When coming in first contact with the 2017 GMC Acadia Denali, the instinctive reaction is to question where the boxiness went. The large size, or the more imposing angles that are commonplace in the GMC lineup. Perhaps for the first time, this is a GMC that doesn’t inhibit the laser-cut visuals that can be found in the smaller Terrain or the imposing Yukon family. This is a different GMC, freshly cast into the ocean of midsize crossover SUV models. Buyers are a skittish, fickle school of fish in these waters, and the traditional chest-out looks of GMC could have been, shall we say, problematic.
Helping the 2017 GMC Acadia Denali remain unmistakable is, still, the chromed out front grille. Oppositely, you wouldn’t be the only person to mistake the backside for a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Not that it looks bad, and the overall design is a tasteful exercise in chrome moderation. Perhaps a negative stereotype from years prior is that GMC was notorious for having, literally, all of the chrome. The details of the 2017 GMC Acadia Denali seemingly aim to change that for the better.
Immediately realized when driving it is how 2017 the Acadia Denali glides along the pavement quietly and without much effort thanks to the optional adaptive suspension – so long as if you can keep those 20-inch wheels away from any abrupt road imperfections. I’ll stop short of saying its an athlete, but the 310-horsepower 3.6L LGX V6 offers sufficient horsepower in nearly any application. It’s the only engine available in Denali trim, as well. The entry level 2.5L four cylinder is reserved for more entry level Acadia crossovers. We’ll take this moment to mention that the 2017 Acadia Denali AWD is EPA rated at 18 mpg city and 25  mpg highway, for a combined rating of 20 mpg – a 3 mpg improvement of the outgoing Acadia AWD (now the Acadia Limited).
The wood-trimmed cabin feels very open, and for some reason, reminds of something Scandinavian. Ikea office furniture, in a good way. When it comes to spacing things out, GM did a very good job with the C1XX platform – shared only with the Cadillac XT5, but surely there’s more to come from all brands. Everything seems to be more streamlined and intuitive than before.
With a starting MSRP of $47,845 in AWD configuration, the 2017 Acadia Denali is more affordable, more pleasant to drive, and more pleasant to sit in compared to the outgoing Acadia Denali, which is still being sold as the Acadia Limited. The meager compromises include less overall interior space and less towing capabilities. Such is to be expected when dropping a full market segment.
Also an effect from the Acadia nameplate shrinking down is the gain and loss of certain consumers. Previous Acadia buyers have repeatedly told us that the all-new model just isn’t for them in terms of size and/or capability, while the Acadia Limited is considered to be too long in the tooth for them, as well.
Oppositely, newer customers welcome the moderately-portioned CUV into their lifestyle, enjoying more maneuverability and fuel economy than before. Should GMC have simply introduced a new midsize crossover nameplate instead of re-hashing the Acadia name? The challenge remains at the dealer level, as they have to correct consumers on the differences between the old and new. Some buyers even ordering one thinking it would be the same size as before. Down the road it puts GMC in an a self-made awkward situation when they inevitably introduce a new full-size model that fills the space of the previous Acadia – which sold over 96,000 units last year, a personal best for the model. It would be folly to abandon that segment outright, based on the numbers alone. But the next big crossover won’t be called the Acadia because the new Acadia is smaller and oh my lord I’ve become paralyzed with confusion from simply writing this.
Who really thought this naming strategy was ever a good idea?
At least, thankfully, the naming strategy is the biggest problem when it comes to the 2017 GMC Acadia Denali. Perhaps one of the best qualities is the value. While some premium crossovers can feel like a genuine rip off, the 2017 Acadia Denali feels bang on the money, even more so than before. Yes, a loaded model is scraping $60,000, and there are the all-too-common plastics here and there, but to that end, GMC did its part to make it soft to the touch, which helps put the material usage out of mind. GMC also found it in their hearts to stick with a familiar shift lever for the six-speed automatic transmission, rather than the less-than-graceful joystick as seen in the 2017 Cadillac XT5 and 2017 Buick LaCrosse.
On the active safety end, which is perhaps paramount when it comes to a family hauler, the Acadia Denali shines. Some of the tech is fairly commonplace in the industry – such as parking sensors. Some are not: such as the Acadia’s surround view backup camera system that comes with the $1,345 Technology Package and projects 360 degrees of situational awareness onto the 8-inch IntelliLink touch screen. Or the industry-first rear seat reminder, which we take as gimmicky, but we’re also not scatter-brained parents. Ultimately, we’re not sure if the lives of children it could save would be Acadia buyers in the first place. That’s besides the point, but the effort is still appreciated. Moreover, the rear seat reminder isn’t just a matter of life and death, because it doesn’t just have to do with kids in the back seat. A bag of restaurant carryout that would otherwise spoil? Or a box full of ice cream that would otherwise melt? The rear seat reminder works for those items, too.
While 2017 GMC Acadia Denali can come off as a tad clinical, it really hits hard where it counts. And if you’re dead set on one now, we won’t stop you. However, it’s likely that there are some powertrain enhancements coming with the freshly announced 9-speed automatic transmission that seems destined for a myriad of General Motors models. As it stands, the 2017 Acadia Denali is still just fine, and is likely to fight to the top of the heap with or without it. So long as people are now aware they’re buying a midsize crossover and not a big one, that is.
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Comments
This SUV is great! The only thing missing is a turbo engine 2.0 and 250 HP to replace the weak 2.5 liter aspirated. I think it would be better with the new transmission of 9 changes. Waiting for the new Chevy Traverse is already in spy shots. This color is amazing! Thanks GM for producing excellent cars….
Good article! I am one of those existing full size Acadia owners, and am on my second one, a 2010 which is in need of replacement. I have however decided the 20% downsizing at pretty much the same price as the previous one is a bit of a rip off by GM. Recent articles indicate that Chevy will be adding a version of this “junior suv” to be named the Blazer in 2018 (Caddy of course already has theirs).
I am hopeful the more recent reports that the Chevy Traverse and Buick versions for 2018 will be larger to try to help GM save the normal size SUV market segments is correct, however none of the normal auto news websites has managed to get any concrete news to date. Hopefully by the time I need to make a decision there will be substantial news on this or heavens I may have to buy a Ford Explorer or Toyota Highlander, or Honda Pilot, all of which are larger than the shrunken Acadia/Caddy/and 2018 Blazer!
I have a 2017 GMC Acadia Denali White Frost with Black interior and I previously owned a 2014 Toyota Highlander and the Acadia just blows everything out of the water. I love my vehicle so much.
I have a 2014 Acadia Denali. I was extremely disappointed with the redesign of this vehicle. It is significantly smaller than my existing 2014. Unless they come out with an Acadia XL commensurate in size to my 2014 I will not be leasing a GMC. The Yukon is a nice vehicle but way too big. I am staying patient waiting to see what the new Enclave and Traverse look like before abandoning GM altogether but by March will be in the market for a car.
I had a 2011. I specifically got it for the size. With little ones and being a road tripper it was great for me. 5 years later I traded it in but I wasn’t giving the new Acadia a look. It shrunk way too much to keep the name. If it split the difference between what it was and what it is now, it would probably be sized perfectly. But to go from the biggest CUV to once of the smallest in its segment is a bit much.
I find the new Acadia more in line with what we want as it is about the size and price of our present Terrain. This is where most of the buyers will come from. The old size I expect will get a replacement as GMC is not going to leave a gap there while Buick, Chevy and Cadillac all will have something also in that slot.
Too many people have to realize that GM is moving things around and will have replacements for the gaps they are creating. More Crossovers in more sized matching others in the markets.
You can not compare a down sized model to the one it replaced as it did not really replace it in anything but name.
As they say there is more to come and you just need to let it all roll out before you judge and choose.
My wife wife’s lease is the 2015 Acadia Denali and the truck is very practical and the right size…her lease is up late next year and while the new vehicle looks and is better in every way, we also feel it’s too small. I would have to imagine the platform was designed to be scaleable… Maybe take a page from the Yukon and add an Acadia Denali XL? That would certainly work for us.
I think the big disadvantage of the new Acadia is that it is to narrow for a midsize CUV at 74.6″. The Pilot is over 78″ wide for example.
If you look at the Acadia’s rear end and that of a Honda Pilot, you literally see little to no difference other than the names…… not really relevant but just thought i’d point it out.
When are the Traverse and Enclave scheduled to debut? I want to see those before making a decision whether or not to move on from GM? My Acadia will be up. I am looking for something same size as my current Acadia, must have 2nd row captains chairs and 3rd row. No interest going to a Honda or a minivan.
I think this design is a lot better looking than the XT5 or and Buick Encore. GMC should have kept the “boxy” look and saved this design for the XT5. The Buick Encore doesn’t have an awful look to it, but from most angles it looks like a blob, with hardly any sort of edge… the hood and the windshield look like one part.
@gmauthority
Can you please give more technical details of AWD system used in ’17 Denali? I don’t see any technical documentation available online for AWD system of trim’s other than all-terrain.
How does AWD in ’17 Acadia Denali compare to other well known systems like Quattro, SH-AWD etc. How much of the torque can it send to rear wheel , how much to each wheel etc. What kind of rear differential is being used, torque vectoring etc.
Does any one else have a problem with the information center being so hard to set up? I have a 2017 Acadia Denali and i cannot keep the thing operating as it should. I have to take it back to the dealer to have it set again and again. I previously had a 2014 Acadia Denali, and it was much easier to control, but the 2017 piled too much stuff in it ,and it makes it too hard to operate.