By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(January 15, 2018) The GMC Acadia was all new for 2017 when it downsized from a full-sized sport utility vehicle to a mid-size crossover, a bit smaller than the Ford Explorer and Dodge Durango it competes against. For 2018, Acadia is, for the most part, a carryover vehicle, meaning little has changed from last year.

The all-wheel-drive off-road-themed All Terrain tested here can now be equipped with a third row of seats. The top-shelf Denali trim level offers an automatic heated steering wheel, and all Acadia trim levels now have a handy tire-fill alert that announces when the correct tire pressure is attained by way of an audible alert. We first encountered this feature several years ago on Nissan vehicles.

The GMC Acadia was well past its freshness date when it was given the complete redo for 2017. The new redesign brought a smaller and 700-pound lighter Acadia, along with a fresh four-cylinder engine and a more powerful V-6. It’s also is now built on GM’s new C1 platform, which is also the underpinning for the Cadillac XT5 crossover, Chevy Traverse and Buick Enclave.

The overall design is a huge improvement from the much larger first-generation Acadia. While the design doesn’t stand out from other mid-sized crossovers in this segment, it is on par with others in the class.

Inside, our All Terrain has an attractive, quality cabin with an easy-to-use infotainment system. But Acadia designers didn’t take any risks, and while nothing is outrageously unfashionable there is nothing here to generate any “Oohs” and “Ahs” either.

Still, given its downsizing, the Acadia is relatively spacious with good visibility and is quiet on the road. We would suggest saving third-row seats for the kiddos, however, as passenger room is limited. The second row gives you the option of a bench seat with room for three adults, or a pair of captain’s chairs.



For 2018, GMC offers a wide range of Acadia choices; six trim levels range from the base SL to the fully loaded Denali, and a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations. The SL is front-wheel drive only.

The All Terrain option is offered on the SLE and SLT models and features a body-color grille surround, dark chrome trim and unique wheels. Inside, seating is offered in five-, six- or seven-passenger configurations.

Acadia offers no shortage of auto safety technology depending on the trim level. Front Pedestrian Braking, Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking (standard on the SLT-2 and Denali), Forward Automatic Braking (available only on the Denali), Following Distance Indicator, IntelliBeam automatic headlamp high-beam control, Surround Vision camera system, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert can all be had. However, we strongly believe that all vehicles should now come standard with Forward Automatic Braking. This is a huge oversight on the part of GMC.

One safety feature we were really impressed with is the industry-first Rear Seat Reminder. Here’s how it works: While it does not detect the presence of rear-seat passengers or child seats, under certain conditions it can provide a simple, extra reminder to drivers to take another look inside their vehicle. It works by monitoring Acadia’s rear doors. If either rear door is opened and closed within 10 minutes before the vehicle is started, or if they are opened and closed while the vehicle is running, the feature is intended to activate.


Once the vehicle is switched off, Acadia is designed to sound five audible chimes and display a visual message within the instrument cluster’s Driver Information Center, which can help remind the driver to take a look at the rear seat before departing.

The feature is active only once each time the vehicle is turned on and off, and would require re-activation on a second trip. Additionally, under some circumstances, the system may activate even though nothing is in the rear seat. For example, if a child were dropped off at school without the vehicle being turned off, the Rear Seat Reminder would still be activated.



It is very important that the driver always check the rear seat before exiting the vehicle.

All Terrain Acadia models come standard with an advanced all-wheel drive system, and also feature a specific All Terrain mode in place of the Off Road mode on the drive mode selector to enhance hill-climb capability. Traction Select allows the driver to adjust the vehicle performance for various road conditions.

The GMC Acadia comes with a standard 193-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that includes stop/start technology. The optional 3.6-liter V-6 delivers 310 horsepower and feels more suitable when hauling cargo and or people. Both engines are connected to a six-speed automatic transmission.

If you use your vehicle to haul a trailer, boat, or camper, you’ll need to know that where the larger 2016 Acadia boasted a maximum towing of 5,200 pounds, the smaller, lighter Acadia is now down to just 4,000 pounds of towing capacity; that drops as low as 1,000 pounds in a front-wheel drive four-cylinder model.

Additionally, interior and cargo space also take a hit, with 2016’s numbers of 24 cubic feet in the trunk and 116 total falling to 12.8 and 79 for the new Acadia.

Overall, the 2018 GMC Acadia All Terrain is a good mid-sized crossover with much to like and very few disappointments. It drives well with a smooth, quiet ride, offers an attractive interior with ample trim levels and optional feature selections. The problem with the Acadia is that it breaks no new ground, and it’s competing in a class with superb product offerings such as the Toyota Highlander, Volkswagen Atlas, Honda Pilot and Nissan Murano, who are all similarly priced and noticeably a cut above.

Still, there are a lot of GM fans who will find the smaller Acadia appealing and a huge improvement over the previous model and will likely buy it. There’s certainly no law against that.

Vital Stats
Base Price: $29,070 - $45,070
Price as Tested: Not Available
Engine: 3.6-Liter V6
Horsepower: 310
Fuel Economy: 18-MPG City – 25-MPG Highway
Seating: Up to 7
Safety Ratings Crash Test Results: Overall 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA – IIHS “Good”

Competes With:
Chevrolet Traverse
Ford Explorer
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Nissan Murano
Toyota Highlander
Volkswagen Atlas

Fab Features
Rear Seat Reminder
User-Friendly Infotainment System
Smooth Quiet Ride