2019 GMC Acadia vs 2020 Toyota Sienna

Shoppers have many options when they want a family vehicle, but most look to the 3-row midsize SUV, rather than the minivan, as the de facto family hauler. But not all 3-row SUVs are created equal, and that’s a good thing because families have different needs.

Old-school, full-size SUVs like the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe might be overkill for getting the kids to soccer practice, but they're ideal when it comes to towing a boat or camper trailer while on a road trip. On the other end of the spectrum, a compact SUV such as the Volkswagen Tiguan is far more practical for cities and has an optional third row. For many families, that third row won’t always be occupied, so it shouldn't detract from other areas of the vehicle, cut into cargo space, or break the bank.

General Motors enjoys the luxury of multiple, somewhat overlapping brands and utilizes this overlap to offer two kinds of 3-row SUVs. The Chevrolet Traverse is one example; it feels like a stretched-out midsize SUV, almost like a downsized Tahoe.

The 2019 GMC Acadia rides on the same platform as the Traverse but feels like a completely different vehicle. It has a shorter wheelbase and a more upscale cabin, resulting in a midsize SUV that feels less like a family hauler and more like something special and unique.

But 3-row midsize SUVs compete in an extremely crowded segment against some of the most popular vehicles on the market, including the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Mazda CX-9, and Subaru Ascent, just to name a few. So how does the Acadia stack up when it comes to balancing 3-row seating capacity and overall usability? Read on to find out and learn which trim of the Acadia CarGurus recommends.

Since the second half of the 20th century, each decade has had a hot-topic family car, and, as we’ve noted in a number of reviews this year, the crossover is our current darling vehicle. Before the crossover, there were big, truck-based SUVs. Before that, there were station wagons.

And for the past 35 years, there's always been the minivan.

The Dodge Caravan has been widely considered the Patient Zero of the minivan segment. From there, seemingly everyone joined the party, including Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Volkswagen, Oldsmobile, Ford, and more. Heck, even Mercury had a “Nautica Edition” version of the Villager.

The minivan was king once, the crossover is king now, and some other type of vehicle will likely dominate in the near future. But in all this, the 7- and 8-passenger minivans will always represent the ultimate in versatility. The crossover is an image-forward fad with a dash of usability, but the minivan continues to prove itself as the pinnacle of practicality.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna is neither the newest nor flashiest minivan out there, but when you absolutely need space for people and gear, there’s nothing better. Additionally, the Sienna is the only minivan to offer all-wheel drive (AWD), which is something specifically desired by many car buyers.