2026 GMC Acadia Denali Ultimate Reaches Peak Luxe
The Acadia Denali Ultimate's standout additions include massaging leather seats, Paldao wood interior accents, an upgraded Bose sound system, performance suspension, and a panoramic sunroof.
The Denali Ultimate will be the top trim in the Acadia lineup and is expected to go on sale at the end of 2025; pricing information isn't yet available.
It takes a lot for a mid-size SUV to stand out these days. After its refresh in 2024, the GMC Acadia boasts larger proportions and sharper looks, but it still lacks a distinguishing trait to elevate it above the segment's midpack. The fact that it shares its mechanical foundation with the less expensive Chevrolet Traverse and the swankier Buick Enclave doesn't help its case, either. In an effort to up its appeal, GMC has announced a new top-tier Denali Ultimate trim that will max out the Acadia's luxury quotient, likely at a steep price.
While upscale Denali trims are available for most GMC vehicles, the Denali Ultimate moniker is currently only used on range-topping versions of the Yukon, Sierra 1500, and Sierra HD. To justify the title and hefty price premium, those models feature unique exterior styling accents, fancier interior adornments, and mostly checked-off option sheets.
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GMC
The new Acadia Denali Ultimate follows the same recipe. On the outside, a black chrome grille, special badging, LED daytime running lights, and 22-inch aluminum wheels finished in an After Midnight Metallic hue distinguish the Denali Ultimate from lesser Acadia trims.
A Wealth of Luxury Details on the Inside
The luxury focus is much more evident inside, where heated, ventilated, and massaging seats wrapped in rich Woodland Mahogany leather await the driver and front-seat passenger. Paldao wood trim with laser-etched detailing on the door panels, center console, and dashboard gives the cabin an elevated rustic vibe. Other interior flourishes include model-specific floor mats and topographical maps embossed into the front seat backs.
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GMC
The Acadia Denali Ultimate also adds a host of desirable standard features. The list includes a 16-speaker Bose Performance Series sound system, a configurable 8-inch head-up display, a nine-camera surround-view system, and a panoramic sunroof. A performance suspension setup and a three-year subscription to GM's Super Cruise Level 2 hands-free driving system are also included.
GMC hasn't released pricing information for the 2026 Acadia lineup yet, but it's fair to assume that the Denali Ultimate will command a sizable price premium over the standard Denali trim.
Austin Parsons
Associate Editor
Austin's car fixation began at a young age and at 1:64 scale. Eventually, Hot Wheels weren't cutting it anymore, so he developed an obsession with his father's full-sized 1965 Ford Mustang instead. Desperate to break into the automotive industry, he bartered his way into a job at a local BMW dealership by promising to stop hurling nerdy technical facts at the salesmen who came into the neighboring coffee shop where he worked. That was also around the time when he started writing automotive reviews, news articles, and technical guides for a number of local and international publications. Now at Car and Driver, Austin brings more than 10 years of experience in the automotive industry and an all-so-common love-hate relationship with German engineering to the table. Read full bio
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