It's time to put down the sawzall, welder, plasma cutter, and grinder for just a moment! On Wednesday, July 12, 2006, GMC revealed its first crossover, the 2007 GMC Acadia. For many of us custom truck enthusiasts, who consider power steering and working air conditioning luxurious and power accessories as custom upgrades, the Acadia stands as a pleasant surprise.
First off, I'm pretty sure the name Acadia will not be this crossover SUV's best selling feature. It is not particularly attention-grabbing, and in trying to figure out what it means, I came across several words associated with Acadia, including: Acadia National Park; Acadia University in Nova Scotia; ACADIA Pharmaceuticals; Acadia Parish, Louisiana; Acadia, Maine; Acadia, a French-given name to a colonial territory in northeastern North America in the 17th century; and most relevant here, the GMC Acadia.
Many consumers want the sporty, adventurous, hardcore look and security of an SUV, but in reality never go off-roading. This is where the crossover GMC Acadia fits in perfectly. I believe its sporty (yet not too ostentatious) design combined with a pleasant, smooth driving experience on an automobile platform will appeal nicely to the country's fast-growing crossover market. The advantages of crossovers, being handling, economy, and cost, to name a few, contribute to the recent surge in crossovers. Since the gas-guzzling SUV is not exactly convenient, efficient, or easy to handle around town, and the family minivan seems outdated and tarnishing to an image that frankly does matter in the American car culture, the Acadia certainly stands as a viable option. It is also a fresh and modern alternative to the traditional family sedan, which might be able to fit an average family, as long as they're not heading out of town. Our current family sedan will probably be replaced by some type of "large wagon" eventually.
GMC's crossover SUV Acadia prides itself in having an "athletic design," which I find to be a clever adjective because it looks sporty, sleek, aerodynamic, almost aggressive, and is aesthetically comfortable to look at. However, most of the competitors could be described this way as well, and one comment could be that this GMC crossover is different, just like all the others! The rear spoiler, chrome-tipped dual exhaust, six standard safety airbags, LED taillamps, dual halogen projector headlamps (HID available), oversized dual SkyScape sunroof, 6 lug wheels, vented rear disks, and standard 18 inch rims (with 19's available) with a tire pressure monitoring system, add some bling. I was fascinated by the audio controls in the rear cargo area, useful for your tailgate party needs. Hopefully these controls aren't damaged by cargo.
The Acadia utilizes a body-frame integral (BFI) structure, a long wheelbase (118.9 in.) and wide track (67.3 in.), which increase ride stability and handling by lowering the center of gravity. Its overall length stands at 201.1 inches, width at 78.9 inches, and height at 72.8 inches. Key competitors include vehicles such as the Honda Pilot, Dodge Durango, and Ford Explorer.