First Look at the 2017 GMC Acadia SUV

Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Whistler, BC – Invited to experience what the 2017 GMC Acadia SUV had to offer by GM Canada, I disembarked my Air Canada plane to find myself in sun-soaked Vancouver airport. I was to find my way to the Fairmont hotel which was a 15-minute walk from the domestic area, check-in with GM representatives and be on my way to a secluded resort right at the foothills of Whistler.

I was paired up with 680 News’ Tim Dimopolous, who took the first leg of our 90-minute drive. Tim used to live in Vancouver and gave me a lot of insight on how the city has changed through the years, he also cued me into when I should get ready for some breathtaking sceneries as we weaved out of downtown traffic into the vast and rewarding coastal roads. 

First Impressions of the 2017 Acadia

The 2017 GMC Acadia looks like the practical middle child of the GMC lineup of professional grade trucks and SUVs. It maintains the strong stance and bold design cues particular to the latest GMC trucks but also brings a lot of symmetry and sculptural flourish specially in the sides and the rear.

While many of larger GMC trucks are visibly masculine in their build, the Acadia’s more fluid design will appeal to everyone. 

Technology is available but not overwhelming

The first order of business was to connect our iPhone to the included CarPlay compatible head unit (although this would only be used for hands free calling, accepting messages and maybe playing back music on Apple Music or Spotify).

We also connected our devices to the Acadia’s built-in 4G LTE hotspot so we wouldn’t burn through our own data plans, plus two convenient USB charging ports up front ensured we were charged up for the trip. The Acadia comes with five USB ports, so enough for everyone to plug and play. 

Once set up, the technology tends to get out of the way on the GMC Acadia. It isn’t persistent and in your face (which could be distracting and that could be dangerous). As we pulled out of the airport and into the road, the navigation took over and had us on our way.

Comfort, build and materials

 

The front seats of the 2017 GMC Acadia are comfortable without feeling mushy. They offer solid back support and the head-rests are substantial and make it possible to lean back and feel secure. 

There’s a mix of materials at play on the dash and side panels. Mostly leather, plastic and wood accented plastic. I would have preferred the use of real wood instead of painted plastic panels which have a tendency of fading through time. 

The tri-zone automatic climate control with individual settings for driver and front passenger, and rear-seat passengers became one of my favourite features of the 2017 GMC Acadia. The temperature in Whistler varies greatly from around 10’ in the morning to close to 30’ at midday. The ability to dictate your level of climate comfort when other passengers don’t want the windows open is key, especially for longer drives. 

My impression as a passenger on the GMC Acadia is that it offers ample space for up to 7 people and the stuff they have to carry. Controls are accessible and fairly intuitive although I’m still not sure about the value of having yet a separate app store for the vehicle’s IntelliLink Shop, this is something I will need to look into once I get more review time to test it.

Driving impressions

 

Jumping into the driver’s seat, the GMC Acadia is familiar to anyone who has driven a mid-size SUV. Visibility is good, ride height is ample and once you set your favoured seat settings (after you start the vehicle), it is both comfortable and feels secure.

The clear and bright dashboard does a good job of relaying information, there were some icons lighting up that I found a bit puzzling, but overall it was easier to read and figure out than many newer vehicles. 

Acceleration is immediate and smooth, 310 hp 3.6L V6, 6-speed transmission acquitted itself well, revving through uphill climbs and accelerating through meandering highways in Vancouver’s coast. The handling was a bit soft and had a little bit of sideway ‘play’, but this was easy enough to adjust to. The engine is remarkably quiet even when pushed, it never feels strained and simply compensates to your demands without much fanfare.

Braking is expedient and accurate. I drove the whole way back from the Brew Creek resort to Vancouver airport on roads that were mostly empty and felt that the 2017 Acadia drove with the agility of a smaller vehicle but was calibrated enough to slow down and stop efficiently despite its size and weight. I found it didn’t have that initial lumbering awkwardness that larger SUV’s have and feels surprisingly sprightly.

The 2017 GMC Acadia is an exciting SUV, especially the Denali All Terrain model which is designed around more active and outdoor-focused drivers. I am looking forward to conducting a full-review in the coming weeks.