Is the 2025 GMC Acadia a Good SUV? 5 Pros, 3 Cons

The GMC Acadia SUV got a redesign for the 2024 model year, returning to the larger three-row SUV platform shared with the Chevrolet Traverse. In addition to gaining a lot more passenger and cargo room, the update also brings added tech and a more upscale interior, slotting the Acadia in between its more mainstream Traverse and luxurious Buick Enclave stablemates.

Related: 2024 GMC Acadia Review: Distinctive Looks, Common Personality

Now with a simplified lineup of just three trims offering varying degrees of luxury and off-road capability, the new Acadia delivers segment-leading ride quality and a more upscale look and feel than the Traverse, along with added tech including the latest version of GM’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system. For 2025, the Acadia gained a standard bench seat to provide room for eight in the base Elevation trim but is otherwise unchanged.

Cars.com Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman traveled to South Carolina to sample the new Acadia and came away impressed with its nicely equipped and refined cabin, supple ride and added tech — but not all is perfect. (Per Cars.com’s ethics policy, we pay for our own travel and lodging when attending such manufacturer-sponsored events.) Tap the link above for Bragman’s expert review, or for a quicker rundown, keep reading for five things we like about the 2025 GMC Acadia and three we don’t.

What Do We Like About the 2025 Acadia?

1. Cushy Ride

The Acadia’s excellent ride quality is a strong suit, delivering an absorbent and controlled ride over virtually any surface. Bumps and road imperfections are soaked up with ease, and body motions are kept in check with no float or bounciness, even with big 22-inch wheels and tires.

2. Super Cruiser

With the redesign, the Acadia gets the Super Cruise system for the first time. A welcome addition, Super Cruise works as well as we’ve seen in other GM vehicles, smoothly maneuvering the SUV with the flow of traffic on the highway. Though recent enhancements enable the use of Super Cruise on some rural two-lane highways, with the added challenges of oncoming traffic, intersections and driveways, we’ll stick to using it on the highway for now.

3. Improved Cabin

Differences between the new Acadia and its Traverse counterpart are most obvious when you have a look inside. That’s especially true in the top Denali trim, which features real wood and high-quality leather in the cabin. The GMC also gets its own configurable digital instrument cluster and 15-inch infotainment touchscreen, both of which are vivid and easy to use. Controls are a mix of virtual and physical buttons and toggles for climate and other frequently used functions.

4. More Space

An obvious benefit of moving to a larger platform is increased passenger and cargo room. In the case of the Acadia, the difference is dramatic. The first two rows are comfortable, with generous head- and legroom, and the third row can accommodate adults, though they may not want to be back there for extended trips. Cargo room is also notably increased over the 2023 model.

5. Off-Road Ready

Depending on the vehicle, GMC’s AT4 trim can add real off-road chops or just an assortment of cosmetic add-ons. In the case of the new Acadia, we’re happy to report that AT4 trim is the real off-road deal; it adds a different front bumper with a built-in aluminum skid plate, a steel skid plate, 18-inch wheels, a 1-inch lift, a new Terrain mode and more. The result is increased capability with virtually no sacrifice in ride quality on- or off-road.

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What Do We Dislike About the 2025 Acadia?

1. Lackluster Powertrain

With its vastly improved interior and tech upgrades to help distinguish the Acadia from the more mainstream Traverse, it’s disappointing that the GMC gets the same turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission used in the Chevy. The engine gets the job done, but there’s not a lot of power in reserve. Both the throttle and transmission are slow to respond, and the powertrain feels noisy and unrefined underway.

2. Vague Steering

Like with the Traverse, the Acadia’s steering is vague, with little on-center feel. This is particularly annoying at highway speeds, when it feels like the SUV requires constant correction to stay within its lane. It can almost feel like some unseen force is tugging at the wheel, which can add to fatigue on long trips.

3. Google Built-In

The new infotainment system works well overall, but we’re still not big fans of the Google Built-In operating system. Chief among our concerns is that the system will not work without a data connection, which risks things like losing navigation when you’re deep in the boonies and are in need of more guidance than usual. Without a data connection, you also can’t access some onboard systems or even use some voice controls.

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