2024 GMC Acadia vs 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid

The 2024 GMC Acadia was built on a significantly modified version of its predecessor's platform, resulting in a larger and more imposing vehicle. It was 27 centimetres longer and 8 centimetres taller than the 2023 model, with styling that emphasized its increased size. The front end featured a more upright design with a broad grille reminiscent of GMC's full-size SUVs and pickup trucks, framed by distinctive LED headlights. The wheel arches and door skins had intricate detailing that added definition, though this was mostly visible in specific lighting conditions. At the rear, quad exhaust tips drew inspiration from the C8 Corvette, adding a sporty touch. The Acadia was available in Elevation, AT4, and Denali trims, each offering unique styling elements. The interior was redesigned to accommodate larger screens and create a sense of spaciousness, with a lower dashboard and repositioned rear roof pillar enhancing visibility for third-row passengers. While the Denali trim featured leather seats and intricate stitching, the AT4's interior materials were more rugged and suited to its off-road character.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid introduced a new design for its sixth-generation model, featuring a more cohesive but less distinctive look. Its blockier shape gave it a visual heft similar to a compact Ford Explorer. The Forester Hybrid shared its rugged appearance with its non-hybrid sibling, incorporating black plastic elements that hinted at its off-road capabilities. Inside, the Forester retained some of its previous charm with a beveled dashboard centre section, now dominated by a large vertical infotainment touchscreen. The cabin featured a mix of hard plastics and soft-touch materials, with the front seats offering ample cushioning and support. The hybrid model included heated outboard rear seats and a ventilation system that enhanced comfort on warm days. While some felt the Forester lost some of its personality, its more conventional design aimed for broader appeal.

The 2024 GMC Acadia was powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. This engine replaced the previous 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four and 3.6-litre V6 engines, offering more power than both. Despite the absence of a V6 option, the turbo-four engine provided strong and consistent performance, enabling a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms with an available towing package. However, the engine's coarse note was less appealing, particularly in the high-end Denali trim. An eight-speed automatic transmission was standard, with all-wheel drive included in Canadian models. The AT4 trim featured a twin-clutch system for off-road driving, along with a 2.5-centimetre ride height lift, special suspension tuning, and skid plates. While the Acadia AT4 was marketed as the "most capable Acadia AT4 ever," it was more suited to light off-roading. The Denali and AT4 trims offered different suspension tunings, with the Denali providing a comfortable ride despite its large wheels, though both trims felt larger than they were due to slow steering and road undulations.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid was equipped with a 2.5-litre horizontally opposed flat four-cylinder engine, paired with a parallel hybrid system that included two motor/generators and a 1.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This setup produced 194 horsepower, surpassing the standard Forester's 180 hp. The hybrid powertrain featured an all-wheel drive system with a traditional driveshaft, offering better traction and consistent off-road performance. While acceleration was adequate, the hybrid transmission made it feel slower than it was, with the engine emitting a monotone groan at higher speeds. The hybrid system operated smoothly, with seamless transitions between electric and combustion power. The Forester Hybrid excelled in off-road conditions, thanks to its X-Mode drive programming and hill descent control. On-road, it offered a firmer ride, with larger wheels contributing to some passenger jostling. However, it maintained a desirable balance between off-road capability and on-road comfort.

The 2024 GMC Acadia offered a spacious interior, with more headroom across all three rows than competitors like the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Kia Telluride, and Toyota Grand Highlander. It also provided more first-row legroom, though the Kia and Toyota offered more space in the second and third rows. The Acadia's cargo space was impressive, with 651 litres behind the third row, 1,623 litres with the rear seats folded, and 2,761 litres with both the second and third rows folded. These figures represented significant improvements over the 2023 model. The Acadia also featured an underfloor storage bin and a "presence based" power liftgate for hands-free access. Small-item storage was reasonable, though the headlight controls were less intuitive, requiring touchscreen interaction.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid provided an unobstructed forward view from the driver's seat, thanks to thinner front roof pillars. The front seats offered ample space, and the cockpit had an open, airy feel. Rear passengers enjoyed generous legroom and headroom, enhanced by a standard panoramic sunroof. The Forester Hybrid included a wireless charging pad, though its hard plastic surface allowed phones to slide during turns. Storage options included cup holders, a centre armrest bin, and door pockets, with USB ports and air vents for rear passengers. The Forester Hybrid offered 779 litres of cargo space, with a hands-free power liftgate and power remote seatback releases for easy loading. While its cargo capacity was less than some rivals, the space was highly usable, accommodating bulkier items.

The 2024 GMC Acadia featured an 11-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 12-speaker Bose audio system was standard, with an optional 16-speaker system available. The infotainment system included Google built-in apps, such as Google Maps and Google Assistant, providing a familiar and user-friendly interface. The touchscreen layout was logical, with climate control readouts and physical buttons for easy access. The instrument cluster offered multiple configurations, though drive-mode icons could be difficult to spot.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid came with an 11.6-inch vertical infotainment touchscreen, featuring built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Starlink infotainment system received praise for its large on-screen buttons and intuitive menus. Physical buttons flanking the screen allowed for easy temperature adjustments, while the X-Mode off-road drive menu was accessible with a swipe. The Forester Hybrid also included multiple external camera views for off-roading, and an 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The 2024 GMC Acadia received an Acceptable rating from the IIHS for its moderate overlap front test and collision prevention system, with a Marginal score for its headlights. NHTSA crash test results were unavailable. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view camera. The Acadia also offered the Super Cruise driver-assist system as an option, allowing for hands-free driving on certain roads.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests, except for rollover protection, where it received four stars. The IIHS awarded the non-hybrid model a Top Safety Pick, with Good ratings in most categories. The Forester Hybrid included Subaru's EyeSight suite of safety features, such as frontal collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. Additional features on the top-trim Hybrid included rear automatic braking, blind spot monitoring, and a driver attention monitor. The safety systems functioned smoothly, with the option to disable audible alarms for lane-keep assist.