Car Review
GMC’s luxury, family hauling SUVs are top-tier right now, and the 2025 Acadia Denali proves it
The redesigned three-row SUV blends upscale styling, premium tech and a spacious cabin.
Jason Bell | July 14, 2025
Discussed in this article
GMC is on a roll right now. From the all-electric Hummer to a thoroughly refreshed Canyon, the brand is firing on all cylinders, especially when it comes to upping the luxury factor. The redesigned 2025 GMC Acadia Denali is a prime example of that shift. We recently spent time behind the wheel of this top-trim SUV, and we came away impressed in many areas, though not without a few hesitations.
Photo courtesy GMC
Eye-catching outside, first-class inside
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: The new Acadia Denali looks fantastic. The blue paint on our tester shimmered in the sun and was complemented by tasteful chrome accents and beautifully machined wheels.
If you’ve ever thought about getting something similar to a Yukon or even an Escalade but didn’t quite want to go that big — or spend quite that much — the Acadia Denali might hit the sweet spot. It’s upscale without being over-the-top.
Step inside, and it’s more of what the exterior exemplifies. The light colored leather, soft-touch materials and tasteful wood trim (even if it’s faux) combine to create one of the nicest interiors in this class. Truly, GMC has succeeded in making everything feel very premium, especially here in the Denali trim.
From the quality of the stitching to the overall layout and comfort, this cabin rivals some luxury branded SUVs.
Photo courtesy GMC
Comfortable family cruiser with impressive tech
Behind the wheel, the Acadia Denali is composed and comfortable. The ride quality is excellent, and we appreciated the quiet cabin and cushy suspension, especially when compared to some of its less impressive rivals.
The second-row captain’s chairs offer exceptional space and comfort, arguably the best in the segment. The third row is also usable, although you'll want to slide the second row forward to provide sufficient legroom for the back seat passengers.
Tech wise, GMC has packed this SUV with the latest and greatest. The enormous infotainment screen looks great and is responsive. Even better, our Denali came equipped with Super Cruise, GM’s excellent hands-free driving system.
It worked reliably during our time with the vehicle, smoothly handling lane changes and long stretches on the freeway. It’s one of the standout features of this SUV and totally worth the cost, especially if you’re frequently taking road trips.
The engine: capable, but not quite luxurious
While there’s a lot to love about GMC’s latest luxury, the 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder under the hood left us feeling a bit underwhelmed. On paper, the 328 horsepower and over 300 pound-feet of torque seem impressive. And to its credit, the Acadia does feel quick when you get on it.
However, for daily driving, the engine often sounds coarse and lacks the smooth, refined character one would expect in a luxury leaning SUV such as this.
We missed the effortless torque and sound of the previous V6 and longed for the powerful and efficient 3.0-liter diesel option found in other GMC products. And while highway fuel economy was decent (we saw around 26 mpg), the average hovered closer to 21 mpg in mixed driving — not much of an improvement over the V6-powered SUVs it’s replacing.
Photo courtesy GMC
A few ergonomic misses
The Acadia’s interior layout is beautiful, but a few functional missteps were frustrating. Many basic vehicle settings are buried in the infotainment menus, including features such as lighting controls and activating the all-wheel-drive system. It would’ve been nice to have more physical buttons for quick adjustments, especially while driving.
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We also weren’t fans of the steering column-mounted gear shifter. It felt flimsy and out of place in an otherwise upscale cabin. Something more solid or a center console selector would’ve made more sense here.
Price check: worth the premium?
Here’s where things get tricky. Our well-equipped Acadia Denali stickered at just over $64,000. That’s a hefty sum, especially considering some loaded competitor options come in around $10,000 less. Even within the GM family, the new Chevy Traverse High Country or Buick Enclave Avenir offer similar features for a lower price, not to mention a slightly used Yukon or Yukon XL, both of which provide more power and space.
Photo courtesy GMC
That said, the Acadia Denali’s style, interior execution and Super Cruise availability do give it a unique edge, if you’re willing to pay for it.
Final thoughts
The 2025 GMC Acadia Denali is a big step forward for GMC. It’s stylish, well-appointed and packed with technology. While we wish it had a more refined powertrain and a few smarter design decisions inside, the overall package is compelling, especially if you value comfort and curb appeal without jumping to the larger Yukon and Yukon XL models.
If you’re shopping for a midsize three-row SUV and want something that feels a little more premium without jumping to a true luxury brand, the Acadia Denali is absolutely worth a look. And if you’re shopping for a GMC product, in general, you’ll be delighted to know that many of these changes and updates are found throughout the model lineup, even in their light and heavy-duty full-size trucks.
*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.
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