Porsche Cayenne vs GMC Acadia

The 2024 GMC Acadia was built on a significantly modified version of its predecessor's platform, resulting in a larger and more imposing vehicle. It was 10.6 inches longer and 3.2 inches taller than the 2023 model, with styling that emphasized its increased size. The front end featured a more upright design and a broad grille, reminiscent of GMC's full-size SUVs and trucks, framed by distinctive LED headlights. The wheel arches and door skins had subtle detailing that added definition, while the rear sported quad exhaust tips inspired by the C8 Corvette. The Acadia was available in three trims: Elevation, AT4, and Denali, each with unique styling features and wheel options.

Inside, the Acadia's interior was redesigned to accommodate larger screens and create a sense of spaciousness. The dashboard was lowered, providing a commanding view of the road, and the third-row passengers benefited from a repositioned rear roof pillar for an unobstructed view. The AT4 and Denali models offered different interior materials, with the AT4's cabin having a rugged, outdoor gear-inspired look. The Denali featured leather seats with a unique stitching pattern, but the materials didn't quite match its luxe billing.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne was available in both standard SUV and sporty Coupe forms, with trim levels ranging from the base Cayenne to the high-performance Cayenne Turbo GT. The GTS trim, which was the focus of this review, featured high gloss black trim, bronze exhaust tips, and a unique front fascia with larger air intakes. The GTS also had tinted headlights, red brake calipers, and 21-inch wheels. Inside, the Cayenne offered extensive customization options, from seat colors to trim materials, allowing buyers to create a unique interior. The cabin was well-organized, with mechanical controls for essential features and a shifter toggle mounted on the dashboard for more storage space.

The 2024 GMC Acadia was powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. This engine replaced the previous 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four and 3.6-liter V6 engines, offering more power than both. Despite the lack of a V6 option, the turbo-four provided strong and consistent performance, enabling a 5,000-pound towing capacity with an available towing package. The engine note was coarse, which was more noticeable in the high-end Denali trim. An eight-speed automatic transmission was standard, with front-wheel drive on Elevation and Denali models, and all-wheel drive available. The AT4 trim featured standard all-wheel drive with a twin-clutch system for off-road driving, along with a 1.2-inch ride height lift, special suspension tuning, and skid plates.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a range of engines, starting with a 3.0-liter V6 producing 348 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque. The Cayenne S featured a V8 with 468 horsepower, while the Turbo GT boasted 650 horsepower, available only as a coupe. Plug-in hybrid options offered up to 729 horsepower. The GTS trim, with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, delivered 493 horsepower and 486 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed transmission sent power to all four wheels, allowing the GTS to reach 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 171 mph. The GTS offered a balance between sporty and comfortable performance, with precise steering and an agile feel despite its weight. The optional carbon ceramic brakes provided strong stopping power, and the GTS transformed into a comfortable commuter in Normal mode.

The 2024 GMC Acadia's interior offered a spacious feel, with more headroom across all three rows than competitors like the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Kia Telluride, and Toyota Grand Highlander. It also had more first-row legroom, although the Kia and Toyota offered more legroom in the second and third rows. The Acadia's cargo space was significantly improved, with 23 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 97.5 cubic feet with both rows folded. An underfloor storage bin and a "presence based" power liftgate added to its utility. Small-item storage was reasonable, but the headlight controls were only accessible via the touchscreen.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a customizable interior with a wide range of options, but standard features were limited. The base model had eight-way power-adjustable seats, two-zone climate control, and a heated steering wheel. Higher trims like the GTS added features like a GT Sport steering wheel and Race-Tex headliner. The Cayenne could tow over 7,700 pounds and accommodate over 1,400 pounds of payload, but its cargo space was smaller than competitors. The standard Cayenne had 27.3 cubic feet of space behind the second row, expanding to just over 60 cubic feet with the seats folded. The coupe version offered less space, and plug-in hybrid models had reduced cargo capacity.

The 2024 GMC Acadia featured an 11-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 12-speaker Bose audio system was standard, with an optional 16-speaker system. The infotainment system included Google built-in apps, such as Google Maps and Google Assistant. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with logical menu layouts and high-quality graphics. The instrument cluster offered multiple configurations, but small drive-mode icons could be difficult to see.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne boasted a curved 12.6-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with the Porsche Communication Management system. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Spotify, and Apple Music were included, along with a Wi-Fi hotspot. An optional 10.9-inch passenger screen allowed for navigation and media control. The screens were well-organized and responsive, with voice control available. A head-up display provided information to the driver, but appeared dim with polarized sunglasses. The Cayenne also featured night-vision assist and four high-speed USB-C charging ports.

The 2024 GMC Acadia's crash-test ratings were not available 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. An optional rearview camera mirror and surround-view camera system provided up to nine camera views. The Acadia was the first GMC model to offer the Super Cruise driver-assist system, allowing for hands-free driving on some roads.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered standard parking sensors, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring, but adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist were optional. Porsche's InnoDrive adaptive cruise control system was not tested, and the Cayenne did not offer a hands-off/eyes-up driving assist. Safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS were not available for the 2025 Cayenne.