2026 GMC Acadia vs. Subaru Ascent: Family SUV Features Compared

A spacious three-row SUV can serve you well in the Carmel, New York, area. Whether you’re commuting on Route 6 or trekking to Putnam County parks, a well-equipped SUV can enhance your experience. The GMC Acadia and Subaru Ascent are both refreshed for 2026. The Acadia offers impressive power, top tech, and a wide variety of trims. The Ascent takes a more standard approach while maintaining its family-friendly features. Stuck between both options? We thoroughly compare SUVs to help you make their choice.

Design and Exterior Features Comparison

The 2026 GMC Acadia is bigger and boxier than previous iterations. It takes a powerful stance with a prominent grille and updated bumper design, and its LED headlights provide superior illumination. The Acadia comes in four trims. The newly added Denali Ultimate is the most striking, with a distinctive “Vadar Chrome” grille and 22″ wheels with an After Midnight metallic finish.

The 2026 Subaru Ascent takes a familiar stance with its solid, time-tested design. With seven trims, you’re spoiled for options if you want to customize your vehicle. However, distinctions between the trims are minimal. In the Limited and above, you’ll get 20-inch wheels. The top-of-the-line Onyx Edition Touring showcases a sleek black grille and exterior trim.

Interior Space and Family-Friendly Features

If you’re carrying a crowd, the GMC Acadia is the best choice. It offers three rows of seating with room for seven or eight passengers depending on whether you opt for captain’s chairs or bench seating in the second row. Even the third row is spacious enough for adults with over 32″ of legroom. You’ll also get 23 cubic feet of luggage space with all the seats in place. With the stunning Acadia Denali, a power-folding third row with a 60/40 split provides superior versatility and ease of use.

The Subaru Ascent is more compact. While you can still seat seven or eight, it’s a tighter fit, and the third row is best used for small children. Both the front and second rows are smaller in the Ascent than in the Acadia as well. With all seats in place, you’ll have just 18 cubic feet of cargo space.

Technology and Infotainment Systems

The Acadia offers ample connectivity with a 15-inch infotainment touchscreen that dwarfs the 11.5-inch screen in the Ascent. The GMC Acadia also features an 11-inch digital cluster and an available 8″ diagonal head-up display. The GMC Acadia has Google built-in, while the Subaru Ascent relies on wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In-car connectivity can help you locate local highlights like Storm King Art Center or Trailside Museums & Zoo with ease.

Wireless charging is standard in the Acadia, while the Ascent continues to rely on cables. Your listening experience is superior in the Acadia as well, with a 12-speaker Bose stereo system with an optional 16-speaker upgrade. Meanwhile, Subaru gives you just six standard speakers with an optional 14-speaker upgrade.

Safety Features and Ratings Breakdown

Both the GMC Acadia and Subaru Ascent offer generous safety and driver assistance features, including lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and forward collision alert. The Acadia also includes rear park assist and rear cross-traffic braking. While Subaru offers adaptive cruise control in the Ascent, GMC goes above and beyond with its available Super Cruise hands-free driving system.

Performance and Driving Experience

The 2026 Acadia comes with a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four engine delivering 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque. The Subaru Ascent is lackluster in comparison with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that provides 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. The Acadia offers better fuel efficiency as well, with 20 MPG city and 27 MPG highway. The Ascent, by comparison, gets 19 MPG city and 26 MPG highway.

The eight-speed automatic transmission in the GMC Acadia shifts quickly and confidently. If you’re planning on off-roading, the AT4 trim is perfectly equipped with an off-road-tuned suspension, increased ride height, and traction select system complete with Terrain Mode. The Ascent’s continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is somewhat noisy. While adequately responsive, it makes abrupt gear shifts that lack the smooth refinement of the GMC option.

Every GMC Acadia is equipped to tow up to 5,000 pounds. With the standard trailering package, you’ll get a Class III hitch, a seven-pin wiring harness, and heavy-duty cooling. The Acadia also offers a hitch view in its 9-camera monitoring system. The Ascent can tow up to 5,000 pounds as well when properly equipped. Trailer Stability Assist software comes standard. This capacity is perfect for taking a small boat or kayak to Lake Mahopac or towing a small camper down to Sal J. Prezioso Mountain Lakes Park.

Reliability and Ownership Costs

Both the 2026 GMC Acadia and 2026 Subaru Ascent offer a limited warranty for three years or 36,000 miles and a powertrain warranty for five years or 60,000 miles. Complimentary maintenance is available for your first visit with your new GMC vehicle. However, Subaru doesn’t offer any complimentary maintenance.

Data isn’t yet available for the most recent Ascent and Acadia models. However, Edmunds estimated the cost to own for both vehicles in 2023 to provide a baseline for what you might expect.

The 2023 Subaru Ascent requires an estimated $6,179 in maintenance costs and $1,904 in repairs over the first five years of its life in Carmel, New York. In comparison, you’d expect to pay $6,867 in maintenance costs and $1,735 on repairs for the 2023 GMC Acadia in Carmel. Though the Acadia’s costs are a bit higher, your first maintenance visit is free, and you’ll enjoy superior fuel economy.

Which SUV Wins for Your Family?

If you prioritize performance, comfort, and spaciousness, the GMC Acadia is an obvious pick. You’ll enjoy better fuel economy, more legroom, and superior tech. Its bold styling is also an attractive selling point that’s sure to capture your attention at first glance. Come experience the 2026 GMC Acadia for yourself at Meadowland GMC.

Images from gmc.com

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