GMC Acadia vs Lexus TX

The 2024 Lexus TX was based on the Toyota Grand Highlander, yet it distinguished itself as a luxury SUV. It presented an upscale appearance, contrasting with the Grand Highlander's resemblance to a larger RAV4. The test model, featuring Luxury trim, showcased impressive 22-inch silver-finished wheels, an option that significantly enhanced the SUV's aesthetic and presence. The TX's design was more subdued compared to other Lexus models, resulting in a conservative look that might appeal to those previously deterred by the brand's styling. The 2024 Lexus TX was available in TX 350, TX 500h F Sport Performance, and TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid series, with prices ranging from $55,050 to $69,350, including a $1,350 destination charge. The TX 350, likely the most popular version, offered a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with FWD or AWD. The test vehicle, priced at $67,869 with destination, included Luxury trim and various packages, though its dark interior felt somewhat oppressive despite the panoramic sunroof.

The 2024 GMC Acadia, built on a heavily modified version of its predecessor's platform, grew significantly in size, being 10.6 inches longer and 3.2 inches taller than the 2023 model. Its styling emphasized this increased size, with a more upright front end and broad grille reflecting GMC's full-size SUVs and trucks. The Acadia featured distinctive LED headlights and large wheel arches, adding to its robust appearance. The rear showcased quad exhaust tips inspired by the C8 Corvette. Available in Elevation, AT4, and Denali trims, the Acadia offered various wheel options, with the Denali featuring intricate grille detailing and the AT4 boasting off-road enhancements. Interior design changes included larger screens and a lower dashboard for improved visibility. The AT4 and Denali models were tested, with the AT4's interior materials preferred for their rugged appeal, while the Denali's materials fell short of its luxury billing.

The 2024 Lexus TX 350 was equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. Despite initial skepticism about its suitability for a midsize luxury SUV, the engine performed adequately in typical driving scenarios with up to four passengers. Lexus claimed the TX 350 could accelerate to 60 mph in eight seconds (7.8 seconds with AWD), though it felt quicker due to its torque delivery. The EPA rated the TX 350 FWD at 23 mpg combined, a slight improvement over the previous RX L model. During testing, the TX 350 FWD averaged 20.4 mpg. AWD, available for an additional $1,600, offered slightly better acceleration and improved traction in adverse conditions. The TX 350's suspension provided a balanced ride, with commendable body motion control and accurate steering. The interior remained quiet on highways, though the brake pedal felt soft in the pre-production test vehicle.

The 2024 GMC Acadia featured a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, shared with the Chevy Traverse, delivering 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. This engine replaced the previous 2.0-liter turbo and 3.6-liter V6 options, offering more power than both. Despite the absence of a V6, the turbo-four proved capable, enabling a 5,000-pound towing capacity with an available package. However, its coarse engine note was less forgivable in the Denali trim. An eight-speed automatic transmission was standard, with FWD available on Elevation and Denali models, while the AT4 featured standard AWD with a twin-clutch system for off-road driving. The AT4 also included a ride height lift, special suspension tuning, and off-road features, though its off-road capability was limited. The Acadia's suspension tuning varied by wheel-and-tire combination, with the Denali's 22-inch wheels providing a comfortable ride despite some wallowing and imprecise steering.

The 2024 Lexus TX addressed previous shortcomings in Lexus's three-row SUVs, offering a more practical and affordable option than the GX, LX, and RX L models. The TX 350 Luxury featured premium upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. While the front seats lacked a massage function, they provided a supportive driving position. The second-row bench seat, though less welcoming, offered climate control and USB ports. The third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably, with ample leg support and visibility. However, adjusting the second-row seat for third-row comfort compromised second-row legroom. The TX offered numerous storage options, though some lacked lining, potentially causing noise. Cargo space measured 20.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 57.4 cubic feet with the third row folded and 97 cubic feet with both rear rows down.

The 2024 GMC Acadia's redesigned interior offered a spacious feel, with more headroom across all rows than competitors like the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Kia Telluride, and Toyota Grand Highlander. It also provided more first-row legroom, though the Kia and Toyota offered more legroom in the second and third rows, respectively. The Acadia's cargo space improved significantly, with 23 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 97.5 cubic feet with all rear seats down. This surpassed the cargo space of its competitors. An underfloor storage bin and a presence-based power liftgate further enhanced utility. Small-item storage was reasonable, though the headlight controls were less intuitive, requiring touchscreen interaction.

The 2024 Lexus TX featured an optional Technology Package, including a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, surround-view camera, and semi-autonomous parking assist. However, the package's unmarked steering wheel controls and head-up display visibility issues detracted from the experience. The Lexus Interface infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen, offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a digital assistant and cloud-based navigation through a complimentary three-year Drive Connect subscription. Additional features included 10-year subscriptions to Service Connect and Safety Connect, Wi-Fi Connect, and Remote Connect. The optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson PurePlay surround-sound system provided impressive audio quality.

The 2024 GMC Acadia came standard with an 11-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15-inch touchscreen supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 12-speaker Bose audio system, wireless device charging, Wi-Fi hotspot, and USB ports for each row were also standard. An 8-inch head-up display and a 16-speaker Bose system were available. The infotainment system featured Google built-in apps, including Google Maps and Google Assistant, offering a familiar and user-friendly experience. The touchscreen's logical layout and high-quality graphics enhanced usability, while the instrument cluster offered multiple configurations. However, small drive-mode icons could be easily overlooked.

The 2024 Lexus TX was equipped with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, featuring adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and more. Proactive Drive Assist, part of LSS+ 3.0, offered braking and steering assistance but was not entirely transparent in operation. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and optional parking sensors with automatic braking. The traffic jam assist system provided hands-free driving at low speeds on approved highways, though no higher-speed hands-free system was available. LSS+ 3.0 generally performed well, though it slowed too dramatically when other vehicles cut in, causing frustration.

The 2024 GMC Acadia's crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of publication. Standard driver assist features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and traffic-sign recognition. The Acadia also featured a rear-seat reminder and vibrating safety alert seat. An optional rearview camera mirror and surround-view camera system offered up to nine camera views. The Acadia was the first GMC model to offer Super Cruise as an option on all trims, allowing hands-free driving on highways and some surface roads, though it required driver intervention at intersections.