Starting at
Starting at
| 300-400 | Horsepower (hp) | 228-310 |
| 310-415 | Torque (lb-ft) | 258-271 |
| 5,600 | Max Towing (lbs) | 4,000 |
Three-row midsize SUVs are quickly becoming the vehicle of choice for suburban family drivers. These provide enough space for larger families but are easier to handle and provide better fuel economy than three-row, full-size models. They also tend to be more affordable, a big factor for those on a tight household budget.
Two models that do a solid job combining luxury, utility, and affordability are the 2022 Ford Explorer vs 2022 GMC Acadia. These two models offer families the roominess they need in a number of different trim levels of increasing luxury features and pricing. The 2022 Explorer offers drivers eight different trims, with the ST-Line as the newest addition. These run from the base Explorer up to the King Ranch and Platinum luxury models. Meanwhile, the 2022 Acadia provides four different trim options with an Elevation Edition as a special model. The top trim on offer for the Acadia is the Denali, a name used for most of GMC’s top models.
The Explorer has a longer pedigree than the Acadia. Ford first introduced this popular midsize SUV in 1991, adding a third row in 2006. The 2022 Explorer is part of the sixth generation of this model. On the other hand, the 2022 GMC Acadia is a relatively new three-row SUV. The Acadia first hit the streets in 2007, with the second generation introduced in 2017. Now, these two models occupy the same market, but which one is the best?
Ford offers the 2022 Explorer with three different engine options, while the 2022 GMC Acadia comes with a choice of two different engines. The standard engine on the Explorer Base, XLT, ST-Line, Timberline, and Limited models is a 2.3-liter EcoBoost Turbo I-4 that has an aluminum block and heads. This direct-injection engine is capable of 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. The 2022 Explorer ST, King Ranch, and Platinum are equipped with a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbocharged V6 gas engine. This features a compacted graphite iron aluminum engine block with aluminum cylinder heads. It utilizes direct fuel injection to deliver up to 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque.
For drivers who want exceptional fuel economy or are concerned about the environmental impact of their midsize SUV, Ford offers the Explorer Limited and Platinum models with a 3.3-liter Hybrid V6 paired with an electric motor. The gas engine on the Hybrid engine uses a combination of direct and port fuel injection and can provide up to 318 horsepower and 322 lb-ft of torque in combination with the electric motor.
For the 2022 Acadia, GMC has decided to discontinue the 2.5-liter I-4 gas engine on its base SLE trim. In its place is a 2.0-liter Turbo I-4 that is also featured on the SLT trim. This cast aluminum engine features direct fuel injection, Active Fuel Management, and automatic stop/start technology. It can produce 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Acadia AT4 and Denali feature a standard 3.6-liter V6 gas engine with variable valve timing. This engine is also available as an option on the Acadia SLT trim. It features a cast aluminum engine block with cast-in-place iron bore liners and cast aluminum cylinder heads. It uses direct, high-pressure fuel injection to provide 310 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. GMC does not offer a hybrid or any other alternative fuel options on the 2022 Acadia.
As you can see, the engines on the 2022 Explorer outperform those of the 2022 Acadia at each level. For example, the base 4-cylinder engine on the Explorer provides more horsepower and torque than the 4-cylinder engine on the Acadia. The same holds for the larger V6 gas engine options. Coupled with the availability of the hybrid, the 2022 Explorer provides better engine options than the 2022 Acadia.
The most fuel-efficient model of the 2022 Explorer is the Limited or Platinum trim with the hybrid engine. This engine will provide an average of 27 miles per gallon combined with rear-wheel drive and 25 miles per gallon combined with Ford’s Intelligent 4-wheel drivetrain. The closest model to these numbers is the 2022 Acadia with the 2.0-liter I-4 engine, which delivers 25 miles per gallon combined with front-wheel drive and 24 miles per gallon with all-wheel drive. The 2022 Explorer with the 2.3-liter Turbo I-4 provides slightly less fuel economy, 24 miles per gallon combined with rear-wheel drive and 23 miles per gallon with Intelligent 4-wheel drive.
The Explorer with the 3.0-liter Turbo V6 and Acadia with the 3.6-liter V6 provide fairly solid fuel-efficiency numbers. The Explorer will give you up to 21 miles per gallon combined, while the Acadia provides 22 miles per gallon combined.
The 2022 Ford Explorer will give you more utility than the 2022 GMC Acadia. This is because the Explorer with the 3.0-liter Turbo V6 can tow up to 5,600 pounds while choosing the base 2.3-liter Turbo I-4 will allow you to tow up to 5,300 pounds. The most the Acadia can tow is only 4,000 pounds when equipped with the available 3.6-liter V6. Choosing the base 2.0-liter I-4 will limit your towing capability on the Acadia to only 3,500 pounds. Even the Explorer hybrid can outperform this with the ability to tow up to 5,000 pounds.
One of the biggest reasons for buying a three-row, midsize SUV is to provide the room to carry all of your family members, as well as some of your friends and even the family pet. The 2022 Ford Explorer and 2022 GMC Acadia provide three rows of space so you and your loved ones can stretch out, especially on long family road trips. However, you are going to find that the Explorer gives you more space than the Acadia and is better configured among those three rows of seats.
When you are driving long distances, your passengers are going to want to stretch out their legs. This is why legroom might be the most important figure when addressing the issue of passenger space. The 2022 Explorer provides more legroom in the first and third row than the 2022 Acadia. The Explorer will give you 43 inches of legroom in the first row and 32.2 inches in the third row, while the Acadia only gives your passengers 41 inches in the front row and 29.7 inches in the third row. Meanwhile, the second-row passengers in the Explorer will get 39 inches of legroom, comparable to the 39.7 inches in the Acadia.
You will see the same thing when you look at headroom, hip room, and shoulder room, with the 2022 Explorer providing more room than the 2022 Acadia. For example, your second-row passengers in the Explorer will get 40.5 inches of headroom compared to only 39.6 inches in the Acadia. Similarly, the Explorer gives you 61.9 inches of shoulder room and 59.1 inches of hip room in the second row, while the Acadia provides only 58.7 inches of shoulder room and 53.3 inches of hip room. As you can see, the interior of the Explorer is more spacious than that of the Acadia.
Many three-row, midsize SUVs represent a compromise when it comes to interior space. Most provide a roomy passenger compartment but are short on space for luggage and other items of cargo. This requires you to fold down at least one row of seats to get a decent amount of cargo space, which in turn defeats the purpose of having three rows of seats. A few other models provide a decent amount of trunk space, but this often comes at the expense of passenger comfort. The 2022 Ford Expedition is one of the few models that truly gets the balance right.
The Ford Expedition has a full 18.2 cubic feet of space in the trunk. This is significantly more than the 12.8 cubic feet in the GMC Acadia. If you fold down the third row of seats on the Expedition, you will increase cargo capacity to 47.9 cubic feet; still a great deal more than the 41.7 cubic feet of cargo space in the Acadia with the third row folded down. By folding down the second row of seats as well, you will be able to access an impressive 87.8 cubic feet of space on the Explorer. This is almost 10 cubic feet more than the 79 cubic feet of space accessible on the GMC Acadia.
Family drivers know the importance of driving a safe vehicle. Automakers understand this, which is why so many have begun to make active driver assistance technology standard on many of their vehicles. With that in mind, Ford and GMC have decided to include these features in their respective three-row, midsize SUV models.
The 2022 Ford Expedition features a vast array of Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies, while the 2022 GMC Acadia comes equipped with a large complement of standard GMC Pro Safety Plus equipment. These standard features read like an almost identical list. For example, both models have a rearview camera with a reverse sensing system that will make back out of a space safer. The system will alert you if it detects a pedestrian or another vehicle about to pass behind your SUV. In addition, each model has automatic high beam headlights. This will automatically turn on when the system detects an area of low light and then turn them off either if lighting conditions improve or if it detects another vehicle.
Staying in your lane is a vital part of driving. On long drives, drivers can get a little drowsy and start to drift out of their lane. This is why both the Explorer and Acadia include a standard lane-keeping system that will alert you that your vehicle is drifting out of the lane and then use slight steering adjustments to get you back in your lane. Similarly, changing lanes on the highway can be difficult, especially in traffic. The standard blind-spot detection system on the 2022 Explorer and 2022 Acadia will alert you when you signal to change lanes if there is another vehicle there to help you avoid a collision.
Collision avoidance is the reason why both of these SUVs feature a standard forward collision warning system with emergency brakes. If the system detects an imminent collision, it will send out an alert and immediately engage the emergency brakes to either avoid a crash or minimize the damages. Both the 2022 Explorer and 2022 Acadia include a pedestrian detection system that works at lower speeds to also use the emergency brakes to avoid striking a pedestrian in your path.
The main difference between these two vehicles is seen in available safety systems. If you want an adaptive cruise control system on your Acadia that will adjust the speed of your vehicle in traffic, you can only get this as an option on the Denali trim. With the Explorer, this comes standard on most models and is an available option on all other trim levels. In addition, the system on the Explorer includes speed sign recognition, which will automatically adjust the speed on your adaptive cruise control to match the speed limit when it changes. Finally, you can also get an evasive steering assistance system on the Explorer that is not available on the Acadia.
If you are looking for a new or used Ford, then Newton Ford South is the place for you. We have a vast inventory of Ford cars, trucks, and SUVs, including the 2022 Ford Explorer. Our friendly sales staff is ready to meet you and introduce you to the great lineup of Ford vehicles. They will be happy to answer all of your questions and take you on as many test drives as you need until you know the exact model and features you want.
At Newton Ford South, we understand that you may need a lease or loan to purchase your next Ford vehicle. This is why our Auto Finance Center will work with you to craft a deal that works for you and is designed to fit your budget perfectly. When it comes time to service your Ford, bring it here so our team of trained technicians can help you with everything from routine maintenance to major repairs. Come to Newton Ford South to see why we should be your Ford dealer and why you should make your next SUV a 2022 Ford Explorer!
*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.
