Business

Auto review: Swank GMC Acadia Denali is a couple cylinders short of luxury

By Henry Payne, The Detroit News The Tribune Content Agency

Updated May 1, 2026 1:40 AM

ROMULUS, Mich. - With the I-94 interchange underwater, I exited Detroit Metro Airport and waded through the flood waters in my 2026 GMC Acadia Denalia. With a GMC truck-like 7.3 inches of ground clearance and all-wheel drive, the big three-ton, three-row ute shrugged off the hazard while smaller cars turned around.

After churning through the Strait of Romulus unscathed, I scaled the on-ramp to I-94 East. Before activating hands-free Super Cruise for my ride into Detroit, I floored the throttle to merge into traffic. GROOOOOAN! droned the four-cylinder engine with a compact car-like note that sounded like the small sedans I had left behind.

The handsome, high-tech, roomy, rugged Acadia is a welcome injection of luxurious GMC cred into the three-row SUV segment, but for one flaw.

It lacks a V-6 or V-8 engine that GMC cred demands.

GMC has become a sales juggernaut in a portfolio hampered by upscale Cadillac and Buick premium brands that carry a lot of baggage.

In the three-row SUV space, Cadillac has put the gas-fired XT6 out to pasture, leaving the Vistiq EV as the brand's only choice in this space.

"I don't think I'm ready for an electric car," said my friend Ron, a longtime Cadillac owner.

"I don't think I'm a Buick customer," said pal Sarah of GM's premium brand that produces terrific SUVs these days - but is still dogged by generations of geriatric sedans. Buick's three-row, gas-powered SUV? The Enclave. "Um, no," said my friend.

There are scores of buyers like these. Enter GMC.

"Oh, I like the looks of this," said Ron, circling the Acadia Denali with its bold GMC grille and 21-inch chrome wheels. Key to GMC's explosive growth has been its embrace of halo vehicles like the $82K, three-row Yukon Denali Ultimate mega-ute and $100K Hummer EV.

Everyone knows the crab-walkin', head turnin', 0-60 mph-blitzin' Hummer EV - and its legend rubs off on next of kin.

Acadia is luxurious, adventurous and different-looking than German Audi/BMW/Mercs in class. I like the AT4 trim even more for its rugged vibe - plus it has another half-inch of ground clearance and all-terrain tires to get around Metro Detroit obstacles like potholes and, um, floods.

The bold visuals continue inside, where the Acadia features a nicely appointed cabin that echoes big-brother, truck-based Yukon with yuuuuge twin digital screens: an 11-inch instrument and 15-inch vertical infotainment screen anchored by a fat volume knob (shades of Ford Mustang Mach-E). Readers of this column know that I hold GM ergonomics in high regard, and that volume knob is the appetizer to a first-class cabin that's easy to negotiate.

I flicked down the GM's ubiquitous, Tesla-like electronic column shifter (no muscle necessary like the ol' truck-like column shifters) to get underway. The column shifter opens up acres of console space, including a standard wireless charger so your phone won't run out of juice while navigating standard Android Auto/Apple CarPlay Google Maps.

"Hey, Google," I barked, feeling peckish for an egg-and-sausage biscuit. "Find Chick-fil-A."

The screen filled with options.

"The first one," I said without my hands ever leaving the wheel. We were off to Southfield.

The ergonomic excellence continues on the steering wheel, where I could, without taking my eyes off the wheel, adjust adaptive cruise control with a rocker switch. Radio volume/dial controls on the back of the wheel also meant I need not divert my eyeballs from my driving duties.

My top-trim Denali tester also optioned a camera mirror, head-up display and panoramic roof.

All this attention to detail makes it even more puzzling why GMC doesn't option a V-6 or V-8 engine synonymous with its tough-truck legacy. The Sierra, for example, options two V-8 engines and a diesel inline-6. So do European luxury brands. So do premium brands like Mazda XC-90 (turbo inline-6) and Kia Telluride/Hyundai Palisade SUVs. Dodge Durango sales jumped 50% when a V-8 was added alongside the three-row ute's V-6.

I tested a three-row Honda Pilot Trailsport alongside Acadia as Honda leans into off-road adventure pioneered by American brands like ... GMC.

"BRAWWWWR!" went the Honda when I put my foot in it

"GROOOOOAN!" shouted Acadia. Sigh.

Yes, yes, the Acadia's turbo-4 is a torque monster with 326 pound-feet compared to the Honda's 262. GM engineers are mighty. But the Honda matches the Acadia's 5,000-pound towing capacity, while the Honda is simply more satisfying to drive hard thanks to its throaty V-6. Emotion is a big part of luxury.

Perhaps as important, a V-6/V-8 option would better separate Acadia from its Chevy Traverse brother - The Detroit News' 2024 Vehicle of the Year. For $5K less, Traverse is loaded with the same features (even Super Cruise optioned) while boasting one of the best Chevy designs in recent years.

GM knows its hands-free Super Cruise is a game-changer, and it's offered even on the wee, $32K Chevy Bolt.

Hit the road in the family-friendly Acadia, and Super Cruise makes long trips less exhausting (only Ford's BlueCruise comes close in class). With the shouty turbo-4 up to speed on I-94, I activated Super Cruise, the steering wheel turned green, and I relaxed hands-free while the big ute drove (including lane changes when we encountered slower traffic) and Google Maps navigated shotgun. Destination: Chick-fil-A

Were I traveling to see family in, say, northern Michigan, Kentucky or West Virginia, I would have enjoyed my Chick-fil-A egg-and-sausage biscuit while Super Cruise drove. With the Denali Ultimate's 500-mile range, I would also have been able to make the trip to Traverse City and back without stopping to fill up. The electric Cadillac Vistiq? At least two lengthy stops.

But on this day, I was on Detroit News deadline. Thank goodness Acadia is also a rolling office.

I picked up my breakfast, found a parking spot, then pulled the second-row seat lever. THONK! The seat collapsed flat into an ottoman. I plugged in my computer to the three-prong, 120-volt outlet, and climbed into the back seat.

I stashed my drink ‘n' sandwich into twin third-row cubbies, swung my legs onto the ottoman and worked on my laptop as if I were in my home office. Rear-seat climate controls kept the cool April temps at bay while the huge panoramic roof let in sunlight.

(My office does not have a panoramic roof.)

That's luxury GMC Denali Ultimate style for $67,290 compared to a comparable $88,690 Audi Q7 Prestige. Heck, with the money I save, I could get an aftermarket V-6 and stuff it up front.