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| 310 | Max Horsepower (hp) | 291 |
| 271 | Max Torque (lb-ft) | 262 |
| 22/29 | Fuel Economy (city/ hwy mpg) | 19/26 |
There are plenty of fantastic mid size SUVs on the market today, and two of the best ones are the 2021 GMC Acadia and the 2021 Hyundai Palisade. However, even though each of these vehicles are superb, most families can only pick one, so the question is, which one is best for you? In a head-to-head between the 2021 GMC Acadia vs 2021 Hyundai Palisade, which one comes out on top?
The question is not really which one comes out on top because each of these mid size SUVs are amazing in their own right. The question we should be asking is more along the lines of what kind of person is each of these vehicles designed for? Which one will fit the most seamlessly into your current lifestyle? Which one will give you the best bang for your buck?
While the 2021 Palisade is a great option, the best of the two is the 2021 Acadia. With more power, better fuel economy, and more space than the Palisade, the Acadia goes above and beyond. Plus, you get a whole host of excellent safety features and a comfortable interior. What's not to love about the 2021 GMC Acadia?
Both the 2021 GMC Acadia and the 2021 Hyundai Palisade come with some top-notch safety features. Combined, these features work together to ensure you and your loved ones always get home safely. However, the specific vehicle options between the Acadia and the Palisade are going to be a little bit different, so when making a decision as to which mid size SUV to buy, you need to decide which safety features are the most important to you.
Both the 2021 Acadia and the 2021 Palisade come with their own versions of automatic emergency braking technology. With each vehicle, when your SUV detects a potential oncoming collision, you will receive an alert. If you do not respond quickly enough, your SUV will automatically apply the brakes for you, thus hopefully preventing an imminent collision. This includes both vehicle collisions and pedestrian collisions. This safety feature is one of the most life-saving safety features in today’s vehicles which is why both the GMC and the Hyundai SUVs include it in their vehicle models. For the Acadia, these features are spread out between the Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Front Pedestrian Braking. For the Palisade, they all fall under the Forwards Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection.
Both the 2021 GMC Acadia and the 2021 Hyundai Palisade also come with their own versions of high beam assist (known as IntelliBeam in the Acadia and High Beam Assist in the Palisade), which essentially turn your bright beams on and off automatically according to current conditions and traffic levels. This means you’ll never forget to turn your high beams off for an oncoming vehicle again, but you’ll still be able to see as much as possible at any time of night. This is a very thoughtful safety feature that makes driving at night more convenient for everybody.
Other Common Features
Other safety features that the Acadia/Palisade have in common include Rear Cross Traffic Alert/Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keep Assist/Lane Keeping Assist, and Lane Departure Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert/Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist. All of the most important safety features you have come to expect from today’s modern vehicles are proudly included in both of these sophisticated mid size SUVs. So, where do the Acadia and the Palisade differ?
If you have ever dealt with technology, you know that sometimes technology does not always know what’s actually going on, and sometimes, technology can overcompensate in ways that are annoying and even potentially problematic for the human user. This is often the case in vehicle safety features. Many full-time drivers have been known to complain about intrusive features that are supposedly designed to keep drivers safer but instead only succeed in being loud and bothersome. In fact, if a feature gets too annoying, drivers will dive into the vehicle settings and turn features off just so they can drive undisturbed.
There are a few safety features that come with the 2021 Hyundai Palisade that unfortunately drift into the category of being potentially annoying. The Palisade includes features like Driver Attention Warning that is designed to alert you if you become a distracted or a drowsy driver. While this may work well for many drivers, others prefer to use their own methods of staying awake and focused and avoid having to listen to a beeping vehicle every time the vehicle detects something it thinks it shouldn’t.
While the 2021 Hyundai Palisade has a lot of excellent features, we have to give it to the 2021 GMC Acadia. The Acadia's features are easier to use and can be less annoying while you are on the road. While both of these vehicles will definitely keep you safe, the Acadia just does it better.
If you’re looking for a vehicle that is spacious, comfortable, and stylish, both the 2021 GMC Acadia and the 2021 Hyundai Palisade are good options for you. Each vehicle comes with many sophisticated interior options that you are sure to love. However, there is one area where these vehicles are not created equal, and that is the number of available seats. Pay attention because you don’t want to end up with a vehicle that doesn’t cater to your family’s needs.
The 2021 GMC Acadia has the option of either 6 or 7 seats, whereas the 2021 Hyundai Palisade offers either 7 or 8 seats. You may be thinking more seats is always better, but that is not always the case. If you want 8 seats, it’s best to go with a full-sized SUV, so you are not sacrificing cargo space in place of passenger space. If you don’t need a full 8 or even 7 seats, it’s pretty amazing that the GMC offers a mid size SUV that can comfortably seat 6, leaving the rest of the interior open for cargo and gear.
Have you ever gone to the grocery store and ended up buying more than you intended, only to get to your car and realize you don’t have enough room to fit everything? This happens all too often in vehicles that have too many seats for the allotted space. Thankfully the 2021 GMC Acadia solves this issue by giving you an excellent amount of cargo space. With all the seats down, you can get up to 79 cu.ft. of cargo volume, which is perfect for those days you need to fit more in the back of your car. The designers behind the Acadia worked hard to keep the driver’s lifestyle needs in mind.
If you’re looking for sophisticated technologies, both the 2021 GMC Acadia and the 2021 Hyundai Palisade have got your back. Each of these mid size SUVs comes with easy-to-use touch screen displays that are easily connected to your personal smart device. If you enjoy hands free phone calls, text messages, or driving directions, both the Acadia and the Palisade will serve you well.
Feel free to enjoy the entertainment media of your choice because each of these vehicles allows you to seamlessly integrate your smart device’s favorite apps straight to your vehicle’s sound system. Whether you’re into music, podcasts, or audiobooks, you’re free to enjoy them to your heart’s content when you drive one of these premium SUVs. The touch screen displays in the Acadia and the Palisade are user-friendly. The displays are large and bright and fit comfortably into your vehicle’s dash. Use the display to control navigation or access other vehicle settings. While both offer similar tech, as is expected in this day and age, we prefer the usability of the Acadia's system over the Palisade's.
When you’re ready to see for yourself why the 2021 GMC Acadia is the perfect vehicle for you, come on down to Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth. We’ve got the best selection of both new and used GMC and Buick vehicles in the area, and we’d love to give you the VIP tour of our spectacular inventory. Whether you want an affordable base model or you want to invest in a fully loaded Acadia that you’ll be proud to drive for years to come, we’re ready and waiting to give you the best car shopping experience possible.
There’s more to Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth than just fantastic vehicles. If you’re looking for affordability, our financing experts can help you get the vehicle you want at a price point you can afford. Or, ask our team about any current pricing specials we have going on. When you’re ready to drive away, be sure to set up your first maintenance appointment at our parts and service center. Regularly scheduled maintenance checks are the easiest and least expensive way to keep your vehicle running in top shape for many years to come.
So what are you waiting for? There’s no better time than now to invest in your dream vehicle. So come on down to Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth and test drive your new 2021 GMC Acadia today!
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.