With mainstream brands cranking up their upmarket value, the line between mainstream and premium has never been this blurred. Hyundai now sells an IONIQ 9 Calligraphy that’s knocking at the door of Cadillac Vistiq territory, while Mazda’s Signature line of models could very well wear an Audi badge from how well put together and premium everything feels inside.
This trend is spreading like wildfire in the auto industry as automakers constantly try to cram more content into their cars in an effort to crank up the price. At the same time, consumers consistently expect more value from their new car. So, GMC basically went ahead and gave its midsize Acadia just that: more of everything in the form of the all-new, 2026 Denali Ultimate trim level. It’s officially a baby GMC Yukon now.
To provide the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, this article uses data sourced from the manufacturer, as well as our expert’s personal experience.
Ultimate Means “Vader” Chrome And Basically More Of Everything
So, just like the Yukon Denali Ultimate, what you’re basically getting from this package is luxury, but cranked up to 11. The Denali trims at GMC are already quite fancy, but, I guess, consumers weren’t satisfied with them and kept asking for more? From GMC’s own Jaclyn McQuaid, the global vice-president of Buick and GMC:
Denali Ultimate represents the pinnacle of premium expression for the GMC brand, delivering an innovative mixture of stunning craftsmanship with real-world capability. Expanding Denali Ultimate’s innovative technologies and exclusive design elements to the Acadia nameplate allows us to further differentiate our mid-size offering in a highly competitive segment.
So, what exactly are we talking about here? For starters, the Acadia Denali Ultimate comes with what GMC calls a “signature Vader Chrome grille and GMC logo”. There are also LED daytime running lamps with an animated lighting sequence that’s unique to the Denali Ultimate. The SUV also wears a set of model-exclusive 22-inch wheels with what GMC calls an After Midnight Metallic finish.
The exterior is actually not where a Denali Ultimate makes its biggest statement, but rather inside, where the cabin gets a full-on high-caliber treatment that could easily be mistaken for a Cadillac. The seats are the obvious standout feature here, as they’re covered in a fancy and rather good-looking Woodland Mahogany leather with plaited stitching. They look thick, welcoming and very comfortable.
The front seats also come with massaging, heated and ventilated features, and the seat backs themselves have topographical maps on them. Kind of neat! The Ultimate’s dashboard, center console and door cards are also tapered in Paldao wood, which contrasts beautifully with the seats. Here’s a quick list of all the additional standard stuff you’ll get from an Acadia Denali Ultimate, directly taken from GMC’s own press release:
- A Bose 16-speaker Performance Series sound system
- Super Cruise capability
- A panoramic sunroof
- 9 camera views including smart technologies like GM’s High-Definition Surround Vision and a rear camera mirror
- Configurable 8-inch diagonal head-up display
- GM’s AutoSense power liftgate, which opens simply after standing in front of it for a few seconds.
- A performance suspension, which, according to GM, “provides exceptional ride and handling balance, and helps isolate sharp road impacts”.
The GMC Acadia Is An Underrated Midsize SUV
The GMC Acadia is an interesting three-row, midsize SUV that’s too often forgotten. The latest model is actually quite great, as I personally witnessed last year during its launch event. It looks like a baby GMC Yukon, comes in a surprisingly capable AT4 trim level, and it’s actually supremely well-put-together, smooth, comfortable, spacious and rather good-looking inside.
Perhaps my only gripe with the new Acadia is that its once great and smooth 3.6-liter V-6 is now a thing of the past. But while the new turbocharged, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine feels a bit rough by comparison, it’s actually pretty punchy, with 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque on tap, which is actually better than the outgoing V-6. The Acadia can also tow up to 5,000 pounds, which is competitive in this segment.
2026 GMC Acadia Technical Specifications
|
Engine |
Turbocharged 2.5L Inline Four-Cylinder |
|
Transmission |
8-Speed Automatic |
|
Driveline |
AWD |
|
Horsepower |
328 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
|
Torque |
326 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm |
|
Maximum Towing Rating |
5,000 lb |
TopSpeed’s Take
I personally find this Denali Ultimate to be a bit much, especially considering it’s mostly aimed at middle-class families looking for a sensible family shuttle at a decent price point. And you can be certain that it won’t be cheap. But I’m sure it’ll at least grab the attention of some buyers looking for more content from their Acadia. Full pricing for this new trim level will be announced around the end of this year, at which point the vehicle should hit U.S. and Canadian dealers. GM says the 2026 GMC Acadia will continue to be built at GM’s Lansing Delta assembly plant in Michigan.
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