2025 GMC Acadia Elevation Black Edition: Affordable Midsize SUV Review

Exterior Design and Black Edition Features

• 🎨 The 2025 GMC Acadia Elevation Black Edition features a sporty aesthetic with 22-inch gloss black wheels, a blacked-out grille, and blacked-out badges, avoiding shiny chrome for a more aggressive look.
• 💡 Even on this entry-level trim, it includes LED fog lamps, a forward-facing camera, and distinctive C-shaped GMC headlights.
• 🚀 The Black Edition package extends to gloss black roof rails and window trim, while door handles are color-matched.
• 💨 The rear boasts a clean design with a long roof spoiler, C-shaped LED tail lights, and quad-tip functional exhaust outlets, a feature not found on competitors like the Highlander or Pilot.

Powertrain and Performance

• ⚙️ All 2025 Acadia trims share a 2.5L turbocharged inline-4 engine producing 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
• 📈 This setup offers more power than the previous V6, achieving 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds, with an estimated fuel economy of 21 MPG city and 27 MPG highway.
• 🏋️ The vehicle has a towing capacity of up to 5,000 lbs and weighs approximately 4,800 lbs.

Interior Technology and Comfort

• 📱 Inside, the Acadia features a 15-inch infotainment touchscreen with a full suite of Google apps, offering excellent camera resolution and functionality.
• 🎛️ The driver faces an 11-inch digital gauge cluster that is customizable, and the steering wheel is leather-wrapped with paddle shifters and a heated function.
• 🛋️ Interior materials include soft-touch surfaces, a smoky gray trim, and contrast stitching on the armrests. The seats are Cortech with electric assist for both driver and passenger.
• 🔌 Connectivity includes wireless charging, USB-C, and USB-A ports, along with dual-zone climate control and heated seats (no ventilated seats on this trim).

Seating and Cargo Space

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Acadia is a three-row midsize SUV; this Elevation trim features captain's chairs in the second row, though a bench seat is an option for 2025.
• 🦵 The second and third rows offer surprisingly good legroom and AC vents, with USB-C ports available in the third row.
• 📦 The cargo area provides over 20 cubic feet of space behind the third row, with seats folding flat for expanded storage. The mid-row also folds down for maximum cargo capacity.

Driving Experience and Value

• 🛣️ On the road, the Acadia offers a smooth and balanced ride, with the 8-speed automatic shifting well and ample power from the turbocharged engine.
• 🔊 Sound deadening is effective, making the ride quiet despite the 22-inch wheels, with the engine noise only noticeable during aggressive acceleration.
• 💰 The 2025 GMC Acadia Elevation Black Edition is positioned as a competitive and affordable option in the midsize SUV segment, offering a significant amount of standard features and technology for its price point, comparable to higher trims of competitors.