average but behind the Honda CR-V. The cargo area had a wide aperture but a higher lip than the Honda. The oversized knobs and steering-wheel controls were easy to use, even with gloves on. The center-console storage bin and space ahead of the shifter were large, but the console itself lacked storage space. The RAV4’s styling emulated old school SUVs, with a larger shift lever and other vehicle controls.

The 2020 GMC Acadia included standard infotainment features like Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and GMC Connected Services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Versions with an 8-inch touchscreen had a higher resolution display, simplified user experience, and improved voice recognition. The test vehicle had navigation and a Bose premium sound system, with voice-recognition technology that worked well most of the time. The infotainment system was simple to use, with new USB-C ports, a more powerful wireless charging pad, a high-definition surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror providing an unobstructed wide-angle view.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 had standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Most trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, with an 8-inch screen on Limited models and a 9-inch screen on the RAV4 Prime. Up to five USB ports were available, with a JBL premium audio system as an option. The infotainment system was easy to use, with a well-positioned touchscreen and easy-to-read graphics. However, it wasn’t very flashy, and the gasoline RAV4 didn’t get the head-up display available on the RAV4 Prime. The RAV4 offered a simple interface for in-car infotainment.

The 2020 GMC Acadia had standard safety features like a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology. Standard GMC Connected Services included automatic collision notification and SOS emergency calling, but the free trial period was short. The base Acadia SL and up had a standard blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning system. Forward collision warning and low-speed automatic emergency braking were available on SLT or AT4 trims as part of a Driver Alert Package, which also included lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, pedestrian braking, parking sensors, automatic high-beam headlights, and a head-up display. The enhanced automatic emergency braking system was exclusive to the Denali trim. The NHTSA gave the Acadia 5-star ratings in most assessments and a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had incomplete data for the Acadia, with high marks in other tests.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 received a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech. It missed the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating due to mixed headlight scores. The NHTSA gave the RAV4 a five-star overall rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side crash tests. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 bundle included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. Higher trims had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, and park assist. A 360-degree camera system was available in certain option packages.