2007 GMC Acadia

by Steve Schutz, MD

The all-new GMC Acadia SUV is a hit for General Motors, and as everyone knows, GM can use all he hits it can get now that Toyota has taken over as the world’s largest automaker.

Part of GM’s new mid-size SUV family that also includes the Saturn Outlook and Buick Enclave, the Acadia provides seating for seven (or eight), excellent drivability and decent fuel economy, all wrapped in a package any modern soccer mom would be proud to own. In fact, more than any vehicle I’ve reviewed the Acadia incorporates all the good qualities of a minivan without the dorkiness.

There’s certainly nothing dorky about the Acadia’s design. Highlighted by a big grille, prominent head- and taillight housings, flowing profile and a wide stance, the newest GMC looks taut and sleek. I’m a big fan of the full-size GM SUVs, and the Acadia looks almost like the design team took a Yukon and squashed it from above. It’s more aerodynamic than the prototypical SUV, and the proportions seem right.

Thankfully, the Acadia looks as good inside as it does from the sidewalk. Fit and finish are excellent, and many of the Yukon’s knobs and controls are used in its smaller sibling, which is a plus. In fact, the only downer inside the Acadia is one of its pluses — the chrome which looks so terrific most of the time is too shiny in direct sunlight.

The best aspect of the Acadia is the seating. Standard seating for seven and optional eight-seat variations are available, and all give everyone on board — including third seat occupants — plenty of space. The seats are supportive and comfortable, too. This is one area where minivans have it all over SUVs, so the extra attention Acadia’s engineers paid to this area was well spent. Even climbing into the third seat is easy.

On the road, the Acadia clearly prefers cruising on the open road to anything else. By using a unibody structure instead of a truck-based frame, the Acadia is able to provide a more car-like driving experience than you'll find in full-size SUVs. And because the architecture is hundreds of pounds lighter, the Acadia is more fuel-efficient, too — EPA estimates are 17-18 mpg/city and 24-26 mpg/highway, depending on whether you choose front- or all-wheel drive.

Sound deadening was obviously a priority as the Acadia rides softly and quietly at speed. The long 119-inch wheelbase helps with side wind stability, and the gearing is designed for optimal fuel efficiency at highway speeds.

But there are tradeoffs, as you might expect. Extra sound deadening means extra weight — the Acadia weighs in at around 4,500 pounds — and taller gearing means slower off-the-line performance. While comfortable and (relatively) good on gas, this is not a sporty SUV.

Powering all versions of the 2007 GMC Acadia is a 275-horsepower 3.6- liter V6 that's paired with GM's new six-speed automatic transmission. Quiet and smooth are adjectives you’ll think of often; fast and furious aren’t.

As you’d expect, the Acadia features a full complement of safety equipment, most notably electronic stability control, a tire pressure monitor and full side-curtain head airbags for all three rows of seats.

The Acadia comes in three trim levels, SLE, SLT1 and SLT2. Standard SLE features include 18-inch alloy wheels, front and rear air-conditioning, remote keyless entry and a six-speaker CD/ MP3 stereo system.

A quick aside about the A/C…Big SUVs and minivans need rear A/C systems, not just in South Texas, but everywhere they have summer. In my opinion, there are only two types of rear A/C people with these types of vehicles: those who have them and never give them a thought, and those who don’t and really wish they did. Thank you GM for recognizing that and not making rear A/C optional like most other manufacturers.

Ordering the SLT1 package gets you polished wheels, heated/colored side mirrors with turn signals, leather seating with heated front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, and a premium Bose 10-speaker audio system with steering-wheel audio controls and an in-dash six-disc CD changer. The top-of-the-line SLT2 adds remote vehicle starting, rear park assist, a power rear liftgate, rear-seat entertainment system and satellite radio.

Many of these features can be added to lesser models, and SLT Acadias also offer options like a power two-panel sunroof, 19-inch wheels, heads-up windshield instrument display, GPS navigation, Dolby 5.1 surround sound and cargo area audio controls. As is the case with many vehicles nowadays, ordering the navigation system gets you backup camera capability as well. Front-wheel drive is standard, but the vast majority of Acadias figure to be all-wheel drive models, even in warmer climates.

Well done, GM. The Acadia — and its mid-size siblings, the Enclave and Outlook — provide minivan-like utility without the dorkiness that repels so many buyers. And the palpably better quality so evident in the new Yukon is there along with a nice design and attractive pricing. Toyota…watch out.