2020 GMC Acadia vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 GMC Acadia was positioned as a premium brand, intended to be more upscale than Chevys but not quite as luxurious as Cadillacs. Built on the same platform as the Cadillac XT5, the Acadia shared powertrains and assembly origins in Spring Hill, Tennessee. The 2020 Acadia came in various trims, including the luxurious Denali, which featured all-wheel drive, Satin Steel Metallic paint, and a Technology Package, bringing the price to $52,385. The design changes for 2020 were most noticeable in the front, with squared-off headlights and a boxier grille. Inside, the cabin saw minor updates like new electronic transmission shift switches and real open-pore wood trim for Denali models. However, despite leather upholstery and wood trim, the Acadia Denali's interior still had a mix of soft surfaces and hard plastic panels, lacking a truly premium feel.

The 2020 Honda CR-V, in its fifth generation since 2017, maintained a familiar and fun design. Its curvy, car-like lines and resemblance to Honda’s sedan lineup made it a modern family transportation staple. Inside, the CR-V’s interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery in pricier models clashing with low-quality plastics. The base CR-V started at $26,270, with four trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring. All-wheel drive was a $1,500 option across trims. Standard features included 17-inch alloy wheels, with larger wheels available on higher trims. The CR-V’s interior was practical, with fabric seating on lower trims and leather on higher ones. A retractable moonroof was standard on all but the LX trim, and roof rails were exclusive to the Touring model.

The 2020 GMC Acadia offered three engine options. Lower trims featured a 193-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The SLT trim came with a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 230 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque. The AT4 and Denali variants included a 310-hp 3.6-liter V6 engine. All engines were paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive available, except for the AT4, which had a standard dual-clutch AWD system. The V6 and nine-speed automatic combination provided smooth, refined power and up to 4,000 pounds of towing capacity. The test vehicle averaged 20.1 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA rating of 21 mpg. The Acadia’s ride and handling were finely tuned, offering a balanced driving experience, though it lacked a memorable driving character.

For 2020, the Honda CR-V simplified its lineup by replacing the base 2.4-liter engine with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The turbo four-cylinder powertrain was well-matched to the CR-V, providing quick acceleration, especially in Sport mode. The CR-V’s road manners were excellent, with a car-like demeanor, nimble handling, and minimal body roll. Its low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its agility and fuel efficiency. FWD models were rated at 30 mpg combined, while AWD models managed 29 mpg, making the CR-V one of the most fuel-efficient in its class. Honda also introduced a hybrid version for 2020, offering even higher fuel economy.

The 2020 GMC Acadia could seat five, six, or seven passengers, depending on the trim and configuration. The Denali trim featured 6-passenger seating with standard second-row captain’s chairs, with a bench seat available as a no-cost option. The front seats were wide and supportive, with 10-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The second-row captain’s chairs were also heated, and rear passengers had access to air conditioning vents, USB ports, and a household-style power outlet. The third-row seat was roomier than expected, though the cargo space behind it was limited to 12.1 cubic feet. Folding the third-row seat down expanded the cargo space to 41.7 cubic feet, and with the second-row seats folded, the maximum cargo volume was 79 cubic feet.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and clever storage solutions. Its cabin was roomy, with good head- and legroom for both the driver and passengers. The center console featured a deep well with a sliding cover, influenced by Honda’s Odyssey minivan, providing ample storage space. The rear had a two-position load floor, allowing for a flat floor with the 60-40 split rear seats folded, offering 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space. The door pockets were also spacious, extending behind the lower door panel for extra room. The CR-V’s excellent packaging made it easy to live with, accommodating various storage needs.

The 2020 GMC Acadia included essential infotainment features like Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and GMC Connected Services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch touchscreen had a higher resolution display, simplified user experience, and improved voice recognition. The test vehicle’s infotainment system was easy to use, with navigation and a Bose premium sound system. Additional technology upgrades for 2020 included new USB-C ports, a more powerful wireless charging pad, a high-definition surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror, providing an unobstructed wide-angle view.

The 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system showed its age. The base LX trim had a 5-inch screen with limited features, while higher trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, which felt small compared to competitors. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available only with the larger screen, and the navigation system was exclusive to the Touring trim. The CR-V had plenty of USB ports in the EX trim and above, with two in the front and two high-powered ports in the backseat. The Touring trim also included a wireless phone charger.

The 2020 GMC Acadia came with standard safety features like a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology. Standard ADAS included blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning. However, forward collision warning and low-speed automatic emergency braking were available only on SLT or AT4 trims and above, as part of a Driver Alert Package. The package also included lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, pedestrian braking, parking sensors, automatic high-beam headlights, and a head-up display. The enhanced automatic emergency braking system was exclusive to the Denali trim. The Acadia received 5-star ratings in most NHTSA crash tests and high marks from the IIHS, though it lacked complete data for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection for the front passenger.

The 2020 Honda CR-V included the “Honda Sensing” system as standard, offering forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. Automatic high beams were standard, while blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring were available on EX trims and above. The CR-V earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with the Touring trim’s LED headlights improving nighttime visibility. NHTSA issued one safety recall for the 2020 CR-V for a possible rear subframe failure, affecting only 358 vehicles.