2020 GMC Acadia vs 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2020 GMC Acadia was positioned as a premium SUV, sitting between the Chevrolet and Cadillac brands. Built on the same platform as the Cadillac XT5, the Acadia shared powertrains and assembly origins with its siblings. The 2020 model introduced a new front design with squared-off headlights and a boxier grille, enhancing its upscale appearance, especially in the Denali trim. Inside, the cabin retained its previous design with minor updates like electronic transmission shift switches and real open-pore wood trim in the Denali. Despite its premium aspirations, the Acadia's interior mixed soft surfaces with hard plastics, and aside from leather upholstery and wood trim, it lacked distinctive premium features.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar offered a unique blend of style and performance. Positioned between the compact Evoque and the larger Range Rover, the Velar featured a sleek design with a low roof and steeply-raked windshield, giving it a distinct profile. Despite its stylish appearance, the Velar maintained its SUV capabilities with a broad front end and short overhangs for better off-road performance. The SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition added sportier styling with larger air intakes and quad exhaust tips. Inside, the Velar's high-quality leather and metal trim created a luxurious feel, while the cockpit-like design provided a unique driving experience.

The 2020 GMC Acadia offered three engine options. The base models featured a 193-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, while the SLT trim introduced a new 230-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The AT4 and Denali trims came with a 310-hp 3.6-liter V6 engine. All engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and the Acadia offered both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options. The AT4 trim featured a dual-clutch AWD system and all-terrain tires for off-road capabilities. The V6 engine provided smooth power delivery and a towing capacity of up to 4,000 pounds. The Acadia's ride and handling were well-tuned, offering a comfortable driving experience, though it lacked a memorable driving character.

In contrast, the 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar introduced a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine in the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition, producing 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive, allowed the Velar to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, with a top speed of 177 mph. Despite its power, the Velar's performance was not class-leading, with competitors like the BMW X3 M Competition and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S offering quicker acceleration. The Velar's aluminum platform provided a solid and refined feel, but its size made it less agile on tight roads. The rest of the Velar's powertrain lineup included a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four and a 3.0-liter supercharged V6, both with standard four-wheel drive.

The 2020 GMC Acadia offered flexible seating configurations for five, six, or seven passengers, with the Denali trim featuring standard second-row captain’s chairs. The front seats were wide and supportive, with 10-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The second-row captain’s chairs provided similar comfort, and rear passengers had access to air conditioning vents, USB ports, and a power outlet. The third-row seat was roomier than expected, though cargo space was limited to 12.1 cubic feet behind it. Folding the third-row seat expanded cargo capacity to 41.7 cubic feet, and with the second-row seats folded, the Acadia offered 79 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar, positioned between small and midsize luxury SUVs, offered a unique size that felt larger on the road but didn’t translate to more interior space. The Velar's avant-garde styling limited headroom and created a claustrophobic feeling inside. Cargo space was competitive, with 15.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 48.9 cubic feet with them folded. The Velar's cockpit-like front seating area provided a unique driving experience, though it felt cramped. The SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition and V6 models had a towing capacity of 5,511 pounds, while the base four-cylinder model could tow 5,291 pounds.

The 2020 GMC Acadia came equipped with popular infotainment features, including Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Models with an 8-inch touchscreen offered a higher resolution display and improved voice recognition. The Acadia's infotainment system was user-friendly, with additional technology upgrades like new USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, a high-definition surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror providing an unobstructed view behind the vehicle.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar featured the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system with dual 10.0-inch touchscreens, a WiFi hotspot, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The upper screen handled smartphone, navigation, and media functions, while the lower screen managed vehicle settings and climate control. The system offered high-quality graphics but had slow response times. Additional tech included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, and capacitive steering-wheel controls, though the system's performance lagged behind newer systems like the Pivi Pro in the Land Rover Defender.

The 2020 GMC Acadia included standard safety features like a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology. Standard GMC Connected Services offered automatic collision notification and SOS emergency calling, though the trial period was short. The Acadia SL and higher trims came with blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems. Advanced safety features like forward collision warning and low-speed automatic emergency braking were available on higher trims. The NHTSA gave the Acadia 5-star ratings in most assessments, with a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS provided high marks in some tests but lacked complete data.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar lacked safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA due to its low-volume luxury status. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and front and rear parking aids. Adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring were available as part of an option package. Despite being a luxury brand, Land Rover's driver-assist offerings were less sophisticated than competitors, with only lane-keep assist available.