The GMC Acadia does 21.3 mpg combined (18.6 city, 25.4 highway), which works out to about $1,803 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl does 24.8 mpg while 3.6L 6-cyl does 20 — a difference of $372 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every GMC Acadia engine, compared
Gas mileage on the GMC Acadia ranges from 24.8 down to 20 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $372 a year across 3 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl | 21.8 / 28.8 | 2020–2023 | $1,548 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 20.5 / 26 | 2017–2026 | $1,684 | |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 17.1 / 24.5 | 2007–2023 | $1,920 |
What that actually costs
The GMC Acadia burns a gallon every 21.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 563 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.150 |
| Fuel per year | $1,803 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,015 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$127 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,957 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The GMC Acadia gives up 6.8 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 25.4 out there against 18.6 in town, a 37% drop worth $553 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 18.6 mpg | $2,065 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 25.4 mpg | $1,512 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.8 mpg (37%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Acadia changed over the years
The Acadia peaked in 2023 at 23.5 mpg (20.5 city, 28 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2016 at 18 — 5.5 mpg apart, or $499 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 22. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2025 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2024 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2023 | 20.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,634 | |
| 2022 | 20.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,634 | |
| 2021 | 20.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,634 | |
| 2020 | 20 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2019 | 19.5 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2018 | 19.5 / 25 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2017 | 19.5 / 25 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2016 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2015 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2014 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2013 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2012 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2011 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2010 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2009 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2008 | 16 / 24 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2007 | 16 / 24 | 1 | $2,021 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 27 EPA ratings of the GMC Acadia — 3 engines across 2007–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,957. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the GMC Acadia get?
21.3 mpg combined on average — 18.6 in the city and 25.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2007–2026.
How much does a GMC Acadia cost in fuel per year?
About $1,803 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,015 over five years, or 0.150 dollars a mile.
Which Acadia engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 24.8 mpg, against 20 for the 3.6L 6-cyl — a difference of about $372 a year.
Is the Acadia good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Acadia figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the GMC Acadia is $2,957 against the $1,803 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 25 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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