Acadia

Make
GMC
Segment
SUV

GMC will be launching a third-generation Acadia SUV in the very near future and it will be going back to its roots. The current second-generation model is smaller than its immediate predecessor and definitely more crossover-like. That's going to change come the 2024 model year.

GM President Mark Reuss, during the automaker's Investor Day not long ago, told his audience the next Acadia is going to get bigger.

"So, alongside the Traverse, we'll move the GMC Acadia to a little bit different size standpoint," he said. "So, this comes in a little bigger than the old Acadia, so it's a big transformation for GMC and its part in the market. Again, very handsome, very much GMC truck premium; you know, it's really a, just a professional grade SUV in this three-row category for us."

What's clearly about to happen is that the next Acadia will be going head-to-head against the likes of the Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and the immensely popular Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade cousins. Prior to Reuss' confirmation, there were rumors GMC had something else quite different in mind for the third-gen Acadia: a body-on-frame SUV. Yes, seriously.

In fact, the original plan, according to Muscle Cars And Trucks, was for it to utilize the same platform underpinning the GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado. But GMC finally understood it had a gap in its lineup that it couldn't afford to ignore.

Large, three-row premium crossovers are hot right now and GMC needs to enter that segment. GMC ultimately decided to drop the Canyon/Colorado-based Acadia back in 2018 and began working on what will become the 2024 model.

Expect it to ride on an updated version of the existing model's architecture, known internally as C1XX-2. Specific details are understandably not available at this time, but sources indicate the next Acadia will share some of the new Canyon's styling. One example includes the front fascia.

At launch, the powertrain options are not expected to be electrified, so it's possible the current Acadia's 3.6-liter V6 will be carried over, albeit with some updates. Super Cruise will be available on higher trims, and the pneumatic suspension system found on the Acadia AT4X will also be offered. This system increases the ride height and towing capacity, meaning a minimum of 5,000 pounds.