Ford Explorer vs. GMC Acadia

Let's start by looking at the space these two SUVs offer. The Explorer has room for seven passengers, while the Acadia can seat six, so they’re both set to take the kids and their friends to various activities. There’s more room for everyone within the 2023 Explorer, though.

With 152.7 cubic feet of passenger space in the Ford, everyone can pack in and feel comfortable. Dare we say there will be wiggle room left over? The same can’t be said about the GMC Acadia, which falls short at 143.8 cubic feet.

If your family is adventurous, you’ll find both SUVs will provide plenty of cargo space for your gear! Behind all three rows, the Ford SUV gives you more space than the GMC, though:

Whether it’s just you and your partner getting away for the weekend or your entire family is along for the ride, the Ford will offer more space flexibility across the board than the GMC. Say goodbye to playing Tetris in the trunk!

Ford Co-Pilot360™ and Acadia Pro Safety Plus are the standard safety suites on the Explorer and the Acadia. Despite coming from different manufacturers, these driver-assistance suites offer similar features, including:

• Auto High-Beam Headlamps
• BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert
• Pre-Collision Assist® with Automatic Emergency Braking
• Lane-Keeping System
• Rear View Camera

The Ford also makes Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control standard, which maintains your preferred pace and keeps you centered within your lane while using cruise control. It works alongside helpful features like Speed Sign Recognition, Stop-and-Go, and Lane Centering. Adaptive Cruise Control is available on the Acadia.

You can also gain the help of available Active Park Assist 2.0 when parking your Ford Explorer. With the push of a button, this system can take control and automatically navigate your Explorer into an open parallel or perpendicular parking spot. The GMC Acadia doesn't offer an automatic parking system.

For those extra tight and troublesome squeezes, the Ford’s available 360-Degree Camera with Split-View Display and the GMC’s available HD Surround Vision camera will come in handy. It shows an overhead view of your SUV, giving you a continuous view of your surroundings. Navigating tight spaces or hooking up a trailer just got easier!

The Explorer is available with three engines, including an efficient hybrid engine! The GMC offers just two engines. What does their standard output look like, though? Let’s find out:

• Ford: 2.3L EcoBoost® engine produces 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque
• GMC: 2.0L Turbo engine produces 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque

Heightened horsepower and torque in the Ford mean you’ll experience swift acceleration and make climbing steep hills or towing large cargo look easy! You may not have the same experience with the GMC.

Speaking of towing, the Explorer has the strength to tow up to 5,600 pounds when properly equipped. On the other hand, the Acadia can tow up to 4,000 pounds. You can tow any of these items with either SUV:

• A couple jet skis
• A lightweight travel trailer
• A utility trailer with a few snowmobiles
• A small fishing boat
• A pop-up camper

With the Ford’s greater maximum towing capacity, you can add a small hard-sided RV and a small recreational boat to the list of cargo you can tow!