Now in its second year, the
2008 GMC Acadia crossover is driving new clientele into GMC showrooms.
GMC is the light-truck division of General Motors. Consider the five-door Acadia a light version of a light truck. It's the only vehicle in the GMC lineup that qualifies as a 'crossover,' a vehicle with the room of a sport utility hatchback but the underpinnings of a lighter weight car. Acadia features three rows of seats accommodating seven or eight passengers depending if captain's chairs or a split-bench design occupy the second row. For large families needing three rows of seating in a package that delivers decent gas mileage compared with heavier, truck-based SUVs, crossovers like the Acadia are drawing interest. Large, unibody crossovers have stolen some of the sales thunder from minivans as young families look to escape from the perceived 'un-cool ' status of minivans and gravitate towards larger crossovers.
In the 2007 model year, GMC debuted Acadia while GM's Saturn Division introduced the similarly-styled Outlook. The third vehicle in this large car-based crossover trilogy, the Buick Enclave, debuted in the 2008 model year. All are assembled in Lansing, Mich. and based on GM's Lambda platform. At the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, GM's Chevrolet Division announced it will soon debut a Lambda-platformed, three-row, crossover of its own, the 2009 Traverse, to be assembled in Spring Hill, Tenn. Acadia changes very little from the 2007 model year, except that XM Satellite radio is now standard in all trims.
Acadia comes standard with a fuel-saving, electronically-controlled six-speed automatic transmission linked to a standard 3.6-liter, V-6 engine with variable valve timing delivering 275 horsepower. It's the sole engine and transmission combination available although consumers get to choose between front wheel and all-wheel drive in Acadia's three trim levels (SLE, SLT1 and SLT2). The all-wheel-drive system requires no driver input and seamlessly transfers more torque split from the front to rear wheels when needed. While some at GM would classify this as a mid-size vehicle, its interior roominess and 201.1-inch length qualify it more as a full size.
General Motors dropped off a fully-loaded, top-of-the-line, well-appointed, all-wheel-drive SLT 2 for a week-long test. The price added up to $44,965 (including $735 destination charge) and that's about as much anyone can spend on an Acadia. The lowest-priced model, a front-wheel-drive SLE, checks in at $29,990.
While $44,965 was the bottom line, the starting price for an all-wheel-drive SLT 2 is $38,280. Options included an intuitive touch-screen in-dash navigation system with built-in rearview camera (the back-up camera is also new for 2008) at a cost of $2,340, ceiling-mounted second-row DVD entertainment system ($1,295), trailering package ($425), head-up windshield display ($350) and nineteen-inch ultra bright aluminum wheels ($1,295) among others.
The Acadia and Buick Enclave are the two Lambda-platformed vehicles targeted to a higher demographic. The Saturn Outlook and soon-to-arrive Chevrolet Traverse may be the volume leaders.
General Motors has done a wonderful job during the past coupe years of revamping interiors of newly introduced models. Gone are the days of cheap- looking plastic and flimsy construction. Acadia sports a pleasant, two-toned dashboard with a brushed aluminum center console that dips downward and morphs into the floor-mounted automatic transmission shifter area. The instrument panel is easy to read at a glance (with five circular gauges and secondary gear shift readout) and numerous cup holders abound. I counted 12 cup holders but there may be more lurking. The two-color design continues throughout the interior door panels.
The three rows of seating are theatre style in nature, meaning the third row is slightly higher than the second row, which is an inch or two higher than the first. Base SLE models come with cloth seating while both SLT editions sport leather-like materials.
The captain's chairs in the first two rows were on the stiff side, especially the second row. Maneuvering into the three-passenger third row is made easier by second-row seats that slide forward on a floor track and seat cushions that collapse up like a folding chair. Because of theater-style seating, the third row is elevated a bit, but my six-foot one-inch frame had enough head room. The second row seats have enough slide range so that even adults sitting in the second and third rows have a chance to comfortably enjoy short and mid-range journeys. Third row seatbacks manually fold flat onto cushions by lifting a latch found on the seat back. This should be done from the cargo area with the hatch door open. Pull straps return the backrests to a prone position when needed. Second row caption's chairs also have seatbacks that fold flat, opening up a long and wide cargo area. The front passenger seat back does not fold down onto the cushion.
Grab handles are nearby to assist entering and exiting. This vehicle is easier to maneuver into and out of than most large SUVs or crossovers. Drivers or passengers entering the front seats do not have to hop up into position. It's more of a minivan entry rather than a large SUV-type encounter.
The rear hatch door, hinged at the top, lifts up from the bottom. When opened, the design provides more than enough headroom clearance for those as tall as six-feet, six inches. A rear window wiper comes standard. A power liftgate comes standard on the SLT 2 trim. Exterior looks are more bold than flashy. Chrome strap-like handles adorn the four side door while chrome accents are found on the doors and bumpers. Vertical tail lights start on the hatch door and extend to the fenders. The front grille prominently displays large GMC letters. Once nice touch are turn signal flashers built into the side-view mirrors, alerting other drivers to your potential moves.
The parking brake is foot operated, opening up the region between the front seats for large beverage holders and a deep storage area with sliding arm rest. The good-sized glove box accommodates many items. The dashboard's top-center area also has a covered storage bin. Circular air vents are built into the headliner to heat or cool the interior quicker and more efficiently. Standard power outside mirror, lock and window controls are on the front section of the driver's door arm rest. Standard cruise control buttons are located on the steering wheel face. The rear wiper operates via a push button on the lower dashboard.
As with most GM vehicles, regular unleaded fuel is recommended, saving a few pennies at the pump when compared to pricier premium many times needed in import models. Front-wheel versions average 18 miles per gallon in city driving and 26 mpg highway. With all-wheel-drive models, mileage estimates dip to 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. The relatively large fuel tank holds 22 gallons of petro.
Acadia includes a nice mix of standard safety nuances in all three trim levels including anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, theft deterrent system, head curtain side air bags and front side-impact air bags.
While this vehicle is lighter than traditional truck-based sport utilities, it remains a large vehicle. The ride along straight-aways is smooth and pleasant and the suspension soaks up road imperfections. There is body lean during cornering, expected in this sized vehicle. This is an on-road hauler, not an off-road warrior.
Two elements GM has going for itself is the revamped powertrain warranty and its OnStar in-vehicle communication system. The no-deductible, limited powertrain warranty is good for five years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first) and is fully transferable to the next owner. Push the blue OnStar button near the rearview mirror, and you'll be speaking with a real live operator in seconds. Ask for directions or nearby restaurants. If an emergency situation occurs, help is just a push button away. In a world of pre-recorded tutorials, OnStar is a user-friendly perk.
These newly arriving Lambda-platformed Crossovers from General Motors certainly hit the mark in comfort, smooth ride and an assortment of family-friendly options. This is a well thought out vehicle. The GM trio and the full-size Mazda CX-9 remain the crossovers to beat in the full-size segment. Other vehicles to consider include the Honda Pilot, the all-new Dodge Journey and Acura MDX.
Acadia currently offers no gas-electric hybrid models as some GMC vehicles do. The full-size, truck-based Yukon SUV and the Sierra full-sized pick-up truck offer gas-electric hybrid powertrains.