Used 2016 GMC Acadia Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Too many service visits.
I like my 2016 Acadia Denali, but I have spent way too much time at the dealers service dept. Yes it is all covered under warranty, but it is a hassle to make time to get to the dealer..... 3000 miles in 7 weeks and I have had it into the service dept. 5 times. 1) & 2) Parked my new $50,000 SUV in my garage and noticed window washer fluid leaking out onto the floor. Took it to the dealer they couldn't find it. Rose hell and took it to the dealer again. they found the leak and fixed it. 3) check engine light, new gas cap, problem solved. 4) one week later check engine light again. Replaced some pressure sensor (emissions related), problem solved. 5) Side mouldings on both drivers doors is falling off. To the dealer again. So at 12,000 miles the drivers seat is rocking back and forth plus the side mouldings on the passenger side are coming off. To the dealer for trip #6. They ordered the wrong part so I have to come back next week and they tell me the rocking of the drivers seat is "normal OEM operation". Back to the dealer for trip #7, and they put the correct side moulding on but tell me again that the rocking is normal....I call bulls...t. I make a formal complaint to GM Customer Service. That was a communication nightmare, but eventually they hook me up with another dealer. Off to that dealer I go for dealer trip #8. They correctly diagnose the rocking as bad seat tracks, but they don't have the parts in stock so I need to go back the following week (dealer trip #9.). So after 9 trips to the dealer and having challenging conversations with GM Customer Service, my Acadia is OK for the moment, but I'm ready to trade it. Update: no problems since then, now 26000 miles.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
GMC Acadia 4WD Great for Towing
We've had our new Acadia for about 6 months and we LOVE it! I'd been looking for something to replace our dying 2007 Chevy Avalanche and my biggest concern was towing our camper. I stumbled on the Acadia quite by accident and we're so glad I did. It's a great looking car, has a very comfortable and roomy interior, plenty of power, steers and handles well and this mighty 6-cylinder tows our camper better than the 8-cylinder Avalanche, thanks to the smooth 6-speed automatic transmission! The gas mileage is a combined 17 mpg, which could be better. The biggest thing I don't like is the rear mud guards. They are hard plastic and hang low enough to scrape on those cement blocks in parking lots. I suspect they will eventually need to be replaced with flexible ones. We've been on long trips with it and love the ride and comfort.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
- SLE-2 4dr SUVMSRP: $11,29518 mi away
- SLT-1 4dr SUVMSRP: $7,997In-stock online
- SLT-1 4dr SUVMSRP: $12,9808 mi away
Great family vehicle
I had a 2012 Subaru Outback that had terrible engine problems - head gasket at 69k and a blown engine (threw a rod and spun a bearing) at 81k - despite regular oil changes and strict adherence to the maintenance schedule. I needed to get into a vehicle that is good in the snow and would have a useable third row (for my older teen children). I looked at the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander, but their 3rd row seats are useless. I know a few people that have GMC Acadias and love them. I did some research and settled on the 2016. I picked up my 2016 SLT-1 2 weeks ago and am really glad I chose this vehicle. First off, my kids love the car and the ride. They love the amount of space they have in both the rear and the third row - so much more than my old Outback. The ride is very comfortable - it soaks up the bumps on the road really great. When I was researching this vehicle I noted a few important things - the Acadia and the Ford Explorer both have 3rd row seats however, the GMC seats are much easier to fold down - which is really handy when you're trying to load groceries or other items. The Nav has road alerts which is really nice. The back up camera image is large and crisp. If you want blind spot warnings, you have to make sure your vehicle is equipped with it. I think it may only be available on the Denali trim level in this model year - I wasn't aware of that when I bought the vehicle, but I'm okay with that. I found that it drives like a big car rather than a truck. This is really impressive to me since it's such a roomy vehicle. It's really bright inside with the twin sunroofs. My kids like that they can listen to a different radio station than I am. The air conditioning gets cold really fast even in hot weather. It doesn't have Apple Carplay - something I'm also okay with. Even though it's a couple of years old, it still has a decent amount of tech in it to make it interesting. I can't wait to take it in the snow. Update 12/22/18 - still love the car - love the ride. The flexibility of the seating/storage is so helpful. It really is a great family vehicle. Took it on a road trip to VT - got 25 mpg on the highway which is great for a car of this size.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
The 2016 GMC Acadia Denali is my favorite vehicle
I've read the other reviews and don't share their opinions, so I wanted to add mine. The 2016 GMC Acadia Denali is my favorite vehicle I've ever owned. I've had infiniti, honda, acura, pontiac, jeep, toyota, and now the GMC. It's the most solid, luxurious vehicle I've owned. It isn't perfect and may not be what you are looking for, but for me, I traded my Toyota Sienna XLE minivan to go to this and got a luxury SUV while only losing a small amount of cargo space. My family and I love it. The heads up display is fantastic. I can remote start my car from my android app from anywhere on the planet and the car, based on outside temperatures, automatically turns on seat heaters and defrosters in the cold to warm it up. The towing rating is solid and the tow button works very well to control a heavy load. The seats are comfortable and I don't have back fat. I'm 6', 168 pounds and wear a size 38 sport coat. I have no idea why someone would think you need to be fat to be comfortable in these seats. It escapes me. Also, the headrests do stick forward slightly for safety, but they are adjustable front to back in addition to up and down. Perhaps the other reviewer may be more comfortable by adjusting the headrests backward. The engine is also more than adequate to get 6 people around town and up a WV mountain with no issues at all. Now, my 0-60 time is not competitive with my 370z, but that's why I bought the 370z - not the Acadia. In my opinion, the generous cargo space, high towing capacity, plenty of seating and the level of luxury makes this my favorite SUV at the moment and my favorite car of all time. Hope you try it out and determine whether it works for you.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great car
After debating on a Yukon or Acadia I went with the 2016 Acadia Denali AWD. After owning the car for almost a year I wish I would have gone for the Yukon instead. The car is clearly made for young kids especially in the back seats! The captains chairs in the 2nd row need to be able to lean all the way back and they are quite tricky to try and fold to get people out of the 3rd row. They also need to be a tad bit wider for the average adult. The thing I hate most about the car is the cup holders! They were clearly built for little kids drinks so nothing large will go in them and if you do get them in and shut the car door it falls right out and then makes a mess!! The trunk space is also nice but if you have a car load don't plan on hauling much luggage! Another thing I hate about the car is when you are driving you can not type in an address in the navagation system. I do realize this is a safety feature but it can sometimes be annoying! The car sometimes seems like it has trouble figuring out when to shift and when you sit in the 2nd row you can hear it. The car is also quite heavy feeling so it's hard to slow it down! The car also drinks gas pretty fast at 17 mpg. The overall look of the car is very nice and the chrome details really make the car. If GMC could fix the issues I've explained the car would be absolutely perfect!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2016 GMC Acadia Denali FWD
Total comfort in a classy looking SUV! Though the Denali is on the high end of the price tag, it makes up for it in style, comfort, and beauty. The options in the open road package make it worth the money if you enjoy all the technology upgrades as well as the extra comfort perks. Update: Still in love! Absolutely no complaints a year later. Total comfort in awesome style! Over 18,000 miles & still riding like it just rolled out of the showroom.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2016 basically a mildly updated 2012
If you have and like an Acadia with Denali trim, this is a face lifted model with a few improvements. Better daytime LED lights, joystick adjustable steering column, usb charging ports, Lane shift and "approaching too fast" alerts are biggest noticeable changes. Slightly more rounded at corners with more trim under front and rear bumpers. Same engine, towing, etc. But - Don't wait for 2017 models if you like this model. 700lbs lighter, shorter wheelbase, 1200lbs LESS towing capacity...it will be an Acadia in name only. Gotta love the GM "Braintrust". Kill the Trailblazer...kill the Acadia....kill the Envoy....and give us vehicles that will ride worse, have less interior room, and tow small fishing boats....and PAY THE SAME!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2016 GMC Acadia AWD transmission replaced
My wife’s pampered, 4.5 year old, short daily commute Acadia had the transmission go at 26,000 miles (not 126,000). Thank god I got an extended warranty or I’d be out 6 grand.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Past Acadia owner but 2016 has some issues
At 53850 miles the A/C compressor locked up melting the serpentine belt over the pulleys causing 2500 worth of damage (and no warranty to cover). Seeing this same issue on other sites so be aware.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
I love my new 2016 Acadia SLT-1 with options
The ride is very smooth, quiet ride and I wouldn't have one of these without all the safety feature added to it. This vehicle feels very large when driving it and I don't always park it correctly unless I get out and see if I am in the lines. I am getting better at it since I have had it for 2 months now. I drive half city and half highway to work and back and get average of 20 mpg. That is a fair amount mpg for such a large vehicle. I did purchase one with all the bells and whistles to alert me 360 degrees around the car for safety hazards. I love these features since there are blind spots and the features help provide a second pair of eyes around me when I am driving. This car fits nicely in my garage also! The materials and interior gauges, etc are excellent and should hold up for the duration that I will own this car. My only remarks on the cons, probably wouldn't have covered the rear view vanity mirrors with cloth and the captains seat belts in the second row is inward too much,,,,,,pushes on my hip when the seat belt is locked in.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Awesome but not perfect
I liked the car a lot. I wish the navigation was not so slow. It needs either more ram in the computer. Adding way points is very awkward as well. I found the Ford sync to be much faster and easier to use. I like viability. No blind spots. I like the large back window compared to the Buick Enclave. I don't seeing myself keeping the car long solely because of the navigation hesitation. I wish the car was a little easier to get in and out of
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Very satisfied
This has been an excellent vehicle in nearly every respect. Comfortable and quiet, very good acceleration and handling for a car of this size. Can’t say I loved the infotainment system...like nearly everyone else, GMC overcomplicates this and makes it less useful in the process.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
Great Family SUV
The key for me purchasing this car is that there is a true 3rd row that teenage/adult passengers can sit comfortably.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Don't buy a GMC Acadia
After 25 years of buying and driving non-american cars, I decided to give the US a try. I bought a 2016 GMC Acadia SLT. Loved the middle aisle to the 3rd row, leather seats, drove very smooth. The past 2 years major items started to fail. The first major issue was the power steering pump failed - a $500. Then both front and rear AC failed due to leaks - $4000. Now the transmission is starting to slip. NEVER AGAIN BUY US CAR. They are just not ready yet.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
My third Acadia
This is my third one and I still like it quite a bit. I downsized from a Chevy Suburban since my kids were grown. This is a great size.
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
New Car But Costly Repairs
For some reason, GMC autos have a problem with headlamps going out. These are not covered by warranty and are very expensive to replace. A few months ago I had to replace one headlamp at a cost of $357. Last week the passenger side headlamp assembly went out and the cost was $1,621! How GMC can build a car with headlamps that expensive to replace is a mystery and does not speak highly of the quality or design of their product. The car is comfortable on the inside; driver and passenger seating is comfortable. The car handles adequately for a front wheel drive car but is very underpowered. More maintenace problems. $2,000 to fix a seal problem and the GMC mechanic advised that additional repairs will be needed in the future at a probable cost of $5,000! Decided to trade in the auto.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Love the Acadia
This is my third Acadia Denali and it is the best vehicle. Comfortable, easy to drive and great gas mileage. Have had this one for 2 1/2 years and 62000 miles. We do a lot of traveling and on the interstates we get 23 miles per gallon. Best vehicle yet. This is a 2016 Acadia Denali purchased new in November 2015.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Another Great Acadia!
This vehicle is fun to drive and has everything I want in a SUV. This is our third Acadia and we have never been disappointed.
- Safety
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
To many trips for minor repairs
I bought the car on a promise that they would fix the vibration problem, which seemed to be related to tires. The car gives you a chair massage as you drive, like a tire is out of balance. Car also pulled to the right. First trip, replaced one tire and aligned wheels. "car fixed"!!! Drove home still vibration problem but not as bad, car still pulled to right. Second Trip, re-balanced tires, second alignment. "car fixed". Drove home, pull is gone, car handles great. Still have vibration, although better than before. Am doing some trouble shooting myself before returning for third trip to dealer. Hopefully, I'll get to driver it to somewhere besides the dealership 50 miles away.
- Performance
- Comfort
Great family vehicle
I had a 2012 Subaru Outback that had terrible engine problems - head gasket at 69k and a blown engine (threw a rod and spun a bearing) at 81k - despite regular oil changes and strict adherence to the maintenance schedule. I needed to get into a vehicle that is good in the snow and would have a useable third row (for my older teen children). I looked at the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander, but their 3rd row seats are useless. I know a few people that have GMC Acadias and love them. I did some research and settled on the 2016. I picked up my 2016 SLT-1 2 weeks ago and am really glad I chose this vehicle. First off, my kids love the car and the ride. They love the amount of space they have in both the rear and the third row - so much more than my old Outback. The ride is very comfortable - it soaks up the bumps on the road really great. When I was researching this vehicle I noted a few important things - the Acadia and the Ford Explorer both have 3rd row seats however, the GMC seats are much easier to fold down - which is really handy when you're trying to load groceries or other items. The Nav has road alerts which is really nice. The back up camera image is large and crisp. If you want blind spot warnings, you have to make sure your vehicle is equipped with it. I think it may only be available on the Denali trim level in this model year - I wasn't aware of that when I bought the vehicle, but I'm okay with that. I found that it drives like a big car rather than a truck. This is really impressive to me since it's such a roomy vehicle. It's really bright inside with the twin sunroofs. My kids like that they can listen to a different radio station than I am. The air conditioning gets cold really fast even in hot weather. It doesn't have Apple Carplay - something I'm also okay with. Even though it's a couple of years old, it still has a decent amount of tech in it to make it interesting. I can't wait to take it in the snow. Update: June 2021. Still love this car. I have had a couple of items that I've needed repaired but overall this is a great all around vehicle - carries people and cargo great. I've gotten up to 25+ mpg on the highway if I don't put my foot into it too much (and keep it on cruise). I plan on keeping this for a long time to come. My husband just told me yesterday it's probably the best vehicle I've ever owned.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Comfort and Safety over Economy
If you are a family person wanting the safest ride for your kids or grandkids as in my situation, this GMC Arcadia was the right choice. Except for a defective part installed at the factory, the car has been most reliable and dependable. While using the fold-down third-row seat, it was perfect for the long ride to Disneyland with the children using the optional Wi-Fi and their own air conditioner controls, made it a pleasure for the adults. There was still plenty of room for storage of the luggage and a snack cooler. A great AM-FM radio/CD sound system with aux input and satellite radio. Conveniently placed 12volt and USB connections. And the best safety feature of all is the built-in On_Star telephone/navigational system that gives me the great comfort my better half is never alone while out on the roadways.
- Performance
- Comfort
GMC ACADIA IS A BUST
We owned one and the engine would reduce speed and even shut down while driving causing us to loose power of the vehicle. Thankfully we were on a residential street or the outcome could have been worse- the dealership did a fix that didn’t work- they tried something else but we didn’t trust the vehicle anymore and GM and the dealership didn’t want to do anything else to address the problems so we got rid of it ASAP. GMC Acadia is still a bust, they never made it right so we will not buy a Chevrolet or GMC vehicle again. Friends and family will not either...
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Reliability
- Value
Intellink and back seat made me hate this car.
Selling this car after only six months. Intellink is slow, gets stuck, lacks information and just plain doesn't work. Forget NAV, it'll take you to random places. Pandora and Stitcher are slow to load and will just drop/close randomly 100% of the time. Second row Captains chairs are comfy but waste a HUGE amount of space when packing the car. Does not work for dog owners; dogs fall in the hole and injure themselves.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
car is not safe to drive
The car has lots of road holding to the high way as you drive. Feels very safe as you drive and cars around you. Great wide windshield to see what is around you
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Nice looking vehicle
Bought my 2016 Acadia SLE-1 AWD Certified July 2017 with 20,000 miles. First month of driving, noticed in the morning, when I pulled out, very sluggish. As the engine warmed up, once the temperature needle was halfway, then it would drive like a dream. Took it to service, said it was normal. Now it is winter, if I don't let it warmup for 10 minutes or until the temperature needle reaches halfway, the engine revs and the rpm goes over 2 when only going 20 miles. Very disappointing, doesn't seem normal to me. Otherwise I like the style, the space, the comfort. Do not like the fuel economy though. I wish I did my homework on this year and model. Originally went to the dealership for a 2017, did not like the new model after test driving. Same evening took this car for a test drive, liked the older model, wider and stronger. Did not know the drive train in the 2015 and the 2016 models were changed which causes the terrible fuel economy. Plus the tailgate is very heavy should have a liftgate button as a standard.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Not up to GMC standards
I am a loyal GMC customer. 8 of my 9 vehicles have been GMC’s. My last was a Envoy with 189,00 miles which I loved but was unfortunately totaled. 6 months ago I purchased a GMC Acadia. It’s not a bad car, but unfortunately does not measure up to the others I have owned. Things I like: Lots of storage Roomy if you need lots of seating Disappointments: The control center & navigation are just pain horrible. The soft touch buttons don’t work haft the time, the black/red/white pattered print on the screen make it difficult to read, you must go through multiple menus to do anything, and impossible while driving. After multiple uses, I gave up on the navigation. It’s difficult to read, does not re-route, and must stop and go through multiple screens to exit out if you want to stop the navigation. Google maps on my phone is a much better experience. A total fail on GMC’s part. The car comes with multiple warning systems. It warns if someone is in front of you or behind you, or if you are close to a line in the road, but does not come with the most important-a blind-spot warning! I live in an area of winding roads, and have had to turn off most of the warnings because they constantly go off when they see a car in another lane or a line in the road on a curve. It comes with a back-up camera, which works well in clear daylight, but not much help at night or on rainy days. The turn radius is to wide and the gas mileage is not as stated. On a receipt trip that was mostly freeway, I averaged 16mpg. After a lifetime of owning GMC’s, this is the first one I am considering selling after less than a year.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Versatile 3 row SUV
Denali has all the bells and whistles. Not a flashy exterior design but nice enough. Fold flat rear rows gives tons of cargo space when needed or flip up all the seats for plenty of passengers. Smooth drive, not a lot of punch from the engine but gets the job done.
Love it!
Love my car!
- Safety
- Performance
- Comfort
- Value
2016 GMC Acadia Denali is Awesome
Once you get behind the wheel of the GMC Acadia, you'll never want another vehicle every again. The ride is very smooth, quiet interior and a great sound system. The sun roof and moon roof are a great addition to the Denali and the kids love looking out at the stars. One concern is the oil changes seem quite frequent - other than that, and all around great vehicle for the price.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2016 GMC Acadia
I love my Acadia! Of course, SUV's are over priced & face it, no one loves the price we have to pay for third row. However, all in all, I'm more than happy with my choice in a third row vehicle.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Have 3 children 2 dogs @ I love my acadia
Best car ever
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Acadia
Bigger than you think, but worth it! I love it!