The new 2020 GMC Acadia AT4 edition puts the emphasis on off-roadability.

GMC has lifted the covers on an update of its popular Acadia SUV, and it offers more changes than you’d typically expect from a mid-cycle refresh.

The 2020 GMC Acadia opts for a more classic, ute-like face, with a more boxy, upright grille framed by now-standard LED headlamps and C-shaped LED running lights. The front and rear fascia also get new treatments.

The 2020 refresh sees some all new features added to the midsize ute, including a new turbo engine. But one of the more significant moves comes with the addition of the new Acadia AT4. Something of a counterpoint to the upscale Acadia Denali, the AT4 model puts the emphasis on serious off-road capabilities.

“The 2020 Acadia is stylish, functional and capable with more of the smart convenience and connectivity features that customers rely on every day,” said Duncan Aldred, GMC vice president.

(For a first look at the new GMC Sierra HD, Click Here.)

The more familiar Acadia Denali is the most plushly equipped version of the midsize SUV.

The mid-cycle update appears to be aimed at further separating the Acadia from its Chevrolet twin, a strategy we’ve begun seeing across the GMC line-up as it pushes to give real meaning to the “Professional Grade” tagline.

The addition of the Acadia AT4 should help better differentiate the brands. Like the Denali, it comes with a reasonably high level of standard features, but the emphasis is on off-road capabilities. Visually, that includes a black chrome-accented grille and other details. The AT4 features a standard 3.6-liter V-6 making 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque sending power to all four wheels through a twin-clutch AWD drive system unique to the new model.

That V-6 is paired with a new, nine-speed automatic, as are the two other powertrains offered on the 2020 Acadia. That includes the familiar, 2.5-liter Inline-four, as well as a new 2.0-liter turbo-four that comes standard in SLT and Denali models.

(How did GMC fare in the latest JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study? Click Here to find out.)

The 2020 GMC Acadia Denali interior.

“It leverages GM’s innovative tripower valvetrain technology to vary valve lift across the rpm band, optimizing performance for varied driving demands,” says the General Motors truck brand, noting that the technology can deliver high valve lift when there’s a demand for maximum power, and low-lift to otherwise balance performance and mileage. When power demands are light, meanwhile, two of the four cylinders are deactivated to further improve fuel efficiency.

The 2020 GMC Acadia adds a number of new tech features, including the ability to customize the infotainment system. Up to four motorists can pre-set navigation settings, as well as audio and climate preferences, and the settings can later be transferred to other vehicles with similar capabilities. The Acadia’s new Connected Navigation system, meanwhile, constantly updates so you never find yourself trying to figure out how to maneuver around updated roadways.

The new 2020 GMC Acadia will continue to be produced at the automaker’s Spring Hill, Tennessee assembly plant and go on sale next autumn. Pricing has not yet been announced.

(Click Here for a first look: 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD.)