Compare the2025 GMC AcadiaVS 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander

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

Safety

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The Acadia has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Grand Highlander doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

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 Toyota Grand Highlander has not been tested.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Acadia has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Rear Cross Traffic Braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the Acadia and the Grand Highlander have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, front parking sensors and driver alert monitors.

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 Toyota Grand Highlander:

	Acadia	Grand Highlander
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	165	218
Neck Injury Risk	20.1%	39.3%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	355 lbs.
Neck Compression	2 lbs.	12 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	32/13 lbs.	331/316 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	234	356
Neck Stress	159 lbs.	199 lbs.
Neck Compression	48 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/266 lbs.	384/277 lbs.

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

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the GMC Acadia is safer than the Grand Highlander:

	Acadia	Grand Highlander
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	85	112
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	3 cm	5 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	18 cm	21 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.2/0 kN	3.5/1.3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Tibia index R/L	.39/.25	.69/.57
Tibia forces R/L	.8/.1 kN	1.3/2.2 kN

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

	Acadia	Grand Highlander
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	17 inches
Hip Force	721 lbs.	823 lbs.

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

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 Grand Highlander is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

The Acadia’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Grand Highlander’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 34 percent more GMC dealers than there are Toyota dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Acadia’s warranty.

Engine

The Acadia has more powerful engines than the Grand Highlander:

	Horsepower	Torque
Acadia 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder	328 HP	326 lbs.-ft.
Grand Highlander Hybrid 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	245 HP
Grand Highlander 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	265 HP	310 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the GMC Acadia is faster than the Toyota Grand Highlander turbo 4 cyl.:

	Acadia	Grand Highlander
Zero to 60 MPH	7.8 sec	8.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15.9 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.6 MPH	86.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Acadia’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Grand Highlander doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Acadia uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Acadia FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Grand Highlander Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (19.4 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Acadia AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Grand Highlander’s standard fuel tank (21.7 vs. 17.8 gallons).

The Acadia has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Grand Highlander doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Acadia stops much shorter than the Grand Highlander:

	Acadia	Grand Highlander
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Acadia Denali’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Grand Highlander (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 Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

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

The GMC Acadia’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Toyota Grand Highlander only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Acadia has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Grand Highlander doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Acadia’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the Grand Highlander (120.9 inches vs. 116.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Acadia is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Grand Highlander.

The Acadia Denali AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the Grand Highlander XLE AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Acadia Denali AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Grand Highlander XLE AWD (27.5 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the Acadia uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Grand Highlander doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Acadia uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Grand Highlander doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Acadia has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front legroom, 2.7 inches more front hip room, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear legroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room, 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room, 1 inch more third row headroom, 2.9 inches more third row hip room and .4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Highlander.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Acadia	Grand Highlander
Behind Third Seat	23 cubic feet	20.6 cubic feet

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

Towing

While the Grand Highlander Hybrid can only tow 3500, any Acadia can tow a minimum of 5000 pounds.

Servicing Ease

The Acadia uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Grand Highlander uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Acadia Denali’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Grand Highlander doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Grand Highlander does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Acadia’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Grand Highlander’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Acadia’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Grand Highlander offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Acadia has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the GMC Acadia has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Grand Highlander XLE/Limited/Nightshade/Platinum offers wireless charging.

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 Grand Highlander doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the GMC Acadia and the Toyota Grand Highlander, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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