GMC Outs Lighter, More Efficient Acadia Crossover

After switching to a new platform, the Acadia is 700 pounds lighter than the old model. The new Acadia is dramatically smaller than its predecessor in almost every dimension.

It will continue to be offered with Denali upscale trim as well as a new All Terrain model that will provide off-road capability, GMC said. Most models still offer three rows of seating, with the exception of the new All Terrain model, which seems to be targeted to Jeep Grand Cherokee buyers, with a special Active Twin Clutch all-wheel-drive system for enhanced traction on and off-road.

Other new interior features include a storage drawer on the rear of the center console for second-row passengers as well as a standard rear seat alert that notifies the driver if an item has been left on the second- or third-row seats. When equipped, the third row folds flat in a 50/50 split and offers a maximum of 79 cubic feet of total cargo space, down from 2016’s 116.1 cubic feet.

Confirming a recent rumor, the Acadia’s standard engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 195 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 190 lb-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm. If you step up to the higher-spec engine, you’ll find a 3.6-liter V-6 that’s good for 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Both variants come with a 6-speed automatic. Despite the additional power, towing capacity actually drops from 5,200 pounds to 4,000 pounds.

It is available with five, six or seven-passenger seating, depending on the model, and front-wheel drive models offer a GM-estimated 28 mpg on the highway and an estimated 22 mpg in the city thanks to a new, standard 2.5L engine. Official EPA figures won’t be published until closer to the Acadia’s launch date.

Traditional GMC styling traits are here including the chrome-trimmed grille, and squared off and flared wheel arches.

Denali models feature a “dimensional chrome grille”, chrome side trim, chrome door handles, chrome lower rear fascia, and unique six-spoke wheels. Plenty of safety and convenience technologies are on the options sheet including front pedestrian braking, low speed forward automatic braking, and forward automatic braking that can all help reduce the severity of a collision or prevent one entirely. It also gets a new Surround Vision camera together with front & rear parking assist, and IntelliBeam automatic headlamp high-beam control.

There’s also optional IntelliLink infotainment system, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2017 GMC Acadia will reach dealers this spring. Levers at the rear of the vehicle make it easier to fold the second- and third-row seats, GMC says.

Maybe the all-new second-generation Acadia, which debuts at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, can help fuel another record sales year? Only time will tell if a smaller, nimbler, lighter, more fuel-efficient, and more powerful midsize crossover will sell as well as GMC’s full-size sales success.