For automakers, the prospect of freshening up a successful model can be daunting. Focus on only the minutiae, and your efforts may go unnoticed by the buying public; change too much, and you risk alienating your core customer base. Considering that 2011 was the most successful sales year for the Acadia since its 2007 debut, we understand why GMC made few obvious changes in this restyle.
For the latest incarnation of this three-row crossover, the softly rounded nose and recessed grille of the outgoing model have been replaced by a comparatively upright three-slot affair with sharper creases. Standard diffused LED running lamps make their first Acadia appearance and are paired with both the standard projector-beam and optional HID headlamps. Aft, a new taillight treatment echoes the look of the front lamps. The rear glass gets a wraparound look that appears to have been donated by the now-defunct Saturn Outlook, and it’s capped by a new spoiler. As with the outgoing Acadia, wheels come in either 18- or 19-inch varieties, although the designs have been updated.
Power in all Acadias comes from the same 3.6-liter V-6 used in the 2012 model, all 288 of its horsepower now routed through a “next-generation” six-speed automatic said to have better shift response and improved drivability. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive remains an option. Mileage remains unchanged at 17 city mpg and 24 highway for front-drivers or 16/23 when equipped with AWD.
As seems to be the trend these days, the Acadia’s interior now employs so-called “upgraded soft-touch materials”—this was easily the most needed improvement on the otherwise-competent and comfortable crossover. The upgrade is complemented by ambient red lighting on the dashboard and a standard rearview camera. High-zoot SLT models get aluminum accents on the center console, doors, and dash because nothing says “I’ve made it” like random applications of an alloy material.
Thanks to: Car and Driver
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