Acadia SLE is the new entry-level model. It features the turbocharged 2.0-liter motor.
GMC made some minor changes to the trim levels and equipment of the 2022 Acadia. GMC’s website states that the Acadia SL entry-level model is no longer available. Acadia buyers now have the option of the SLE model as their starting point. It is, however, significantly more expensive. The cheapest Acadia starts at $30,100. Now, it costs $34,800. This is before $1195 in destination fees.
This is a $4,700 increase in base price for 2022. However, it’s also an upgrade to a trim level. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine has been removed, and buyers will only have the turbocharged 2.0 liter mill to choose from for the SLE. It’s now available with front-wheel drive. Previously, you had to go all the way to Acadia SLT to get the turbo-four to turn only the front wheels. The 2.0-liter engine has more horsepower (228 vs 193) and a lower combined EPA rating of 24 mpg.
The SLE can’t be compared year over year because the turbo 2.0 wasn’t available before. However, comparing the SLE 2.0 with the 2.5 prior to 2022, we see that the SLE costs $900 more. This is a small price increase considering the power boost and it’s not an impressive jump. Curiously, GMC advises potential buyers who are interested in the 2022 Acadia Denali to contact their local GMC dealership to get pricing.
GMC’s Acadia is the second-best-selling SUV, behind the Terrain. However, Acadia sales suffered a significant drop in 2020. This was a 27% year-over-year decrease. While the COVID-19 pandemic was certainly a factor, Acadia sales suffered the largest drop in GMC’s lineup except for the Savana full-size van. Although we don’t have Acadia sales breakdowns by trim level, such entry-level models are often used as price-point bragging points for automakers and attract very few buyers. This is not the first time such base trims have been removed from a model line-up.