Automotive safety technology has seen something of a revolution over the past few years, with both active and passive features developed to keep passengers and pedestrians out of harm’s way. That includes the latest GMC vehicles, which boast the new GMC Pro Safety and GMC Pro Safety Plus packages as part of the GMC’s efforts to rebrand and consolidate its various safety tech offerings. One of the first GMC vehicles to offer the new packages is the 2021 GMC Acadia, and now, we’re taking a look at how the 2021 Acadia’s offerings compare to the previous 2020 model year.
In addition to the 2021 GMC Acadia, the new GMC Yukon and Yukon XLÂ also offer the new GMC Pro Safety and GMC Pro Safety Plus packages, as does the 2021 GMC Terrain, as GM Authority covered previously. Meanwhile the GMC Sierra 1500, GMC Sierra HD, GMC Savana, and GMC Canyon do not. However, we believe that GMC will eventually replace and rebrand its safety offerings with the two new packages listed above for the entirety of its lineup.
So then, how does the 2021 GMC Acadia compare to the 2020 GMC Acadia in terms of safety features? Check out the tables below to find:
| SL | SLE | SLT | AT4 | Denali | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control4 | - | - | - | - | A |
| Automatic Emergency Braking2 | - | - | A | A | S |
| Automatic Parking Assist | - | - | - | - | - |
| Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking4 | - | - | - | - | A |
| Following Distance Indicator2 | - | - | A | A | S |
| Forward Collision Alert2 | - | - | A | A | S |
| Front Park Assist2 | - | - | A | A | S |
| Front Pedestrian Braking2 | - | - | A | A | S |
| HD Rear Vision Camera | S | S | S | S | S |
| HD Surround Vision3,4 | - | - | A | - | A |
| Intelllibeam Auto High Beams2 | - | - | A | A | S |
| Lane Change Alert1 | S | S | S | S | S |
| Lane Departure Warning2 | - | - | A | A | S |
| Lane Keep Assist2 | - | - | A | A | S |
| Rear Camera Mirror4 | - | - | - | - | A |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert1 | S | S | S | S | S |
| Rear Park Assist1 | S | S | S | S | S |
| Rear Pedestrian Alert | - | - | - | - | - |
| Rear Seat Reminder | S | S | S | S | S |
| Rear Vision Camera | - | - | - | - | - |
| Safety Alert Seat2 | - | - | A | A | S |
| Side Blind Zone Alert1 | S | S | S | S | S |
| Teen Driver | S | S | S | S | S |
- Included With Driver Alert Package I
- Included With Driver Alert Package II
- Included With Premium Package
- Included With Technology Package
| SL | SLE | SLT | AT4 | Denali | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control3 | - | - | - | - | A |
| Automatic Emergency Braking1 | - | A | S | S | S |
| Automatic Parking Assist | - | - | - | - | - |
| Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking3 | - | - | - | - | A |
| Following Distance Indicator | - | A | S | S | S |
| Forward Collision Alert1 | - | A | S | S | S |
| Front Park Assist | - | A | S | S | S |
| Front Pedestrian Braking1 | - | A | S | S | S |
| HD Rear Vision Camera | S | S | S | S | S |
| HD Surround Vision2,3 | - | - | A | - | A |
| Intelllibeam Auto High Beams1 | - | A | S | S | S |
| Lane Change Alert | S | S | S | S | S |
| Lane Departure Warning1 | - | A | S | S | S |
| Lane Keep Assist1 | - | A | S | S | S |
| Rear Camera Mirror3 | - | - | - | - | A |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | S | S | S | S | S |
| Rear Park Assist | S | S | S | S | S |
| Rear Pedestrian Alert | - | - | - | - | - |
| Rear Seat Reminder | S | S | S | S | S |
| Rear Vision Camera | - | - | - | - | - |
| Safety Alert Seat | - | - | S | S | S |
| Side Blind Zone Alert | S | S | S | S | S |
| Teen Driver | S | S | S | S | S |
- Included With Pro Safety Plus Package
- Included With Premium Package
- Included With Denali Ultimate Package
Looking over the tables, we find that the 2021 GMC Acadia expands the availability of several safety tech features. Additionally, the 2021 model year also makes several safety features standard when compared to the 2020 model year.
These include:
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Following Distance Indicator
- Forward Collision Alert
- Front Park Assist
- Front Pedestrian Braking
- Intellibeam Auto High Beams
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keep Assist
- Safety Alert Seat
Do the new standard and more widely available safety tech features make the 2021 GMC Acadia more appealing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more GMC Acadia news, GMC news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
I was impressed with the features I have on my 2017 Acadia SLT, and please to know that it was the last model with longer cargo space, and costing less than the Denali of which most of their features aren’t used according to driving I know. I love GMC, but would really like to know how the 2021 Acadia stack up with the 2021 Chevy Tahoe?
I love my 2019 Acadia and don’t have all those features. Even with all that being standard or optional, they have lost me as a future customer after they removed the shifter. It’s just something I don’t like. I drove a Terrain with the new setup and it’s problematic for me. Might have to move to a Traverse if they still have a shifter.
We are long time customers and our feelings about the shifter change is also negative.
I’m currently an 11yr GMC Salesperson. You already drive an electric shifter now. It’s dummy proof because we are all dummies(including me). Another words if you do something wrong the car says no and if you forget to put it in park it will do it itself if the car rolls with the drivers door open. It is to open space in the center console for phones cup holders, etc. Its convenient for parking. You lay 2 fingers for R and D and no mistakes. Certain designs with other manufactures I would agree with you but GM’s has a lot of thought behind it. I would say 99% of my customers do not complain about it. The 21 Yukon puts it right next to the steering wheel which s really easy to reach when moving your hand off the wheel to it.
I have the 17 Denali with nearly all these features. What I like is the Adaptive Cruise the auto dim lights and I do wish I had the HUD now available. The rest Ehhh.
The Auto stop picks up the shadow of my house once in a while when driving into the garage. The Mirror camera is nice but also you have to get used to it as you need to adjust your eyes differently. I is nice once you learn to work with it.
The lane control feels like you got caught in a groove in the road and it will pull sometimes when you are not even over the line.
The 360 Camera should be standard on all vehicles.
As for the sensors for parking and backing up. Ehh. I use the mirrors and I am just used to making sure my areas are clear as i learned to drive with out these aides. I feel they will just lead to lazy drivers with bad habits.
As for the Shifter I like a Regular shifter but I can easily adapt to the buttons. Just don’t give me a knob. I hate the FCM knobs.
I rented a 2020 Acadia to drive through the state of Florida (9 hrs). Loved the car.
The button/switch gears were a bit odd at first but after driving the car for a couple days I actually grew to like the gear controls! It’s different and takes a bit to get used to but I enjoyed the car so much I just bought a new model Acadia!