Compare the2022 BMW X7VS 2022 GMC Acadia

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The BMW X7 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Acadia doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The X7 has standard Post-Crash Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Acadia doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the X7. But it costs extra on the Acadia.

The X7’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Acadia doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the X7 and the Acadia 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The BMW X7 weighs 872 to 1705 pounds more than the GMC Acadia. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The X7 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Acadia’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The X7’s corrosion warranty is 6 years and unlimited miles longer than the Acadia’s (12/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X7 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. GMC only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Acadia.

Reliability

The battery on the X7 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the X7’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Acadia’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X7 first among large premium suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Acadia isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 4 places higher in reliability than GMC.

Engine

The X7 has more powerful engines than the Acadia:

	Horsepower	Torque
X7 xDrive40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	335 HP	331 lbs.-ft.
X7 M50i 4.4 turbo V8	523 HP	553 lbs.-ft.
Alpina XB7 4.4 turbo V8	612 HP	590 lbs.-ft.
Acadia 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	228 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
Acadia 3.6 DOHC V6	310 HP	271 lbs.-ft.

Fuel Economy and Range

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the X7’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. GMC only offers a regenerative brake system on the Acadia 2.0 Turbo.

The X7 has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Acadia FWD’s standard fuel tank (21.9 vs. 19.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The X7’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Acadia doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X7’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Acadia:

	X7 xDrive40i	X7 M Sport	Acadia
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	15.6 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	14.6 inches	12.4 inches

The X7 stops much shorter than the Acadia:

	X7	Acadia
70 to 0 MPH	169 feet	173 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X7 has larger standard tires than the Acadia (F:275/40R22 & R:315/35R22 vs. 235/65R18). The Alpina XB7’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Acadia (F:285/35R23 & R:325/30R23 vs. 255/65R17).

The X7’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Acadia SLE/SLT’s standard 65 series tires. The Alpina XB7’s optional 285/35R23 front and 325/30R23 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Acadia’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Acadia AT4. The Alpina XB7’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Acadia.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X7 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Acadia doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The X7 Alpina has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Acadia doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the X7 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Acadia, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Alpina XB7 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. GMC doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Acadia.

The X7 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The X7’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Acadia doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X7’s wheelbase is 9.7 inches longer than on the Acadia (122.2 inches vs. 112.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X7 is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Acadia.

The X7’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49.4% to 50.6%) than the Acadia’s (56.5% to 43.5%). This gives the X7 more stable handling and braking.

The X7 xDrive40i handles at .86 G’s, while the Acadia SLT AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X7 xDrive40i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Acadia SLT AWD (26.3 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X7 has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Acadia (8.7 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the X7 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The X7’s minimum ground clearance is .9 inch higher than on the Acadia All Terrain (8.7 vs. 7.8 inches).

Passenger Space

The X7 has 1.9 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom and 3.6 inches more third row legroom than the Acadia.

Cargo Capacity

The X7’s cargo area provides more volume than the Acadia.

	X7	Acadia
Third Seat Folded	48.6 cubic feet	41.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	90.4 cubic feet	79 cubic feet

Both the X7 and the Acadia have standard second row automatic folding seats. The X7’s third row seats also fold up or down at the press of a button. The Acadia doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the X7. The Acadia doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The X7’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Acadia’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Towing

The X7’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Acadia’s (5950 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Acadia is only 4000 pounds. The X7 offers up to a 7500 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the X7 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Acadia. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than GMC. J.D. Power ranks BMW 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 10% lower rating, GMC is ranked 15th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Acadia (except SLE), the X7 offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The X7’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Acadia, and is not available on all models.

The X7’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Acadia’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes automatically.

If the windows are left open on the X7 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Acadia can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The X7 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Acadia doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The X7’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Acadia’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the X7 has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Acadia doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The X7 has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. GMC doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Acadia.

The X7 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Acadia.

The X7 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Acadia.

The X7’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Acadia doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW X7 and the GMC Acadia, based on reliability, safety and performance.