mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

2020 GMC Acadia Gets Fresh New Looks, 2.0L Turbo Engine And AT4 Trim

The updated 2020 GMC Acadia has received refreshed looks, the latest technologies, a new off-road AT4 trim and more.

The most apparent changes to the 2020 GMC Acadia are the new grille, new C-shaped LED lights and a new rear fascia with different taillights. All examples of the tough-looking AT4 trim are distinguished by model specific gloss black exterior trim, 17-inch black wheels and all-terrain tires. The full lineup will include the SLE base model, SLT, AT4 and the luxury-focused Denali.

2020 GMC Acadia AT4
General Motors’ 2.5-liter four-cylinder and 3.6-liter V6 engines return in the 2020 Acadia, while a new nine-speed automatic replaces the outgoing six-speed auto. A new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is also offered on SLT and Denali models, which is rated at 230 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque and is also paired with the nine-speed auto.

2020 GMC Acadia DenaliSome minor interior updates have also been applied including a new electronic gear selector, which has enabled GM to redesign the center console for additional storage space and convenience. There’s also a more user-friendly infotainment system, a different HD rear-view camera and an available wireless charging pad.

Rounding out the changes are some minor suspension refinements for improved ride and handling.

“The 2020 Acadia is stylish, functional and capable with more of the smart convenience and connectivity features that customers rely on every day,” said GMC boss Duncan Aldred. “And with GMC’s signature refinement at its core, the new Acadia advances the brand’s commitment to offering premium vehicles for discerning crossover customers.”

2020 GMC Acadia Denali
The 2020 GMC Acadia will go on sale this fall with production to continue at GM’s Spring Hill, Tennessee, assembly plant.

GM has not announced full pricing details for the 2020 GMC Acadia, but we’re not expecting any major changes. It’s not yet clear how expensive the Acadia AT4 will be, either. Pricing for the 2019 GMC Acadia starts at $30,195 for the SL base model.

Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.

Comments

  1. Looks like a nice update. Is that interior dark blue/cream? Hard to tell from the photo, but if so, that’s a really good look.

    Reply
    1. You’re kidding right? This GM would never put out the effort to make a dash/steering wheel any color other black. Any designer with tendencies toward that kind of style was laid off long ago.

      Reply
      1. My 2017 SLT Acadia has a dark brown (Mocha) dash, steering wheel and upper door trim, which has continued thru 2019 for interiors other than black. Obviously, you aren’t knowledgeable about this product.

        Reply
  2. I like it overall. Wish they would have updated the interior instead of just getting rid of the shifter in place of buttons (which I like actually) but a bigger screen was a must in my opinion.
    Glad they added the 2.0Turbo but man GM needs to rid themselves of that 2.5 ASAP.

    Reply
  3. Honda and GM must’ve made a deal on taillights, those look identical to the Pilot… that’s unfortunate.

    Reply
    1. But if it was Ford or FCA, you would be jumping in excitement and calling them the next best thing, right?

      Reply
    2. They’re actually designed to carry the C-Shaped LED Signature Taillights to fall in line with the Yukon and Sierra.

      Reply
  4. Ford Explorer ST has Twin Turbo V6 with 400HP. Lincoln Aviator Hybrid 450HP and 600 lb-ft of torque. Why can’t GM do that Acadia/XT6/Blazer? Very disappointing.

    Reply
    1. All for the lovely price of $60k, got to try harder for Ford

      Reply
    2. Because the Explorer and Aviator are range-topping offerings for Ford and Lincoln, respectively. Neither the Blazer nor the XT6 are range-topping, flagship offerings for Chevrolet or Cadillac, respectively.

      Besides that, the XT6 punches right at the heart of consumer preferences and will sell significantly more than the Aviator on price alone.

      Reply
      1. While true, they are true competitors to the Explorer and Aviator though. No excuses given to GM for the lackluster powertrains on offer on these CUV’s
        We have to start holding GM to a higher standard if they will ever compete with the Big Boys.

        Reply
        1. Since when is Lincoln one of the “big boys”??

          Reply
      2. You’re right of course Alex, not many consumers are power-obsessed car people. I suspect more than a couple of customers may prefer the XT6’s more refined interior space to the Aviator as well.

        I do hope we get an XT4 VSport at some point though.

        Reply
      3. I thought the Expedition and Navigator were the range toppers for each of those brands.

        The Acadia absolutely competes with the Explorer. We are considering either the Acadia, Explorer, Grand Cherokee or Durango for my wife’s next vehicle and I am sure we are not the only ones cross shopping those vehicles.

        That said, the 400 hp version is not at all a consideration as I am sure it is priced way over the volume models and we have no practical need for anything like that, as fun as I am sure it would be.

        Reply
      4. How are the Explorer and Aviator range-topping? Just like the Yukon and Escalade are range topping for GMC and Cadillac, it’s the Expedition and Navigator that are range topping for Ford and Lincoln.

        I can forgive the Acadia not having a powerful engine offering since most of its other direct competitors don’t, but the XT6 should definitely offer a twin turbo V6.

        Reply
    3. The Explorer TTv6 is $60k. The Lincoln Hybrid is stickered at $87,000 while I paid $40k out the door for my fully loaded Denali that stickered at $53k.

      The V6 is a great engine and gets a great balance of power and mpg.

      This is a SUV not a Camaro.

      Though in sport mode with power 40% front and 60% rear along with the variable suspension the Denali is more touring car than SUV.

      GM should kill the 2.5 here and use the 2.0 as base.

      Reply
    4. Because GM has the Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon. And really, how much horsepower do you need to commute to work or do your grocery shopping?

      Reply
  5. Great job on the interior.

    Reply
  6. GASP is that a two tone interior with…blue?! Never expected that from GM. Looks great

    Reply
  7. If I’m wrong I’m wrong, but I don’t think it’s blue. While the dash and steering wheel don’t read quite as black as some trim, like the vents and trim around the door locks, the GM I’ve come to know wouldn’t go to the trouble these days of making the steering wheel in any other color than black.

    Reply
    1. Pretty sure it is blue, compared to a few black bits in the interior it’s looking navy/similar to navy to me. Guess we’ll have to wait and see!

      Reply
      1. Not blue.

        GMC uses a tan and coco in other vehicles like the Canyon and I expect that is what they have used here based on the photos.

        Note they also use two different color wheels in the Canyon too. Brown and Charcoal.

        Note too the Denali trim inside is real Aluminum and real wood though it is the fakest looking real wood ever.

        GM has some of the worst photography and photoshopped images I have ever seen and often it hurts the product that looks much better in person.

        Reply
    2. You obviously don’t know GM and in particular the Acadia. Acadia comes with a Cocoa (brown) colored steering wheel and matching upper door trim and dash with either the grey or shale interiors

      Reply
  8. Nice set of updates compared to our 2018 Acadia Denali.

    Love the new center console area, and the exterior updates.

    I don’t think that’s dark blue inside. It’s the same black or off-black the current model has.

    It DOES look like they revised the wood grain on the Denali, which was much needed. Mine is real wood according to GM, but looks exceptionally fake.

    I’ll have to test drive one. Hopefully the AC system is done better and doesn’t suffer from the same whine/moan compressor.

    Reply
  9. I wish the Sierra HD used this front end design. It looks more cohesive.

    Reply
  10. I like the update. I like to see the other future AT4 platforms. Only draw back to me is why is the 2.0L detuned so low. 12 years ago the engine made 260 hp in the cobalt. The Malibu even had more horse power with the 2.0. If I bought one it would be with a 3.6.

    Reply
  11. How about a 4 wheel drive option! Long time beach driver and Yukon owner. Would buy a new one a bit scaled down but AWD not going to cut it in the sand.

    Reply
    1. There is a 4×4 mode and AWD mode along with off road mode, sport mode and towing mode.

      Yes it will handle sand with no issue.

      Reply
      1. 2018 Acadia Denali, I drove it on the beach at the Outer Banks, no problems, using off-road mode. Speaking from actual experience it will do great. I didn’t even need to air down.

        Reply
  12. STILL A PILE GARBAGE I HAD 2 DENALIS OLD BODY STYLE THEY WERE A GOOD TRUCK. THE 2017 NEW BODY LIVED IN THE SHOP . GM JUST BOUGHT IT BACK. THE LIST OF PROBLEMS WERE ENDLESS. I WENT BACK TO A YUKON.

    Reply
  13. Alex Luft,

    Do you have any more info on the AT4 version? Will it be lifted at all?

    Reply
    1. It look lifted or at least larger tires than in the past. But the photos here are altered so it is hard to know for sure.

      Reply
      1. AT4 rides on 17″ wheels with all terrain tires. It gets the dual clutch AWD system, that the All Terrain used to. That much is known. Ride height, we don’t know yet.

        Reply
  14. TIM PERKINS STICK WITH YUKON YOU WANT BE DISAPPOINTED

    Reply
  15. Not a fan of that grille. Everything else looks nice.

    Reply
  16. To all of you that think this truck is so great, my 2017 Arcadia Denali was a complete disaster. Anomalies that
    even General Motors Engineering could not figure out. It seems like GM follows every other car manufacturer down the same path with Crossovers and SUV’s. The previous model Arcadia model was a good truck.

    Reply
    1. Sorry about your luck but you are not representative of all of us in the majority.

      I can show you as many or more with earlier models with expensive timing chain failures too.

      Every model has those odd models that have issues but they are not what all suffer you got that odd one.

      So stop trying to make it out that all of them were like your odd model.

      We get it yours was a disaster but mine has been like most others pretty much trouble free.

      Other than a bad sun shade latch that was replaced twice before GM changed the design we have had no issues. 21 mpg around town with a V6 and we are much happier than we were with out Terrain that we liked.

      Reply
    2. How is it that you own an Acadia and don’t know how to spell it?

      Reply
      1. Mispell it once you get a pass but mispell it twice the same way makes you an idiot.

        Reply
        1. JWL. Be nice and don’t violate this forum rules, no belittling. If you use an IPad or iPhone, auto correct (spell checker) will sneak in changes you never see happen. I typed in JWL and got AWL.

          Reply
  17. Well I have a 2017 Denali and we have loved it. No issues other than a sun shade latch that was upgraded so no more issues.

    The new one looks nice but not different enough to make me trade yet. If anything the auto stop would keep me from buying.

    The shifter is better than a knob but I like a lever better. If it’s not broke why fix it? The extra space? What are you really going to do there?

    I like the older grill better but the new one is better than the Denali Serra HD.

    The one option I do wish we had was to be able to go a third row delete since we never use it and the extra storage would be appreciated.

    Our mpg has been great and the V6 is well suited for this application.

    Reply
    1. The auto stop start is defeatable, per GM.

      Reply
  18. What’s the point of offering a 2.0 turbo engine if it is not as powerful as the V-6? Those numbers oof 238 hp and 258 lb torque are less the 252 hp and 260 lb torque that’s offered in the GMC Terrain. GM, this don’t make any sense!!

    Reply
    1. Since the invention of the automobile, more horse power or bigger blocks alway equal more dollars. Assume GM will upgrade all engines with turbo and displacement, it will mean higher dollars at the retail level. More HP=$$$, then those who grip now will scream louder later.

      Reply
  19. This looks great. I’ll be picking one of these up in a couple years. (after someone else takes the bath on it new decides they can’t afford it or the rent is up)

    Reply
  20. sorry WILL i will check next time

    Reply
  21. SCOTT3 I HAD 2011 ACADIA AND A 2014 ACADIA BOTH DENALIS NO PROBLEMS. IKNOW THE EARLY ONES HAD ISSUES BUT YOU HAD TO CHANGE OIL WHEN DUE. ONLY THING I NOTICED THEY SHIFTED HARD. IPUT 45K ON EACH. ALSO VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE AMOUNT OF SPACE IN THE BACK. WE HAD ISSUES WITH THE STABILITRAC AND THE AUTO BRAKING COMING ON BY ITSELF MY WIFE WOULD NOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE.SO I WHENT BACK TO AFULLSIZE

    Reply
  22. I hope they get the hood matching the front ,,anyway I don’t think it could look more ugly then the last design.

    Reply
  23. SCOTT3 I HAD A 2011 AND A 2014 ACADIA DENALIS NO PROBLEMS 45K THEY DOWN SHIFTED HARD BUT THAT WAS ABOUT IT. I KNOW THE EARLY ONES HAD ISSUES BUT YOU HAD TO CHANGE THE OIL WHEN DUE. THE PROBLEM WE HAD IS WITH THE STABILITRAC AND THE AUTO BRAKING WITH COME ON BY ITSELF WITH NO WARNING KIND OF SCARY. MY WIFE WOULD NOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE

    Reply
  24. They’re actually designed to carry the C-Shaped LED Signature Taillights to fall in line with the Yukon and Sierra.

    Reply
  25. Um so they slapped a truck grille on it, kept the same 2 engines from last year, swapped out to that stupid push/pull shift system which literally everybody I have spoken to hates with a passion and added another de-tuned 2.0 turbo engine with a power rating that is a new all time low of only 230 HP! Not sure about the 9 speed but CR claims it dragged down the Enclave and Traverse in the reliability rankings for 2018 and i’m sure I read in another Yahoo article that this now includes stop/start across the board which is another detractor. Conclusion- GM does it’s usual one step forward and 2 back shell game!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Cancel