Despite looking pretty much like an all-new car, redeveloped from the ground up, the 2020 GMC Acadia is not an all-new generation but an extensive mid-cycle facelift of the MY2017 Acadia.
GM went all-out with completely redesigning the entire front end of the mid-size crossover and gifting it with a new interior.

A new front grille, front and rear fascias and GMC’s signature C-shaped lighting, now with all-LED headlights, comprise the biggest changes on the exterior. On the inside there is a redesigned center console that offers improved storage space thanks to an electronic control that replaces the traditional transmission shifter, thus freeing up room inside. The Acadia Denali gets a unique interior color scheme with new, open-pore wood trim. On the technical front, a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is standard on the SLT and Denali trim levels. With 230 horsepower and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque at its disposal, the new engine is no slouch for such a small displacement.

Despite the general trend to increase the car’s dimensions, the 2017 GMC Acadia decreased its dimensions when compared with its predecessor.
But that didn’t make it a small SUV.

The 2017 Acadia left the older chassis-based platform and adopted the C1XX platform that was also used for the Chevrolet Blazer or the Cadillac XT5. But despite its size reduction, it kept the three-row seating.

On the outside, the blindingly shiny, chromed-plastic grille might be too much for the front fascia. It looks like the design team ran out of ideas and used all the chromed parts they had in stock. The HID headlights were available only for the top version, but the lesser version had halogen-projector lamps. Looks like the GMC didn’t discover the LED lights for SUV vehicles, or that the Acadia wasn’t important enough for the market.

Inside, woodgrain imitation and aluminum plastic were all over the place, imitating a luxurious cabin. The man-made leather seats (or ecological leather as it was known) were part of the complete image of an outdated design launched a decade too late. But the 8” touch-screen for the infotainment system was placed in the proper place, on top of the center console. It featured Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

For the drivetrain, the Acadia was available with an inline-4 engine or a V6 mated to a standard 6-speed automatic gearbox. It was available as an RWD or AWD.

GMC unveiled the new 2013 Acadia and Acadia Denali at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, highlighting a new exterior and safety features including the industry’s first front center air bag.
The GMC Acadia retains the interior functionality popular with families, including the SmartSlide seating system, which allows easy access to the third row for both seven- and eight-passenger seating configurations. Likewise, both the second and third row still fold flat for class-leading maximum cargo space, including the ability to carry 48-inch-wide sheet goods, such as drywall and plywood. A chiseled, three-bar grille sits prominently in the new, more upright design while diffused LED running lamps lend a premium look to the GMC Acadia and are standard on all models, regardless of whether standard projector beam or optional HID headlamps are selected. The new GMC Acadia gets other subtle exterior design updates, including wrap-around rear glass and a new rear spoiler. New 18-, 19- and 20-inch wheel patterns complement the vehicle’s lines and stance.

GMC Introduced the Acadia in 2006 as a 2007 model, and it was the company’s first-ever passenger vehicle that featured a front-wheel-drive, even though it was dressed as an SUV.
When GMC launched the vehicle, there were no signs of the world financial crisis that was about to begin and throw the entire motoring industry into chaos, with the Big-Three from Detroit trying to dodge the financial losses bullets. Strangely though, the Acadia was fit for the forthcoming times and offered a lower-priced SUV in a market that begged for that kind of vehicle. Its unit-body construction made the vehicle lighter than the regular 4x4 vehicles on the market. That led to lower fuel consumption as well.

From the outside, the Acadia looked like a regular, classic-looking 4x4, but its softened edges made it appealing to the customers that didn’t look for a rugged off-road vehicle. At the front, GMC installed a chrome-plated bar on top of the grille and boomerang-shaped headlights with corner-mounted turn signals. Its long rear windows and the raked-forward tailgate tried to diminish the car’s off-road look. Its taillights featured clear lenses on their upper side.

Inside, the seven-seat vehicle was suitable for a family, or two, who wanted to go on long trips. Even with all the seats up, the Acadia still had a decent trunk. With the second and third rows folded down, it provided a long flat area and an astonishing 3,313 liters (117 cu-ft) of space. That was already in LCV territory.

Under the hood, GMC installed a 3.8-liter V-6 engine offered in two power versions: 275 hp (up to 2008) and then increased to 288 hp. Both versions were paired to a six-speed automatic version. GMC offered the Acadia with a front- or all-wheel-drive system.