2019 GMC Acadia vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2019 GMC Acadia was a handsome SUV with a shorter wheelbase that provided a more athletic stance. Its upright grille gave it an upscale appearance, making it as nice as, if not nicer than, the more expensive Buick Envision. Although it was not billed as an upscale SUV, the Acadia had broader appeal than other GM vehicles like the Chevrolet Equinox. Despite being considered a midsize SUV, it felt closer in size to compact competitors such as the Nissan Rogue.

The Acadia came in several trims: SL, SLE-1, SLE-2, SLT-1, SLT-2, and the range-topping Denali. The base SL trim featured 17-inch painted aluminum wheels, 7-passenger seating, remote keyless entry, 3-zone climate control, and heated power side mirrors. Higher trims added features like LED headlights, Sirius XM satellite radio, power liftgate, fog lights, and a Bose 8-speaker premium stereo system. The Denali trim brought luxury features such as a hands-free power tailgate, unique 20-inch bright aluminum wheels, and leather-appointed seating.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander had a more subtle exterior design, with slanted tailgate glass and exaggerated creases on the body panels. The Toyota theme was trapezoidal, defining various elements like the tailgate's license plate cutout and the grille. All trims except the base L had projector-beam LED headlights and fog lights, while the higher trims, Limited and Platinum, featured prettier LED running lamps and new 20-inch wheels. The Highlander's cabin was where it truly shined, with quality fit and finish, silver-painted accents, and an 8-inch touchscreen. The Limited trim had a three-tone interior with padded surfaces and rich textures, making it one of the nicest interiors in its class.

The 2019 GMC Acadia offered two engines: an inline 4-cylinder and a V6. The base 4-cylinder engine produced 193 horsepower and was available only with front-wheel drive (FWD). The 3.6-liter V6 engine, which made 310 horsepower, was available in higher trims and provided fantastic acceleration. The V6 could be paired with either FWD or all-wheel drive (AWD) and featured GMC's Active Twin Clutch system, allowing drivers to switch between FWD, AWD, Sport mode, and All-Terrain mode. The V6 Acadia could tow up to 4,000 pounds when properly equipped. Fuel economy for the base SL with the 4-cylinder engine was 21 mpg city, 26 highway, and 23 combined. The SLT-1 AWD with the V6 returned 17/25/20 mpg, and in a week of combined driving, it achieved 19.8 mpg.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. This engine was available with either FWD or AWD and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Highlander's V6 provided brisk acceleration and a smooth, quiet ride. However, its steering was loose, and the suspension was soft, leading to a bouncy ride at higher speeds. The Highlander featured selectable driving modes and torque vectoring on the rear axle for AWD models, which helped tighten the car's trajectory around turns. Fuel economy for the FWD Highlander was 21 mpg city, 29 highway, and 24 combined, while the AWD version achieved 20/27/23 mpg. The Highlander hybrid, reviewed separately, could achieve up to 36 mpg combined.

The 2019 GMC Acadia provided ample space for the driver and front passenger, with deep trays for small items and functional in-door bins. The SL, SLE-1, and SLE-2 trims featured 7-passenger seating with a middle bench seat, while the SLT-1 AWD had second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to 6. The second-row seats were comfortable and provided decent head- and legroom, but the third-row seats were cramped and suitable only for kids. The Acadia offered 12.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, 41.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 79 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. This was small for the midsize SUV class, but the rubberized floor mats made it a great option for outdoor activities.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander could seat eight or seven with second-row captain's chairs, which were standard on Limited and Platinum trims and a no-cost option on the XLE. The second-row seats were versatile, with generous fore/aft and reclining adjustments, and provided ample legroom. The third-row seats were accessible via wide-opening rear doors, but were best suited for shorter passengers. The Highlander offered 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second row, and 84 cubic feet with both rows folded. It featured six tie-down hooks, eight cupholders, four bottle holders, and two shelves integrated into the dash. The controls were simple and legible, and the infotainment interface was quick to respond.

The 2019 GMC Acadia's base SL trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen running GMC’s IntelliLink infotainment system, which included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, five USB ports, and a WiFi hotspot. The SLT-1 trim upgraded to an 8-inch screen, and the Denali trim added standard navigation. Higher trims also featured a 4.2-inch color information display within the gauge cluster, with the Denali trim offering an 8-inch display. The Acadia was available with a color head-up display that provided information such as vehicle speed, engine rpm, and safety alerts.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander featured a new infotainment system, but it was criticized for its low-resolution screen and lack of onboard apps. The 12.3-inch touchscreen, optional on the Limited and standard on the Platinum, had limited usable area due to constant display of climate and fuel economy information. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard. The Highlander also had a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster, both of which were crisp and informative. The semi-automated driving system was effective, and the optional JBL audio system had 11 speakers. Standard features included SiriusXM, HD radio, WiFi, and four USB-A ports, along with a one-year trial for Safety Connect.

The 2019 GMC Acadia came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and traction control. The Driver Alert Package 1, standard on the SLT-1 and optional on the SLE-2, added a blind-spot warning system, lane-change alert, and rear park assist. The SLT-2 trim included the Driver Alert Package 2, which featured low-speed forward automatic braking, lane-departure warning, pedestrian detection, forward-collision alert, and adaptive headlights and high beams. These packages provided comprehensive driver-assistance features, but much of the tech was standard on base trims of competitors like the Toyota RAV4.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear emergency braking. The Highlander also had a driver's knee airbag and a special cushion airbag for the front passenger. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Highlander a 2020 Top Safety Pick for its top ratings in all six crash tests, optional headlights, and emergency braking performance.