Used 2017 GMC Acadia Consumer Reviews
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17 Acadia SLT1 test drive
Coming from a 2006 Envoy this new size is about the same and perfect size. I would not consider buying the original Acadia five years ago b/c it is huge and heavy. So I kept the troublefree Envoy. But GMC is now back in the mid size game... I expect to be buying.
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My experience with the GMC Acadia All Terrain
My 1st vehicle was a Pontiac Aztek which I loved at kept for 196,450 miles. Since Pontiac is no more, I had to find another car maker. I temporary had a 2017 Toyota RAV4 hybrid for 7,091 miles which I had to get rid of due to the seats being extremely uncomfortable for me. So the 2017 GMC Acadia All Terrain is my 3rd vehicle. I've had it for 7,550 miles, so it is better than the Toyota RAV4 in terms of comfort. When looking to replace the Toyota RAV4 we expanded our search to include all CUVs and I mean ALL, all the way up to the most expensive in our test drives, Porsche Macan. So far I've taken the Acadia to the shop for one oil change, tire rotation, and a software update when a service light came on. It has a smooth ride, not harsh, a softer suspension. Sometimes I do feel like the engine creates vibration shortly after starting it sometimes but it goes away. I love that I didn't have to have the 3rd row seat, nor do I have to have a sunroof because I don't need either. Most CUVs when you get to the upper trims they automatically give you a sunroof which adds $1,000 or so to the vehicle for something I'll never use. The infotainment is well designed and very intuitive. The information in front of the driver is good, shows everything one would like to see (tire pressure, digital speedo, odometer, etc). If I turn off the infotainment screen I still have a clock, most CUVs the clock goes away when you turn off the infotainment screen. The steering wheel controls are well placed and the wheel itself is comfortable to hold. The all weather floor mats cover the entire floor and stay in place. The head restraint is a good distance from the back of my head unlike some of the vehicles where it was so close I found myself leaning forward which does nothing for good posture. The audio system is quite good, better than most. Now for some of the negatives for me. So many of the CUVs have a bit too narrow of seats. I'm 5'6" and weigh 140 lbs and am by no means heavy. The bolsters that are designed to "hug" you, I find uncomfortable and they tend to put pressure on my hips the bigger they are, deep heavily bolstered seats are the worst for me. If the GMC Acadia front seats (the flat part) would have been 1" wider, I would be happier. The bolsters are relatively mild so I can live with them but I'm not in love with the seats. I prefer not having an arm rest in the middle. If the console was sunk down and if the seat had arm rests you could fold down if you wanted them, that would have been better. Otherwise I find most CUV consoles get in my way. The headlights should be LED or HID. I could see much better at nice with those types of lights. With the price I paid, I feel better headlights should have been on it. And my last complaint which could apply to all CUVS is lack of color. My first vehicle was yellow which I loved. Now if you don't like B&W and red vehicles, you won't find a color you like. I wish the auto makers would include 2 actual colors for us who like vehicles with color. I want my vehicle to stand out and not blend in.
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- Denali 4dr SUVMSRP: $16,95097 mi away
- Denali 4dr SUVMSRP: $11,69883 mi away
- SLT-1 4dr SUVMSRP: $20,29583 mi away
Nearly loaded Denali model
As with any vehicle, your priorities as a buyer are really going to determine if the Acadia is worth your money. I would say the Acadia is not the best if you are looking for a minivan substitute based on lack of creative interior storage (very basic) and cupholders (one per seat basically). The center storage cubby has NO divider or shelf mechanism- it's just an empty box which is disappointing. From what I've seen other similarly priced SUVs like the Pilot and Highlander are far more focused on storage and being minivan alternatives. On the upside, the performance and quietness, ergonomics and visibility are top notch. The handling is very solid and it doesn't feel overweight or tough to maneuver on the road. The HVAC and radio controls are super straightforward and there is little reason to use the manual. If you don't want funky shifters or touch sensitive controls, this is the SUV for you. The downside if that the interior design is a little too basic for such a pricey vehicle. I think there should be more differentiation between the base interior and the Denali interior- it needs more luxury for the money they are charging. All the tech you expect is there, but too much of it is limited to Denali trim which is a mistake and will probably chase away some buyers. GMC really needs to make things like around view camera and adaptive cruise available on lower models. Auto wipers should also be available because they are on the smaller Buick Envision and some other SUVs in this price category. Bottom line, I think this works well if you have 3 kids or less and don't plan on doing lots of long road trips. If you want an SUV because you don't want a minivan, looks elsewhere.
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Nothing to jump up and down over
I've had my leased 2017 Acadia for a few months, coming off of a 15 year old vehicle. Build quality is not what I would expect from a 2017 model year. Hood/grille is slightly off-center, gaps between the grille and headlights, trim pieces don't fit flush, rear seats are uneven, and when the seats are folded flat in back, there are a lot of weird humps and bumps in the fabric. These are all kind of nitpicky, but these types of issues should have all gone out in the 90s. Driving the Acadia is a pleasure, it is very comfortable on the highway or in town. It does not feel like a full size SUV at all, much more svelte. All in all, if you can get an SLT-1 for about $35,000, I feel like it would be a good deal, but for something north of $40,000, I'd look elsewhere. It feels like GMC spent way too much money on electronics and flashing lights in the cabin, and not enough money on the mechanical quality of the vehicle.
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Expensive cheap car
I leased a SLE-1 2.5L 4cyl model new in 2017. Currently I have put 31000 miles on this vehicle so now it's time to review. First are complaints: Biggest complaint so far is the auto start/stop function; I absolutely hate this feature on this car. There is no apparent way to disable it (I've found the workaround) and the design of the system is just terrible. I've noticed on rainy days that when I come to a stop and the motor shuts off, it immediately starts back up again. So no gas savings or benefit to this system whatsoever; just extra wear and tear on the engine and starter. Next biggest complaint is the tires that GM put on this vehicle from the factory: Michelin Premiers. While they were quiet the entire life of the tire, they only lasted 24,000 miles. It is disappointing that I had to put tires on this car that soon; a car that is marketed as a family car. Another complaint is the automatic HVAC system is lousy. It does not regulate the temperature well at all. I have to constantly adjust it. Another complaint is the headlights; they are not adequate and it's hard to see at night. Bright lights do absolutely nothing but move the beams upward. Then there's the radio: whoever designed the radio in this car has never driven a car before in their life. It is not intuitive, display brightness is not adjustable, and it's just plain terrible. For the first year of leasing this vehicle, the radio display would not dim with the headlights at night, which made it incredibly unsafe to drive. Thankfully GM eventually fixed that issue with a reprogram of the radio but again, it took them a year. Interior components are mediocre, at best. Certainly not up to par with the price point this car is set at. Onstar is also annoying with its advertising every few months. Now for the good: Car drives absolutely great. It's quiet, gets great fuel economy (28-29 mpg hwy), and it is very comfortable to drive. I have had no mechanical issues whatsoever in the 31000 miles I have put on this car. I test drove both this and a Dodge Journey before settling with the Acadia and there simply is no comparison. This car is far superior in how it handles and drives. I don't really understand the complaints about the 2.5L 4 cyl; it provides adequate power to move the car. It is certainly no rocket ship but I feel safe driving this car, even on the interstate. I average 20k miles per year of highway driving and never had a performance issue. You just have to know your limitations. Final thoughts: Very comfortable to drive, decent looks and room. However the Auto start/stop, radio, and Onstar make it a deal breaker for me. I would not own another one, especially if I have to put tires on it after 24,000 miles.
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