Compare the2018 GMC AcadiaVS 2018 BMW X5 xDrive40e

The Acadia Denali’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The X5 xDrive40e doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the GMC Acadia’s middle seat shoulder belts have child comfort guides to move the belt to properly fit children. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages children to buckle up. The BMW X5 xDrive40e doesn’t offer height adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Acadia are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X5 xDrive40e doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Acadia has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The X5 xDrive40e doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

To help make backing safer, the Acadia (except SL)’s optional cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The X5 xDrive40e doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Acadia and the X5 xDrive40e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all-wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Acadia the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 148 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X5 xDrive40e has not been tested, yet.

GMC’s powertrain warranty covers the Acadia 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X5 xDrive40e. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X5 xDrive40e ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 5 times as many GMC dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Acadia’s warranty.

As tested in Car and Driver the GMC Acadia V6 is faster than the BMW X5 xDrive40e:

The Acadia has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The X5 xDrive40e doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The GMC Acadia’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The BMW X5 xDrive40e only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Acadia has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The X5 xDrive40e doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Acadia SLE/SLT/Denali has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the X5 xDrive40e; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Acadia Denali AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the X5 xDrive40e 4dr Sport Utility pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Acadia’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the X5 xDrive40e’s (38.7 feet vs. 41.7 feet).

The GMC Acadia may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 850 to 1250 pounds less than the BMW X5 xDrive40e.

The front grille of the Acadia FWD 4 cyl. uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The X5 xDrive40e doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Acadia uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The X5 xDrive40e doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Acadia has standard seating for 7 passengers; the X5 xDrive40e can only carry 5.

The Acadia has 38.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X5 xDrive40e (143.8 vs. 105.2).

The Acadia has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 3.1 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the X5 xDrive40e.

The Acadia’s cargo area provides more volume than the X5 xDrive40e.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Acadia’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The X5 xDrive40e doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Acadia’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5 xDrive40e’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Acadia Denali’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The X5 xDrive40e doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its tailgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Acadia SLT/Denali has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X5 xDrive40e doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Acadia is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The X5 xDrive40e doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Acadia owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Acadia will cost $1090 to $2990 less than the X5 xDrive40e over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the GMC Acadia will be $14115 to $24625 less than for the BMW X5 xDrive40e.