If you’re looking for an incredible SUV with all the hallmarks of GMC quality, the GMC Acadia and Terrain should be at the top of your list. Each offers a sleek exterior style, futuristic interior design, and state-of-the-art performance with excellent safety features. Given their similarities, choosing between them can be difficult, so we’ve highlighted a few aspects worth considering in this article.
Introducing the Acadia
The Acadia is a crossover seven-seater SUV. It offers a 2.6-liter or 3.6-liter engine, a twin-clutch all-wheel-drive (AWD) system in the All-Terrain package, and redesigned lighting. The current model’s fuel economy has increased substantially compared with past designs to 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. In 2020, it received a face-lift with new exterior styling, a new infotainment system that now includes Apple Car Play and Android Auto smartphone integration, and alloy wheels.
Introducing the 2022 Terrain
Like the Acadia, the GMC Terrain was first produced in April 2009. The second generation GMC Terrain, released in 2018, offers three trims with different engine choices, daytime running headlights, and a 7-inch touch screen. A luxury edition is available, known as the GMC Terrain Denali. A refreshed version was made available in 2022. There are two engine sizes available at 1.5 liters and 2.0 liters, with a top fuel economy of 27 mpg with the smaller 1.5-liter engine. A natural gas version of the GMC Terrain offers gasoline or natural gas options. You can retrofit the car to a natural gas version, reducing your running costs.
The Acadia Versus the Terrain on Performance
The Acadia and the Terrain provide high-powered performance, offering AWD and front-wheel drive (FWD) options. Both have a nine-speed automatic transmission and offer the StabiliTrak electronic stability control as standard. You will experience a high level of performance from both models.
More engine options are available with the Acadia, with greater power and towing capacity. With its 3.6-liter V-6 engine, the Acadia issues 310 hp, with 271 pounds per square foot of torque. However, if you don’t need this much power, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder version offers 193 hp and 188 lb-foot of torque, and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder model provides 230 hp and a torque of 258 lb-ft.
The Terrain offers a choice of two engines: a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque or a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 252 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Despite these differences in engine size, both offer you a powerful vehicle with comparable acceleration rates.
Notably, the smaller Terrain 1.5-liter engine has usually outperformed the Acadia in fuel economy since these SUVs were first produced, so if you’re looking at a preowned model or an early edition, fuel efficiency is a concern, go for the Terrain. If you’re considering the most recent models, however, the Terrain now manages 28 mpg on the highway, and the Arcadia is close at 27 mpg. Therefore, the Terrain is generally a better option for lower running costs, although these differences are becoming more marginal.
The Terrain is fully capable of off-road activities aided through the capability offered by its Traction Select system. The Acadia is better suited to off-roading, given its advanced all-terrain tires. Whereas the Terrain can tow 3,500 lbs, the Acadia raises this to 4,000 lbs, making it slightly better when more power and varied usage are needed.
The Acadia Versus the Terrain on Design
The first noticeable difference between the two vehicles is their size and shape. The Terrain is a compact SUV, the Acadia is a more mid-sized model. The Acadia has three rows of seats, which can comfortably seat six or seven people. There are 79 cubic feet of cargo space in the Acadia if you only use two rows of seats.
In contrast, the Terrain is a two-row SUV, comfortably seating five, and holds 63.3 cubic feet of cargo space. The Terrain has 29.8 feet of space behind the second row, with the Acadia offering 41.7 cubic feet. However, if you need to use the second row of seats, there are only 12.8 cubic feet of space behind the third row of the Acadia if all three rows are up.
These differences suggest that the Acadia is a better choice if you either need to transport many people or need a lot of cargo space. Both models offer the same level of legroom at a surprisingly roomy 39.7 inches. For the Acadia, the legroom in the third row falls to 31.1 inches, so this would be good for kids but less suitable for taller passengers.
The Arcadia Versus the Terrain on Safety
Both the Terrain and the Acadia offer advanced safety features. The GMC Pro Safety suite is available in both models, with the Acadia offering the additional GMC Pro Safety Plus option. This option includes rear park assist, which comes optional with the Terrain. Both models have a lane-keep assist feature, warning the driver when the lane is being departed, automatic emergency braking, following distance indicator, and forward collision alert. Both models provide good safety features, with the 2020 GMC Terrain receiving a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Conclusion To the Acadia and the Terrain Comparison
Which of these vehicles is preferred depends ultimately on your situation. Bigger families can use the third row for smaller kids, so the Acadia makes sense if this is a consideration. For those who want to make the best use of fuel economy in these turbulent times, the Terrain would be a better choice. However, if off-roading is your thing or you spend much time in the countryside, the Acadia performs slightly better in these conditions.
Comparing similar models available at Meadowland GMC, the cost of the most recent 2023 Acadia is $46,205, whereas the most recent Terrain is available for $42,345. The best way to choose is to come and look at these two models side-by-side and take them through their paces. At Meadowland GMC in Carmel, New York, there is a wide range of Acadia and Terrain vehicles available, so why not come by and check them out?
