Summer has a way of filling the calendar fast. Beach weekends, campground bookings, a long haul to see family two states away. The right three-row SUV swallows luggage, keeps everyone charged, and stays calm on the interstate, which makes those miles a lot more fun. A vehicle like that turns a packed itinerary into something you actually look forward to.
- The GMC Acadia seats up to eight people, with cargo room that grows as you fold seats flat.
- A 328-horsepower turbo engine tows up to 5,000 pounds with the Trailering Package, plenty for a small camper or boat.
- Six USB ports and a big touchscreen keep kids and gadgets happy across long stretches of highway.
Picture the night before a trip. Out in the driveway sit coolers, duffel bags, and a tent that never folds back the way it should. Space is the first thing that matters, and this SUV has plenty of it.
Room for People and All Their Gear
Behind the third row you get 23 cubic feet of space, which holds a weekend’s worth of bags for a full house. Fold that row down and the number jumps to 57.3 cubic feet. Drop the second row too and you open up 97.5 cubic feet, room for bikes, a cooler, and a stroller with space to spare. Seating runs up to eight with the second-row bench, or seven if you pick captain’s chairs for an easy walk-through to the back.
Power That Handles a Full Load
Every trim uses a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic. That torque shows up early, so a loaded SUV climbing a grade or merging onto a busy highway never feels strained. Add the Trailering Package and you can tow up to 5,000 pounds, which covers a small camper, a pair of jet skis, or a fishing boat. Front-wheel-drive setups are rated near 27 mpg on the highway by EPA estimates, a nice bonus when the trip stretches past the gas you planned for.
Tech That Keeps the Backseat Calm
A 15-inch upright touchscreen anchors the dash, with Google built in and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Its upright shape makes maps easy to read at a glance, which matters when you’re hunting for the right exit. Six USB ports spread across all three rows mean nobody fights over a charger, and the kids in the way-back stay powered up too. The GMC Acadia also comes standard with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, handy for those early starts before the sun warms things up.
Hands-Free Help for Long Highway Stretches
Super Cruise is where road trips get easier. On compatible highways it lets you drive hands-free, and it even works while towing a trailer. The system can change lanes on its own to pass a slow truck when the road is clear. You can get it on Elevation, AT4, and Denali, and it comes standard on Denali Ultimate. After six hours behind the wheel, that kind of help takes real strain off your shoulders.
How the Trims Stack Up for Travel
| Feature | Elevation | AT4 | Denali | Denali Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive setup | FWD or AWD | AWD standard | FWD or AWD | FWD or AWD |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb |
| Super Cruise | Available | Available | Available | Standard |
| Off-road build | No | Yes, lifted with all-terrain tires | No | No |
| Ventilated front seats | No | Available | Standard | Standard |
| Panoramic sunroof | Available | Available | Available | Standard |
| Bose audio | 12-speaker | Bose standard | Bose standard | 16-speaker |
Matching a GMC Acadia Trim to Your Summer Plans
Trips that lean toward dirt roads and lake access fit the AT4, which brings all-terrain tires, extra ground clearance, and an off-road drive mode built for gravel and sand. Families who stick to highways and want a little extra polish will like the Denali, with its ventilated front seats and head-up display. The Denali Ultimate piles on a panoramic sunroof, a 16-speaker Bose system, and standard Super Cruise for the longest hauls. Most drivers find the Elevation already covers the basics for a great summer of travel.
Plan Your Summer Drive With Greg Lair
We’ve spent more than 30 years helping Texas Panhandle families get ready for the open road, and summer is our favorite season for it. Stop by and we’ll walk you through the full Acadia lineup, from the easygoing Elevation to the trail-ready AT4, so you can match the right setup to your trip. Every new vehicle we sell comes with our free Lifetime Powertrain Warranty, so you can rack up the miles on those long Texas drives without sweating the big repairs. Schedule a test drive and feel how it handles a loaded run down the highway before you commit.
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