2019 Volvo XC40 vs 2019 GMC Acadia

If any brand is experiencing a revival in terms of both form and function, it's Volvo. The Swedish automaker is experiencing a renaissance, delivering new cars that are not only breathtaking to look at inside and out, but that also provide fantastic technology, safety, and performance.

Volvo was once the Safety Brand, but with the advent of advanced safety technology, many other brands have caught up. Volvo has found its niche in high fashion, backed by continually improving safety technology that rivals the best in the world.

This recent trend started with the XC90 SUV and was followed by the V90 wagon. These are world-class vehicles, but they also fetch high prices.

Enter the 2019 Volvo XC40. It scales down much of what makes those high-end models so great, offering it in a (comparatively) more affordable subcompact SUV package. The XC40 offers ingenious cargo solutions, incredibly advanced technology, and even a new way to go about car ownership. Is that enough to make it stand out compared to other subcompact SUVs? Read on to find out.

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.