2012 GMC Acadia ReviewSee all 2012 GMC Acadia's for sale |
8.2 out of 10 |
The Basics:
In the vast middle ground between station wagons and full-size sport-utility vehicles are crossovers. And few crossovers come off so smartly as the GMC Acadia, an eight- or seven-passenger utility vehicle that shares some of its running gear with the Chevy Traverse and Buick Enclave, but wears a suit of chunky sheetmetal all its own.
Available with either front- or all-wheel drive, the Acadia has a single powertrain motivating all versions. It's a 3.6-liter V-6 with 288 horsepower, coupled to a six-speed automatic that takes some prodding to snap off shifts. Acceleration is fine, but the Acadia's ride and steering feel are finer--and towing capacity is as high as 5200 pounds, depending on which model you've specified.
The Acadia's interior sports a pair of buckets in front and a three-child bench seat in the way-back, but whether it seats seven or eight depends on the middle row, a bench unless optioned up to captain's chairs. The front two rows are perfectly comfortable, even for large adults. They'll even find ample head room in the back seat, but clambering back there won't be elegant, and the low bottom cushion won't be very supportive.
In any Acadia, both the second and third rows of seats fold almost flat to boost cargo storage. From 20 cubic feet with the third-row seat in the upright position, the Acadia's storage capacity blooms to more than 115 cubic feet when the rear two rows of seats are folded. The cargo floor sits higher than in some crossovers, but a power tailgate helps make loading up the Acadia easier.
Safety scores are excellent. Both the NHTSA and the IIHS give the Acadia their top overall ratings, and the crossover comes with standard stability control, curtain airbags, with an option for a rearview camera.
The Acadia comes in base SL form with the usual power features, a CD player, and a cloth interior. By the time you've paid up to the Denali version, you'll be nearing the $50,000 mark--but you'll have DVD navigation, mahogany wood trim, heated and ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, and USB and Bluetooth connections for your phone.
It's nearly as useful as a minivan, and doesn't have the sliding side doors that condemn those vehicles to "swagger-wagon" status, at best. The Acadia's a little tougher than that--and it looks the part, too.
Likes:
- Big, cozy cabin for eight
- Carlike handling a step up from SUVs
- Denali editions are quite luxe
- Great safety ratings
Dislikes:
- Six-speed automatic is sluggish
- At 5000 pounds, it's no lightweight
- Gets expensive for a non-luxury vehicle
Other Choices:
- 2011 Toyota Highlander
- 2011 Mazda CX-9
- 2011 Honda Pilot
- 2012 Ford Flex
Reason Why:
The Acadia’s only direct competitor--other than its Chevy Traverse and Buick Enclave stablemates--is the Ford Flex, a crossover vehicle that optimizes passenger comfort and space inside a distinctively boxy body. But if you're shopping the Acadia, we'd also recommend you take a look at the Mazda CX-9, the curvaceous companion to the Ford crossover and even a better performer, though it lacks some of the Flex's sexy high-tech features. There's also the Honda Pilot, which gets a revamped cabin and a six-speed automatic for the new model year, and the Toyota Highlander, which has the least appealing handling of the bunch, but a vast interior, a flexible second-row seat with a hideaway cushion, and a companion hybrid model.
The Bottom Line:
The 2012 GMC Acadia: better for people than a big SUV, better looking than a minivan.
This 2012 GMC Acadia Review originally appeared at TheCarConnection.com where you can see more photos and news on the GMC Acadia
All of our reviews come from experts at TheCarConnection.com.
