The unveiling of the 2024 GMC Acadia brought with it a notable increase in size, moving the crossover back towards its full-size roots and aligning it more with GM stablemates like the Chevy Traverse and Buick Enclave. According to GMC, the transition to full-size dimensions was a response to consumer demands for more space, per a GM Authority exclusive. However, taking a step back, the decision to upsize the Acadia may have been heavily influenced by logistical shifts within General Motors’ production strategies, as well.
The shift in production for the 2024 GMC Acadia from the GM Spring Hill plant to the GM Lansing Delta Township plant is particularly telling. The Spring Hill plant is transitioning towards electric vehicle (EV) production and phasing out models built on the shorter C1 platform, such as the Acadia. With the Cadillac XT5 and possibly XT6 following suit, it seems GM’s hand was somewhat forced. This plant consolidation leads to the larger dimensions of the new Acadia, as the next-gen Acadia would need to align with the specifications and production capabilities of the GM Lansing Delta Township plant, which it now shares with similar-sized models – such as the Traverse and Enclave. Notably, the ICE-based Chevy Blazer, which also rides on the shorter C1 platform, may be discontinued after the 2025 model year as well.
GM Lansing Delta Township plant
Moreover, the logistical simplicity of manufacturing three similarly sized crossovers in one location helps streamline operations and potentially reduce costs, despite the underlying push from the broader corporate strategy shift towards EVs and away from ICE vehicles. This situational necessity also seems likely to have influenced the decision to scale up the Acadia, as opposed to the decision being purely design or market-driven.
While a larger 2024 GMC Acadia does fill a growing consumer appetite for spacious SUVs, it opens up a gap in the GMC lineup for a mid-sized, two-row crossover, a segment populated by competitors like the Honda Passport and Ford Edge. The Acadia’s move to the full-size segment also leaves a white space for a mid-size body-on-frame SUV to rival the Toyota 4Runner and Ford Bronco, a space which would be filled nicely by the now-canceled next-generation GMC Jimmy.
All told, this vacancy presents GMC with both a challenge and an opportunity to redefine its offerings in the crossover segment. That said, the Acadia’s growth spurt may indeed be a symptom of larger industrial trends, rather than mere product evolution.
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Comments
No, it’s 100% logistically. Such is inflationary times, that as many models are consolidated as possible. If I had to guess, the EV’s will be cut too.
I personally would have liked to see the Acadia grown to this size, and add an additional 6″ to the rear hatch of the traverse. It gets a little crowded when all 8 seats are full with cargo. But also it doesn’t help I’m using it as a suburban replacement as the burb has gotten too expensive and the traverse economy is so much better.
The 2024 Acadia not offering a V6 Engine option with a 50k plus price point, is not going to retain or attract new SUV Buyers that want engine / power options! There are many other options!
The 2024 Acadia AT4 ONLY offers the 3.6l v-6 if you would have priced one out. Also it is $4000 less than a comperable Traverse Z71 with leather and a towing package. The Traverse Z71 ONLY has that 2.7L turbo. Also why did they make the Acadia smaller the last couple of years as compared to the Traverse. That was a dumb move and they wonder why customers weren’t buying as many.
According to both the 2024 GMC Acadia build and price and the GM online order guide, the only engine offered in the 2024 Acadia is the new 2.5L turbo. For those complaining about the lack of the V6, the previous generation’s 3.6L V6 made 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft torque. The new 2.5L turbo provides 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft torque. It tows 5,000 pounds with the V92 trailering package (includes heavy-duty cooling). That trailering weight is equal to the previous generation’s V6 rating. Though the EPA fuel efficiency has not yet been released, it only seems logical that the 2.5L Turbo will also be at worst, competitive with the V6, but most likely will have slightly higher fuel mileage numbers.
I’d wager the EPA rating of the new 2.5 is lower than the 3.6, with real world economy being identical. The EPA has a beef with anything that isn’t EV these days and tends to nerf ratings or delay approval. Look at the new Colorado/tacoma launch.
I think they should have done a 4.3 with a corvette cam profile and DFM in my personal opinion. Would have been 330/330 and actually increased FE in the real world.
I agree. I quit looking at it when it was downsized. I felt they should have left it the same size and utilized the Delta plant with 3 shifts but what do I know. Now they do it. Always late in their thinking.
Well, about the only thing you got right is “2024”, everything else is incorrect.
Roy… Um, when the power is quite a bit more than prior V6’s with much better driving performance, they won’t care. Plus, many buyers don’t know what engine is in these, it is the minivan for people who should have bought a minivan but didn’t, they don’t know or care what is in there in most cases as long as it moves it well enough along and gets descent mpg.
My 2015 SLT Acadia was the perfect size, had great cargo, and the 3.6L pulled my boat just fine. Our 2020 Acadia was too small, traded it in within a year and got a 2021 Redline Traverse. We love it. My concern now is that this new fully loaded Acadia is reaching into the Tahoe and Yukon price points. I built one last week and it was over $65k!
Buying the same model at a lower trim level can save a lot of money.
But if it does not have what you want shy buy it?
You must have built the top of the line Denali Acadia to get up to that price. Add ALL the options and you get to $60K. I just built the AT4 with leather, towing package, floor mats and it was only $47k. The SLT, AT4 AND THE DENALI all can be had with the 3.6L engine with AWD.
Our 21 has all the options and sticker was $58. We got it out the door at $48 not counting the trade. We always found good incentives on these. We had two Denali.
I’m not sure what configurator you are using, but there is only one engine in the 2024 Acadia – the 2.5 liter turbo. On top of that, there is no “SLT” for 2024. The trims are simply Elevation, AT4 and Denali.
Yukons cost in the 80-90 range now.
The Yukon starts at 60k, the prices of the Acadia are just looking across the street at the full size prices, they aren’t reaching in to them yet, not when a fully loaded version is barely past the base price of entry in to the other.
Well I just purchased new, a 2023 SLE Elevation AWD, pano/ 3.6/ Bose and Nav / 2-2 -2 seating and trailer package in met black.
The perfect size for my use and it fits in the garage.
I am not an EV purchaser, ride is super smooth on the 20’s and it is quiet, all for under 50k in
Canada
GM was just saving money period. Sales never struggled with the smaller model.
The problem is the new one looks odd and it larger than what we want. Not sure what we will look at next.
We just have not use for real small or real large and GM has begun to abandon the mid segment.
What about the Equinox? They’re pretty sharp and around the size you want.
Sales fell dramatically after the downsizing.
You made a smart Acadia purchase, the 2023 V6 Denali is a nice smooth running and great handling Acadia, I own one and really enjoy it!!
Has anyone heard when they’re going to be on Dealerships lots.
Why don’t we do this…, why don’t GM ……., ” STOP ” raising their prices every year ! ! ! !
Prices will more than likely drop If we get the responsible conservative Adults back on Office next year and things will get much much worse if changes do not happen in 2024!!! Wake up step up and make help save our country!
What goes around comes around. My 2009 Acadia and 2017 Acadia Limited were both built at Lansing Delta Township. I purposely (and sadly) traded in my 2009 version for the 2017 Acadia Limited because I liked the body style and wanted to continue driving it for as long as possible. 2017 was when GM downsized it and moved production to Spring Hill. Getting the Limited gave me a car 8 years younger than what I had. I still have it and love it.
kinda hard to be a clone and do your own thing
Hopefully the interiors will be better, GM interiors since 2018 have been the worse in the industry. They need to benchmark KIA and Hyundai interiors. For a vehicle North of $40k base you should get comfortable wide seating in a variety of colors not just hard black or old black/grey haringbone with plain black plastic trim.
Well, I got a text this morning saying that the 24 traverses are going to be on the dealership lots in a couple days. Hopefully that means Arcadia is not far behind.
Go look at the top end 2024 Buick Enclave same 310hp V6 rides and handles better than Acadia and more cargo space all for about the same $$$!