This SUV just got smaller - but smarter

The all-new generation of the popular Acadia SUV drops in size and weight, and strings along new safety tech together with a lot more horses under the hood

American manufacturers are big players in Middle East's SUV market and Chevrolet's redtab brand GMC is one of them - thanks to an aptly-sized portfolio, ranging from the compact Terrain to the full-size Yukon and now mid-size Acadia: our pick of the week. In fact, Kuwait's GMC dealer is the world's largest standalone GMC dealer in terms of sales volume.
The all-new second generation Acadia SUV sports a tauter skin, shows positive results on the weighing scale and is driven by newfound power. Let's take a closer look!

DESIGN & AESTHETICS
The 2017 GMC Acadia is smarter and more sophisticated-looking; the stylistic details are more cohesive than before. In typical American SUV style, it's got a new large grille upfront with headlamp clusters that taper both towards the grille and at the other ends.
Our top-spec Denali test car came with chrome everywhere - on the grille, door trims, door handles, lower-rear fascia and some on the chunky 6-spoke 20-inch wheels. They'd paint the whole car chrome too if they could - that's how they like it across the Atlantic Ocean. The big news, however, is that GMC are bucking the trend by downsizing. Yes, the new Acadia is smaller by 100mm in every conceivable dimension. But at 4,917mm length, 1,916mm width and 1,745mm height, it's still very substantial. Thanks to scaling down and the extensive use of aluminium, weight has dropped by an incredible 318kg. Yet, even as the numbers diminish, the Acadia remains as versatile as ever - you can get one as a 5-, 6- or 7-seater even!
Let's start from the back. The eighth seat no longer exists, but there is space for two adults in the back, and it helps if the second row passengers slide and recline a couple of inches forward. Alternatively, you can have the second row with two flexible captain's chairs with armrests. Like other GMCs, the Acadia has a well put-together cabin that is engaging to operate and comfortable to sit in, but you won't revel in its architecture. The leather is soft and resilient, but doesn't match the quality of the Bridge-of-Weir-sourced hide seen on Lincolns. The front seats have mild bolstering and are large, thanks to 8-way power adjustable front seats.
The dashboard design is typical GMC stuff. The Denali we drove had a two-tone brown interior with soft touch plastic on top and some hard plastic at the bottom - justifiable for the base car, which competes with the Nissan Pathfinder, but not for the Dh200k Denali grade. We did like the large air vents, rubberised steering control buttons and the overall simplicity of the layout. The four-spoke steering is wrapped with padded leather, making it comfortable to hold, and the combination instrument cluster - with two analogue gauges, red needles and a centre digital screen - is easy to read.

POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE
When it comes to dynamics, GMC aced half the job by reducing weight. The other half of the improvements can be found under the hood, where they've employed a similar - if not same - engine configuration: a 3.6-litre V6. Power is up by from 288 to an SAE-certified 310 PS, although torque remains at 366 Nm. It's tied to a simple 6-speed automatic, which may seem like too few rations on paper, but works well on the road. You can feel the added horsepower advantage in the way she gets up and goes. It's lithe and more reactive, capable of making that run from standstill to 100 km/h in a brisk 7.5 seconds, quicker than its predecessor by a second.
The shrinkage and weight savings has allowed GMC to claim fuel consumption of 11.2 L/100km on the combined cycle for the FWD models and 11.7 L/100km for AWD. Although the engine is equipped with direct injection, variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management (Cylinder Deactivation), these figures are a tad optimistic. In the real world of unpredictable traffic, occasional open throttles where you need to catch the green light and bust some egos, you would average between 13 and 14 L/100km. Taking into consideration the range deficiency of the AWD model, they have given it an 83-litre tank instead of the regular 48-litre capacity.

FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY
The big improvement is in terms of safety. Now, you can get advanced features like Front Pedestrian Braking and Surround Vision Camera. The others on the list include Forward Automatic Braking (available on Denali), Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning with Side Blind Zone Alert Front, Rear Parking Assist etc. The 1,800-kg trailering capability is lesser than before but useful nonetheless. Tow Vision Trailering system makes hitching easier by employing a rear-vision camera, with dynamic guidelines, to help line up the Acadia's hitch with the trailer, as well as offer views of the trailer while driving.
At the centre of its infotainment system is an 8-inch screen that has an iPhone-like, easy-to-use responsive interface. The IntelliLink system also allows you to connect the phone wirelessly via Bluetooth or through wired Android Auto. Through this, you can also access Google Maps; the system even reads your SMSes and you can choose from a large list of predefined replies or make your own.
As for space, with both the second and third row down, the Acadia offers 2,237 litres of cargo room and levers at the rear of the vehicle, make it easier to fold both rows.

VERDICT
The 2017 GMC Acadia is like a student who's come a long way. GMC have identified the necessary, and taken off the rest by shedding size, weight and the eighth seat. They have also addressed deficiencies by adding more power and safety features to create a well-rounded product. The new SUV is quicker between the lights and around corners and even more economical than before. But it's also expensive when prepped with options and isn't meant for the desert dueler type. It will fit every other type well though.  
wknd@khaleejtimes.com

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