General Motors is bringing its three-row SUVs into the next generation, giving the 2024 Chevrolet Traverse, 2024 GMC Acadia, and 2025 Buick Enclave major redesigns. For those who aren’t familiar with the GM family of brands, these three offer affordable (Chevy), premium (GMC), and near-luxury (Buick) vehicles. While some models under these brands are completely unique, there are many nameplates that share platforms with different versions tweaked to match the style and luxury level of the brand they fall under. That’s the case with the three SUVs we’ll be taking a look at today.
As you might expect, all of these vehicles are sporting new faces and upgraded interiors. But a whole new generation tends to be more than just a surface-level makeover. So what else is changing, and which brand’s SUV is getting the best end of this deal? Should you be looking for a Buick Enclave for sale? A Chevy Traverse? Or a GMC Acadia? We’re going to take a look under the hood and see how each model is tackling the transition to their third generation.
Performance
Let’s start off by literally looking under the hood, where we’ll find a new engine. All three of these sibling SUVs offer a sole powertrain for their third generation: a 2.5L turbocharged I-4 engine paired with an eight-speed transmission. The powertrain is similar to the TurboMax that is used in General Motors’ capable trucks, so it’s packing some pretty serious power: 328 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. That’s more than the output of the 3.6L V6 that was offered on the trio during the previous generation, which provided 18 fewer horsepower and 60 lb-ft less torque despite having more cylinders. The new powertrain is also more efficient than the old one, bringing the EPA-estimated rating for all three models up to 23 MPG combined with front-wheel drive and 21 MPG combined with all-wheel drive.
For Chevy and Buick, the maximum towing capacity will remain the same at 5,000 lbs. But GMC fans will be getting an upgrade here. The second-generation Acadia could only manage 4,000 lbs with the V6 and 3,500 lbs with its base 2.0L I-4. Now, the Acadia will be able to keep pace with the other General Motors offerings, making it a more competitive three-row offering.
If you want to head off-road, you may not have considered the Traverse before since Chevy didn’t previously offer it in the rugged Z71 trim. Now, you’ll be able to get a variation that sports all-terrain tires, upgraded dampers for a smooth ride on rough ground, and a 1.2-inch factory lift for additional ground clearance. The AT4 trim is GMC’s equivalent, but it was already available in the second-generation Acadia. Unlike its more rugged siblings, the redesigned Buick Enclave remains a strictly on-road affair. Instead of offering a rough-and-tumble option, it’s leaning into its strengths with available Continuous Damping Control to improve the ride for a more comfortable drive.
Size and Style
The Traverse and Enclave remain basically the same size for the new generation. A few inches are shuffled around here and there in the redesign, but nothing drastic. The Acadia is a different story: it’s nearly a foot longer for the new generation and gains some height and width on top of that, nearly doubling the amount of cargo space behind the third row. This essentially brings the Acadia in line with the rest of the pack, so it no longer lags behind as runt of the litter.
While the Acadia may have had the biggest overhaul in terms of size, it’s probably had the subtlest makeover when it comes to style. The third generation is certainly sporting a new face, but the overall vibe is very similar to what it was already rocking: plenty of chrome, a square jaw, and prominent lighting. The exterior of the Traverse is more rugged for the 2024 model year, leaning into the addition of an off-road trim to the lineup with a more squared-off front end and a grille that dominates the face. The Enclave’s exterior gets a complete overhaul, with a front end inspired by Buick’s Wildcat concept that looks sleek and futuristic, with thin slits for headlights and smooth bodywork while also being somewhat imposing. The Enclave is also sporting Buick’s new tri-shield logo, making it the last model to shed the old version of the design.
Amenities
All of these models get significant tech upgrades for the third generation. For one thing, they can all be had with Super Cruise, which was previously unavailable. This feature is General Motors’ most advanced piece of driver assistance technology, allowing for Level 2 hands-free driving on compatible roads. While it has competitors like Ford’s Blue Cruise, it has one big leg up over similar systems: it can be operated while the vehicle is towing a trailer. This makes the feature especially attractive on models like large SUVs, which can do some significant towing, even if they’re not on the same level as the Chevy Silverado or GMC Sierra pickup trucks.
The infotainment interface is also getting an upgrade, which, to no one’s surprise, means bigger screens. During the last model year of their second generation, all three of these SUVs offered eight-inch touchscreens. While this was the base option for the Enclave and Acadia, it was actually an upgrade in the Traverse, which came standard with a seven-inch screen on its entry-level trim. As the tech wars rage on, all of these screens have been supersized and paired with similarly large digital gauge displays.
The Traverse now sports an 11-inch digital instrument cluster and a 17.7-inch horizontally oriented touchscreen. The Acadia also has an 11-inch display for gauges, but interestingly, it has a smaller 15-inch touchscreen that is oriented vertically. The Enclave gets its own unique setup, offering futuristic and luxurious aesthetics alongside extra screen space with a single 30-inch curved screen that serves as both a gauge display and an infotainment touchscreen. Any audio played through the system will also be able to be better appreciated now that the Enclave has received extra sound deadening to keep the cabin quiet, including more absorbent materials and triple-sealed doors.
Who Got the Best Makeover?
It’s genuinely difficult to pick a winner here, and it’s not because the three siblings got identical upgrades. While they all boast the same powertrain and offer available Super Cruise for the first time, they each gained unique benefits for the third-generation makeover. The Traverse is offering an off-road trim now, which has the potential to bring in an entirely new demographic of drivers who hadn’t considered it before. The Buick is getting a unique tech setup that looks much more high-end than the infotainment displays of the Chevy and GMC models. Finally, the Acadia has grown significantly in size, allowing it to carry more cargo and tow more, making it much more competitive in its segment.
Looking at it that way, it does seem like we at least need to award the Acadia for “most improved.” But when it comes to the three overall, each offers a solid upgrade that plays perfectly into its slice of the market. The Chevy’s more rugged capability gives everyday drivers a practical edge, and the Buick’s smoother ride and lusher cabin are sure to impress more luxury-oriented drivers. Each SUV pulled forward while staying nicely in its lane.
