The Acadia is GMC’s first crossover and is part of a growing family of large crossover vehicles at General Motors. To distinguish itself from its kin (i.e. Buick Enclave/Chevy Traverse/Saturn Outlook), the Acadia shares design cues with GMC’s full-size SUVs, the Yukon and Yukon XL. Available with front- or all-wheel drive, the Acadia can seat seven or eight. The Acadia competes with the likes of the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot and Mazda CX-9.
The 2009 GMC Acadia gets an updated 288-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 with direct-injection technology.
The Acadia is the boxiest of GM’s full-size crossover quartet. The roofline is tapered, with a standard spoiler at the rear.
The Acadia also features wide rear doors and a low step-in height. Measuring in at 201.1 inches long and 78.9 inches wide, this crossover is larger than all its competitors — in fact, it’s about as large as the GMC Yukon.
- Standard LED taillights
- Polished aluminum roof rails
- Dual exhaust outlets with chrome tips
- Eighteen-inch cast-aluminum wheels
- Available 19-inch machined aluminum wheels
- Optional high-intensity-discharge headlamps
- Optional two-panel power sunroof with tilt-sliding front and fixed rear, plus a power sunscreen
The Acadia features a two-tone interior with metal-finished trim accents on the vents, door handles and cupholders. With two captain’s chairs in the second row, maximum seating capacity is seven, but with a 60/40-split bench there’s room for eight. The second- and third-row seats fold flat, and items can be stored beneath the rear cargo floor. The second row slides forward to increase legroom for third-row passengers and makes it easier to get to the third row.
There is 154.4 cubic feet of passenger space in the three rows, and with the second- and third-row seats folded, there is 116.9 cubic feet of cargo space; cargo space shrinks to about 24 cubic feet with all seats up. This eclipses the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot and Mazda CX-9. The Acadia even has more cargo volume with the seats down than a Yukon.
- Standard remote keyless entry and cruise control
- Optional leather seats
- Optional ultrasonic parking assist and rearview camera
- Optional DVD-based navigation system
- Optional heated and cooled seats
All Acadias come standard with a 288-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 that makes 270 pounds-feet of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The 5 percent increase in horsepower over last year’s model is due to the addition of direct-injection technology that improves power and reduces cold-start emissions by up to 25 percent.
- Power steering with variable effort reduces power assist at speed
- Available intelligent all-wheel drive manages the torque split between the front and rear axles, putting more power to different axles as needed
- Linked ‘H’ rear suspension design reduces noise and vibration in the cabin
The Acadia includes many common safety features and a few rarities for this price range. Side curtain airbags are designed to preemptively engage if there is imminent threat of a rollover and stay inflated longer during a rollover.
- Two dual-stage front airbags, two front-seat side-thorax airbags and two side curtain airbags
- Electronic stability system and traction control
- Four-disc antilock braking system
- Panic Brake Assist, a supplemental emergency braking system
- OnStar comes standard, including one free year of Safe and Sound service, which alerts authorities in the event of a collision
