Compare the2025 GMC AcadiaVS 2024 Buick Enclave

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the GMC Acadia are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Buick Enclave doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the GMC Acadia achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Buick Enclave has not been tested.

Both the Acadia and Enclave have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Acadia has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Enclave’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The Acadia’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Enclave doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Acadia and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and front parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the GMC Acadia is safer than the Buick Enclave:

	Acadia	Enclave
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	165	216
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	198 lbs.
Neck Compression	2 lbs.	77 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	32/13 lbs.	53/40 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	234	333
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.9 inches
Neck Compression	48 lbs.	51 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the GMC Acadia is safer than the Buick Enclave:

	Acadia	Enclave
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	64	69
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	161 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	113	134
Hip Force	518 lbs.	716 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the GMC Acadia is safer than the Enclave:

	Acadia	Enclave
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	55	141
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	446 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.47 in	1.3 in
Shoulder Force	-156 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	1.5 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	915 lbs.	1116 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.83 in	1.02 in
Shoulder Force	-312 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.22 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	848 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The GMC Acadia achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2025 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Enclave is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

There are over 78 percent more GMC dealers than there are Buick dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Acadia’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Acadia has a standard 220-amp alternator. The Enclave’s 170-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Acadia’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (328 vs. 310) and 60 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Acadia gets better mileage than the Enclave:

			MPG
Acadia
	FWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/24 hwy
Enclave
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	17 city/25 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

The Acadia stops much shorter than the Enclave:

	Acadia	Enclave
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	134 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Acadia Denali’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Enclave (275/45R22 vs. 255/65R18).

The Acadia Denali’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Enclave’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Acadia Denali offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Enclave’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The Acadia Denali AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the Enclave Avenir pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Acadia Denali AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Enclave Avenir (27.5 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Acadia AT4 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Enclave (7.8 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the Acadia to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Acadia offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Enclave can only carry 7.

The Acadia has 3.1 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear legroom, .7 inches more rear hip room, .4 inches more rear shoulder room, .6 inches more third row headroom, .1 inches more third row hip room and .6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Enclave.

Cargo Capacity

The Acadia’s cargo area provides more volume than the Enclave.

	Acadia	Enclave
Second Seat Folded	97.5 cubic feet	97.4 cubic feet

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Acadia Denali’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Enclave doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

Towing

The Acadia’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Enclave’s (5000 vs. 1500 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control (TSC) on the Acadia uses the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Enclave doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Acadia’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Enclave does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Acadia’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Enclave doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the GMC Acadia and the Buick Enclave, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The GMC Acadia outsold the Buick Enclave by almost two to one during 2024.

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