Test drive | GMC Acadia: highway warrior

The GMC Acadia has been rolling around for seven years already in its current form. Apart from certain aesthetic modifications and a slight mechanical revision for the 2020 model year, the mid-size SUV remains impassive in the face of competition which shortens the life cycles of its models to nourish the impression of novelty. Does this strategy make it a less competitive product? We tested it over a few thousand kilometers during a trip to the charming Gaspé Peninsula.

Its design

So, how does this Acadia nevertheless manage to stand out from its rivals? Firstly by its packaging, which adopts the “truck” image that GMC has been conveying for ages. Its rectangular grille with bold lines supported by wide wings and a rounded hood supports this facet. The side plan is a little more conventional, which could recall the family cars of yesteryear with its overhanging rear section. The angular wheel arches seem to refer to the second generation of GMC Jimmys from the 1970s. There is little to say about the rear, apart from the treatment of the lights which is undeniably reminiscent of that of the Yukon with a presence concentrated on the rear fenders which slightly overhang the tailgate. Note the large glass surface which greatly helps with visibility.

On board

There is good and obviously not so good in this interior, the wrinkles of which become rather apparent from the first contact. We detect a rather uneven assembly quality in certain places and hard plastics clearly too present under the lower line of the dashboard. This Acadia remains, despite these observations, a very well designed vehicle for family use. Of course, the two seats in the last row are there mainly for emergency purposes, but once lowered, their backrests provide access to 1180 L of cargo. The front and central seats provide plenty of space at all measuring points. There is also plenty of storage space and plenty of space. Finally, note a simple and very effective design of the control pod which houses buttons controlling the transmission.

Under the hood

The mechanical menu of this Acadia is made up of two engines used in many models in the GM family: a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder (228 hp) and an optional 3.6L V6 (310 hp). Barely $545 separates these two engines, which makes the V6 truly essential because of its greater flexibility and its much more pleasant subdued temperament. It’s an excellent engine supported by a nine-speed transmission that’s generally smooth, but marked by a response delay that’s a little too present when picking up. The consumption observed during the test was 9.6 L, which does not make it shine, especially compared to a Toyota Highlander hybrid, but which places it in the average of the competition with V6 mechanics.

Behind the wheel

The Acadia has never aspired to become a dance partner to brighten up your sunny Sundays on your favorite road. Its intentions are clear: to isolate the occupants as best as possible from the roughness of the bituminous coverings as well as from external noise. It succeeds in this mission very well, making long journeys less exhausting thanks to impeccable course management. The steering is also rather precise and correctly firm without being truly communicative. Body movements are certainly pronounced when cornering, the result of a relaxed damping adjustment. The fit could be slightly tightened on the rear axle, which tends to exhibit secondary movements after negotiating bumps after a good compression phase at the bottom of the hill. Besides, everything is very predictable, comfort food on four wheels, in short.

Embedded technologies

Without being the latest in the techno aspect of its offering, this Acadia offers the essentials while offering several cleverly placed physical keys. Its multimedia system from the previous vintage is easy to approach and is supported by a readable display, if not as well defined as with certain rivals. The instrumentation mixes physical needles with digital with a good dosage. Note the presence ofApple CarPlay and D’Android Auto wireless as standard as well as induction charging accessible on the console using a very well designed rubberized open compartment. GMC would, however, benefit from integrating adaptive cruise control into the standard equipment, which is reserved for the Denali model, the most expensive in addition.

Verdict

Due to a certain stagnation in its development, the Acadia will never be able to compete on equal terms with many rivals that are much more contemporary in their performance and equipment. Our longer than usual essay, however, allowed us to appreciate its overall qualities, making it relevant to part of its proposal. Its V6, an endangered species, is lively and quiet, and the ride remains refined and coated by good soundproofing. Its construction, however, would need to be more serious, while many gaps were present in the passenger compartment around certain moldings. If you stick to the SLE version without overfilling the notebook with options, the Acadia offers a rather competitive price that can partly excuse these errors. Besides that, there are better places elsewhere.