GMC Hedging a Safe Bet with its New Acadia
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You know GMC has high hopes for its first crossover, the Acadia – and an indication of who it thinks will buy it – when a four-page cardboard newsletter ad appeared in Sports Illustrated in September 2008.
The crossover sport utility vehicle will share the new GM Lambda platform with the Buick Enclave and Saturn Outlook, and is GMC’s first venture into unibody, front-wheel passenger and crossover vehicles.
Initial industry and consumer reviews have been solid, especially in terms of safety. In fall 2008 the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recognized the Acadia with the highest five-star ranking for front, side and rear impacts.
Along with the new Traverse, GMC plans to phase out the Buick Rainier, Buick Rendezvous, Buick Terraza and the GMC Envoy – and maybe even the Chevrolet TrailBlazer.
Again, reviews have been positive, perhaps directing GM to positive light after months of terrible sales while mire in a high-gas-prices haze.
But why so much energy on new vehicles which are essentially scaled down sport utility vehicles? Perhaps it’s to buy time while GM hustles to get to market its true, new gas-sipping smaller models?
In the meantime, the American automaker is strongly pushing its new Acadia, as something with “full-size capacity, mid-size convenience, and travel-size gas bills.”
New-Car Attractions in a Used Car Era
But will it fly out of showrooms with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $30,470 to $39,015? These are tough economic times for car buyers, who have shown a tendency to keep their current cars longer, or to buy used cars.
It’s a great time to sell a used car. The market is solid.
For new-car buyers, the attractions remain the same: fuel economy is tops, followed by safety, comfort and style.
The Acadia can get an EPA-estimated 24 miles per gallon on highways (16 on city streets) while carrying up to eight people – and up to 528 highway miles on a single tank of gas.
It comes in either front or all-wheel drive, and can tow up to 4,500 lbs. using GM’s 3.6-liter LY7 V6 engine and 275 horsepower.
Its top features are impressive cargo capacity, comfortable passenger seating and safety features.
Aside from comfort in its three rows of seating, inside the Acadia has an optional touchscreen navigation radio, and a more contemporary trim than its predecessors.
For style, check out chrome and satin nickel textures, and more of a variety of two-toned interior colors.
The Acadia was honored by MotorWeek with a Driver’s Choice Award, as “Best Crossover Utility Vehicle of 2008.”
Acadia and Safety, Safety, Safety
Another honor was from Edmunds.com: Consumers’ Most Significant Vehicle for 2007.
The Acadia’s unibody construction lowers the center of gravity compared with previous truck-based GM sport utility vehicles, which reduces potential for rollover accidents.
Additionally, much of the Acadia’s structure is reinforced with high-strength steel, including a steel cross-car beam across the floor between the B-pillars.
Tack on top of that six different airbags – 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 for all three seating rows – and you have to feel pretty safe in an Acadia.
One negative mark is the Acadia was among 16 GM vehicles involved in an August 2008 recall that impacted 944,000 vehicles due to a problem with a windshield wiper fluid system that experts believed could lead to a fire.
The problem will be fixed by dealers by installing a wire harness with an in-line fuse, free of charge.
All in all, the Acadia holds much promise for GM and GMC. If you’re in the market to buy a new vehicle, the Acadia appears to be a good bet. Especially if you have a family you need to trek to and from for long distances, as safely as possible.
William Travis is a freelance writer who focuses on tidbits aimed at helping you sell your car, or to get good cash for used cars. He has written extensively about cars and the automotive industry. See his work at www.cash4usedcars.com.
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