The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L introduces a brand-new three-row model for the SUV nameplate, offering customers space for as many as seven passengers in the cabin. Naturally, General Motors has several products to rival the new Grand Cherokee L, including the GMC Acadia. As such, we’re lining up the specs for the Acadia to see how they compare against the Jeep Grand Cherokee L in the following GM Authority Dimensional Comparison.
GMC Acadia
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Exterior Dimensions
Under the skin, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee is based on a new unibody platform, whereas the GMC Acadia rides on the regular wheelbase variant of General Motors’ C1 platform, the same bones as the Cadillac XT5 and new Chevy Blazer.
Looking at the figures, we find the GMC Acadia is significantly smaller than the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L in terms of exterior dimensions. The biggest difference is in overall length, with the new Jeep stretched an extra 11.5 inches compared to the GMC Acadia.
| Dimension | GMC Acadia | Jeep Grand Cherokee L | +/- GMC Acadia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase (in.) | 112.5 | 121.7 | -9.2 |
| Overall Length (in.) | 193.4 | 204.9 | -11.5 |
| Overall Width (in.) | 75.4 | 77.9 | -2.5 |
| Overall Height (in.) | 66.7 | 71.5 | -4.8 |
| Front Track (in.) | 64.5 | 65.4 | -0.9 |
| Rear Track (in.) | 64.5 | 65.4 | -0.9 |
| Dimension | GMC Acadia | Jeep Grand Cherokee L | +/- GMC Acadia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2858 | 3091 | -233 |
| Overall Length (mm) | 4912 | 5204 | -292 |
| Overall Width (mm) | 1915 | 1979 | -64 |
| Overall Height (mm) | 1694 | 1815 | -121 |
| Front Track (mm) | 1638 | 1660 | -22 |
| Rear Track (mm) | 1638 | 1660 | -22 |
GMC Acadia
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Interior Dimensions
Considering the sizable exterior differences, it would make sense that the GMC Acadia offers less interior room than the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. However, the specs reveal that the differences are not as big as one would expect, and in fact, the numbers are split down the middle with respect to which model is more spacious inside.
| Dimension | GMC Acadia | Jeep Grand Cherokee L | +/- GMC Acadia |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Row Headroom (in.) | 40.0 | 39.8 | +0.2 |
| First Row Legroom (in.) | 41.0 | 41.3 | -0.3 |
| First Row Shoulder Room (in.) | 59.4 | 59.2 | +0.2 |
| First Row Hip Room (in.) | 55.7 | 57.4 | -1.7 |
| Second Row Headroom (in.) | 39.6 | 39.9 | -0.3 |
| Second Row Legroom (in.) | 39.7 | 39.4 | +0.3 |
| Second Row Shoulder Room (in.) | 58.7 | 58.0 | +0.7 |
| Second Row Hip Room (in.) | 53.3 | 56.3 | -3 |
| Third Row Headroom (in.) | 37.2 | 37.3 | -0.1 |
| Third Row Legroom (in.) | 29.7 | 30.3 | -0.6 |
| Third Row Shoulder Room (in.) | 54.3 | 51.9 | +2.4 |
| Third Row Hip Room (in.) | 42.9 | 42.9 | 0 |
| Dimension | GMC Acadia | Jeep Grand Cherokee L | +/- GMC Acadia |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Row Headroom (mm) | 1016 | 1012 | +4 |
| First Row Legroom (mm) | 1041 | 1050 | -9 |
| First Row Shoulder Room (mm) | 1509 | 1504 | +5 |
| First Row Hip Room (mm) | 1415 | 1459 | -44 |
| Second Row Headroom (mm) | 1006 | 1014 | -8 |
| Second Row Legroom (mm) | 1008 | 1000 | +8 |
| Second Row Shoulder Room (mm) | 1491 | 1474 | +17 |
| Second Row Hip Room (mm) | 1354 | 1429 | -75 |
| Third Row Headroom (mm) | 945 | 947 | -2 |
| Third Row Legroom (mm) | 754 | 770 | -16 |
| Third Row Shoulder Room (mm) | 1379 | 1317 | +62 |
| Third Row Hip Room (mm) | 1090 | 1090 | 0 |
GMC Acadia
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Cargo Dimensions
The final specs we’ll examine are available cargo room. Unsurprisingly considering the sizable length differences, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offers more cargo room than the GMC Acadia, with an extra 5.6 cubic feet behind the first row, an extra 5.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and an extra 4.4 cubic feet behind the third row.
| Dimension | GMC Acadia | Jeep Grand Cherokee L | +/- GMC Acadia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo Volume Behind First Row (cu. ft.) | 79.0 | 84.6 | -5.6 |
| Cargo Volume Behind Second Row (cu. ft.) | 41.7 | 46.9 | -5.2 |
| Cargo Volume Behind Third Row (cu. ft.) | 12.8 | 17.2 | -4.4 |
| Dimension | GMC Acadia | Jeep Grand Cherokee L | +/- GMC Acadia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo Volume Behind First Row (liters) | 2237 | 2390 | -153 |
| Cargo Volume Behind Second Row (liters) | 1181 | 1330 | -149 |
| Cargo Volume Behind Third Row (liters) | 362 | 490 | -128 |
Subscribe to GM Authority for more GMC Acadia news, GMC news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
The current Acadia’s cabin does not compare to the new Grand Cherokee’s interior. Cabin quality is my number 1 problem with most of GM’s products (With a few exceptions, namely the new Corvette and their full-size SUVs).
Does Arcadia still have that push button shift ? I have a 2019 witch I really like.
While the Acadia holds a bit of interior space in places these are not really in the same class of vehicle.
GM has nothing in this segment of RWD/AWD. Also the Jeep is nearly a foot longer and larger externally based on the RWD Chrysler chassis.
As I said in another thread while both are like ice cream one is vanilla and the other is chocolate. They are targeted for different buyers.
If you buy a Jeep, you will be sending profits to Wuhan once the FCA-PSA merger is complete.
In other news, China refused entry to WHO researchers to investigate the origins of COVID-19, and we all know that the WHO is in bed with China. So if China doesn’t even want to allow scientists that it pays to lie to investigate COVID-19, you’ve got to be a complete moron to think this thing originated from nature….and it you’re a Biden supporter…this is exactly what you think.
WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?
Someone took a wrong turn on their way to a political debate website and ended up at a car forum
Comparing apples to oranges. The new Grand Cherokee L blows away the Acadia stylistically both inside and out. Coupled with RWD/AWD platform and availability of a V8 in the Jeep and it wins easily.
Too bad Fiat reliability is so poor.
I bought a new 2019 Acadia SLT a year ago. Believe it or not, a large factor in my buying decision was the relatively narrow width of my garage door. I thought I was going to have to go with a Honda CRV or something compact along those lines until I realized that Acadia was not much bigger. After driving it, it was a no brainer compared to what I was considering. My wife drives a Buick Enclave (she has the 2 car side of the garage!) and the interior looks and feels premium, unlike my Acadia. In fact, that is my largest complaint about the vehicle. Mechanically I love it. If they upgraded the interior to the buicks quality without raising the price I guarantee they would see sales skyrocket. This has been echoed by many writers in the field for years, so GMC obviously know this yet refuse to adress it. Instead they put their R&D money into a 10,000 lbs. ft. torque electric Hummer that costs over 100k. 😒
The 2019 Acadia Denali is a top contender in my choice of midsize SUVs. That would be the contender against the Grand Cherokee. Being as I’ve seen so many Cherokee’s (Grand and not) with motor malfunctions and sitting on the sides of the highways and in junkyards that it would not be on my list of viewing when searching for a new vehicle. The explorer and Durango are up to par, but the Acadia Denali is in my opinion, a no brainer. Comfortable, elegant, equipped with bells and whistles that most don’t even have I. Their top lineup.
This is the deal here. The argument is much like the Colorado vs Ridgeline.
The Acadia is a FW/AWD targeting the on road drivers who want a more car like experience.
The Jeep is targeted at the people who are on road with some off road that like the feel of a more truck like SUV.
I have a Denali. We don’t go off road and the wife wanted it for utility and how it rode and drove. With the electronic suspension it drives and handles more like our old SSEI Bonnie.
If I need to leave the road I have my truck.
Today it is difficult to qualify models as they have differences that can easily put them in a different segment of their own. It does not make any of them bad just different to fit different buyers.
GMC fits that space between Chevy and Buick. The interior may not be as nice as a Buick but I paid much less than a Buick too. In fact I paid a Chevy price for a Denali with discounts.
C8.R, You don’t mention which Denali you have. If you have the large Yukon Denali, its NOT an off road vehicle with 22″ wheels and was designed not to be an off road SUV. GM has other models… The videos on the GC, GC L, and the Waggoner, NO off road activity with those wheels and interior either. Anyone thinking they’re going up the mountains with the Jeep JKs or “true Jeeps” for “off roading” are smoking crack. How about football players after a muddy practice…lol These interiors IMO are not rugged outdoors type.
Only abuse these dressed up babes are going to get are the inter city pot hole rotten streets and if they hit them – front end alignments galore. No different from any other vehicle foreign or domestic brother…
It is an Acadia Denali like the story here.
I have 20” wheels.
My point is the Acadia is a street vehicle for people who what more car than truck. The Jeep is like a Tahoe where it is more truck than car.
While similar in shape they are targeted for different missions.
Like cars where we had, luxury, sport economy etc, we have the same in CUV and SUV.
Just because it may have a similar shape does not mean it is tasked for the same mission or customers.
Not even close…
You give some great points within this entry, but aren’t you forgetting something contextual?
Grand Cherokee L clearly leaves Acadia in dust, There is no comparison.
Like Chevy Silverado, be ready to see a huge number of Acadia owners jumping to GC-L.
And wait for the two row GC coming this fall with much affordable pricing.
FCA has done the job right in all their recent vehicles.