2007 GMC Acadia

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 this past fall 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 also went on sale in the fall, 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.

Crossovers 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. The casualties of the switch to crossovers are vehicles such as the Ford Explorer, whose sales were down 23 percent in the first half of this year to just 74,704 units. That’s way off the Explorer’s sales pace during most of the ’90s, when more than 500,000 were sold each year.

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 with gas $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.

But a base two-wheel-drive Acadia, which is decently equipped, starts at $29,990 (with freight). It’s not necessary to buy all of the extras to have a nice vehicle.

Unlike the 2007 Ford Edge, another new midsize crossover, the Acadia has seating for up to eight people. Ford limited the Edge to five passengers, although another Ford crossover – the slightly larger Freestyle (which is becoming the Taurus X for 2008) can hold up to seven.

Under the hood of the Acadia is a new 3.6-liter V-6 engine designed to deliver optimum fuel economy with low emissions and “exceptional smoothness,” the automaker says.

This engine is rated at 275 horsepower and 251 foot-pounds of torque. That’s either on par with or above the power of the key competitors in this segment, including the Honda Pilot (244 HP), Toyota Highlander (270 HP), and the Edge (265 HP). Most have similar fuel economy, as well.

The Acadia’s engine is connected to a six-speed automatic transmission, also designed to maximize fuel efficiency.

Power is more than adequate for everyday driving, allowing the Acadia to come quickly to freeway speeds on even uphill ramps. On some rather steep hills, the engine still allowed for acceleration, and the vehicle never seemed to bog down even with a full load of adults and kids.

As an aficionado of SUVs – I’ve owned vehicles of this sort almost continuously since I bought my first, a Jeep Wagoneer, in the early ’70s – I found the Acadia to be quite stable in hard turns.

Some of the traditional SUVs, with their high profile and resulting high center of gravity, sometimes have felt a bit tipsy. Not so for the Acadia.

The Acadia has a long wheelbase and wide track, which contribute to the car’s stability and help lessen the possibility of a rollover.

Beyond that, though, the Acadia comes with GM’s Stabilitrak electronic stability control system with traction control and antilock brakes.

These computerized safety features go a long way toward preventing the vehicle from going out of control in any kind of panic maneuver.

Other safety features include a tire-pressure monitoring system and six standard air bags: two dual-stage frontal air bags, two seat-mounted side-impact air bags in the first row, and roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for all three rows of seating. GM’s OnStar navigation/communications system is standard, including a one-year subscription to the basic “safe and sound” package.

The more-rugged, truck-based SUVs will remain the choice for those who plan to do serious off-road driving.

Crossovers such as the Acadia are considered “soft-roaders,” which means they have limited off-road capabilities, although they are able to handle many of the dirt roads that might be found in national and state parks.

Besides having lower ground clearance, crossovers aren’t offered with serious four-wheel-drive systems that include low-range gearing.

The Acadia’s all-wheel drive is intended to give the vehicle increased traction on slippery roads, but it’s also sometimes valuable on dry pavement, particularly during cornering. The system is fully automatic and no driver action is required to activate it.

Outside, the Acadia features GMC’s signature grille, as well as dual halogen projector-beam headlights, a rear spoiler, polished aluminum roof rails, dual exhaust outlets with chrome tips, and bright trim. Standard are 18-inch wheels, but 19-inch wheels are available.

Inside is where the Acadia really shines. This vehicle is as carlike and luxurious as many premium sedans, and the extras that were included on our tester made it even fancier than some.

It can be configured for either seven or eight passengers. The second row can be either a 60/40 split bench, which can hold three, or a pair of captain’s chairs.

The rear seat can hold three, and GM’s so-called Smart Slide feature on the second row of seats allows for easy access to the third row.

There is plenty of cargo space behind the third seat – 19.7 cubic feet. In comparison, there is just 13.8 cubic feet of space behind the Explorer’s third seat, and 10.5 cubic feet behind the Toyota Highlander’s. There is a maximum of 117 cubic feet of cargo space if the second and third seats are folded.

Standard on our test vehicle were such amenities as leather seats; heated, power outside mirrors; three-zone heating/air conditioning system; an intermittent rear wiper; ultrasonic rear parking assist; a power rear liftgate; an extended-range remote vehicle-starting system; heated windshield washer fluid; a Bose audio system with six-disc CD changer and XM satellite radio; an eight-way power driver’s and four-way power passenger’s seat; tilt and telescopic, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls; cruise control; a self-dimming rearview mirror; and a 115-volt power outlet.

Options on our vehicle included a touch-screen navigation system ($2,145); a dual-panel sunroof, which extended over the front and middle rows ($1,300); 19-inch, ultra-bright aluminum wheels ($1,295); a rear DVD entertainment system ($1,295); premium paint ($395); head-up display ($350); and cargo-area audio controls ($150) for tailgate parties.

The head-up display projects speed and other instrument readouts onto the lower part of the windshield in front of the driver.

G. Chambers Williams III is staff automotive columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and former transportation writer for the Star-Telegram. His automotive columns have appeared regularly in the Star-Telegram since 1995. Contact him at (210) 250-3236; chambers@star-telegram.com.

At a Glance: 2007 GMC Acadia

The package: Midsize, four-door, seven- or eight-passenger, front- or all-wheel-drive crossover utility vehicle. Highlights: This is one of three new GM midsize crossovers built on the same architecture. The others are the Saturn Outlook and Buick Enclave. They are quite refined, have lots of power yet decent fuel economy, and comes with a variety of standard and optional features. Disadvantages: No serious four-wheel-drive system offered for off-road use. Engine: 3.6-liter V-6. Transmission: Six-speed automatic. Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock. Power/torque: 275 HP/251 foot-pounds. Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock. Electronic stability control: Standard. Side air bags: Front seat-mounted; side-curtain, all three rows, standard. Length: 201.1 inches. Curb weight range: 4,720-4,925 pounds. Cargo volume: 19.7 cubic feet (behind third seat); 68.9 cubic feet (third row folded). Trailer-towing capacity: 4,500 pounds. Fuel capacity/type: 22 gallons/unleaded regular. EPA fuel economy (2007) : 18 city/26 highway (2WD); 17/24 (AWD). Major competitors: (Base model) Honda Pilot, Ford Edge, Ford Freestyle/Taurus X, Toyota Highlander, Nissan Murano; (top model) Lexus RX 350, Infiniti FX, Acura MDX, Lincoln MKX. Base price range: $29,255-$35,225 plus $735 freight. Price as tested: $44,435, including freight and options (SLT-2 model with all-wheel drive). On the Road rating: 9.3 (of a possible 10).