2019 GMC Acadia vs 2020 Hyundai Palisade

The 2019 GMC Acadia was a handsome SUV with a shorter wheelbase that provided an athletic stance and an upright grille that gave it an upscale appearance. Despite not being marketed as a luxury SUV, it was as nice as, if not nicer than, the more expensive Buick Envision. The Acadia had broader appeal than other GM vehicles like the Chevrolet Equinox and Buick Envision. Although considered a midsize SUV, it felt closer in size to compact competitors like the Nissan Rogue.

The Acadia came in several trims: SL, SLE-1, SLE-2, SLT-1, SLT-2, and Denali. The base SL trim featured 17-inch wheels, 7-passenger seating, remote keyless entry, 3-zone climate control, and heated power side mirrors. Higher trims added features like LED headlights, power liftgate, fog lights, premium stereo systems, and various driver-assistance features. The range-topping Denali trim added luxury touches like a hands-free power tailgate, unique 20-inch wheels, and leather-appointed seating.

Hyundai absolutely knocked the Palisade's styling out of the park. This vehicle could wear a Cadillac logo, and shoppers wouldn't blink an eye. In fact, the Palisade stood out more than Caddy’s new XT6 3-row luxury SUV. Its bold, in-your-face styling was characterized by a massive grille and rakishly thin headlights. Interestingly enough, the upper headlight assembly was only part of the headlight puzzle. What appeared to be larger fog lights made up the rest of the headlights. With them on, there was a character line of LEDs that extended from the upper headlights down through the mid-level assembly.

The Palisade's cabin continued that upscale feel, but with more elegance and simplicity. At first glance, you’d be forgiven for mistaking the dash of the Palisade for one from a luxury brand. It had a fully digital instrument panel, a large touchscreen that flowed seamlessly across the dash, and a center console bristling with controls that rose up along the centerline. At night and most times of day, your eyes would be drawn to the personalized ambient lighting system. The Limited trim added features like leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, and a dual sunroof.

The 2019 GMC Acadia offered two engines: an inline 4-cylinder and a V6. The V6 was not available in the base SL or SLE-1 trim but was optional in the SLE-2 and SLE-1 with FWD. The SLT-1 AWD, SLT-2, and Denali trims all came standard with the V6. The base 4-cylinder engine made 193 horsepower, while the 3.6-liter V6 engine produced 310 hp, delivering fantastic acceleration. Power was sent through a 6-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels or available AWD. The AWD system featured GMC’s Active Twin Clutch system, allowing drivers to switch between FWD, AWD, Sport mode, and All-Terrain mode. The V6 Acadia could tow up to 4,000 pounds when properly equipped. Fuel economy for the base SL with the 4-cylinder engine and FWD was 21 mpg city, 26 highway, 23 combined. The SLT-1 AWD with the V6 returned 17/25/20, and in a week of combined driving, it observed 19.8 mpg.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine, making 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Power was sent to the front wheels or available AWD through an 8-speed automatic transmission, operated via a push-button shifter. The automatic transmission managed power well, and the V6 engine provided solid acceleration. The drive mode dial offered Sport, Comfort, Eco, Snow, and Smart modes. Smart mode toggled between the other modes based on driving habits. In Comfort mode, the V6 and transmission took a half-second to respond, but Sport mode made the gas pedal twitchier. The Limited trim came with a self-leveling rear suspension, enhancing driving dynamics. Fuel economy for the FWD Palisade was 19 mpg city, 26 highway, 22 combined. With AWD, it was 19/24/21. In a week of combined driving, it observed 20.3 mpg.

The 2019 GMC Acadia provided a solid amount of space for the driver and front passenger, with deep trays for small items and functional in-door bins. The SL, SLE-1, and SLE-2 featured 7-passenger seating with a middle bench seat, while the SLT-1 AWD had second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to 6. The second-row seats were comfortable and provided decent head- and legroom, but the third-row seats were suitable only for kids. The Acadia offered 12.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, 41.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 79 cubic feet with both rows dropped. This was small for the midsize SUV class, barely more than the biggest compact crossovers.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade excelled in versatility and handling family needs. It had 45.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row down and 86.4 cubic feet with all rear seats dropped, more than the Highlander and Pilot. The Limited trim had power-folding third-row seats, which could drop with the push of a button. The third row was manageable for longer trips, and the second-row captain's chairs were the place to be, with multiple cup holders and seatback pockets. There was also space between the second-row chairs for bags or gear.

The 2019 GMC Acadia's base SL trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen running GMC’s IntelliLink infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, five USB ports, and a WiFi hotspot. The SLT-1 trim upgraded to an 8-inch screen, and the Denali added standard navigation. Higher trims also included a 4.2-inch color information display within the gauge cluster, with the Denali featuring an 8-inch display. The Acadia was available with a color head-up display providing information like vehicle speed, engine rpm, and safety alerts.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SE had three front-row USB ports, two second-row USB ports, and Bluetooth connectivity. The SEL trim could be upgraded with a $1,250 Driver Guidance package, adding a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, satellite radio, and an in-car intercom system. The Limited trim featured a Harman Kardon premium audio system with 12 speakers, a surround-view monitor, and a head-up display.

The 2019 GMC Acadia came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and traction control. The Driver Alert Package 1, standard on the SLT-1 and optional on the SLE-2, added a blind-spot warning system, lane-change alert, and rear park assist. The SLT-2 trim added the Driver Alert Package 2, which included low-speed forward automatic braking, lane-departure warning, pedestrian detection, forward-collision alert, adaptive headlights, and high beams.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It came with forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, a driver-attention warning, and parking sensors. The digital instrument panel displayed parking sensor warnings and featured a unique blind-spot camera system, projecting live images on the instrument panel when the turn signal was activated.