Compare the2023 GMC AcadiaVS 2023 BMW X3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the GMC Acadia are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X3 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 X3 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 X3 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Acadia and the X3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the GMC Acadia is safer than the BMW X3:

	Acadia	X3
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	21%
Neck Stress	191 lbs.	202 lbs.
Neck Compression	29 lbs.	64 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the GMC Acadia is safer than the BMW X3:

	Acadia	X3
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	243 lbs.	275 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	43 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

GMC’s powertrain warranty covers the Acadia 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 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.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC above average in initial quality. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

Engine

The Acadia’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 62 more horsepower (310 vs. 248) and 13 lbs.-ft. more torque (271 vs. 258) than the X3 s/xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Acadia 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder AWD gets better fuel mileage than the X3 M40i (22 city/27 hwy vs. 21 city/26 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Acadia’s fuel efficiency. The X3 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Acadia uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The X3 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Acadia FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 (19.4 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Acadia AWD’s standard fuel tank has 4.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 (21.7 vs. 17.2 gallons).

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 X3 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the GMC Acadia higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the BMW X3 (5 to 7). This means the Acadia produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X3 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the GMC Acadia, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the X3.

Brakes and Stopping

The Acadia stops shorter than the X3:

	Acadia	X3
60 to 0 MPH	126 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Acadia AT4’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X3 (255/65R17 vs. 245/45R20).

The GMC Acadia’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The BMW X3 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 X3 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Acadia SLT AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the X3 xDrive30i pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Acadia SLT AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the X3 xDrive30i (26.9 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Acadia’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the X3’s (38.7 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

Chassis

The Acadia uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The X3 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Acadia offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the X3 can only carry 5.

The Acadia has 42.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X3 (143.8 vs. 101.4).

The Acadia has .7 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 3.3 inches more rear legroom and 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3.

Cargo Capacity

The Acadia’s cargo area provides more volume than the X3.

	Acadia	X3
Third Seat Folded	41.7 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	28.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	79 cubic feet	62.7 cubic feet

The Acadia’s cargo area is larger than the X3’s in almost every dimension:

	Acadia	X3
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	18.5”/48”/83”	n.a./36.5”/69”
Max Width	50”	47”
Min Width	42.5”	43.3”
Height	33”	30.1”

Ergonomics

The Acadia (except SLE)’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Acadia’s available exterior PIN entry system. The X3 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its BMW Assist eCall can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Acadia has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X3 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Acadia offers an optional 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 X3 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Acadia owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Acadia will cost $990 less than the X3 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Acadia is less expensive to operate than the X3 because it costs $36 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Acadia than the X3, including $408 less for a water pump, $579 less for a muffler, $363 less for a starter, $242 less for fuel injection, $83 less for a fuel pump, $339 less for front struts and $405 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the GMC Acadia will be $8736 to $11232 less than for the BMW X3.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the GMC Acadia and the BMW X3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The GMC Acadia outsold the BMW X3 by 21% during 2020.

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