Compare the2024 Toyota Grand HighlanderVS 2024 GMC Acadia

The Grand Highlander has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Acadia doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Grand Highlander and the Acadia have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Grand Highlander’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Acadia’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Grand Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. GMC only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Acadia.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, GMC is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. GMC is ranked 24th.

The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 34 more horsepower (362 vs. 328) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (400 vs. 326) than the Acadia’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

Regenerative brakes improve the Grand Highlander Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Acadia doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Grand Highlander offers an available continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Acadia doesn’t offer a CVT.

For greater off-road capability the Grand Highlander has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Acadia Elevation (8 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the Grand Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Grand Highlander’s minimum ground clearance is .2 inch higher than on the Acadia AT4 (8 vs. 7.8 inches).

The Grand Highlander offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Acadia can only carry 7.

The Grand Highlander has .2 inches more rear headroom and 1.4 inches more third row legroom than the Acadia.

The Grand Highlander’s cargo area provides more volume than the Acadia.

The Grand Highlander’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Acadia’s (5000 vs. 0 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control (TSC) on the Grand Highlander uses the Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Acadia doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Grand Highlander’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Acadia’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

The Grand Highlander was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The Acadia has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.