Find the depreciation rate of your GMC Acadia in the graph below.
Whenever you buy a vehicle, it begins to depreciate or lose value as soon as you finalize your purchase and drive off the seller’s lot. The same is true for the GMC Acadia, as an Acadia will depreciate quickly after its initial purchase and then continue to depreciate more slowly until it’s been owned for five years. For example, the depreciation rate for an Acadia jumps from 0.0% to 15.7% in the first 12 months of ownership, while it only increases from 60.8% to 62.7% between the fifth and sixth years of ownership.
It’s important to note that different makes and models depreciate at varying rates. When you know how much your specific vehicle may depreciate, it can guide your budget by allowing you to prepare for the long-term value it can provide you and the total cost you might encounter throughout your ownership.
Keep in mind that just because the vehicle costs the least to own in the sweet spot we have outlined here, you still may not want to own the vehicle during these depreciation sweet spot years. Although vehicles depreciate less as they get older, they have more repairs. Duh right? However, keep in mind that repairs don’t just cost you money, they cost you time. Reliability is the difference between being able to make it to your destination on time or missing an opportunity because the car broke down.
Check out our article on the best and worst years of the GMC Acadia to see our reliability ratings for all years of the Acadia between 2001-2022. We also cover MPG, safety ratings, and a number of other factors. We pulled data from Acadias registered in our app and surveyed owners to get you data-backed answers on just how good or bad each year of the Acadia is.
If you want to know the depreciation and maintenance costs for your particular vehicle, use our free “Total Cost of Ownership” tool available in the FIXD App – Android or IOS.
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GMC Acadia Depreciation
| Model Years | Mileage | Amount Depreciated | Residual Value Percentage | Resale Value |
| 2001 | 264,000 | $ 22,215.39 | 5.5% | $1,281 |
| 2002 | 252,000 | $ 22,460.84 | 6.1% | $1,453 |
| 2003 | 240,000 | $ 22,681.00 | 7.1% | $1,735 |
| 2004 | 228,000 | $ 22,782.96 | 7.7% | $1,904 |
| 2005 | 216,000 | $ 23,984.65 | 7.1% | $1,835 |
| 2006 | 204,000 | $ 24,218.38 | 8.3% | $2,180 |
| 2007 | 192,000 | $ 36,886.48 | 3.4% | $1,310 |
| 2008 | 180,000 | $ 37,968.84 | 3.8% | $1,491 |
| 2009 | 168,000 | $ 39,967.50 | 4.6% | $1,906 |
| 2010 | 156,000 | $ 42,149.46 | 4.9% | $2,195 |
| 2011 | 144,000 | $ 40,414.96 | 6.6% | $2,843 |
| 2012 | 132,000 | $ 40,525.86 | 7.0% | $3,071 |
| 2013 | 120,000 | $ 35,305.81 | 15.1% | $6,288 |
| 2014 | 108,000 | $ 34,650.02 | 17.1% | $7,151 |
| 2015 | 96,000 | $ 31,504.93 | 23.4% | $9,616 |
| 2016 | 84,000 | $ 30,195.54 | 26.9% | $11,105 |
| 2017 | 72,000 | $ 25,346.96 | 37.3% | $15,087 |
| 2018 | 60,000 | $ 24,108.84 | 39.2% | $15,528 |
| 2019 | 48,000 | $ 19,118.17 | 51.9% | $20,662 |
| 2020 | 36,000 | $ 17,332.95 | 58.9% | $24,889 |
| 2021 | 24,000 | $ 13,221.76 | 66.9% | $26,671 |
| 2022 | 12,000 | $ 5,844.16 | 84.3% | $31,325 |
| 2023 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2024 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
The chart above conveys the approximate depreciation for a GMC Acadia. It is based on Kelley Blue Book data since 2001, assuming a vehicle in the base trim level, standard features and configuration, a generic color such as black or white, and a mileage of 12,000 per year.
Keep in mind that the auto market was heavily affected in 2020 and beyond. Automakers selling new cars during the COVID pandemic raised prices which caused a spike in demand in the used car market as people tried to save money. Many automakers, however, did not drop prices after the pandemic, they kept them so they could make a larger profit.
This is why the most recent years of many vehicles have seemingly experienced less depreciation. Some, such as 2017, may have even appreciated due to the heightened levels of inflation created.
Factors That Impact the GMC Acadia Depreciation Rate
GMC vehicles are known for being dependable and maintaining their value and function well into their ownership. However, some trims and model years of the Acadia have been known to depreciate more quickly than other midsize SUVs, often due to expensive maintenance costs. Multiple factors can affect a vehicle’s depreciation rate, however, so it’s helpful to keep this in mind. Here are just a few factors that can impact the GMC Acadia’s depreciation rate.
Age
Two of the main factors that help determine a car’s depreciation rate are its age and model year. The age refers to how much time has passed since the car’s initial purchase, and the model year refers to the date after the car’s first release on the market. Since vehicles depreciate at a quicker rate within their first 12 months of ownership than at any other time, many brand-new vehicles have steep depreciation rates. In contrast, a car that’s a few years old but has only had one owner may hold its value well.
However, it’s also important to consider that cars that have had multiple owners over their lifetimes can depreciate more quickly than those that have only been owned once or twice. This is because more owners typically mean more driving time, which can lead to higher levels of general wear and more instances of accidents that call for costly repairs. Both of these circumstances can cause a vehicle to depreciate more rapidly.
The one exception to this rule is with classic cars, as they often maintain high value after a certain point. This is because classic cars won’t see new models released, which allows demand to stay high many years after their introduction to the market.
Body Type
Another contributing factor to a vehicle’s depreciation rate is its body type. The body type refers to the classification of a vehicle based on its size, shape, and configuration. Some of the most common body types are pickup trucks, sports cars, hatchbacks, station wagons, SUVs, and sedans. The GMC Acadia falls into the body type of midsize SUV, which holds its value more effectively than others.
The body type can affect the resale price of a car because different configurations maintain their longevity better. For example, SUVs and pickup trucks are known to hold their value well due to being rugged and resilient against inclement weather. In contrast, smaller body types such as coupes and sedans often have a harder time maintaining their worth since they’re less resilient against tough weather conditions and long driving lives.
Mileage
A car’s mileage is the number of miles it’s traveled throughout its ownership, as shown on the odometer. Since the average mileage for a vehicle is typically considered to be around 12,000 miles per year, this is what we base our data on. When a car is driven more than 12,000 to 15,000 miles annually, it’s said to have high mileage. This means that it’ll depreciate more quickly than similar models with lower mileage, as more miles on a car can indicate a greater need for advanced repairs as it continues to be used.
If you want to preserve the longevity of your GMC Acadia, consider driving it less frequently. This can help to keep the mileage down so that it maintains a good resale value should you ever need to sell it in the future.
Overall Condition
While any vehicle requires routine maintenance to ensure it remains in great working shape, the condition of an automobile can impact its resale value. This is because vehicles that undergo frequent repairs, whether it’s due to collisions or other types of accidental damage, typically depreciate rapidly since they often need even more repairs after being re-sold.
If you regularly take your GMC Acadia in for regular maintenance, such as oil changes and tire rotations, you may have a better chance of preserving its value. However, if you reach a point where repairing your Acadia will end up costing more than buying a new vehicle, it may be time to think about a trade-in or resale instead of committing to repairs.
Color
A car’s color can also impact its depreciation, as cars of certain colors often depreciate more slowly than others. For example, a recent study shows that yellow cars have the overall slowest rate of depreciation when comparing paint options. This is largely due to the high demand, as yellow is a less popular color to choose when buying a brand-new model. Other colors that maintain their value effectively are beige, orange, red, and green.
In terms of colors that depreciate the fastest, you should stay away from used models that are gold, brown, black, or silver. These colors seem to depreciate much more rapidly than other colors, as neutral tones like these are typically in low demand on the market.
Other Costs of GMC Acadia Ownership
A car’s depreciation rate is just one aspect of the total cost of ownership you’ll encounter throughout the time when you own it. Here are a few other costs that can impact your total cost of ownership for a GMC Acadia.
Insurance
When budgeting for auto insurance, it’s helpful to remember that some vehicles cost more to insure than others. For instance, a higher trim level with a variety of advanced safety features will be less expensive to insure than a similar vehicle of a lower trim. This is because the addition of extra safety features can reduce the risk that a car poses to an insurance company.
For the GMC Acadia, the annual cost of full-coverage insurance is around $1,636. This is lower than the average cost of full-coverage insurance in the U.S., which sits at around $2,000.
Maintenance
Maintenance is another cost of ownership that you’ll have to plan for continuously. Since all cars need routine maintenance to ensure they run efficiently and maintain their usability, it’s key to factor in how much you may pay for service appointments when buying a vehicle. For the GMC Acadia, the average cost of annual maintenance is around $806. If you’re curious about the exact maintenance costs you can expect for your model year, you can view our graph to compare the costs of different model years.
The Best Model Year To Buy a GMC Acadia
Based on factors including price and reliability (but not depreciation), our choice for the best GMC Acadia model years to buy are the 2008, 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2021 models, but check out our article on the best and worst years of the Acadia to get the whole story. These years are often considered the best because they have low maintenance costs and high reliability scores.
Buying a GMC Acadia New vs. Used
| 20-Year Projection | ||
| Years Since Purchased | Depreciated Value | With Inflation |
| 1 | $31,022 | $34,247 |
| 2 | $24,619 | $28,769 |
| 3 | $21,675 | $25,461 |
| 4 | $19,099 | $22,519 |
| 5 | $14,426 | $16,927 |
| 6 | $13,726 | $16,067 |
| 7 | $9,899 | $11,604 |
| 8 | $8,611 | $10,154 |
| 9 | $6,293 | $7,445 |
| 10 | $5,557 | $6,645 |
| 11 | $2,576 | $3,132 |
| 12 | $2,429 | $3,036 |
| 13 | $1,803 | $2,293 |
| 14 | $1,693 | $2,176 |
| 15 | $1,398 | $1,770 |
| 16 | $1,251 | $1,569 |
| 17 | $1,656 | $2,071 |
| 18 | $1,214 | $1,528 |
| 19 | $1,196 | $1,496 |
| 20 | $1,023 | $1,260 |
When deciding between a used GMC Acadia or a brand-new model, you can save money by opting for a pre-owned Acadia. This is because purchasing a used vehicle can help you save on costs such as the upfront purchase and insurance, as most used vehicles cost less to insure than new models. You can also expect a slower depreciation rate when you buy a used Acadia. You can rest assured that your Acadia will have significant useful life left and may still be able to re-sell it later on without sacrificing too much value.
For example, the total depreciation for a used Acadia after three years of ownership is around $17,332.95. In contrast, a brand-new GMC Acadia can depreciate by around $15,125 within the same amount of time. To ensure you get the best deal when buying used, ensure you inspect the vehicle thoroughly so you’re certain all the features and mechanics work efficiently. You can also use our used car buying checklist to guide you.
Methodology
The data in this article applies to a GMC Acadia in the base trim level and with standard features and configuration. Since different trim levels can maintain their worth at different rates, it’s helpful to learn about which options can fend off depreciation the best. Aside from trim level, the COVID-era chip shortage can also impact resale values, as well as the method you use to sell your vehicle and the condition it’s in when you decide to sell.
Keep in mind, there are large economic factors at play here too and the sale of new cars has caused shifts in the used market too. There is a stark difference in the cost of vehicles due to car manufacturers seeking higher profit margins after COVID as detailed by CNN and posted by CBS channel 58:
“… (T)he auto industry saw sky-high profits even as sales plummeted. Domestic manufacturers of cars and car parts saw a profit of $32 billion through the third quarter of 2022 (the latest data available) — their largest profit since 2016. Car dealerships also reported record-breaking profits through Q3, according to auto-retail advisers Haig Partners.
That’s because pandemic-era pent-up consumer demand remained strong as supply shifted, allowing automakers to increase their prices and their profit margins. Cars and trucks were sold nearly as soon as they hit dealership lots, and the average price paid for a vehicle in December soared to a near-record high of $46,382, according to J.D. Power.
Data from the Labor Department’s November Consumer Price Index shows American consumers are paying about 20% more for cars than they were in 2019.
The trend could continue into next year — research website Edmunds expects new-car sales to hit 14.8 million in 2023, a marginal increase from last year but well below pre-pandemic levels.
The auto industry has entered a new era: Less choice, higher prices and larger profit margins. So far it seems to be working for them.”
This shift by car companies to create higher profit margins by taking advantage of the heavily-reported-on chip shortage panic of COVID has had rebounding effects upon the value of used cars.
Be aware that newer years (the latest 3-4 model years) may be inflated in price because of this and depending on how big this problem is for the model you are considering – it may even be inflating the price of the older model years.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vehicle Depreciation
Do GMC Acadias Hold Their Value?
The GMC Acadia typically maintains a good resale value, though several factors can impact exactly how much you can get for yours. Aside from previously mentioned factors, such as age, body type, and mileage, the way you sell it and the place where you sell it can also impact the resale price.
For example, Kelley Blue Book data shows that the range for a trade-in at a dealership for a GMC Acadia from 2021 in the standard trim and black exterior is between $24,149 and $26,180. In contrast, the same vehicle can get between $26,933 and $29,230 when you sell through a private party.
What Are the Best Years of the GMC Acadia To Buy, and Which Ones Should You Avoid?
The best years of the GMC Acadia to buy used are often seen as the 2008, 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2021 models. This is because Acadias from these years often see the highest safety scores, owner reliability ratings, and low to moderate maintenance costs. To avoid the worst years, you should refrain from buying an Acadia from 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017. These models have shown higher expensive repairs and low-reliability scores from owners.
What's High Mileage for a GMC Acadia?
While the mileage for a GMC Acadia can vary greatly, depending on its model year and age, an Acadia is typically said to have high mileage when it reaches 125,000 miles on the odometer. This is because most Acadias lose a lot of their function once they surpass this mileage, with many that reach up to 200,000 miles needing an excessive number of costly repairs.
How Old of a GMC Acadia Should You Buy To Avoid Most of the Depreciation?
It’s best to look in the sweet spot for the GMC Acadia to find a used one with the least potential for depreciation. This occurs between the model years of 2008 and 2012. To avoid the most depreciation, you should buy an Acadia within five years of the sweet spot, which means going no older than a 2012 model.
References
(2023.) My Car’s Value: 2021 GMC Acadia. Kelley Blue Book. Retrieved September 20, 2023, from https://www.kbb.com/gmc/acadia/2021/sle-sport-utility-4d/?vehicleid=449624&mileage=12000&modalview=false&intent=trade-in-sell&pricetype=trade-in&condition=good&options=9633784%7ctrue&extcolor=black
(2023.) GMC Acadia Depreciation. CarEdge. Retrieved September 20, 2023, from https://caredge.com/gmc/acadia/depreciation
(2023.) GMC Acadia Insurance Cost. CarEdge. Retrieved September 20, 2023, from https://caredge.com/gmc/acadia/insurance
(2023.) 2019 GMC Acadia Review: Reasonably Dependable Midsize SUV With High Ownership Costs. Vehicle History. Retrieved September 20, 2023, from https://www.vehiclehistory.com/report/gmc/acadia/2019
(2023.) What Is Car Depreciation? Progressive. Retrieved September 20, 2023, from https://www.progressive.com/answers/what-is-car-depreciation/
(2023.) The Best and Worst Car Colors for Resale Value. iSeeCars. Retrieved September 20, 2023, from https://www.iseecars.com/car-color-study
(2023.) 12 Factors That Affect Your Car’s Resale Value. Money Crashers. Retrieved September 20, 2023, from https://www.moneycrashers.com/factors-affect-used-cars-resale-value/
(2023.) Average Cost of Car Insurance in September 2023. Bankrate. Retrieved September 20, 2023, from https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/average-cost-of-car-insurance/
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