In the world of mid-size Sport Utility Vehicles, there is no shortage of options to choose from. Nearly every automaker in the world has at least one mid-size SUV in its lineup. Trying to get a good look at all of them turns into a small mountain of homework, and no adult on the mid-size SUV market wants to do homework. So, to make things a little easier for you, we have decided to pit the 2019 GMC Acadia vs the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee and see which one comes out on top.
Of course, there are tons of things to look at when comparing any two vehicles. Mid-size SUVs, such as the 2019 GMC Acadia and the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee for example, offer spacious interiors, contemporary infotainment options, differing trim levels and multiple engine options. And, possibly most importantly, there is the price to consider. Given that both of these vehicles are in the same market and are roughly the same size, they will have very similar options for buyers. However, there are some places where one will be slightly better than the other. It is all up to the consumer and his individual driving needs.
Engines
The 2019 GMC Acadia offers two engines options. The first is a 2.5 liter inline 4-cylinder that gets 193 horsepower and 188 lb-ft of torque. The second is a 3.6 liter V6 with 310 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. Each engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and the maximum towing capacity is 4,000 pounds. Both of these engines are perfectly adequate for every day driving and for the family-friendly mid-size SUV that the 2019 GMC Acadia is trying to be.
However, some drivers need a little bit more muscle than what a family SUV can provide. For those drivers, the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee has plenty of powerful options. The first is a 3.6 liter V6 with 295 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. This base engine is comparable to the more powerful of the two offered on the 2019 GMC Acadia.
The second is a 5.7 liter V8 that gets 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. This is only the first of the V8 engines offered on the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, while the 2019 GMC Acadia does not even offer a V8 engine.
The third engine option is a 6.2 liter V8 with 475 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, while the highest engine available is a 6.4 liter V8 with an astonishing 707 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque. This is the kind of engine that might be found on a muscle car or heavy duty truck. As such, this engine can tow up to 7,200 pounds. While all of these options are great to give the Grand Cherokee much more “umph”, each one of these engines comes with a price tag which will quickly increase the overall cost.
While the 2019 GMC Acadia is certainly capable of delivering towing capacity and off-road fun, it is much better suited as a safe and non-threatening family vehicle option.
Interior Space
Mid-size SUVs are rapidly becoming more and more the family vehicle of choice in the United States. The days of the sedan dominating the family or commuter vehicle market are in decline. Even pickup trucks are starting to get in on the action. One of the many things that appeals to drivers looking for this type of vehicle is the modern interior.
Nowadays, modern vehicles have many of the creature comforts of home, all while offering comfortable seating and spacious cargo room. Because of the physical design of the SUV, vehicles like the 2019 GMC Acadia and the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee offer far more room and comfortable space than cars or trucks.
The 2019 GMC Acadia is built to seat seven people, while the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee only offers seating for five people. While there may be slightly more room for the backseat passengers there isn’t even a third row available.
The Grand Cherokee offers up to 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in their upright position, while it tops out at 68.3 cubic feet with the seats down. However, if you fold the third row on the Acadia, the cargo area jumps to more than 41 cubic feet, while still having 2 back seats. When all seats are down the 2019 GMC Acadia offers 79 cubic feet of cargo space. If cargo space is important to you the Acadia is the the better choice and if you value the versatility of lots of seating and lots of cargo room, the 2019 GMC Acadia is more practical.
Infotainment
As stated before, the creature comforts offered in modern vehicles are some of the more desired aspects to buyers, especially those found in mid-size SUVs such as the 2019 GMC Acadia and the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
In today’s automobiles, the infotainment is usually accessed by touch screens on the first (and sometimes second) row. This infotainment can be everything from smartphone access to safety features to navigation. Both the 2019 GMC Acadia and 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee have these touch screens as standard features, but can be upgraded to larger screens that contain more features as you move up the trim levels.
Both start off with a 7” touch screen, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, even at base trim levels. However, as you move up to the Denali and Trackhawk trim levels, more of these connectivity and safety features will be added, such as Forward Collision Alert and Front and rear Park assist. Each of the trim levels will increase the overall entertainment and safety features but the number of trims and the price jumps between them can quickly add up.
2019 GMC Acadia vs 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Both of these mid-size SUVs offer quality and versatility. The Acadia offers more interior room for people and cargo, while the Grand Cherokee offers more in the way of engine performance. In the end, it really comes down to what you value more in an SUV like one of these.
Of course, the price might also be a deciding factor. The 2019 GMC Acadia starts out at $29,000 while the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee will start at $31,695. There are also multiple trim levels and packages that you can add on, which will invariably run the cost significantly higher. A fully decked out 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk will run you more than $86,000, while the fully loaded 2019 GMC Acadia Denali starts out at $45,000, before tacking on extra packages.
All in all, if you have the money and want the engine thrills and latest technological advances, the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a great choice. If you are looking more towards an economic choice with plenty of space, the 2019 GMC Acadia might be more up your alley.
