Acadia Elevation

GMC’s best-selling, mid-size SUV is the Acadia Elevation. The 2024 model is mid-priced as well — more than the Terrain but less than the Yukon.

The Acadia is named after Acadia National Park in Maine. It jives with other GMC names, such as the Denali, Sierra and Yukon. It’s interesting how car manufacturers come up with names. Why not adopt a name from Iowa? How about driving a thrilling Okoboji SUV or a rugged Ledges pickup truck? Iowa could be on the cutting edge of vehicle names. 

This model rings in at $52,185. As I scrutinized the sticker price, the base price is $44,600. The aluminum wheels alone are $2,900 with matching black lug nuts for $350. What if I wanted chrome plated to save a few bucks?

The latest trend in black wheels arrived in the past decade or so. Yet, not long ago, if the wheels appeared black, it meant the hubcaps were missing instead of it being a high-tech, sophisticated look.

The 2.5 liter turbo-charged engine with eight speeds is powerful. The all-wheel drive in Iowa weather gets you places easily. Gas mileage is an average of 21 mpg.

The 15-inch infotainment screen seems gigantic. As a kid, I recall the 13-inch black and white TV set our family of five huddled around to watch “I Love Lucy” because our console TV broke, and dad was too cheap to replace it. 

One advantage of the screen is it is laid out like a giant cell phone screen in regard to app layouts. Although 15 inches seems excessive, at least you don’t need to put your reading glasses on to scroll through the display.

Underneath the infotainment is wireless charging. This is ideal for devices and avoids arguments about “Who took my charger?” 

The vehicle has 15 safety features, including nine different camera views. It’s like having bubble wrap encircling your vehicle.

I remember when safety in a car meant antilock brakes and automatic seatbelts. There was a time in the 1990s when you put the key in the ignition and the seatbelt harness automatically moved over your shoulder. As a short person, the harness in the Acura always choked me. Later, traffic safety officials discontinued it, after realizing it caused more injuries and was deemed unsafe.

The emergency flashers are placed up on the overhead console. The placement seemed a bit odd. I thought I was shutting the panoramic roof and was unsure why I saw and heard blinking lights.

According to GMC, the 2024 model was redesigned with 23% more cargo space than previous years. Third-row seats can lay down easily to offer even more storage space.

If you’re in need of extra storage space, a large infotainment screen, the GMC Acadia Elevation is the right SUV for you.