2024 GMC Acadia Greenhouse Departs From Earlier Generations

The 2024 GMC Acadia introduces the crossover’s all-new third generation, debuting a long list of updates and changes along the way. Among these is new exterior styling, with the profile showing off an uninterrupted greenhouse with connected daylight openings. In fact, the 2024 GMC Acadia is the first model in the history of the nameplate to incorporate an uninterrupted daylight opening.

For those readers who may be unaware, the term daylight opening refers to the window openings around the vehicle greenhouse (the glassed upper portion of a car body). On the 2024 GMC Acadia, the greenhouse is “uninterrupted,” meaning that it incorporates blacked-out pillars across the daylight opening glass to create a single, cohesive shape that runs down the side of the vehicle in a connected fashion.

By comparison, the second-generation GMC Acadia incorporates large, painted C-pillars that divided the rear door windows from the rearmost glass around the hatch. The first-generation GMC Acadia incorporates a similar design. As such, the 2024 GMC Acadia marks a notable departure in greenhouse design compared to both of the preceding generations.

Notably, the GMC Yukon and GMC Hummer SUV both incorporate a painted C-pillar design, which makes GMC’s decision to incorporate an uninterrupted greenhouse and daylight opening design with the third-gen Acadia something of a departure for the brand at large. Incidentally, the Chevy Traverse now incorporates a partially painted C-pillar, whereas the 2024 Acadia does not.

The new uninterrupted greenhouse design and cohesive daylight opening layout on the 2024 Acadia connects the rear end of the vehicle to the front end in a more uniform fashion, making the design look more like a single shape. One could even argue that the change makes the Acadia look less like a traditional SUV, perhaps even lending it a sort of “minivan” style.

As a reminder, the 2024 Acadia cradles the turbocharged 2.5L I4 LK0 gasoline engine as standard, while the GM C1 platform provides the underpinnings. Production will take place at the GM Lansing Delta Township plant.

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2024 GMC Acadia Photos
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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

Jonathan Lopez

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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  • I was going to hold onto my ‘21 Acadia lease (my fifth Acadia) hoping to replace it with the all-new one, but I went a completely different direction and got a ‘24 Wrangler 4xe, which I am really enjoying. I like the new Acadia in that it’s a clean, inoffensive design. However, it’s a little anonymous looking. Taking away styling aspects from previous generations doesn’t help here. I also don’t like digital instrumentation, so I’m not loving the new dash in the Acadia. I wish GMC well. I hope they sell a bunch. We have our Yukon so we’re still in the family. We love that truck too!

    • I think it looks like the old Pilot; maybe some of the new Pilot styling cues. Derivative and a day late and a dollar short. Totally vanilla flavor!

  • I remember when GM did away with Saturn, the GMC Acadia adopted the body panels of the Saturn Outlook.

    • ... and it was a MUCH better looking vehicle for it.

      Enough to make me purchase a 2014 Acadia (which I still own at 155,000 miles).

        • Ok for you people complaining the second generation picture has more black plastic then the 2025, the first generation to me was ok looking...the fake chrome grill, painted bumper are plastic lately you push on any new car you can dent it, at least the black plastic will help with rocker panel rust a little or they could have used fake peeling chrome or all one color.... boring!

      • I owned a 2011 Acadia, liked the styling, traded it in 2015 Traverse for a design change. We tried to find something different in 2020, no luck, Acadia still looked like our 2011. We just bought a 2024 Traverse Limited, nice styling and better looking than both the NEW Acadia and the next Traverse! Looking forward to GM growing some styling talent before it’s too late‼️😜🇺🇸

  • The current generation Acadia is a pretty good=looking SUV, the next gen looks like a Buick Enclave which is UGLY. Neither compare to the looks of the Cadillac XT6.

  • I still love a gear shift
    Love my 2018
    Not happy about the push button shifting wish it was an option

    • Either way you look at shifting, it still remains an electrically operated transmission. Move a lever or push/pull a button. There is no mechanical linkage at all any more.

  • I have to wait to see one in person but I like the Traverse Z71 look the best finally it looks like an SUV not a minivan without sliding doors. We'll see if a bigger Acadia sells better or if it's so expensive your better off with Buick which I am not passing judgement on until I see one in person pictures don't do these big cars justice...I thought the encore and invista where ugly then I saw one a dealership I like the new styling a lot.

  • Ugh this is gross styling. Why didn’t you just bring in a no name Chinese body and drop a 3.6 GM engine in it. At least you would have something that seems remotely US made. My two 2023 Acadias just became much more valuable.

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