Feature: 2007 GMC Acadia

The Red Jewel GMC Acadia arrived during the appointed time for my week-long test drive in GM's newest entry into the crossover SUV segment. The Acadia is one of four GM SUVs sharing the same platform, sheet metal and drivetrain. The first two on the market are the Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia. The Buick Enclave was just introduced a couple months ago and sometime in 2008 or 2009, the Chevrolet Traverse will enter the market as the least expensive of the bunch.

The Acadia rides on GM's Lambda platform which is, mercifully, NOT a truck platform. These Lambda-based SUVs were created to replace the aged and undistinguished truck-based SUVs we knew as the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Olds Bravada, GMC Envoy and Buick Rainier.

I tested a GMC Envoy XUV a couple years ago and I was singularly unimpressed with its anemic, antique 5.4 liter V8 mated to a 4-speed automatic that had worn out its welcome more than two automotive generations ago. The Acadia leaps these neglected generations to take its place as a truly modern, versatile 6-7 passenger SUV that drives much more like a car than a truck.

The sole powertrain for all four badge-engineered products is GM's "high content" 3.6 liter V6 engine with variable valve timing (VVT) mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Our tester was a well-equipped all wheel drive with the SLT-2 option package and included a touch-screen navigation system, dual skyscape sunroof, 19" ultra bright aluminum wheels, rear seat DVD entertainment system with 2 headphones and Bose surround sound system, head-up digital instrumentation display and cargo area audio controls. The Red Jewel tintcoat paint added an extra $395 to the sticker. In total, the Acadia stickered for $44,435 (including a $735 destination charge).

The EPA estimates for the Acadia are 17 city mpg and 24 highway mpg. Those are nice estimates; however, during our week with the Acadia, we averaged only around 11.8 mpg. The engine is rated at 275 hp with 251 lb ft torque. In normal daily stop and go traffic, the Acadia floated along with little effort. However, when you are on inclines like Laurel Canyon or even the 405 freeway between the Valley and metro LA, the powertrain seems strained and the six-speed automatic constantly hunted for the right gear to keep the car moving. Let's face it, our AWD Acadia is a bit porky at almost 5,000 lbs (4925 curb weight). If it lost some weight, the Acadia would have a better chance of keeping pace without constant downshifts and power lags.

I was never sure if the engine was underpowered or if the transmission software needed tweaking to keep the heft moving. It's possible that a small V8 engine would provide the necessary power upgrade to make the Acadia feel more light-footed and while achieving similar fuel economy as it wouldn't have to work as hard as the V6 to get the job done. There have been hints of a V8 option in the future, but no official word from GM. However, both Alan and I agree that for most Acadia buyers, the V6 should do just fine.

Of the current triplets, I think the Acadia has the most handsome mug and butt. The Saturn Outlook is a bit plain-jane while the Buick Enclave has too much bling for my tastes. All three entries get three rows of seats. Our Acadia had two captain chairs for the second row that tumbled forward to provide third row access as well as flat cargo space. A second row bench provides an extra seat if you really need to seat seven.

The third row is actually usable for children and smaller adults. Unlike the third row in many of the Japanese and Korean SUVs hitting the market currently, the Acadia has real-world leg and knee room and while the space wouldn't be great on a long trip for an adult, it would work just fine for kids. Just for comparison, I went to look at the 2008 Toyota Highlander which boasts a third row bench seat. Only the youngest children would fit into those seats and kids tend to grow faster than the normal vehicle replacement timetable for parents.

If you have a large family, the Acadia just may be the car for you. Both Alan and I found the interior fresh, airy, roomy and well-appointed. The plastics are in the same league as the competition although I found a couple rough-edged plastic pieces. I particularly liked the instrument panel. The red backlit gauges are crisp, easy to read and the automatic headlamp control always kept the lights on when needed. I really learned to like the head-up projected display that appears like a hologram in the windshield. The head-up display is customizable to just the information you want -- or you can turn it off. I chose to have the speed, outside temperature and radio station displayed.

The Bose surround audio system was excellent and I would consider it money well spent. I didn't try playing a DVD for the rear occupants as I didn't have anyone in the back seat! But I was easily able to blow out my eardrums with a CD or the XM satellite radio if I had such a desire.

The touch screen navigation system is also excellent. I found it easy to zoom in on a particular area and it was much easier to shift the view to see roads/highways that may be near the car's location but not showing in the view of the screen. It's nice to be able to see these areas without zooming out, which tends to lose street detail. The only thing missing was the real-time traffic information I see on my navigation screen in my BMW. That said, I usually don't need that screen to tell me that the 101 in Hollywood is jammed most times of the work week (and now much of the weekend).

The Acadia has loads of interior room. The large front seats adjust to fit just about any person of any size. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes. The pedals don't adjust so some shorter drivers may find it more difficult to be comfortable. But the average to huge driver should easily find a comfortable position. I found the driver's seat to be very comfortable with good bottom and back support. There was no thigh extension but the standard leather seats are long enough to offer decent thigh support even for guys with long legs like me. I tend to driver a bit more aggressively than most drivers, so I would have liked some more lateral support -- but most drivers won't even notice this issue.

The second and third row seats were easy to fold down to make way for large amounts of cargo. I was able to take my broken sliding screen door to the hardware store for repair. The power-operated rear tailgate was very convenient. You can open it from a dash button or by remote. To close it, there is a touch switch on the inner frame of the door. Short people may have wished for the switch on the interior closer to the level of the rear audio switches, but you can always use the remote button. The back window is fixed. I would love to see a flip up or roll down feature on the window so you could carry long cargo without leaving the tailgate open. Sadly, very few SUVs or wagons have this feature.

I'm going to ding GM for a few small things. First, is the lack of automatic rain-sensing wipers. GM already has this technology in its parts bin. Why isn't it standard or part of a convenience package? Realistically -- how much extra could this cost?

The manual mode on the transmission works, and I found it particularly useful on Angeles Crest Highway. The gear selected even shows up on the head-up display (if you want it to). However, the shift buttons are on the left side of the shift lever head and aren't as easy or intuitive to use as the transmissions that use the shift lever itself - up or down - or steering wheel-mounted paddles to do the same job. Most drivers will never use the transmission in any mode other than drive, but a simple shift-gate configuration change would make this feature faster and easier to use.

I found that the Acadia tended to roll back more than other cars when I let go of the brake while stopped on a hill. The technology to prevent roll-back has been out there for years. Perhaps GM should considering incorporating it on all their automatic transmissions.

Next is GM's singular reliance on OnStar for vehicle communications. I don't know anyone who is willing to give up their handheld mobile phone for OnStar. If you have OnStar, you have to use the OnStar phone number and the rather expensive OnStar plans. Some people keep OnStar for the safety the system offers in case of an emergency. But that costs $16.95 a month and while it seems like nothing, most people want to have only one phone number and one phone that they can carry with them (including their personal phone book).

With California going hands-free on 1 January 2008, GM needs to offer Bluetooth integration for your mobile phone in conjunction with (if not as an alternative to) OnStar.

Oh, one last thing on options. The Japanese manufacturers (Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura and Mazda) all offer backup cameras on their SUVs that compete with the Acadia. I've driven SUVs with backup cameras and I have to say they work rather well. A backup camera can make parallel and tight-space backing up much easier. GM should seriously consider this option in the future. The Acadia is pretty big and while the backup sensors are handy, a backup camera might be even better!

The Acadia's natural competition is the Toyota Highlander/Lexus RX, Honda Pilot, Acura MDX, Hyundai Veracruz (a facsimile of the RX) and the Mazda CX-9). The Acadia is bigger than the competition and has more real-world human and cargo room. These days, bigger isn't always better, but in its class, for daily people and cargo-moving duties, the Acadia not only holds its own but it excels.

My guess is that the competition wouldn't get much better fuel economy than the Acadia. Although the Acadia is the porkiest of the bunch, they all have similar-sized V6 engines with similar EPA estimates. My experience is that 18 mpg city usually equals 12 mpg - no matter the country of origin!

The handsome Acadia should be on the shopping list of anyone looking for a large crossover SUV. It's harder in a city like LA to get anyone to put a GM vehicle on their shopping list, let alone buy one. But GM has leapt into the modern age of automobiles with the Acadia. It's a large, comfortable SUV that will swallow lots of kids, parents and their stuff. It can easily swallow a surf board (if not a long board) and it floats gently over rough roads. Gone is ancient truck platform and fixed rear axle that gave the old GM SUVs a noisy and jarring ride.

The modern powertrain is excellent, if a tad overwhelmed in the Acadia. The automatic climate control will keep you comfortable no matter what the temperature is during the summer in the Valley and the heated seats will make sure your buns are warmed in the winter time. The AWD system distributes torque so that you don't have the horror of front drive torque steer found in less refined GM products. On the other hand, the power steering is dialed up so high that you don't get much, if any road feel. The Acadia feels calm and controlled even at higher speeds.

The Acadia has lots of standard safety features including 1st, 2nd and 3rd row head curtain air bags, antilock brakes, electronic stability control, front side impact air bags, etc. The optional 19" wheels looked and felt massive. There is lots of rubber and heft to keep the car planted to the pavement even in extremely inclement weather. OnStar safe and sound is onboard to call for help in the event of an accident or emergency, even if you're unconscious.

But the Acadia isn't for a car enthusiast. It's for a busy mom or dad to chauffeur kids and stuff all over town and on road trips. The Acadia offers a comfortable, safe and modern place to spend lots of time in traffic as well as a family road trip. Is the Acadia a refrigerator? Yes; but it's a really nice refrigerator. It is also a treat to see GM build a vehicle that is a true competitor to the Japanese (and now the Koreans). I don't have to make excuses for an American product. Finally.

Last year, GM increased its standard warranty to: 3 years 36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper coverage plus an extended 5 year, 100,000 mile powertrain warranty plus 6 years, 100,000 anti-corrosion protection. That's pretty good. But I'd still recommend a lease for no more than the bumper-to-bumper warranty period. That way, if there are any unforeseen problems, it's all covered under the original manufacturer's warranty.

I'm going to rate the Acadia at a 5 on the refrigerator meter. It's no enthusiast car, but it's a nice place to spend lots of grueling hours in LA traffic.

If you have questions or comments about this review write us at: letters@acarisnotarefrigerator.com