Buyers Snap Up Highly Praised Acadia

[Ming]

Buyers snap up Acadias
Highly praised crossover utility vehicle a hit with consumers
By G. CHAMBERS WILLIAMS III
SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

The all-new GMC Acadia is arguably one of the best of the new crossover utility vehicles.

As these vehicles continue their drive to take over the market segment once controlled by the conventional truck-based SUVs, there haven't been many midsize models that have stood out.

But the Acadia, which arrived several months ago as a 2007 model, has received high praise from automotive critics and consumers alike. Dealers are having trouble keeping these vehicles in stock because they are selling so fast. Ditto for the Acadia's near clones, the 2007 Saturn Outlook, which went on sale about the same time as the Acadia, and the 2008 Buick Enclave, which went on sale in June.

When a Chevrolet version of this platform arrives, perhaps as early as next year, GM will have four varieties of this vehicle.

These crossovers eventually will replace GM's entire lineup of truck-based midsize SUVs -- the Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Buick Rainier.

Unlike the TrailBlazer and its siblings, though, these vehicles are car-based, part of the new breed of sport utility that consumers now seem to prefer.

Crossover sales exceeded those of the truck-based SUVs for the first time last year.

As gasoline prices continue to escalate, consumers are moving even faster to these vehicles because of their generally better fuel economy.

Having the unibody construction of most cars -- frame and body are one -- saves considerable weight over the body-on-steel-frame configuration of the truck-style SUVs. That's why they're more fuel-efficient.

Consumers also seem to prefer the road manners of the crossovers. They ride and handle like cars, and they also have more carlike interior amenities.

Even though many of today's truck-based SUVs have carlike interiors and amenities, it's hard to make a truck ride like a car.

Fuel savings with the crossovers aren't huge, but they are significant. The front-wheel-drive, V-6-powered Acadia, for instance, is EPA-rated (2007 formula) at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 26 on the highway vs. 15 city/21 highway for the V-6 Explorer.

Our test vehicle, the all-wheel-drive Acadia, was rated at 17 city/24 highway vs. 15/20 for the Explorer. Over time, these differences in mileage can add up at the pump when gas is around $3 a gallon.

In many cases, the crossovers are much more stylish, and the Acadia is among the best-looking.

Our test vehicle was the uplevel Acadia SLT-2 with all-wheel drive, which carries a base price of $37,370 plus $735 freight. With a bunch of options, though, our car's total sticker climbed quickly to $44,435.

Article / Review Continues: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/wheels/328650_road24.html

[LAMRONH1]

Congratulations to GM on producing a front line vehicle. I hope it sells well.
I saw two locally a few days ago, both good lookers. The tan was actually quite striking.

One complaint: The ACADIA lettering on the L rear flank is flattened, ultra-shiney, artsy-fartsy, and very difficult to read from farther than about 10 feet.

If GM is going to produce an excellent vehicle, they should make it easy for the buying public to identify it. EASY, not difficult.

Other than that, go boys.

[DarkKnight67]

I visited the GMC/Buick/Pontiac dealer from which my father bought his truck the other day and they had only two Acadias around and no Enclaves.

[dindak]

I really wish GM would not bring a Chev clone and flood the market. The Outlook and Acadia already look too similar.

[CamaroCrazy]

Originally Posted by DarkKnight67

I visited the GMC/Buick/Pontiac dealer from which my father bought his truck the other day and they had only two Acadias around and no Enclaves.

Around here, there are no Enclaves on dealer lots because they sell them before they come off the truck.

[eaton53]

Originally Posted by CamaroCrazy

Around here, there are no Enclaves on dealer lots because they sell them before they come off the truck.

You can get one here because of a golf tournament. They have PGA Tour emblems where the GM chiclet normally goes.

[montrealvue]

Originally Posted by dindak

I really wish GM would not bring a Chev clone and flood the market. The Outlook and Acadia already look too similar.

Got that right, the rebadges cheapen GM's image.

[unkillsam]

Originally Posted by montrealvue

Got that right, the rebadges cheapen GM's image.

THe TB still represents a lot of volumne for Chevrolet and they need a vehicle to replace it.

[SDRacing]

Chevrolet is the flagship of GM and they should've received it first and foremost.

[dindak]

Originally Posted by unkillsam

THe TB still represents a lot of volumne for Chevrolet and they need a vehicle to replace it.

What they could do is make the Chevy version a minivan and keep the TB by redoing the interior and refreshing the exterior. The TB is still a decent SUV for people wanting a truck based model.

[DirtyMoney]

We will see if the new iteration will increase or decrease sales.

[ronald mcretard]

Originally Posted by SDRacing

Chevrolet is the flagship of GM and they should've received it first and foremost.

Yeah, i agree. I don't even know why GMC needed one of these. Just give the first one to Chevy and then you only need 3 instead of 4.

[goatgary]

Originally Posted by dindak

I really wish GM would not bring a Chev clone and flood the market. The Outlook and Acadia already look too similar.

You bet! They both have headlights, grilles, front and rear fascia, doors. lift gate and tires. And I'll give you that they are the same size and have the same drivetrains. If you come up with more "similarities" please share.

But I must agree, one more version is overkill. There are a lot of other volume opportunities for Chevy without having to milk this one.

[JetMech]

I think Chevy should have been given a CR-V/RAV 4 fighter as good as the triplets.

[unkillsam]

Originally Posted by JetMech

I think Chevy should have been given a CR-V/RAV 4 fighter as good as the triplets.

Which is why I am hoping that the Premium theta/epsilon architechture that caddy will be using will eventualy trickle down to the rest of the divisions cuz the equinox/torrent suck.