2017 GMC Acadia Places Last In Family Crossover Comparison
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For a very long time, the comparison tests that mattered most were midsize sedans. It was the bread and butter segment of America. Times have changed.
Crossovers have become to new go-to for many families across the United States for obvious reasons. They provide car-like driving dynamics, a higher seating position and storage opportunities sedans can only dream of.
The latest family feud of crossovers comes from Motor Trend, which pitted the 2017 GMC Acadia against the Toyota Highlander and Mazda CX-9. Unfortunately for GMC, the new Acadia wasn’t enough to land it in first place, or even as the runner-up.
MT placed the 2017 Acadia in third place, but stated the decision was tough; each vehicle got at least one first-place vote. The Acadia was lauded for a great looking interior with quality materials and scored major points for usable storage area when the seats fold completely flat.
However, it received mixed driving reviews and a cloudy position on what it was truly meant to accomplish.
It is a “product in search of a rationale,” Angus MacKenzie said, calling it a move that may help keep XT5 costs down but does little to serve GMC customers wanting a larger crossover.
We’d venture to guess the 2017 Acadia will be on the shortlist to receive the nine-speed automatic transmission, as well as a more refined four-cylinder option. And, hopefully, a true large crossover or SUV will arrive to take the spot the Acadia once held tightly.
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I don’t understand it. Like why using the All-Terrain model where GMC could of just give the SLT2 package or even the Denali? Toyota gave them the Highlander SE and Mazda gave them the CX9 GT where both of them have third row seats and GMC gave the one without
Read the MT review. They like the interior, but not the handling, and the look wasn’t ‘professional grade’. Third place in a tier two competition – that’s not so good, for an expensive vehicle.
I think they said it’s more nimble?
I can’t say – haven’t driven it – but JB did (scroll down). Not super encouraging, from the sound of things, but, year one – probably some ro0m for improvement.
I found It didn’t really handle that good. Felt like a big boat and tended to wander in the lane like my old ’96 Cherokee did. I liked the ’16 much better so just bought a used one with warranty for half the price.
I still don’t get why they shrunk the Acadia and will bring a new full size CUV to market instead of just bringing a new midsize CUV to the market.
Also the 6 speed and 4cy engine combination seem outdated in a highly competitive segment
Very simple. This allows them to have a midsize Acadia and full size Enclave under one roof.
Actually they moved this down to make room for the Canyon based Mid sized Grand Cherokee fighter between the Acadia and the Yukon.
You just have to let them make all the moves to make sense of this. It is like a movie you can not review it on the first half hour.
I test drove on this past weekend and was not impressed. The steering was nice, but took too many turns to get around a corner. It was like I was driving a big truck, but this isn’t a big truck. The interior felt cramped in the front. The salesman was arguing with me that they did not come in a 2 row configuration. Ride felt GMC professional grade quality. It did indeed feel like a compromised crossover.
“GM said the all-wheel-drive All Terrain was designed to compete with the Jeep Grand Cherokee,… ”
HAHAHAHAHAHA
In all seriousness, I think this is GM’s admission that they’re not bringing the Colorado-based Trailblazer, let alone a GMC variant. If they were, they’d be pitting THAT against the Grand Cherokee, as it would stand a better chance. FWD-based AWD and a turbo 4 vs. the Grand Cherokee? Are you kidding me, GM?
Well at least the Acadia won’t crush you to death… If you know what I mean…
Yeah. I do.
But my point still stands. GMC should be putting out more capable SUVs. The Acadia is not a step in that direction. It would’ve been better-suited as a Buick.
There is no turbo 4 available. It’s either the 2.5L NA four cylinder or a 3.6L V6.
“It is a “product in search of a rationale,” Angus MacKenzie said, calling it a move that may help keep XT5 costs down but does little to serve GMC customers wanting a larger crossover.”
What a dumb comment. What does that have to do with how good the car is compared to a Highlander or CX-9, which are similarly sized?
Plus, a “GMC Customer wanting a large crossover” can walk a few feet across the same dealership and buy a Buick Enclave.
I still think it was a mistake to keep the Acadia name with the new, shrunken product (as I think it will confuse consumer), but that’s over with; GM can make it work with good advertising and salesmanship at the dealer. GM needs to keep building its portfolio across the 4 brands, and the new Acadia is a good part of that.
My boss just bought an Acadia SLT1 6-seater last Friday.
And check this out. He traded in a Honda Accord. His wife’s last three vehicles: Honda Pilot, Honda Odyssey and another Honda Odyssey. He took the Acadia for a 24 hour test and liked it so much he bought it a week later. He test drove a bunch of other SUVs prior. It seems like GMC is doing it just right.
A few here mentioned a possible next gen Trailblazer. Has anyone heard anything on this? Been quiet recently.