2026 GMC
Acadia vs. Competitors

One thing is for sure: there’s no shortage of three-row, midsized crossovers in today’s automotive market. It’s a popular option for anyone – especially families – who need extra space for people and cargo. The GMC Acadia, now in its third generation, has been a steady player for almost 20 years. But can it stand out in this crowded field? We’ll break down the details by comparing the GMC Acadia against the Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, and Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Unless we note otherwise, this matchup involves relatively comparable all-wheel-drive trims for the 2026 model year.

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Acadia Powertrain

With an MSRP of $45,800, the GMC Acadia Elevation isn’t the cheapest option among the group. Some of this pricing is due to additional standard features like a heated steering wheel, a more powerful engine, and greater seating capacity – features that buyers in this segment consider important. The Toyota Highlander XLE is slightly more expensive at $45,870. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L Laredo X is priced at $45,415, while the Explorer Active holds up the bottom with an MSRP of $42,585.

Platform Age

GMC launched the third-generation Acadia for the 2024 model year, which continues into 2026. This gives the Acadia the newest chassis architecture of the group. The current Highlander and Explorer have been around since the 2020 model year, making them the oldest entries as far as chassis age. As for the Grand Cherokee L, Jeep has been using its platform since model year 2021. Keeping a vehicle’s platform updated is critical because advancements improve safety, ride comfort, and efficiency.

Powertrain

The Acadia, Highlander, and Explorer all use a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but the Acadia’s 2.5-liter unit has the greatest displacement and output. It produces 328 horsepower and 326 lb.-ft. of torque, ahead of the 300 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque created by the Explorer's 2.3-liter engine. The Highlander uses a 2.4-liter powerplant that makes 265 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft of torque. Although the Grand Cherokee L has a 3.6-liter V6, this engine trails with an output of 293 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft.

Professional and Consumer Ratings

In a recent review of three-row crossovers by MotorTrend, the Acadia scored 8.6 out of 10, ahead of the Explorer (8.5), Highlander (8.2), and Grand Cherokee L (8.1). Consumers on Edmunds had similar sentiments, ranking the GMC 4.0 out of 5 and ahead of the Toyota (3.8), Grand Cherokee L (3.7), and Ford (3.6).

Seating Capacity

For buyers looking for maximum seating capacity, only the Acadia comes standard with eight-passenger seating via a second-row bench seat (an upgrade to second-row captain’s chairs with seven-passenger total seating is optional). The Highlander’s standard seating configuration is for seven people, with an optional eight-passenger arrangement. The Explorer and Grand Cherokee L are set up for six or seven passengers.

Interior Dimensions

The Acadia’s seating capacity is tied to its larger interior. The Acadia is the clear space leader, offering the most legroom in every row. Here are the measurements for the first, second, and third rows, respectively, in inches: Acadia (44.3/41.5/32.1), Explorer (43.0/37.5/31.8), Highlander (42.0/38.7/28.0), and Grand Cherokee L (41.3/39.4/30.3). The Acadia also offers more shoulder room in all three rows, giving passengers noticeably more space to spread out than the other crossovers in this group.

Cargo space tells a similar story. The Acadia offers the most room with all three rows in use, behind the second row, and with the cabin configured for maximum cargo capacity. Cargo volume behind the first, second, and third rows (in cubic feet) measures 97.5/57.3/23.0 in the Acadia, 85.8/46.0/16.3 in the Explorer, 84.0/48.0/16.0 in the Highlander, and 84.6/46.9/17.2 in the Grand Cherokee L.

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The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Dealer sets final price.

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