WAWM Reviews the Acadia Denali Ultimate

Perhaps noticing that the 2026 GMC Acadia was named Best Three-Row Midsize SUV for Families by U.S. News & World Report, Milwaukee’s NPR station, WAWM, tested and reviewed the model in its highest form: the Acadia Denali Ultimate.  This Valley GMC post tells you what they found. 

WAWM’s reviewer Mark Savage began by noting the general popularity of 3-row SUVs, which comes down to offering plenty of room. As one of the larger models in the category, the Acadia certainly fits. The Denali Ultimate trim features second-row captain’s chairs and room for three in the third row, for a total capacity of seven. Behind the third row, there is 23 cubic feet of cargo space, which expands to 57.3 cubic feet, not far off from a compact SUV with all seats folded. When you fold all the seats in an Acadia, you are presented with a rolling warehouse of 97.5 cubic feet. To picture that, imagine a box that is a little over four and a half feet long on all sides. 

Given that this is a Denali Ultimate, this wasn’t normal seating either. Seating surfaces were a soft Woodland Mahogany leather set off by contrasting white stitching. First- and second-row seats are heated. The front seats are also ventilated and include an adjustable massage function. Second- and third-row passengers can enjoy the standard panoramic glass roof, and everyone can enjoy the 12-speaker Bose premium audio system.  

In the center of the dash sits a large 15-inch vertical touchscreen backed by the Google-Built-in operating system, which features wireless smartphone app compatibility for driving, on-board Google Maps, and access to several other apps from the Google Play store. Below the useful array of physical climate controls and a large volume knob is a wireless phone charging pad. Savage notes with approval the column-mounted shifter.  An old idea made new again with electronics, leaving the console free for cupholders and storage. 

SuperCruise is part of the Denali Ultimate packaging, and Savage makes note of the other tech on hand: “But a buyer also gets eight years of OnStar protection, the HUD, a Wi-Fi hotspot, active noise cancellation (extremely quiet interior), and a load of safety equipment. That includes smart cruise control, forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot assist, pedestrian and bike recognition and braking, reverse automatic braking, HD surround vision, driver attention assist, parking sensors, and I may have missed a couple. But you get the idea!” Also appreciated was the seat-vibration warning for the lane-centering tech, which doesn’t alert others in the car to your momentary waywardness.  

Savage notes that no 3-row SUV feels like a sports car, and the Acadia is no exception. “Most impressive is the ride, extremely well cushioned to protect passengers from the abuse our crumbling Midwest roads deliver, especially in spring before the craters known as potholes are patched.” 

Moving the Acadia about is a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4.  2.5 is a fair amount of displacement that, when stuffed with air-fuel from the turbo, produces 328 horsepower and a peak of 326 lb-ft of torque.  He notes that the 8-speed automatic transmission “has plenty of kick for fast highway merging or just zipping ahead of folks at a stoplight,” though hard acceleration will be heard inside.  Don’t stomp in it too much, and the Acadia gets an EPA fuel economy rating of 20 city and 23 highway.  His own mileage turned in at 22.5 mpg. 

This Acadia Denali Ultimate tops the model line and has an as-tested price of $67,890.  You can forgo many of the bells and whistles but keep the turbocharged engine and all the space with an Acadia Elevation model with a starting MSRP of $43,800, which is under the average new car price these days for quite a bit of vehicle. 

Check out which Acadia best fits your family and budget by visiting Valley GMC in Auburn, Washington.