GMC Acadia

GMC Acadia
Overview
Manufacturer General Motors
Production 2006–present
Model years 2007–present
Assembly Lansing Delta Township Assembly, Delta Township, Michigan
Body and chassis
Class Full-size crossover SUV
Body style 4-door SUV
Layout Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive / all-wheel drive
Platform GM Lambda platform/GMT968 (Series GMT960)
Related Buick Enclave
Chevrolet Traverse
Saturn Outlook
Powertrain
Engine 3.6 L LY7 V6
3.6 L LLT V6
Transmission 6-speed 6T75 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase 118.9 in (3,020 mm)
Length 2007–2008 & 2013–present: 201.1 in (5,108 mm)
2009–2012: 200.7 in (5,098 mm)
Width 2007–2008 & 2013–present: 78.9 in (2,004 mm)
2009–2012: 78.2 in (1,986 mm)
Height 2007–2008 & 2013–present: 72.8 in (1,849 mm)
2009–2012: 69.9 in (1,775 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor GMC Safari
GMC Envoy XL
Pontiac Montana SV6
Saturn Outlook

The GMC Acadia is a full-size crossover SUV from GM. The GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse, and Buick Enclave share the new GM Lambda platform. The Acadia went on sale in the United States in December 2006, and in Canada in January 2007. The Acadia replaces three of the seven or eight-passenger vehicles on the Pontiac-Buick-GMC dealership network, the mid-size GMC Safari van, the GMC Envoy, and the Pontiac Montana SV6 minivan for the USA Only. As of 2009, the Lambda vehicles have replaced the Buick Rainier, Buick Rendezvous, and the Buick Terraza, and then subsequently the GMC Envoy and the Chevrolet TrailBlazer. A Denali version of the Acadia debuted in 2010 as a 2011 model.

First generation

2007 GMC Acadia

The Acadia augments GMC with an entry level truck-like SUV and is the first unibody vehicle from the marque. It is also GMC's first front-wheel drive passenger vehicle and GMC's first crossover SUV. (GMC's first front wheel drive vehicle was their mid-1970s motorhome which used a derivative of the GM E platform which underpinned the Cadillac Eldorado and Oldsmobile Toronado but it was marketed as a recreational vehicle.) The Acadia features seating for eight, generous interior space, and either front or all-wheel drive. With a 5,200 lb (2,042 kg) towing capacity, the Acadia slots between the Envoy and the Yukon. The Acadia is the mid-priced Lambda model between the Chevrolet Traverse and Enclave. The Acadia had average reliability ratings in Consumer Reports' surveys.

Suspension and chassis

The 2008 Acadia has a 118.9 inch (3020.7 mm) wheelbase and offers wide 67.28 inch (1709 mm) front/rear tracks that will offer a lower ride height. The independent front suspension is a MacPherson strut design, with a direct-acting stabilizer bar and aluminum knuckles. The independent rear suspension uses a "H" Linked design.

Steering is power-assisted rack-and-pinion, with an optional variable-effort system. Standard are 18 inch wheels and tires, with optional 19 inch wheels. Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS are standard.

Engine and transmission

The Acadia uses GM's High Feature LY7 V6 that was introduced in the Cadillac CTS. In the Acadia, the engine produces 275 hp (205 kW) and 251 lb·ft (340 N·m). of torque (340 Nm). The Acadia also uses the new 6T75 6-speed automatic, offering good city and highway fuel economy matched with brisk acceleration when needed. According to GMC, the 6T75 adds up to 8 percent improved performance and up to 4 percent improved fuel economy when compared with current front-wheel drive four-speed automatics offered in various GM models.

2009 brought an engine change to the direct injected LLT, increasing power to 288 hp (215 kW) and torque to 270 lb·ft (366 N·m).

The 2012 Acadia has a 3.6L V6 engine that delivers 288 hp (215 kW) and torque of 270 lb-ft.

YearEnginePowerTorqueTransmission
2007–20083.6 L LY7 V6 275 hp (205 kW) 251 lb·ft (340 N·m) 6-speed 6T75
2009–present3.6 L LLT V6 288 hp (215 kW) 270 lb·ft (366 N·m)

Interior

The Acadia features available 3-row, 7 or 8-passenger seating. Inside, the Acadia features more contemporary trim than the Outlook, including chrome and satin nickel textures, and a wider variety of two-toned interior colors such as an Ebony and Light Titanium (grey) cloth upholstery, and a choice of either Ebony, Light Titanium (grey) or Brick (brown) leather upholstery. A heads-up display similar to those found in the Cadillac XLR, Cadillac STS, Pontiac Grand Prix, Pontiac Aztek, Pontiac Bonneville, Buick Park Avenue and Chevrolet Corvette is one of the available options exclusive to the Acadia and standard on the Acadia Denali thus far.

Wheels and tires

The 2008 Acadia features 19 inch cast aluminum wheels and Goodyear Eagle RS-A M+S P255/60R-19 108H tires with a high-pressure compact spare tire standard on the SLT2 model and optional on the SLT1. The SLE model has 18 inch painted aluminum wheels with P255/65R-18 tires. The SLT1 comes standard with 18 inch machined aluminum wheels.

Acadia Denali

First generation 2011 GMC Acadia Denali
Second generation 2013 GMC Acadia Denali
back of the 2013 GMC Acadia Denali

The Denali version of the Acadia arrived at dealerships as a 2011 model in the third quarter of 2010.[1] This upgraded trim is available in FWD and AWD versions in seven- or eight-passenger form and features monotone paint, honeycomb grille, unique front and rear fascias, along with HID headlamps, chrome accents, exhaust tips and six-spoke 20-inch wheels. Interior upgrades include perforated leather seating and unique wood trim.

The Acadia Denali joins its SUV siblings, the Terrain Denali, the Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali, and in turn marks GMC's first crossover to take the Denali badge.[2]

Trim levels

Trim Level Years
SL 2008–2012
SLE 2007–present
SLT 2007–present
Denali 2011–present

2013 Facelift

GM unveiled an updated 2013 GMC Acadia at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, taking the bodyshell of the defunct Saturn Outlook.[3] The 2013 Acadia received a completely redesigned grille and front fascia, a redesigned rear liftgate, and an improved interior with upgrades to interior quality, as with its other two updated siblings, the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse.

MY2014 For the 2014 model year, the Acadia added Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning as a standard on Denali and as an optional feature on SLT1 and SLT2 trims, while two charging-only USB ports on the rear of the center console for second-row use were added as a standard for all trims.[4]

MY2015 For the 2015 model year, a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel became standard on SLT-2 and Denali models, along with a twenty-inch aluminum wheel design. Crimson Red Tintcoat, Dark Sapphire Blue Metallic, and Midnight Amethyst Metallic are added as new exterior color palettes.[5]

Safety

A unibody construction helps lower center of gravity, compared to previous truck-based GM SUVs, reduces the risk of rollover accidents. Much of the Acadia's structure is reinforced with high-strength steel, including a steel cross-car beam welded across the floor between the B-pillars.

The Acadia has six different airbags equipped in the vehicle; two dual-stage front air bags for the driver and front passenger, two seat-mounted side-impact air bags in the first row and two head curtain side impact air bags that cover all three seating rows. Similar to the Volvo XC90, the Acadia will have a detection system on board that will deploy various airbags if a rollover is detected.

Additionally, the Acadia has a standard OnStar system, now in its ninth generation.

Yearly American sales

Year Sales
2006 480
2007 72,765
2008 66,440
2009 53,820[6]
2010 68,295[7]
2011 79,288[8]
2012 79,756
2013 89,793[9]
2014 83,972[10]

References

Notes

  1. Paukert, Chris (2010-01-11). ""Detroit 2010: GMC Acadia Denali piles on the frosting" from Autoblog (January 11, 2010)". Autoblog. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  2. Filipponio, Frank (2009-12-17). ""GMC reveals gussied-up Acadia Denali for 2011" from Autoblog (December 17, 2009)". Autoblog. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  3. "2013 GMC Acadia Revealed at Chicago Auto Show". About.com.
  4. 2014 GMC Acadia from GM Media (posted May 2013)
  5. 2015 GMC Acadia from GM Media (posted August 2014)
  6. "General Motors December 2009 - Cheers & Gears Forums". Cheersandgears.com. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  7. "December 2010 Sales: General Motors - Cheers & Gears Forums". Cheersandgears.com. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  8. "GM’s U.S. Sales Increase 5 Percent in December". Media.gm.com. 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  9. "GM U.S. Deliveries for December 2013" (PDF). General Motors. 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  10. "GM Deliveries Up 19 Percent In Blockbuster December" GM Media (January 5, 2015)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to GMC Acadia.