2020 GMC Acadia vs 2021 Honda CR-V

The 2020 GMC Acadia was positioned as a premium brand, intended to be nicer than Chevys but not as luxurious as Cadillacs. Despite this marketing, the Acadia shared its platform, powertrains, and assembly location with the Cadillac XT5. The 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 2020 model saw design changes, particularly in the front with squared-off headlights and a boxier grille, giving it a more upscale look. Inside, changes were minimal, with new electronic transmission shift switches and real open-pore wood trim for Denali models. The cabin had a mix of soft surfaces and hard plastic panels, with logical control layouts, but lacked distinctive premium features beyond leather upholstery and wood trim.

The 2021 Honda CR-V, on the other hand, had a design that blended in with other compact crossovers, with few distinguishing features. It offered eight colors, though many were shades of gray, black, or white, with more vibrant colors limited to higher trims. The interior came in black, gray, and ivory cloth or leather, depending on the trim, with wood panels and chrome accents in higher trims. The CR-V's seats had a modern, angular design. While the CR-V's styling was not a major selling point, it was functional and comfortable, with a focus on practicality over aesthetics.

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

The 2021 Honda CR-V featured a 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine across all trims, with a 0-60 mph time of about 7.8 seconds. It came with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which provided smooth acceleration but lacked engagement. The CR-V offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive as an option. Its suspension setup included a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear, common in this class, providing decent handling and ride quality. While not the most exciting to drive, the CR-V was reliable and predictable, with no major surprises in its performance.

The 2020 GMC Acadia could seat five, six, or seven passengers, with the Denali trim offering six-passenger seating with second-row captain’s chairs. The front seats were wide, supportive, and power-adjustable, with 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 power outlet. The third-row seat was more spacious than expected, though cargo space was limited to 12.1 cubic feet behind it. Folding the third-row seat expanded cargo space to 41.7 cubic feet, and with the second-row seats folded, it offered 79 cubic feet of cargo volume.

The 2021 Honda CR-V aimed to fit five people comfortably and carry their gear, with 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. The tailgate varied by trim, with manual operation on lower trims, a power tailgate on the EX-L, and a hands-free version on the Touring. Roof rails were standard only on the Touring trim. The CR-V's interior was practical and spacious, making it a strong contender for families needing ample cargo and passenger space.

The 2020 GMC Acadia came with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and GMC Connected Services, including a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen with improved resolution and voice recognition. The Denali trim included navigation, a Bose premium sound system, USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, a high-definition surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror, providing a comprehensive suite of technology features.

The 2021 Honda CR-V's base LX trim had a 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth, while other trims featured a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Special Edition and EX trims had a 180-watt audio system, with the EX-L adding two more speakers. The Touring trim had a 300-watt system with a subwoofer and satellite navigation. Charging ports were plentiful, with USB ports in the front and second rows, and the Touring trim added a wireless phone charger.

The 2020 GMC Acadia included standard safety features like a rear-seat reminder system, Teen Driver technology, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. However, advanced safety features like forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking were only available on higher trims and as part of a Driver Alert Package. The Acadia received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA in most assessments and high marks from the IIHS, though it lacked complete data for some tests.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. It included the Honda Sensing system as standard on all trims, offering features like a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam headlamps. The only feature not standard on the base LX trim was blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, which was included on higher trims.