GMC Acadia SUV Gets Mid-Cycle Makeover

General Motors Co. is freshening the GMC Acadia midsize crossover for the 2020 model-year.

Updates include styling tweaks, a roomier interior, new powertrain options and an AT4 off-road package. Sales will begin this autumn.

The exterior gets a more rugged look, highlighted by a larger grille and rectangular lights with C-shaped LED inserts. 

Slotted below the Denali, the AT4 trim—a first for the Acadia—adds black chrome accents, plastic body cladding and an off-road wheel and tire package. GMC plans to eventually offer AT4 variants across its lineup.

The interior sports a high-resolution 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a simplified interface and improved voice recognition. An optional head-up display will be offered later.

An electronic gear shifter with toggle switches and a redesigned center console help free up space in the first row. Five-, six- and seven-seat configurations will be available. Among the other options are a 15-watt wireless phone charger and (on the Denali) a rear camera display that replaces the traditional rearview mirror.

A turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 230 hp at and 258 lb-ft of torque is available on the SLT and Denali models. The base engine remains a 2.5-liter four-banger, which is joined by a 3.6-liter V-6 engine rated at 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque.

All engines are mated to a new 9-speed automatic transmission, which replaces the outgoing model’s 6-speed gearbox. All-wheel drive is optional.

The Acadia was last redesigned for the 2017 model year, when the vehicle was shortened by seven inches. Sales in the U.S. plunged 20% last year to about 88,600 units.