2017 GMC Acadia adds four-cylinder and All Terrain model

GMC has listened to customers and responded by retooling the GMC Acadia to be even better at doing the things people want a CUV to do in the real world.

The biggest change is making the vehicle 700 pounds lighter. This addresses one of the big concerns for families who need the passenger and cargo space of a CUV, but do not want to be abused at the gas pump for the privilege.

The lighter weight can be coupled with a new six cylinder engine that is more efficient and powerful than the one found in previous models. This means owners of the 2017 GMC Acadia will have a little more acceleration and hill handling ability than previous versions, without added gas costs.

The lower curb weight of the vehicle makes possible another configuration. For those who find fuel efficiency more important than power, a four cylinder version is being rolled out that will get an impressive 28 mile per gallon fuel rate. Getting the space of a CUV with the fuel efficiency of a small sedan is something families have been hoping to see.

This retooling of the Acadia makes it a perfect vehicle for a family that needs that carrying capacity, but does not need the extra costs involved with a large SUV.

The second significant change GMC made for this model year is found in the AWD version. Previous versions emphasized the vehicle’s ability to deal with serious off road obstacles. The current version has replaced Off Road Mode with All Terrain Mode. This change has shifted the emphasis from those off road challenges to maintaining good traction and control in harsh weather conditions, a situation the vast majority of drivers will encounter more commonly than intense off road obstacles.

Overall, the 2017 GMC Acadia is not a radical departure from previous years. Instead, it is a refinement of the things that make them great with tweaks to make the new version even greater. The emphasis on the Acadia as a family vehicle is reflected in touches like the sheer versatility of the seat configuration, a passenger accessible drawer in which to store things like video games or toys and a wireless hotspot that is active whenever the vehicle is running.

Any family that needs a vehicle with plenty of room for passengers or cargo that is engineered with an eye toward fuel economy and efficiency should definitely place the 2017 GMC Acadia on the short list of vehicles to consider.