Wow, I did not expect to be so pleased with the 2022 GMC Acadia. I had nothing against it going in; no previous knowledge of it being even the slightest bit of a concern in any way. To be frank, I just wasn’t expecting much from it. And maybe, at the end of the day, that’s why I loved it.
You know when a new movie comes out and it seems like everyone you know has seen it? So the first thing you do is avoid Twitter — and all social media — because it’ll be riddled with spoilers that set super high and unattainable expectations. Well, this isn’t like that. The Acadia AT4 is more like one of those unknown independent films that you happen to stumble upon because nothing else is on, but you end up loving every minute of it.
From the moment I got in, it was so easy to get comfortable. I’m short, meaning getting comfortable isn’t always super simple, especially in bigger vehicles. However, after positioning the seat and adjusting all the mirrors, everything was comfortably visible and reachable.
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
The steering wheel is on the thinner side but if you’ve got smaller hands then you can appreciate the difference in feel. On the flip side, it might not be as comfortable for someone with larger hands. The steering wheel also felt loose (as opposed to stiff), which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does take a minute to get used to how light it makes this big SUV feel. The light steering matches the feel of the gas and brake pedals. Where some SUVs feel heavy to start, this one seemed eager to move — and just as eager to stop.
It’s not the most fuel efficient, but its city rating of 12.6 L/100 km and 9.2 on the highway is pretty average for this segment. That said, due to the large gas tank, it felt like I was driving forever before actually filling up, which almost makes it seem like it’s got a better fuel efficiency than it does. Don’t be fooled. With gas prices just over $2/litre and a fuel capacity of 82L, I filled up half a tank of gas for $80!
The infotainment is very basic, in the best way possible, and it can be wirelessly connected to Apple CarPlay. It’s not a huge deal to some, but a wireless connection means even the person in the farthest seat from me (my son in the third row) can control the music from my phone, which also means I’m not being constantly pestered about changing the song or album.
By far, my absolute favourite thing about this SUV is the climate control. It is so simple, in the most genius way. Instead of endlessly pressing one button that gives several options and combinations of how the vents work, there are a few buttons that simply turn on and off. You want heat on your feet, tap it on. One tap, that’s all. If only all cars could be that simple!
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
One thing I truly disliked was the ventilated front seat. I’ve never been a fan of the ventilated seats — the fan is usually an annoying buzz and the cold seat makes me feel like I peed my pants — but this one is a bit noisier than usual. But that’s a first world problem if I’ve ever heard one.
The Acadia seats six (or seven if you opt for the second row bench seat); two in the front, two in the middle, and two in the third row. During the week with the tested AT4, my seven- and two-year-old comfortably sat in the middle row. Their shorter legs meant the third row had a bit more legroom. My five-year-old and husband sat in the third row, which is easy to get into and out of; the middle row seats flip forward for easy access.
The back row was no doubt a good fit for my son, but I was surprised to hear that my husband had an adequate amount of legroom, as well. His only concern was that the seats didn’t recline. If the seats did recline, there would be even less cargo space; with both third row seats up, I could fit my umbrella stroller into the 362L, and that’s about it. However, fold down one or both of the 50/50 split seats and there’s a lot more trunk space — up to 1,180L.
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
Optioned all the way to $56,473, this tested AT4 trim starts at $48,698 (plus $1,900 destination fee) and comes with a 3.6L V6 engine and nine-speed automatic transmission. The Summit White paint is free, but all other colours have an added cost, including $495 for Light Stone Metallic (grey) or Ebony Twilight Metallic (black), and $1,195 for White Frost Tricoat (shiny white). Premium cloth interior is included in the cost, but it’s an extra $1,195 for perforated leather seats.
There are eight optional packages at varying prices, but each adds something different and you can quickly increase that base price by adding more than one. For example, the AT4 already includes the Luxury package and this tested vehicle has the $2,995 GMC Pro Grade package added that features a head-up display, a two-panel power sunroof, HD surround vision, and more. You can also add the $1,225 ‘Hit the Road’ package if you want roof rack cross rails, or the $750 Trailering package for an increased towing capacity of up to 4,000 lbs.
2022 GMC Acadia AT4 Photo by Renita Naraine
There’s standard all-wheel-drive across all the trims, even the base SLE trim that starts at $41,398. Also standard is GMC Pro Safety Plus, which includes rear park assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and emergency front braking with pedestrian detection — there’s even a little person icon that pops up on the head-up display when it sees a person walking (or riding) towards the SUV.
If you’re looking for a little extra, almost $13,000 more will get you the Denali trim that opens up a few more options to add, as well as an included Denali Technology package. The Denali is the only trim that features a wireless phone charger, but the AT4 does have a USB and USB-C port right below the climate controls, so you can still charge most devices.
The 2022 GMC Acadia was surprisingly awesome. I loved the simplicity and the ease with which my family got entirely comfortable. That said, as technology continues to quickly evolve, I’m sure the Acadia will too, and sooner or later — probably much sooner than later — those perfect climate control buttons will turn into a thing of the past, replaced by a touchscreen option. It’ll be just as annoying as I’ll probably be when I try to explain to my friends how great the Acadia is — just like a super underrated independent film that no one wants to watch until they’ve got nothing better to do.
Keyword: Millennial Mom's Review: 2022 GMC Acadia AT4