How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2024 GMC Acadia?
The verdict: GMC redesigned its Acadia three-row SUV for the 2024 model year with more room and a new powertrain lineup. For this Car Seat Check, we tested the top Denali trim with seats for seven and found a lot to like about its second row, but we struggled with the third row’s fixed head restraints.
Does it fit three car seats? No; the model we tested had second-row captain’s chairs.
Take a look at how the Latch system and each car seat scored below in our Car Seat Check of the 2024 GMC Acadia.
Related: Search Car Seat Checks
Latch: Grade A
In the second row, the two sets of lower anchors are exposed for easy connection. Two top tether anchors sit on the seatback and are clearly marked and easy to use.
Infant Seat: Grade A
This seat was easy to install, and the 5-foot-6-inch front passenger had plenty of legroom in front of it.
Rear-Facing Convertible: Grade A
Again, this seat went in easily and did not impact our front passenger’s legroom.
Forward-Facing Convertible: Grade A
After raising the head restraint to situate the convertible flush against the seatback, it fit well. We had no problems connecting to the lower anchors or top tether anchor.
Booster: Grade A
The booster fit well once we raised the head restraint. The Acadia Denali’s buckles sit on tall, solid stalks, so they should be easy for kids to grasp and use independently.
Third-Row Access: Grade A
In the Denali, the second-row seats lift and slide forward with the touch of a button, opening up a large passway to the third row. There’s also a space between the captain’s chairs that allows access to the third row.
Third-Row Forward-Facing Convertible: Grade C
Since there are no lower anchors in the third row, we installed this car seat with a seatbelt and had no trouble accessing and connecting to the top tether anchor on the seatback. We installed the convertible in the middle seat, however, because that’s the only seat with an adjustable head restraint. The outboard seats have fixed head restraints that push the convertible off of the seatback. The middle seat’s buckle setup is problematic, though; it’s in two pieces and blocks the driver’s view when in use since it’s mounted to the ceiling.
Third-Row Booster: Grade C
Here again, the third row’s fixed head restraints caused issues since the booster didn’t sit flush against the seatback. Also, the third row’s floppy buckles will likely be tough for kids to grasp and use on their own.
Grading Scale
A: Plenty of room for the car seat and the child; doesn’t impact driver or front-passenger legroom. Easy to find and connect to Latch and tether anchors. No fit issues involving head restraint or seat contouring. Easy access to the third row.
B: One room, fit or connection issue. Some problems accessing the third row when available.
C: Marginal room plus one fit or connection issue. Difficult to access the third row when available.
D: Insufficient room, plus multiple fit or connection issues.
F: Does not fit or is unsafe.
About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks
Editors Jennifer Geiger and Jennifer Newman are certified child safety seat installation technicians.
For the Car Seat Check, we use a Chicco KeyFit 30 infant-safety seat, a Graco Contender 65 convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.
We also install the forward-facing convertible in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit; a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. Learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks.
Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat, and that Latch anchors have a weight limit of 65 pounds, including the weight of the child and the weight of the seat itself.
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