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What Families Really Compare Before Buying a Three-Row SUV Shopping for a three-row SUV is one of those purchases that starts with browser tabs and ends with gut feelings. Before most families schedule a single test drive, they've already spent hours comparing cargo numbers, reading about third-row legroom, and wondering which vehicle will still feel right five years from now. Buyers tend to narrow their research to the same core questions: how many people fit comfortably, how much gear can go with them, and what they'll spend at the pump. Among the most researched options in this segment are the 2025 GMC Acadia, Ford Explorer, and Honda Pilot, each with real tradeoffs worth understanding before you visit a showroom. Knowing the actual numbers ahead of time saves you from surprises and helps you ask smarter questions once you're in the door. Seating: How the Rows Actually Feel Passenger capacity is usually where the research starts. All three vehicles offer three rows, but how those rows feel to actual adults varies more than the spec sheets suggest. GMC's Acadia seats up to eight with a bench second row, or seven with optional captain's chairs. Second-row legroom measures 41.5 inches, and third-row legroom sits at 32.1 inches. Workable for older kids and shorter trips for most adults. Honda's Pilot also reaches eight-passenger capacity in bench configuration, and its 32.5 inches of third-row legroom is nearly even with the Acadia. Ford's Explorer caps at seven passengers with its standard bench, or six with captain's chairs. Its third row is fine for kids, but anyone who regularly carries adults back there should make a point to sit in it before signing anything. Cargo Space Side by Side This is where the Acadia separates itself in ways that actually matter on a family road trip. All numbers below come from each manufacturer's official website. Metric 2025 GMC Acadia 2025 Ford Explorer 2025 Honda Pilot Max Seating 8 (bench) / 7 (captains) 7 (bench) / 6 (captains) 8 (bench) / 7 (captains) Cargo Behind 3rd Row 23.0 cu ft 16.3 cu ft 18.6 cu ft Cargo Behind 2nd Row 57.3 cu ft 46.0 cu ft 48.5 cu ft Max Cargo Space 97.5 cu ft 85.8 cu ft ~87.0 cu ft Horsepower 328 hp (2.5L turbo) 300 hp (2.3L base) 285 hp (3.5L V6) Hwy MPG (base drivetrain) 27 mpg (FWD) 28 mpg (RWD) 27 mpg (FWD) Max Towing 5,000 lbs 5,000 lbs 5,000 lbs AWD / 3,500 lbs FWD Standard Infotainment Screen 15 inches 13.2 inches 9 inches (most trims) At 23.0 cubic feet behind the third row, the Acadia has a real-world advantage over the Explorer's 16.3 and the Pilot's 18.6. That nearly seven-cubic-foot gap over the Explorer is something you'll feel the moment you try to load bags for a full family. Across all three cargo measurements, the Acadia holds the lead. Technology Inside the Cabin Screen size has become a genuine differentiator in this segment. Standard on every 2025 Acadia is a 15-inch infotainment touchscreen, one of the largest you'll find in the class. It pairs with a Google-powered interface, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and available Super Cruise hands-free highway driving. Families who regularly make long hauls tend to find Super Cruise one of the more practical available features going right now. Ford's Explorer runs a 13.2-inch touchscreen with Amazon Alexa and Google built-in, and BlueCruise hands-free driving is available on higher trims. Both are capable setups, but the Acadia's screen is noticeably larger. Honda's Pilot uses a 9-inch center display on most trims, stepping to a 7-inch unit on the base Sport. It's clean and intuitive, though it doesn't match the screen real estate of the other two. Power and Towing All three can tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. One catch with the Pilot: front-wheel drive models drop to just 3,500 pounds. If trailering is on your list, that's worth knowing before you fall in love with an FWD trim. Under the hood, the Acadia's 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder puts out 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque. That outpaces the Explorer's base 2.3-liter EcoBoost at 300 horsepower and the Pilot's 3.5-liter V6 at 285 horsepower. Highway fuel economy is close across all three. Running front-wheel drive, the Acadia and Pilot both hit 27 mpg highway, while the Explorer reaches 28 mpg in rear-wheel drive. Numbers Worth Taking Into the Showroom Researching specs before you go doesn't mean your decision is made. It means you walk in with the right questions. Third-row legroom that reads well on paper can feel different once you've sat in it. Cargo numbers tell part of the story, but so does how the seats fold, how flat they lie, and how easy the whole process is. Put it all together, and the 2025 GMC Acadia covers a lot of ground in one package, and the specs back that up before you ever pull into a parking lot. See the Acadia at Greg Lair Buick GMC We carry the 2025 GMC Acadia at our dealership in Canyon, and our team is glad to walk you through the full lineup in person. Whether you're coming in from Amarillo, Lubbock, or anywhere across the Texas Panhandle, we can help you compare trims, set up a test drive, and answer the questions that matter for your family's situation. Every new Acadia purchase also comes with our Free Lifetime Powertrain Warranty at no extra cost. Browse our current inventory at greglair.com or stop by and experience the Greg Lair difference for yourself.

Walk onto a GMC lot, and you'll spot two SUVs that wear the same grille but ask you completely different questions about your daily drive. One slots into tight parking spots and sips fuel on the commute. The other opens up three rows and pulls a real trailer. Both carry the badge proudly, so the choice comes down to how you actually live. The Terrain is a compact five-seater built for easy parking and lighter towing duty. The Acadia stretches into a mid-size three-row that seats up to eight and tows up to 5,000 pounds. Your driveway, your passengers, and your weekend plans usually point to a clear winner. Where the GMC Terrain Feels Right at Home The GMC Terrain measures about 181 inches long and seats five, which makes it the friendlier pick for city streets and crowded garages. That smaller footprint means less guesswork when you're backing into a spot at the grocery store. Under the hood sits a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder good for 175 horsepower, paired with an 8-speed automatic on all-wheel-drive models. Front-wheel drive comes standard on the base trim, and you can add all-wheel drive when Texas weather turns sloppy. Cargo runs 29.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and opens up to 63.5 cubic feet with them folded. That's plenty of room for a big grocery haul, a couple of golf bags, or a road trip's worth of luggage. Towing tops out at 1,500 pounds on all-wheel-drive models, enough for a small camper, a pair of jet skis, or a light utility trailer. When the Acadia Makes More Sense Step up to the Acadia, and you get a mid-size SUV stretched to about 204 inches with three rows of seating. Depending on the trim, it carries seven or eight people, so the whole family plus a couple of extras can ride along. This is the GMC to grab when you're running kids to practice, packing for a long weekend, or carpooling on repeat. Power jumps, too. The Acadia runs a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque, again through an 8-speed automatic. Add the Trailering Package, and it pulls up to 5,000 pounds, which covers a mid-size boat or a loaded work trailer. Cargo behind the third row is 23 cubic feet, and dropping both rear rows opens up 97.5 cubic feet for bigger loads. Features by Trim Level Both SUVs share GMC's 15-inch touchscreen, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel across every trim, so even the base models feel well-stocked. This is how the two lineups stack up as you climb the ladder. Model Trim Standard Drivetrain Included Features Terrain Elevation FWD (AWD optional) 15-inch touchscreen, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, 17-inch wheels Terrain AT4 AWD Lifted ride height, front skid plate, all-terrain tires, Hill Descent Control, red recovery hooks Terrain Denali AWD Heated and ventilated front seats, leather-appointed seating, HD Surround Vision, 19-inch wheels Acadia Elevation FWD (AWD optional) Three-row seating, Bose 12-speaker audio, HD Surround Vision, 5,000-lb Trailering Package Acadia AT4 AWD Off-road suspension, lifted ride height, skid plates, all-terrain tires, red recovery hooks. Acadia Denali FWD (AWD optional) Leather-appointed seating, 20-inch wheels, Head-Up Display, power-folding third row Acadia Denali Ultimate FWD (AWD optional) Super Cruise standard, full-leather massaging front seats, 22-inch wheels, panoramic sunroof Matching the SUV to Your Lifestyle Think about a normal week. If most of your miles happen solo or with one passenger, and parking feels like a daily battle, the Terrain keeps things simple and light on fuel. It suits a single driver, a couple, or a small family that doesn't need a third row. The Acadia earns its keep once the passenger count climbs. Three rows, stronger towing, and more cargo make it the pick for growing families, road-trip regulars, and anyone who tows on the weekend. You'll spend a bit more at the pump and at the register, but you get real space and muscle in return. Picking the GMC That Fits Your Week The honest answer is that neither SUV wins across the board. They're built for different drivers. Ask yourself how many seats you fill on a typical day, what you tow, and how tight your parking gets. If those numbers stay small, the Terrain is your match. If your life spills into a third row or a trailer hitch, the Acadia has you covered. Sit in both, drive both, and the right one tends to make itself obvious. See Both SUVs Side by Side at Greg Lair GMC At Greg Lair GMC in Canyon, we keep one of the largest GMC lineups in Texas on the lot, so you can compare the Terrain and Acadia in person instead of guessing from a spec sheet. We've served drivers across the Texas Panhandle for more than 30 years, and we're glad to walk you through both SUVs, set up back-to-back test drives, and help you match a trim to your budget. Every new GMC we sell also comes with our free Lifetime Powertrain Warranty, which protects your vehicle for as long as you own it when you keep up with scheduled maintenance. Stop by, get behind the wheel, and let us help you find the SUV that fits your week.