Car Buyer Labs

Car Buying Advice, Tips, and Reviews

A black 2022 GMC Acadia is shown from the front parked in front of a modern building.

The GMC Acadia is Your Perfect Family-Friendly Luxury SUV

Are you looking for the perfect balance between luxury-level comfort and family-friendly space? Then the 2022 GMC Acadia is the model for you. This midsize three-row SUV comes with seating for up to seven people and more standard tech and safety features than you can imagine. When you don’t need something that’s quite as big as a Yukon but is still spacious enough to keep the whole family comfy, the Acadia is your best bet.

The Standard Safety Technology Features

The great thing about GMC is that its models offer luxury-level trimmings at reasonable prices. This is very evident in the 2022 GMC Acadia, thanks to its collection of standard safety and technology features. When we stay “standard,” we mean that these features come with the Acadia at no extra cost to you, even if you decide to go with the base-level SLE model. Let’s go over each feature and what it brings to the table.

Driver-Assist

One of the most important aspects of any family vehicle is safety. Fortunately, the 2022 GMC Acadia comes with numerous standard safety features as part of its GMC Pro Safety Plus suite. This means you get nine standard driver-assist features, which is more than what most other standard safety suites offer.

  • Automatic Emergency Braking
  • Following Distance Indicator
  • Forward Collision Alert
  • Front Pedestrian Braking
  • Front and Rear Park Assist
  • Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
  • Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert
  • IntelliBeam Auto Highbeams

Front and Rear Park Assist is exactly what it sounds like it is. This feature kicks in when you’re maneuvering at low speed, alerting you when you get too close to another object. Front Pedestrian Braking works similarly, but instead of detecting objects at low speeds, it can detect people who are crossing the road ahead of you when you are driving. Rear Cross Traffic Alert comes into play when you’re backing out of a parking spot and can’t see around the vehicles that are adjacent to you. It uses radar to detect whether another driver is approaching down the aisle.

Navigating your blind spots on your own is a thing of the past. Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert is ideal for interstate and multi-lane driving. This feature can detect when a vehicle is approaching your blind spot. As a result, it lets you know when it isn’t safe to swap lanes. Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning work a bit differently, letting drivers know when they’re unintentionally drifting between lanes and helping them center themselves using automatic steering inputs.

Automatic Emergency Braking is there for those moments when your reflexes fail you. When you don’t get to the brake pedal quickly enough, this feature kicks in to automatically stop your vehicle. Even when you do brake on time, though, this helps you brake the vehicle even harder. That said, the Following Distance Indicator helps you avoid needing Automatic Braking by reminding you to keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead.

Forward Collision Alert also pops in before the Automatic Braking gets triggered. This system lets you know that a potential front-end collision is imminent, giving you more time to react. And finally, the IntelliBeam Auto High Beams keep you from bright-lighting others ever again. You can keep your brights on and depend on IntelliBeam to automatically deactivate when needed.

Since you get this many helpful driver-assist features at no additional cost, you can be more certain in your decision to choose the 2022 GMC Acadia for you and your family. You’ll stay safe without going broke. It doesn’t get much better than that.

A red 2022 GMC Acadia is shown from the side parked in front of a modern building.

High Tech Features to Simplify Your Life

Now, let’s take a peek at the Acadia’s standard tech features. When you get the SLT trim and up, a 6-inch Head-Up Display system comes standard. It includes several display features. These include the following:

  • Cruise Control
  • Low Fuel Alert
  • Tachometer
  • Built-in Navigation
  • Phone Integration
  • Audio Information
  • Current Speed
  • Forward Collision Alert
  • Lane Departure Warning

These features are displayed on a projected screen that lies right above your dashboard. Its intent is to keep you from looking down or over when you need specific info. Instead, you can continue looking directly ahead and not take your eyes off the road.

You’ll also get standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, meaning you can stream music and podcasts directly from your phone. Plus, you’ll also gain access to a Wi-Fi hotspot no matter what trim level you choose. It’s safe to say that the 2022 Acadia comes with plenty of entertainment options for you and your family on top of the technologies that help keep you safe.

Space and Comfort

The final pieces of the puzzle are interior space and comfort, which do vary slightly depending on the trim. However, the cargo space itself stays the same, landing at 79 cubic feet across all trims. There are also several standard hidden cargo compartments where drivers can store additional cargo. These hidden compartments are especially handy when you’ve got a full seven-passenger audience to entertain, yet you still need some extra cargo space.

Furthermore, it’s your choice whether you want seating for six or seating for seven. While a second-row bench seat is standard, you can opt for more comfortable captain’s chairs at the expense of the middle seat. Most importantly, the 2022 GMC Acadia also includes tri-zone automatic climate control across all trims. This means that sensors spread throughout the cabin can detect exact temperature levels in every corner, providing a more accurate cooling or heating experience.

The actual interior itself is different on each trim. The SLE base-level trim includes cloth seating, but once you move up to the SLT and on, you’ll get leather-appointed seating with heated seats and a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel. The AT4 and Denali trims both come with their own unique badging and interior colors, and the Denali even includes wood-look accents. So, whether you prefer a minimalistic approach, living in the lap of luxury, or something in the middle, the 2022 GMC Acadia has a trim level for you.

A black 2022 GMC Acadia is shown from the front parked in front of a modern building.

Performance Specs to Top it All Off

Let’s start off with fuel economy really quickly. Models with the standard 2.0-liter engine are the most fuel-efficient options, with a rating of 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. However, you can opt for a 310-horsepower V6 engine at the cost of some fuel economy. Just because you’re looking for a family-friendly model doesn’t mean you don’t want to head off-pavement sometimes. In fact, those who want to take their families camping or out on a weekend boat ride need something that’s tow and off-road capable. This is why the 2022 GMC Acadia’s AT4 trim is so great.

When you purchase an AT4, you’ll be able to tow up to 4,000 pounds. You’ll also get standard all-terrain tires, a Traction Select System which includes AWD, Sport, Off-Road, and Trailer/Tow modes. You’ll even gain Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist as standard features on this trim. This helps prevent unwanted movement on inclines, which is especially helpful when you’re towing. So, when it’s time to hit the woods or hook up the pop-up camper, the Acadia AT4 is ready to serve you.

The Best All-Round Family SUV?

Whether you want a luxurious, city-ready commuter model, or something comfy and cozy that can handle your adventurous weekends, there’s a 2022 GMC Acadia out there for you. Keep in mind that while it’s tow-capable and off-road-ready, you’ll still save money on fuel with this model compared to other tow-worthy SUVs. Overall, the Acadia has been a family favorite for years and continues to be at the top of its segment.