You need a people hauler. Preferably one with cushy seats, a comfortable ride, capable engine, and a comprehensive list of technology and safety features. The 2023 GMC Acadia offers you a fine balance of all those things. The three-row mid-size SUV is as versatile as it is stylish, but it is not without competition. If the GMC Acadia made your short-list of potential vehicles, then you’re probably looking at the Toyota Highlander as well. Comparing the two vehicles to find the right match for your family is tough.
Before you pick your next vehicle, read on to find out which vehicle has the most space, comfort features, and the more capable engine line-up.
The GMC Acadia seats six people in a three-row layout. With a second-row bench seat the seating capacity bumps up to seven people. The Toyota Highlander is also a three-row vehicle with seating for seven or eight people depending on the layout configuration.
Both vehicles have spacious first and second-row seats with plenty of head and legroom but the difference between the two dimensions comes down to fractions of an inch. The big difference is in the third row. The Acadia has 1.1-inch more headroom in the third-row than the Highlander. It also has 1.7 inches more legroom in the third row. Taller teenagers and adults will feel more at-home in the Acadia’s third row than the Highlander’s.
Both vehicles have premium cloth upholstery in the base model with available heated and ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, and tri-zone automatic climate control.
The 2023 Acadia has 12.8-cubic feet of space behind the third-row seats, 41.7 behind the second row and 79 cubic feet of total cargo space.
The 2023 Highlander has 16 cubic feet behind the third-row seats, 48.4 behind the second row and 84.3 cubic feet of total cargo space.
Standard, both the Acadia and the Highlander have responsive 8-inch touchscreen infotainment systems with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. Everyone can easily stay connected in all three rows of the Acadia with five USB ports, an available wireless charger, and a standard Wi-Fi Hot spot. The same features are present in the Highlander.
As far as entertainment goes the Acadia allows you to stream your favorite tunes through a standard six-speaker audio system or an available premium Bose audio system. Which vehicle has the better sound system depends entirely on which brand you prefer. As opposed to a Bose system, the Highlander features an available JBL stereo.
2023 GMC Acadia vs Toyota Highlander: Powertrain Review
The powertrain is an area where the Acadia sets itself further apart from the Highlander.
The GMC Acadia has two engine options – a 228-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder or a 310-horsepower V6. The base engine has enough pep to hustle the Acadia around town with confidence and the V6 is a powerhouse with plenty of verve that never feels underpowered on the freeway. The Highlander on the other hand only has one engine option – a 265-horsepower turbo-four.
The Acadia and the Highlander have nearly identical lists of safety and driver assistance features. The main difference between the two is that the Highlander makes you bump up to a higher trim for features that are included in the base model of the Acadia. For instance, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors are all standard features in the Acadia but to get all three you’ll need to bump up four trim levels to the Highlander Limited model.
If the superior engine, additions of third-row legroom, and longer list of standard safety features in the Acadia make the 2023 GMC Acadia the model for you, visit or GMC dealership in Greeley, CO. The team at Weld County Garage GMC will get you behind the wheel of the Acadia trim that suits you best. Still shopping around? Scroll through our robust inventory of new and used vehicles.