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Dimensional Brief: All-New 2017 GMC Acadia Exterior Is Shorter And Narrower Than First-Gen Model

In announcing the all-new 2017 GMC Acadia this past week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, GMC made a statement, plucking the Acadia from the full-size CUV space and placing it directly into the midsize segment.

Numbers tell quite the story: compared to its predecessor, the all-new 2017 GMC Acadia is 3.5 inches narrower, 3.9 inches shorter in height, and 7.2 inches shorter in length, mostly thanks to a wheelbase that’s 6.4 inches shorter, enabled by GM’s regular-wheelbase C1XX platform. Those dimensions enable a turning radius that’s 1.7 feet smaller than the first-gen model. But most importantly, the 2017 Acadia is a full 700 pounds, or 318 kilos, lighter than before, as enabled by GM’s regular-wheelbase C1XX platform. This means that it will be more nimble than the outgoing model while being able to attain better fuel economy.

External Dimensional Comparison - 2017 GMC Acadia vs. 2016 GMC Acadia (imperial)
Vehicle Wheelbase (in) Length (in) Width (in) Height (in) Turning Radius (ft) Curb Weight (kg)
2017 GMC Acadia 112.5 193.6 75.4 68.7 38.7 3956
2016 GMC Acadia 118.9 200.8 78.9 72.6 40.4 4656
+ / – 2017 Acadia -6.40 -7.20 -3.50 -3.90 -1.70 -700.00
External Dimensional Comparison - 2017 GMC Acadia vs. 2016 GMC Acadia (metric)
Vehicle Wheelbase (mm) Length (mm) Width (mm) Height (mm) Turning Radius (m) Curb Weight (kg)
2017 GMC Acadia 2857 4917 1916 1745 11.8 1794
2016 GMC Acadia 3021 5101 2003 1844 12.3 2112
+ / – 2017 Acadia -164 -184 -87 -99 -0.5 -318

Despite the smaller exterior dimensions, the new Acadia maintains three rows of seats for five, six, or seven passengers. See how it compares to its predecessor when it comes to cabin space.

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Comments

  1. The new dimensions of the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse. Right?

    Reply
    1. Nope. The Enclave and Traverse will remain full size.

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      1. Where did you get that information?
        I suspect that the Enclave and Traverse will be the same size as the Acadia. Chevrolet is coming out with a 3 row RWD SUV to slot above the new size Traverse.

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        1. Blazer, I hope !

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        2. Well this Acadia is the same dimension as the Cadilac XT5 so this is the shorter wheelbase of the chi platform. So expect the Traverse and Enclave go a little bigger if not the same size as the current lambda versions

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          1. I am still not sure why GMC went so small with the new Acadia.
            I think GMC will lose some prior clients by undergoing such a drastic change in size.

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            1. Honestly I think it’s about the same size as the pilot and the current pilot is already big! Not as big as the current lambdas but it’s there.

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              1. That’s a fair point but why not maintain the competitive advantage of size and price compared to it’s nearest competitors.

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                1. But there’s another point where Buick is selling the same car! Yes just a little body change and stuff and dimensions. Honestly the price of the current Enclave premium is about the same price as the Acadia Denali.

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        3. Reply
        4. “Chevrolet is coming out with a 3 row RWD SUV to slot above the new size Traverse.”

          Where did you get that information?

          Reply
      2. Automotive News first reported it, there was an article on this site as well back in July. They said that Chevy is working on a new mid size CUV that will slot between the Equionx and Traverse and that Acadia would shrink and take on mid size segment.

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    2. Heard directly from our store’s GM rep that the Enclave and Traverse sizes will be left untouched.

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      1. Hope he/she turns out to be right.

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  2. They needed to not cut down on the width.. ALL GM midsize vehicles are too damned narrow… I did not like the colorado for that… 77″ is about as narrow as you want to get. Why not copy the Mercedes M Class? Nice dimensions.. I have a 2015 Silverado LTZ and it is great but it is too damned big.. could be 3″ narrower and closer to the ground.. that is the big problem for a short female.

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    1. I agree people that drive those things with a coat(It does get cold in Canada)need all the width that they can get.
      GMC lost a lot of sales with their last version of trucks because they were smaller in the cab than the competition.
      Anybody out there,can you shed some light on the General trend on full sized vans?What have they got in the works?

      Reply
  3. I like the Denali the best just for the interior appointments . However I still like my ’16 Terrain AWD Denali better .
    One nice thing is it’s only going to be built for one year so there isn’t going to be thousands of them out there .
    There was enough of a re-freshening to trade in my 2012 Terrain .
    Here’s a question for the GM Authority Staff , Now that the new Acadia offers an ” All Terrain ” package , do you think that there is a chance that the new ” Terrain ” will drop that name and possibly use the ” Graphyte ” name that GM just filed a trademark for ? It just seems that using the Terrain name on two different models would be confusing to the general public . In 2010 GM filed for the “Graphite” name for a concept , but recently filed for the name with the ” i ” being replaced with a ” y ” .
    Or anyone else in the know have an answer for this . ; ) . Just wundurin’………………..

    Reply
    1. The Terrain has too much Equity in the name so it will remain.

      The new name may be for the coming smaller CUV GMC really wants. They are still in the stages of making plans but I suspect something on the Gamma II that would compete with the Renegade.

      The small CUV models are really selling well and if it is not already approve it will be soon. I just hope they do not take the easy way out with a rebodied Trax..

      The show car I had heard could come back in a new form with normal doors and AWD too. I would not put a lot of stock in this but it was out there making the rounds and it was a Gamma based model. The Show car doors added too much weight.

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  4. Well from what I have seen the Enclave and Travers will share this platform. The new RWD mid size SUV is coming to take the slot over them at Chevy, GMC, Cadillac and possibly Buick.

    Now the one thing you need to consider here is the last Acadia and Terrain while nice was poorly packaged more so the Terrain. But with that said both will be packaged inside much better and both will lose little room to waste. This Acadia is close in size to the Terrain but yet holds a 3rd row. That should tell you much on the packaging.

    The key here is to cut weight and wasted space to get as much capability and more MPG out of these vehicles. Also add as good or better performance with more efficient engines.

    These models are the ones GM could not do in the past since they did not have the money to go all in like they have. Refinement of design is really key at GM today and they may cut the size of many vehicles and weight but in many you will still get more.

    Just look at the Malibu It lost 300 pounds and that is a lot for a car that size. Now go park your butt in one and just see how much more comfortable the car is inside.

    The SUV and CUV are where the money is. GM will not be matched up and offer something for just about anyone out there vs. any company be it Honda up to Jeep or Ford. This will be key for income to keep all the models competitive and fresh. GM is now paying dividends and now building some of the most refined cars on the market they have ever offered.

    For once they have got their act together and we will see things we never imagined from GM. They still have a lot of work to do but they will finally get it done as they now have the money and just need the time to finish it.

    Reply
  5. Are the interior numbers available for comparison? Believe these numbers are just or more important than just exterior and weight.

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  6. I doubt there will be any storage space left for luggage when you have the vehicle filled with passengers, Too bad. The Yukon is miserable for third row passengers and no storage space either. Looks like the all new 2017 CFA Pacifica might fill the void of these GM products.

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    1. Except when the new enclave and traverse comes out

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    2. The Chrysler Pacifica is a minivan period. It doesn’t matter what they name it or how they package it. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…..
      We are talking about crossovers here not minivans.
      GM hasn’t had a minivan since the Uplander.

      Reply
  7. My wife and I ditched our otherwise-beloved Lincoln MKX in order to attain the larger size (passenger and cargo) of the Acadia. We bought the 2012 Denali and are very happy with it. One of our children liked it so much they bought a 2014 – they have two active kids and a large dog. Daughter noted that, at the end of first day at school, there were seven Acadias in a row to pick up kids. This is an upscale Mom-mobile, to be sure, but as an old grandpa and hunter/shooter, I’m not at all embarrassed to drive ours. It is a country gentleman’s vehicle – not prissy like the Enclave – and is perfect for those men who can’t get the required votes for a Yukon.
    I think it is a BIG mistake to abandon the chassis size of the current Acadia and related models. Not sure I need or want to buy a 2016 Acadia, but if I don’t, then I’m headed back to the Lincoln dealer to see what they have in 2017 or later. Heck, even the Ford Explorer seems larger than this new model. Why didn’t GM just redesign the Terrain-size vehicle instead?

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    1. Completely agree. I’ve read that there is a 2nd larger version of the Chi platform but no confirmation of what that will be used for.
      I they are abandoning a large loyal demographic of buyers.

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    2. Actually the explorer is about the same size. As many people here should know, this is the same wheelbase as the Cadillac XT5. The length of this car is just a little longer than that of the XT5. I honestly would love to see this car in person and compare it to the lambda platform in person. I just really don’t see my family in the explorer for right now if ford ditches MFT on their explorers

      Reply
  8. Oh my God!

    7 inches! The humanity! Think of the children GMC!

    Whatever will I do with slightly less empty space that I hardly ever use 98% of the time!

    How can one single person commute in a vehicle that now only weighs a mere 2 and a half tons? Will they be blown off the road in a strong wind?

    Shame on you GMC, what if I need to drive somewhere with everything my spoiled brat owns?

    Why shouldn’t I be able to take 7 strollers, a bounce house and kidde pool for a 3 mile trip to the supermarket?

    Well GMC, I will now buy(insert other crossover that is oddly the same size or smaller than the Acadia)….goodbye!

    Please….stop complaining about problems that you didn’t know you had before you made them up in your mind.

    Suck it up, or buy a Suburban, or a LWB Express, or a moving van….

    Or wait for the inevitable Acadia XL that will probably debut in LA or something in 6 months….

    Reply
    1. Or they could just not change the size? We travel every weekend with sports equipment and often fill near to capacity, and any unused space I’m happy to have for more visibility. This was a popular car – it was a mistake for GMC to force customers to move to a Buick to stay in this size class. If the new size works for you congrats. I’m in the passenger seat as we speak of an Explorer I am test driving with my wife.

      Reply
  9. This only means one thing.. General Motors is getting ready to introduce a new large crossover utility vehicle possibly something that will use GM’s new Omega platform as this vehicle would be used also by Cadillac as a vehicle that might be a replacement to the Escalade with Cadillac’s variant designed to have a V-variant that would allow the XT7 to compete against CUVs like Bentley’s Bentayga.

    Reply
  10. 3956 + people + stuff = 4200-4500lbs. With the weakling 2.5L only making 190lb.ft., it’s going to be a slow go……”over the river and through the woods to grandma’s”!

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    1. Exactly. That engine belongs in a Chevy,

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  11. So disappointing. When we leased the GMC Acadia Denali in 2014, it was our first American car in 30 years. We were proud to own it and we loved it. We just left the dealership Learning that our choice for a new one is between a car that is too small for us for moving to a Buick, which still does not speak to us as a brand despite the new marketing. Why would GMC mess with a good thing? I thought the new management “got it”. Extremely disappointing – onto a new brand.

    Reply

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