Which GMC SUV Is Right for You?
Finding the perfect SUV can be tricky. You have so many options available to you these days that narrowing them all down to just one can feel like an impossible task. Even if you’ve decided on a particular brand, like GMC, you still have quite a few choices to make. Trying to figure it all out on your own just makes things even more challenging. As your GMC dealer in Atlanta, we’re here to help take some of that burden off of your shoulders and provide you with assistance to help you make the right choice and get the perfect SUV with everything you need. Let’s take a look at each GMC SUV model to get a sense of what they have to offer, which should make it easier for you to decide on the perfect one that delivers what you’re looking for.
The GMC Terrain
To kick off the GMC SUV lineup we have the Terrain, which is a small crossover model. Specifically, this is the smallest crossover that GMC offers. One of the things we really like about the GMC lineup is that they don’t overdo it with too many options—you get one fantastic vehicle in each major class, which makes choosing the right one a lot easier. As a small crossover, the Terrain has two rows of seating inside for up to five passengers: two up front and three on a rear bench seat. The Terrain is about 182 inches in overall length and about 72 inches in width, with almost 30 cu.ft. of rear cargo volume and 63.3 cu.ft. of total cargo space inside.
You’ll find a 1.5L Turbo 4-cylinder engine in the Terrain that delivers 175 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque, which isn’t a ton of power, but it’s plenty for such a small model. The Terrain is available in four different trim levels: the standard SLE, then the SLT, followed by an off-road focused AT4, and finally, the Denali trim. We’ll go into more detail on what the AT4 and Denali can bring to the road, but each of these trims gives you a fantastic driving experience with impressive technology, sophisticated style, and excellent safety features.
The GMC Acadia
If you’re looking for something larger without going all the way up to a full-size model, then the GMC Acadia is the perfect option. This is a midsize SUV that lives up to that size as a middle ground between the small Terrain and the large Yukon, making it the perfect choice for a lot of drivers. You’ll find more engine options here as there are two on offer: a 2.0L Turbo 4-cylinder that delivers 228 hp and a 310-hp 3.6L V6 engine. Both of these engines make the Acadia a lot of fun to drive—your choice really comes down to the kind of performance you prefer.
This is a three-row SUV with seating for up to six people, though the rear seats are a bit small for most adults, and they’re a better option for kids. The Acadia measures more than 193 inches in length, which is nearly a foot longer than the Terrain. Inside, you’ll find almost 13 cu.ft. of rear cargo volume, with 41.7 cu.ft. of space behind the second row and up to 79 cu.ft. of maximum cargo volume behind the front seats. Much like the Terrain, the Acadia is available in SLE, SLT, AT4, and Denali trims, so you can choose the right one for you.
The GMC Yukon/Yukon XL
Although some people might consider the Yukon and Yukon XL as separate models, they’re essentially the same but with one major difference: the Yukon XL is even bigger than the standard Yukon. Both of these models are full-size SUVs, so they’re both bigger and give you more space inside than the Terrain or Acadia, but you get even more room inside with the XL. There are three engines offered on both Yukon models: a 5.3L V8 with 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, a 6.2L V8 that boosts that up to 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.0L Duramax Turbo Diesel with 460 lb-ft of torque.
These are both three-row SUVs. Most trims of the Yukon and Yukon XL offer seating for up to eight passengers, but nine-passenger seating is available with the starting trim. Of particular note is the length of these two models. The standard Yukon measures 210 inches in length, making it more than a foot longer than the Acadia, while the Yukon XL is more than 225 inches in length, or nearly three feet longer than the Acadia. The increased size of the Yukon XL gives you a lot of interior space, particularly for your passengers to stretch out in. In terms of cargo space, the Yukon has 25.5 cu.ft. of rear space, 72.6 cu.ft. of space behind the second row, and 122.9 cu.ft. of total cargo volume. The Yukon XL gives you 41.5 cu.ft. of rear space, 93.8 cu.ft. of space behind the second row of seats, and 144.7 cu.ft. of total cargo volume.
The GMC Hummer EV SUV
We can’t talk about GMC’s SUV lineup without mentioning the newest and most innovative machine hitting the road: the Hummer EV SUV. This all-new model delivers incredible all-electric performance that lets you leave the gas pump behind forever. While the Hummer EV Pickup model was the first to hit the market and start making an impression, the Hummer EV SUV is joining it with incredible performance of its own. The incredible power system and motors on the Hummer EV SUV deliver 830 hp and 11,500 lb-ft of torque at the wheel, with a range of more than 300 miles from a full charge. This power lets the Hummer SUV, with its innovative Watts to Freedom launch system, go from 0 to 60 in just 3.5 seconds. Amazing technology includes a Crabwalk system that lets it drive diagonally for advanced maneuvering and an Extract Mode that utilizes its Adaptive Air Ride Suspension to raise about six inches higher to give you incredible ground clearance.
The AT4 and Denali Trims
One of our favorite things about the GMC SUV lineup is that they mostly have the same trims available across their models, so it’s easy to compare and see what each has to offer. For example, the AT4 trim that’s offered on the Terrain, Acadia, and Yukons is an off-road-focused option that comes with all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive standard, along with a powerful engine to go along with it. You’ll find things like Hill Descent Control, dual-outlet exhausts, heavy-duty air filters, and impressive skid plates on AT4 models to make them more adept at hitting the trail.
Similarly, these vehicles have Denali trims available that take luxury and comfort within them to the next level. For example, the Yukon SLE has a 10.2-inch infotainment display, a six-speaker sound system, cloth seating, and a ten-way power driver’s seat. Looking at the Yukon Denali, you get a Bose 14-speaker Surround with CenterPoint audio system, perforated leather-appointed seating with heated and ventilated front seats, and a 15-inch multicolor head-up display. Recently, GMC has taken things even further on select models by offering a Denali Ultimate trim. The Yukon Denali Ultimate features available full-grain leather seating with 16-way power front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Find that Perfect SUV Today
Whether you have a clear sense of what you’re looking for, or if you’ve just started your search for your next vehicle and you’re unsure of what you want, we can help. You can see that the GMC lineup gives you several fantastic crossover and SUV models to choose from, which means there’s something here for you, no matter what you’re looking for. All of these options can make it difficult to narrow them down and get the perfect one—that’s exactly why we’re here to help. Come visit us at Jim Ellis Buick GMC of Atlanta today. We’ll take you through the GMC SUV lineup, answer all of your questions, and make sure you drive away in the right model with everything you need.