2027 Buick Enclave vs GMC Acadia: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Enclave — it leads our weighted scorecard 2.5–2 across 7 categories, winning on fewer NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (0.37 vs 0.81) and fewer recalls on the 2023–2025 model years (0 vs 4). Choose the Acadia if the lower sticker matters most ($43,700 vs $46,900 to start).
Scorecard: Enclave 2.5 pts · Acadia 2 pts across 7 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 Enclave | 2027 Acadia | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $46,900 | $43,700 | Acadia |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | 0.37 | 0.81 | Enclave |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 39.8% | 40.8% | Tie |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | Tie |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 328 hp | 328 hp | Tie |
| Max towing (1) | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb | Tie |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | — | 6.4% off MSRP | No data |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 0 | 4 | Enclave |
| Weighted points | 2.5 | 2 | Enclave |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: it's a wash — Enclave 22 mpg vs Acadia 22 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the Enclave — 0.37 vs 0.81 (NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Acadia — $43,700 vs $46,900 (starting MSRP). Used, the median asking price is $26,527 for the Enclave vs $22,099 for the Acadia.
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: it's a wash — Enclave 39.8% vs Acadia 40.8% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: it's a wash — Enclave 5,000 lb vs Acadia 5,000 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Enclave starts at $46,900 and tops out at $63,300; the Acadia runs $43,700 to $62,900 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified Acadia buyers paid a median 6.4% off MSRP across 21 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 8.3% off. Used, the median asking price is $26,527 for the Enclave and $22,099 for the Acadia (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Enclave: 0.37 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 75th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Acadia: 0.81 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 29th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: Enclave 0, Acadia 4.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Enclave 2016 (solid) · Acadia 2016 (solid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2027 Enclave | 2027 Acadia | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $46,900 | $43,700 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $63,300 | $62,900 |
| Horsepower | 328 hp | 328 hp |
| Max torque | 326 lb-ft | 326 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 21–22 mpg | 21–22 mpg |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | — / 7 | — / 8 |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) Enclave lists for a median $22,813 — 39.8% of today's median new price of $57,254. A 5-year-old (2021) Acadia lists for a median $21,999 — 40.8% of today's median new price of $53,859.
Shop both
- See 8,258 new 2027 Buick Enclaves for sale →Median listed price $54,931 · updated Nov 7, 2026
- See 12,488 new 2027 GMC Acadias for sale →Median listed price $55,687 · updated Nov 7, 2026
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Buick Enclave
More on the GMC Acadia
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Enclave better than the Acadia?
On our data, yes. Our pick: the Enclave — it leads our weighted scorecard 2.5–2 across 7 categories, winning on fewer NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (0.37 vs 0.81) and fewer recalls on the 2023–2025 model years (0 vs 4). Choose the Acadia if the lower sticker matters most ($43,700 vs $46,900 to start).
Which is more reliable, the Enclave or the Acadia?
On federal data, the Enclave: owners filed 0.37 NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold versus 0.81 for the Acadia (2015–2022 sales years). That's complaint volume, not a survey score. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 Enclave and 4 for the Acadia.
Which holds its value better, the Enclave or the Acadia?
About the same — 39.8% vs 40.8% retained after five years (within 2 points).
Which is cheaper, the Enclave or the Acadia?
The Acadia starts lower: $43,700 vs $46,900 starting MSRP (before destination).
Which has better gas mileage, the Enclave or the Acadia?
It's a wash: 22 mpg vs 22 mpg best EPA combined.
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2027 Buick Enclave vs GMC Acadia: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/buick-enclave-vs-gmc-acadia, updated November 8, 2026.