2020 GMC Acadia Features Enhanced Suspension Tuning
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Following the debut of the first-generation GMC Acadia for the 2007 model year, a second-generation was introduced for the 2017 model year. The second-gen model famously changed segments, shedding some length to go from a full-size to a midsize crossover The second-gen model is getting a refresh (otherwise known as a MCE or a Mid-Cycle Enhancement, in General Motors parlance) for the 2020 model year, gaining a tweaked exterior design, a new trim level in the form of the first-ever Acadia AT4, the new turbo-charged 2.0L I4 LSY engine, a new nine-speed automatic transmission with Electronic Precision Shift gear selector, and several other enhancements, one of which is new suspension tuning across the lineup.
That new suspension tuning results in greater ride refinement.
“We did some retuning of the suspension for more isolation while maintaining body control, and we did that for both standard suspension and the Denali,” GMC spokesperson, Stu Fowle, told GM Authority.
The Denali bit is in reference to the 2020 GMC Acadia Denali AWD, which features Continuous Damping Control (aka CDC or Adaptive Ride Control) – an adaptive suspension/damping system. CDC isn’t new for the GMC Acadia, as the feature was offered on the second-gen GMC Acadia Denali prior to this latest 2020 Acadia refresh.
However, all 2020 GMC Acadia models still receive the new suspension tuning improvements as part of the 2020 model year refresh, including Acadia Denali with CDC, Acadia Denali without CDC, and sub-Denali models.
Suspension:,FE2,FE2,FE2,FE2,FE2,FE5
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- FE2 is the base/standard suspension system
- FE5 is the Performance Ride and Handling system with Adaptive Ride Control/CDC
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The ride and handling of the Acadia is one thing that is too often overlooked.
My 17 has a great ride but with the CDC and in sport mode it really can carve up a winding road with pleasure.
The ride is compliant but still not floaty and never out of control.
The sport suspension first the struts up a but makes the steering more responsive and puts the drive 60% to the rear wheels and 40 % to the front.
It drives much more like a touring sedan vs a SUV.
60 – 40% numbers pulled straight out of your ars.
You want a fun fact?
It was stated by GMC at the introduction. Also read up on the Blazer as the same rear bias claim is made.
What have you up your ARS?
FYI the All Terrain version get a twin clutch AWD from the XT5. That also came from GMC.
You need to smoke one !!!
Could you please send me a color list for the Acadia Denali 2020. I may have ordered the wrong color in red or maroon. Thank you.
@scott3 I don’t think you have ever driven on the race track. The way you explain handling is like a soccer mom driving fast from grocery store, because she is late to pick up kids from school.
Could you please send me a color list for the Acadia Denali 2020. I may have ordered the wrong color in red or maroon. Thank you.
I quite like (read: love) how the current GMC Acadia rides and handles. We’ve had a few 2017 Acadia Denalis come through our used car lot, and I’ve loved every single one of them.
They’re a good size. Decent materials, though build quality and interior panel gaps could improve. Plenty of features. Killer audio system. And the ride and handling… mmm! Fantastic! They’re one of the relatively few vehicles GM has to be truly proud of right now. It’s unfortunate I have to say that, because GM really does have the talent and supply chains to make world-class vehicles, but their profit-centric company culture simply won’t allow it.
I continue to be amazed at the number of contributors on this Blog seem to feel there is something wrong with making a profit as an automobile manufacturer. Just as there is competition for buyers of vehicles, there is also competition for the financial resources necessary to fund everything GM is attempting to support and accomplish at this time. I am not suggesting that profits be pursued at the complete expense of a quality product, but just because compromises are made in the design and manufacture of a vehicle, should Not suggest that this is somehow abnormal or wrong. No one can operate totally independently of the need to make an adequate return, other than the the Federal government and the way they approach the debt and deficit. Please do not forget 2008, which is probably still driving a number of decisions being made today. There won’t be any more bail-outs!
It is just a couple and one in particular that has absolutely no idea how the real world works.
I saw one comment the other day saying is a specific amount not enough profit?
This site has been infiltrated by some crazy folks that either have an agenda or no clue.
Thanks for the stable post. Now watch as th3 few play games with the ratings.
Here’s the problem, Lee – as somebody who works in the industry – admittedly at the dealer level for now, given I’m still in college – and has aspirations of working at the corporate level, I’ve done my homework. For the record, I’m also a Business Administration student and run 2 small businesses at 22 years old.
With that out of the way, let’s start here. Of course businesses need to make a profit! They literally wouldn’t be able to exist otherwise. It is NOT a problem that GM tries to make the most profit possible on their vehicles. Here’s the problem: they often do it at the expense of sales numbers, because the compromises they choose to make are in the areas people see, touch, and use every day – primarily, the interior.
I believe GM can create a better interior that delivers better value to the customer without putting themselves in grave danger of going out of business next week, next year, or next recession. You have to remember that it was this very same profit-centric, not a product-centric, mindset that actually caused them problems in 2007-2008. Their business model back then, just like they’ve stated it is now, is to make the most profit per vehicle instead of build up larger sales figures or be a leader in their respective segments. That’s not me talking; I would refer you to articles on this very site where GM executives have essentially said that word for word.
I like GM. I’ve owned 5 Chevrolets, and own a 2016 Malibu now that I quite like. You’ll need to forgive me for believing that GM could probably be doing a little bit better on their interiors and value proposition while they continue to raise MSRPs and average transaction prices.
For the record, I voted your post up. You made some good points.
Wayatt you are correct but there is more to it than even that.
The problem at GM has been for many programs the money went into the drivetrain and suspension. For example Scott Settlmire the head of the FBody for years was always given a car that had tons of money in the engine and handling but he said by the time they got to the interior GM would not give them the money they needed or wanted to close the deal.
But at other companies they may spend more on the interior but when it comes to the rest of the car they take short cuts that are not always seen but they are felt at higher miles with smoking engines and failed suspensions. FCA was notorious for this.
Building cars is and has been a battery of compromises over the years and a balance of choosing wisely. GM has always chose on the mechanical side more than trim. That is why in many areas you see horrible looking old GM cars still running while a decent looking Kia sitting parked due to a broken timing belt or a FCA SUV with failed bal, joints.
While the auto industry generates great numbers the cost of gaining those has become even greater due to rising cost of development.
Then the big issue is on top of that is the drive of investors for return on investments.
The truth is I can take about any car out there and point to things that could and should be better.
The future will become even tougher with rising regulations and increased cost of labor and materials.
The truth is GM is both profit centric and product centric the trouble is did they make the right choices. Sometimes yes some times no.
When Lutz was there he did well on how to dress and option cars he inherited. But he also made mistakes too per his own admission. No one is perfect.
Right now we have many on the board that want to save money any way they can. But we also have folks like a Mark Ruess who has continued the fight to spend the money to make things better. Even he can not win al, the battles.
This is not just unique to the auto industry I see it with many companies.
But you are on the right track and with more experience you will see the other variations.
Scott,
I always read your comments and appreciate your opinion – even if I don’t always necessarily agree. My main concerns with GM lie with their more expensive models, where they could probably afford to give up a little bit of their profit margin to dress up the interior a bit more.
I’m talking names we all know – Premier, LTZ, High Country, Denali. The trim levels and packages that are supposed to deliver the best they have to offer for that particular vehicle.
For the GMC Acadia Denali, for example, a now mid-size SUV that starts at $45,000, they still use many of the same materials and overall design choices as the much cheaper SLT. The interior panel gaps are still the same. I just wish, for their top of the line models, they would do more and compromise just a little bit less. Not only have I experienced the often-misaligned panels, but many reviewers from publications like Car and Driver, MotorAuthority, and others have also noted it. Build quality is important if you’re going to put GMC’s top of the line Denali name on something.
Although this example doesn’t have anything to do with the Acadia or this article, I’m going to bring up the rather hot-button 2019 Silverado and Sierra 1500. Once you get into the LTZ and High Country models, you get this sickening feeling to your stomach that you’re going to be paying WAY too much for what they’re delivering on the inside. Just remember the goal of LTZ and High Country – once you get to that point, you’re not buying a truck just to be a truck. You’re buying a truck to be a comfortable and luxurious family hauler, mobile office, daily driver, and everything in between. Yet again we have an instance where, while the core chassis, drivetrain, and suspension tuning are highly competitive if not well above average for the class, you have a vehicle that – on the whole – doesn’t appear to deliver the same value proposition as the new Ram 1500 or even the long-in-the-tooth Ford F150.
And that is my concern. It isn’t that the interiors are outright bad. It isn’t that I would refuse to own one. It’s that I, like many others here, would have to think twice about committing to it because they chose to save their money on the interior of the vehicle – where I spend all of my time when it’s in use. They can be better on their highest-margin vehicles.
On the flipside, I think the new Work Trucks, Custom, LT, and RST are where the new Silverado shine – not to mention the simply fantastic Trail Boss models. They’ve taken those trucks up to the next level. As long as you don’t get too carried away with options, you can get into a really decent truck at a reasonable-for-2019 price.
scott3,
I agree with everything you said except the part that gm has always chose the mechanical side, and I guess I maybe agree with you there, but,
I do not agree that gm is better today in that regard.
I know you don’t think much about my posts, but my personal experiences , plus, articles on this site, have shown that gm has no better mechanical side.
And maybe you could provide some facts to back up your claim that they are better.
And in my opinion the interior, even though I think gm could do better, has had less troubles than the mechanical.
Other than the cadillac cue.
You can stop posting to me as I stopped reading your post long ago.
Lee Shannon,
As far as my opinion, I think gm should make all the profit they can, and I contribute by purchasing the most expensive gm pickup available today, the 2020 hd denali duramax.
Which I believe as per this site, has one of the largest margin of profit, of any gm vehicle on the market today.
So I dislike the center dash, screen area. I don’t need a screen like the ram but a 10″ or something worthy, again in my opinion, of one of the highest margin gm vehicles today.
And I don’t even use the screen 99.5% of the time, but the .5% with the cameras, and nav, it would be better, on the highest price truck gm offers.
I also dislike the look, of the center dash, love the rest of the truck, inside and out, however looks are subjective, but read, and talk, was the center dash an overwhelming hit ?
So like everything available in the world today there are choices, if you want a truck with a better interior today, you buy a ram.
If you want a more powerful luxury midsized vehicle today, you buy an audi, mercedes,or bmw.
Gm simply does not have a choice, at any price.
So are the majority of the people you talk about, that think there is something wrong with profit, concerned about the profit, or what they get for the price ?
Still need a muscle car, Camaro !!! not just the super car c8 vette. As a Camero driver I don’t care much for the new vette, I’m sure most people that have a passion for c8, don’t care about 700+ hp ZL1 and that’s ok.
It is not that we need these cars but the fact that a smaller segment still wants these cars.
Years ago you could sell several hundred per model per year on a shared platform that sold many more other models. Today all three pony cars are vastly under performing in sales.
Now if you have a way to sell 100k or more a year that will help them sell them at a lower price then let’s see and hear the plan. I know three companies that would love to have that answer.
Just a change in styling is not going to save any of them. The formula that created them is dead as the platforms have changed and customers buying habits have changed.
Might post this in a thread thatbit really pertains too.
I wish GM’s marketing had come up with the ‘domestic, not domesticated’ slogan for the Camaro. In many of the US’s social circles, a GM vehicle is an iconoclastic choice, and they should take advantage of where it can work for them. The Vette, the half-tons, and strong effort Cadillacs are their only straight icon appeals. Probably in that order.
I’m about to sound like a broken record, but, here goes: give me some knee room. Offer a console delete like in a Yukon. I’d buy one tomorrow.
GMC did a great job downsizing the Acadia. Had the chance to drive a mid-level several 100 miles across country, and it performed well. Even gave me great mileage with the four-banger. They are available at great discounts if you spend some time to look. While the interiors aren’t filled with bling like some foreign, so-called aspirational, brands, it’s a good choice for a vehicle if you are a buy-and-hold type like me.