As it stands now, GMC lacks a proper full-size CUV, a gap that’s been in place since the introduction of the second-generation GMC Acadia. Now, GM Authority has exclusively learned that GMC is considering filling that white space.
According to sources familiar with future GMC vehicle and product plans, The General is considering adding a full-size, three-row GMC crossover to the lineup. We’ve been told that product planners open to the idea of a larger crossover to slot between the Acadia and GMC Yukon.
First-generation GMC Acadia
The last time GMC had a full-size crossover was with the first-generation Acadia, which was introduced for the 2007 and remained in production thru 2016 (ending for the 2017 model year as the Acadia Limited). That first-generation Acadia was a full-size crossover roughly the same size as the Chevrolet Traverse. But when GMC introduced the second-gen Acadia for the 2017 model year, the overhauled vehicle saw a decrease in size, shrinking a size segment and leaving the brand without a true full-size crossover.
| Subcompact CUV | Compact CUV | Midsize CUV | Full-Size CUV | Full-Size SUV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| None Currently | Terrain | Acadia | None Currently | Yukon/Yukon XL |
Second-gen GMC Acadia
While still offering three rows of seating, the second-gen Acadia is narrower and shorter compared to the first-gen model, both inside and out. The reasoning behind the downsize comes down to a change in segment that opens the vehicle to being considered by a larger market segment than the first-gen, full-size model. Though that’s surely the case from an objective standpoint, many owners of the first-gen Acadia didn’t take kindly to the change.
As it stands, the GMC lineup has a big, glaring gap that should be filled, considering the continuing popularity of crossovers. If GMC wants to take full advantage of the ongoing spike in CUV sales, it’s gonna need a full lineup of such vehicles for buyers to choose from, including a full-size model above the Acadia.
The news comes on the heels of an exclusive GM Authority report that a subcompact crossover below the Terrain, such as the rumored GMC Granite, is not in the cards for the short-term future.
We’ll keep our ear to the ground, so make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more GMC Acadia news, GMC news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
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Comments
Oh dear lord, GM has slowly, but surely gone back to the days of each brand having an “us-too” product so GM has 3-4 versions of essentially the same vehicle.
I’m sure there will be some incremental sales for this new Acadia-but-not-the-current-Acadia-we-mean-like the-old-Acadia product, but mostly it will just shift sales from the Chevy Traverse and (to a lesser extent) the Buick Enclave. That’s not a significant net gain to GM.
Meanwhile, GM is ignoring truly new categories for the company, such as a Wrangler fighter, which would be perfect for GMC. They can’t do everything (capital funds are limited) and they are missing big opportunities by focusing on smaller ones.
The opportunity for a full-size GMC crossover above the Acadia is significant, and much greater than the limited opportunity of a Wrangler fighter… though one of those would be great. When the crossover space is growing at that rate that it is, GMC – a brand that is totally and completely about trucks and CUVs/SUVs – can only ignore it for so long.
If a full-size GMC CUV is done the right way, then it would not take much away from the Traverse or Enclave. For some reason, there are those who think that GM continues to compete with its own offerings, while giving other automakers a pass. Case in point: I have yet to someone say that the beloved Telluride and Palisade are “us-too” products that cannibalize one another, even though they can be thought of as such.
By the way, with a hypothetical full-size GMC crossover, GM would have three models (not four) on the long-wheelbase C1 platform (Traverse and Enclave being the other two). A Cadillac off this architecture is not planned as of this writing… since the XT6 is on the mid-size-plus-sized version of C1:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/07/gm-c1-platform-massive-exercise-in-automotive-scale/
GM itself doesn’t need another Enclave / Traverse. They should spend more on making those models better. They already offer two models in the same space.
How about fewer models but putting the correct amount of energy into those models. And why is it a special edition or package takes years to implement but it is basically emblems and a grill.
Make a real AT4 Acadia. A real Traverse RS with the 3.0t. A real Avenir Exclave with the 3.0t and some substantial interior upgrades.
Or just keep phoning in garbage and wondering if you should find a new marketing firm as an explanation for slipping market share.
If GMC gets a mega- crossover, Chevy should get the Blazer Carryall.
Now that would truly be overkill Chevrolet already has two C1 based SUVs.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. I mean how many soccer mom vehicles can we make? GM… kid tested, mother approved
As many as the market demands… which currently is a lot and growing.
Whether or not we personally find it “cool” or relevant is… well… irrelevant.
Both the total assets and equity of GM are almost double that of FCA. Last year alone the equinox alone moved o̶v̶e̶r̶ almost 100k units more than the Wrangler. If you include the GMC Terrain and Buick Envision, on the same platform, that’s almost an additional 100k units. A niche market like the wrangler would be a waste of time and money for GM to indulge. If you want a Jeep, just go buy a Jeep.
If GM were to spend money on research and development, I think it would be wise do so on the aging Gamma and Delta platforms. GM needs more dynamic and exciting offerings with the VSS-F platform. The Cruze was a huge seller when it was a class leader. And the Sonic has the ability to pull sales from the German and Japanese hatchbacks, they just need to update the platform and drive-train. The new trailblazer will be an exciting start, if South Korean workers don’t strike first.
Totally agree. Need the Acadia like it was. Wanted to buy an Acadia early 2018 but did not like the new smaller version.
R-w-d/a-w-d, V-8 please….
If anyone ever seen episodes of ‘Counting Cars’ on the History channel; you will notice that back in the early 1970s, there were a bunch of cars that differ little except for the grill and they were all very successful, if GMC thinks they can sell 65-75,000 of these bigger CUV then it’s something to seriously consider.
@omegatalon:
I understand your logic, but it just doesn’t work that way. Let’s just say (from your numbers) that GMC does sell 65-75,000 of these a year. How many of those would have been Enclave/Acadia/Yukon sales already? No way to tell 100% for sure, but I’d bet 90% + would have gone to one of those three models.
The problem is that the import buyers still won’t come in to buy this larger GMC crossover in any meaningful numbers. As sure as I’m writing this now, those buyers will not consider anything from GM/Ford/FCA for any reason. I know. I’m selling in one of the largest auto markets in the USA and probably the most snobbish market outside of maybe SF Bay area. Just like hard-core left’s will never cross over to the right nor hard-core right’s move to the left. Most hard-core import brand buyers will never cross over to a domestic. Sad but true.
Keep in mind omegatlon that GM had a much larger overall market share back then compared to now.
So I’m a little confused now. Please remove the terms “CUV” and “Crossover” for a moment. Now, why on earth would GMC do this? They already have a full-sized/3rd row vehicle called the Yukon. If that’s not enough, try on the Yukon XL. Coming out with a full-sized “crossover” will do three things: First, it will eat away at the Buick Enclave sales. After all, the GMC/Buick is basically one dealership in nearly all markets anyhow. Second, it will draw some sales from the current Acadia. Lastly, it will remove some Yukon buyers who think they may get 2 or 3 MPG better with a front drive based CUV with the 3rd row. News flash: It doesn’t work. When I was at the Buick, Cadillac and GMC store, we had people upset that the Acadia/Enclave were not getting any better MPG’s than the Yukons/Escalades.
I’m not saying that I’m against GMC getting one of these. I just don’t understand why. Like someone else said above. Put that capital into making the current offerings even better.
“Now, why on earth would GMC do this? They already have a full-sized/3rd row vehicle called the Yukon.”
In much the same way that the Tahoe and Suburban co-exist in near-perfect harmony with the Traverse, so too could a full-size GMC crossover co-exist with the Yukon and Yukon XL.
With the amount of buyers coming into these segments, it’s almost a no-brainer to make crossovers in pretty much every size and for any segment and demo. Meanwhile, there is plenty of room for similarly-sized body-on-frame and crossover models. Other examples to support this notion across the industry include the Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee (crossovers) vs. the body-on-frame Wrangler, as well as the Toyota Highlander crossover vs. the body-on-frame 4Runner and/or Forturer.
So essentially it will be a 2016 Acadia?
My 2 cents? I purchased a “barely” used 2015 GMC Acadia (SLT2 AWD) a few years ago. I love it – it fits my needs (room for 4 dog crates in the back, my main concern), plus I always preferred GMC.
Yukon? That would be nice, but higher $$, even for used with high miles.
I am not concerned with gas mileage, at least not yet – maybe after I retire I will be……
Personally, my next vehicle will be a used Traverse due to the stupid downsizing of the Acadia……..
If you like the traverse, it might be worth checking out the buick enclave. Personally, I always prefer the bowtie 😉
“h4cksaw”,
Nope, don’t like the looks of the Enclave front end (yep, I am picky….).
I agree the larger model will add sales to GMC. But my concern is are these new sales to GM or sales robbed from Chevy or Buick and Cadillac?
My take is GM needs this level vehicle but they also need to work better with the other divisions to make sure these models have enough space between them to make sure buyers are not jumping one GM brand to another.
Case in point of GM here is in the same Showroom at min they have the Enclave and Acadia. They compliment each other. A larger GMC would compete witht he Enclave. Now if they plan to kill Buick it makes good sense but if they keep Buick around at a similar price point? Would that money be better used for a more diverse product line.
If built right jeep competitor could do very well and bring much needed added profits. Jeep moves a lot of Wrangler inspite of the vehicles short comings due to styling. Build a better version not limited and you may just built a new Icon.
I just don’t want to see GM do like they did in the past with the Regal, GP, Monte Carlo and Cutlass and sell cars that all competed with each other more than anyone else. How many versions of the smae thing do we need?
Now make the next size up GMC SUV on an Alpha platform to make it different I am good with that.
My wife and I have owned a 2008 and 2012 Acadia Denali. We presently own a 2016 Acadia Denali and have enjoyed every one of them. We keep them serviced on a regular basis and our vehicles are quickly sold by the dealer after they are traded in. We are in our 80’s now and 2020 is the year we are looking to buying a new car. I am disappointed in the size of the 2020 Acadia Denali as compared to our present car and have been considering a Buick Enclave. My wife loves the heads up display on the Acadia which is not available on the Enclave. Possibly we may need to wait and see if a new/bigger Acadia Denali is on the way.
Would much prefer to see the GMC BOF Jimmy mid-size SUV than this “me to” vehicle.
I WOULD HOPE THAT GMC WILL BUILD A NEW AND UPGRADED ACADIA DENALI THAT IS MUCH THE SAME SIZE AS OUR PRESENT DENALI
Might note some are disappointed in the new Acadia Size. Well more like our family are now Acadia owners because of th3 new smaller size.
We never bought the old model as it was bigger than we wanted o4 needed. Based on sales we were not alone.
No one model will fit all and GM needs to find the sweet spots.
But GM needs to better let the product compliment each other vs just selling badged engineered models with small differences.
I thought the YUKON was for that –here we go again GM will flood the market with all these suv’s and not build 1 sedan which some consumers are looking for I am a loyal GM buyer but with no sedan that may change . is there somebody out there that can tell us if any of Mary and her cronies read these comments they really should