Over the past few auto shows, GMC hasn’t had anything new to show off. That changes at Chicago with the 2013 GMC Acadia. It is an update to the hot-selling large crossover that debuted for the 2007 model year.

Since then, it has sold very well and generated conquest sales from other brands. As with anything though, continuous improvement is necessary. While still very competitive, it has been getting a bit long in the tooth after years on the market. A mid-cycle enhancement is exactly what it needs to stay fresh, and GMC really brought it with this update. GMC’s tagline is “We are Professional Grade.” GMC has always been about trucks, and the new 2013 Acadia pays homage to that tradition.

Sleek and car-like is thrown out the window for this update, with a very bold and in-your-face new design that we love. Its modern, fresh and unique. You probably won’t mistake the Acadia for anything else on the road. If there is one quibble, its that from some angles it seems a bit grafted on. When the Acadia debuted in 2007, it was along with its Saturn Outlook counterpart. That model is long gone along with the rest of the Saturn brand, but out back the Acadia’s taillights look very similar.

Inside, GMC keeps things fresh with a redesigned center stack and upgraded materials. When the Lambads debuted, they were at the top of their class in interior design. After a few years they have fallen behind a bit. This update changes that, adding ambient lighting, soft touch materials on the dash, and offering new technology. As far as safety, the Acadia includes GM’s class-exclusive and industry-first front center airbag. This new restraint system is designed to protect the driver and front passenger in side-impact crashes. The engine package remains the same, with the Acadia’s powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 engine making 288 horsepower.

Overall, the Acadia really shows the level GMC design has advanced to. After seeing the Acadia we can’t wait for what else the brand has in store. We’re particularly looking forward to the next-generation Sierra trucks and Yukon SUVs, which are just around the corner.

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While many have been fixated on the introduction of Apple’s iPhone 4S today (we’re in the disappointed camp wanting an all-new 5, but we digress….), automobile companies are innovating with new technology. General Motors promised recently that it had some new innovations coming for safety technology, the first of which was a new center front air bag on its Lambda crossovers. It shields driver and passenger from directly colliding, and reduces body and neck travel. Yesterday, GM introduced another new feature on one of its smaller crossovers, the GMC Terrain.

Many luxury cars offer collision avoidance systems, that use a combination of laser and camera technologies to help determine vehicle position. These systems are pretty expensive, which has prevented them from being available on mainstream vehicles.

GM’s system is an innovation that exclusively uses a high-resolution camera that analyzes 14 frames per second. It operates at speeds above 25 mph – when a vehicle ahead is detected a green light appears on the dash. When you’re following too closely the system flashes red and has a series of beeps that help to warn the driver. In addition, the brakes are pressurized to afford maximum stopping power.

Lane change departure warning is also included on the Terrain, and is operable at speeds of up to 35 mph. The system gets a lock on painted road lines and warns when the Terrain starts drifting into another lane. Common sense needs to be used at all times, and we’d never want to rely on something like this. It is an addition that helps to increase safety even further through advance actions like pressurizing the brakes and warning distracted drivers of an impending collision.

The camera is available at the extremely low price of $295, and it offers the ability to be deactivated through buttons on the steering wheel. At such a low price, this innovation could quickly spread throughout the GM lineup. Below is a video that shows Ray Kiefer, a GM Crash Avoidance Engineer, explaining the system.

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One of the first introductions we saw from the North American International Auto Show was the GMC Sierra All Terrain HD. The truck is a concept that shows GMC’s take on the performance off-road truck segment.

Ford has reinvigorated interest in off-roading and performance trucks with its Raptor, which now is available in four-door Crew Cab guise as well. We’ll take one in orange, please.

The Sierra All Terrain HD is more than just a performance package though – it also shows off different design cues and details that seem to hint at the look of the next-generation of the Sierra pick up.

Ground clearance has been increased by about three inches for All Terrain duty and width is up by 4 inches, to 73 inches.To complete the look there are new 20-inch aluminum wheels with 35-inch BF Goodrich KM2 mud terrain tires.

Motivation comes from General Motors’ 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V-8. It produces 397 horsepower and an insane 765 pound-feet of torque. After speaking with the truck’s designer Carl Zipfel, Autoblog reports that the truck is being considered for production, although there are no official plans to build it. Things they did confirm for production is the truck’s Iridium Metallic paint color (set to be a GMC exclusive) as well a dark anodized satin trim finish.

We think producing it makes sense, especially for the GMC brand which is very focused on things like towing. The Sierra All Terrain HD isn’t exactly a direct competitor to the Raptor though – hence the Heavy Duty title. For competition we’d need a lighter, more agile truck. Maybe Chevrolet can produce that one?

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With the economy recovering, sales of full-size trucks and SUVs are on the upswing. The American manufacturers have been a big beneficiary of this, with Ford in particular garnering a lot of attention with its redesigned F-150 and the addition of EcoBoost V-6 power.

The Ford truck we have our eyes on though is no doubt the F-150 Raptor. It has brought up the performance truck game a whole level, leaving models like GM’s Z71 and Dodge’s Ram Power Wagon in the dust. Is General Motors interested in getting in the game?

Say hello to the first introduction of next year’s North American International Auto Show, which is under a month away. General Motors’ GMT-900 lineup of trucks was introduced in 2006 as 2007 models, pulled forward during dark days for GM. Since then, a lot has happened. Yes, that’s an understatement.

The GMC Sierra All Terrain HD gives a hint of what is to come for GM’s highly-important truck lineup. While clearly based on the current Sierra, there are some significant differences.

There is a new front end with redesigned LED headlights and GMC’s new grille. The look offers a preview of the next-generation Sierra.

Other key details have been modernized as well – for instance, look closely at the taillights and you can see they have been worked over, as well as the rear cargo bed. For All Terrain duty, ground clearance has been increased by about three inches and width is up by 4 inches, to 73 inches.

There are new 20-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in 35-inch BF Goodrich KM2 mud terrain rubber. The verdict? It looks good, despite being awkward from a few angles. It doesn’t come across quite like the Raptor’s arch rival though – it still seems more fit for duty as a tow sled with serious off-road credentials. Regardless, it gives us a lot of hope for the next-generation truck.

The Sierra All Terrain HD is powered by GM’s 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V-8. It is mated to a six-speed automatic and makes 397 horsepower and 765 pound-feet of torque. Changes under the skin include Fox off-road shocks, the same as the Ford Raptor.

There are no pictures of the interior out yet, but GM says the All Terrain concept has been fitted with a Denali interior, gaining additional satin metal accents and a leather-covered dash for concept duty.

There is also a next-generation stereo system and head unit with an 80-gigabyte hard drive. More information and pictures of the interior is expected when the Detroit show rolls around next month. As of right now the All Terrain HD is just a concept. as GM says it has no plans for production. We wouldn’t bet against a similar production model surfacing for production though.

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Effective February 1st of 2011, the GM Goodwrench Service signs will disappear from United States General Motors dealerships ending 37 years of the name’s usage for manufacturer-backed auto care and maintenance. Proceeding on from this upcoming February, the auto service and maintenance will be undertaken by brand identified Certified Service centers (For example, Chevrolet Certified Service or Buick Certified Service). In typical fashion with companies phasing out household names, the media announcement from GM only mentioned the ceasing of the Goodwrench name in the last two lines of a press release.

Established in 1974, the General Motors specialized maintenance and service spouted nationwide in 1977 as a source for certified mechanics. Starting in the 1990s, the GM service provider adopted the persona of Mr Goodwrench. The manufacturer-backed service departments later reverted back to GM Goodwrench Service, often adding the word ‘plus’ to their name.

the GM Goodwrench brand will forever be known for their presence in motorsports. Sponsoring one of NASCAR’s most iconic Cup race vehicles, a black and silver #3 Chevrolet was owned by Richard Childress Racing and piloted by NASCAR Hall of Fame legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. Together, the grouping won 4 NASCAR Cup championships (GM Goodwrench also had a smaller associate sponsor in 1987) and the 1998 Daytona 500. Replicated millions of times on scaled die-cast cars and printed countless more times on assorted NASCAR merchandise, the GM Goodwrench name still maintains close association to the now fallen Dale Earnhardt Sr.

When Earnhardt died as a result of a Daytona 500 crash in 2001, Goodwrench stayed on the Richard Childress Racing team but took on a different identity and number to due their connection to the driver. Kevin Harvick was trusted with the sponsorship during his difficult time bringing some joy with 2 wins on the 2001 season. In time, GM Goodwrench Service corporately would drop the black and silver colour scheme electing for a blue and white instead. It would also be the choice of the auto service provider to leave NASCAR altogether in 2007 ending the long marketing partnership.

Beyond Earnhardt an aggressive marketing campaign in auto racing saw the Goodwrench brand residing in smaller stock car series as well as in sports car racing. Prior to the Richard Childress Racing/Goodwrench affiliation, NASCAR rival Hendrick Motorsports fielded a Chevrolet Corvette GTP vehicle in sports car racing in the 1980s. Through the Hendrick-backed effort was not a big success, the GM Goodwrench name would ride again on GM factory-backed Corvettes in 1999. The Corvette Racing team would carry Goodwrench to victory at the 24-hour of Daytona in 2001. Like in NASCAR, the sponsorship would come to an unceremonious ending.

In the later years of Goodwrench, efforts were exercised to rebrand it with the before mentioned colour change with a decorative ‘G’ logo (which many liken to the Quicktime video player ‘Q’). This attempt was ultimately futile as many dealerships did not update their signage.

Vice president/general manager of GM Customer Care and Aftersales Steve Hill explains the name change as strengthening a connection with General Motors vehicle owners. “Certified Service supports GM’s strategy to focus on the four brands – Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac — and is a natural extension of the customer’s vehicle purchase experience at the dealership.” Hill said. Under their dealership’s new Certified Service banner, General Motors promises a continuing commitment of qualified service technicians to customer services which includes using tools like OnStar.

Though the Goodwrench banner will be pulled in the United States, there could be life to the corporate name. For the time being, General Motors of Canada will retain the GM Goodwrench branding on their dealer service centers.

Information source: Automotive news, General Motors

Photo source:

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It used to be said some years ago that the telephone was the ideal way to reach out and touch someone. Today, our hand-held smartphone devices instills a drastically surreal non-tactile feel. With a world at the touch of a button or icon, even the everyday items we had previously accepted through physical caress can become near virtual. The ability to access places where you lack a presence even your conveyance, the vehicle which links us between physical highways, has become the newest touchless connection.

Adding mobility to mobility, General Motors’ OnStar system been ported to a smartphone application. Devised for most 2011 model year vehicles from the Detroit 3 car maker, the OnStar app possesses electronic control and monitoring tools. If the plan of including an interactive vehicle app sounds familiar, that’s because General Motors had announced a mobile app companion for the upcoming Chevy Volt. This new announcement will add vehicles like the Chevrolet Cruze and the Cadillac CTS among other cars.

First off, the mobile app provides GM vehicle owners provides key fob functions such as locking/unlocking of doors and even remote starting to be accomplished. While many will realize a smartphone is roughly 3-4 times the size of a keyless entry control, the app is not limited to a prescribed range meaning your vehicle can be controlled anywhere a suitable cell phone signal exists.

Beyond the keyless control functions, the OnStar app supplies unprecedented access to the health of your selected General Motors product. Information such as current fuel capacity, odometer log, tire pressures and oil life are presented in real-time providing a fantastic tool in planning maintenance. Other OnStar services are also accessible by phone with a customer service adviser 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The mobile app includes a one-touch dial feature to OnStar.

Wanting to reflect the identity of each GM division, the OnStar smartphone app is promised to explicitly capture the character of the owner’s vehicle. Therefore a Buick OnStar screen will differ from one offered for a GMC truck. Apart from the branding distinguishing car makes, unique PIN codes will insure measure that the proper user should have access to the vehicle.

Offered for iPhones and Android-equipped smartphones, this OnStar feature is yet to make mention of Blackberry connectivity (An unusual predicament that the Blackberry was excluded since those devices are to the Cadillac crowd). With the roll-out of the current OnStar app just announced, the Blackberry omission could be addressed in the near future as new 2.0 version of the mobile software is already in the works. Through a collaboration with Google turn-by-turn direction and voice navigation could make this app an even more valuable connection.

In recent months, General Motors has been desiring a greater presence on mobile technology with the OnStar announcement being one such attempt. App happy, Chevrolet has created a virtual showroom app for Apple devices. A free download from the App Store, The Chevrolet Showroom App allows potential buyers or even enthusiasts a wealth of information.

Information Source: General Motors, OnStar
Photo Source: General Motors

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For the 2010 model year, there was just under 70 brand new or heavily redesigned vehicles entering the marketplace. With thousands of parts combining to fabricate a vehicle, automakers are terribly concerned for their freshman products. Despite all the virtual and physical testing has been conducted prior to release within a vehicle’s development stage, the fact remains that the first buyers are somewhat like the tech-seekers who lined up for the new Apple iPad. With reputation for quality at stake, the chances of minor problems could injure ongoing respect of a vehicle. While quality is sold to the automotive buying public as a general term, automotive technicians actually have tools which detects and records a vehicle’s quality.

Of course, many of us are familiar with the safety-related recalls which receive mainstream media attention. When manufacturers identify a problem which could endanger the motorist and anyone else in the public, they have to contact their customers and perform a fix free of charge. However, another less known vehicle defect record is known as a Technical Service Bulletin(TSB). Regarding general quality issues not immediately related to safety concerns, TSBs are issued when service technicians and/or even the engineers discover a reoccurring problems which may be reported in customer vehicles.

Though a few Technical Service Bulletins are not entirely a major concern for a vehicle, too many have been known to sink a car’s popularly once the defects are known. The Ford Focus was greeted in the United States warmly for the 2000 model year but would quickly become a major thorn in the side of Ford in the North American market. Amassing over 150 TSBs in 16 months, items from cassette tape deck to body structure issues were listed.

Though rare, TSB issues have turned into safety recalls as in the case with Toyota and the all-weather floormats. Reported on the 2007 Lexus ES350 in April of the model year, the floormat issue would be taken more seriously a few years later.

For the class of 2010, the Kia Forte was currently (as of June 11th 2010) recorded 15 technical service bulletins. TSB issues include Oil Control Valves, seat belt warning sensors and power steering complications. Though a praised vehicle, the new territory which this vehicle is charting for Kia, as a true family car contender, deserves a little time to mature.

Because Technical Service Bulletins pertain to minor part of a vehicle, even vehicles built on a similar platform may not compile the same number of issues. In one case, the all-new GMC Terrain has 14 TSBs registered with the NHTSA while the Cadillac SRX and Chevrolet Equinox, built on the same Theta platform, each suffer just one such report.

With several 2010 model year vehicles affected by 0 or just a single Technical Service Bulletin, included below note vehicles with 4 or more TSBs.

2010 Model Year Vehicles Affected By More Than 4 TSBs:

Kia Forte 15
GMC Terrain 14
Mercedes S-Class 13
Nissan Sentra 12
Nissan 370Z 10
Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan 8
Pontiac Vibe 8
Volvo XC60 8
Nissan Cube 6
Madza3 5
Mercedes-Benz E350 4
Lexus RX350 4
Subaru Legacy 4
Subaru Outback 4

Please note if you have a vehicle is thought to be affected by a Technical Service Bulletin that you do not need to bolt for your car service center. Since TSBs are non-safety related items, a technician will address the problem in the next vehicle service. On one final note, keep in mind that these issues should often be remedied for free under warranty or sometimes off the advertised vehicle warranty.

Information Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Photo Source: Chris Nagy

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This is turning into a rough week for American automobile manufacturers as two of three major companies placed vehicles on the recall list. While the Chrysler Group started this work week with three separate recalls affecting just under 600,000 vehicles collectively, General Motors has most recently eclipsed Chrysler’s vehicle total. Announcing a recall of 1.5 million cars, General Motors is addressing an issue which resulted in at least 5 vehicle fires.

Early Tuesday, GM sent out a notice informing owners that the electronics within the windshield washer fluid heater was prone to short circuit causing an overheat. Surprising enough, this GM recall is not the first one for the washer fluid heating system. In September of 2008, the exact same 2007 and 2008 model year vehicles were addressed then by the installation of an electrical fuse. This time, GM dealerships will remove or disable the washer fluid heater unit altogether. This election to remove the system rather than repair the heater is mainly because GM’s supplier of the technology, Microheat, declared chapter 11 bankruptcy in late 2008 and is unable to furnish a remedy.

GM products affected by this recall includes the following vehicles:

Buick

2006-2009 Lucerne
2008-2009 Enclave

Cadillac

2008-2009 CTS
2006-2009 DTS
2007-2009 Escalade (All models)

Chevrolet

2007-2009 Avalanche
2007-2009 Silverado
2007-2009 Suburban/Tahoe
2009 Tranverse

GMC

2008-2009 Acadia
2007-2009 Sierra
2007-2009 Yukon

Hummer

2006-2009 H2

Saturn

2007-2009 Outlook

Removing the system, which was once an award-winning automotive innovation, GM will also compensate each owner for the amount of $100 in exchange for the windshield washer fluid heater. This price is more than fair compared to the fact that the heated washer fluid system was only an $85 option on the 2007 Chevrolet Suburban.

With GM’s news today joining the news yesterday that Chrysler Group is recalling Jeep Wranglers for potential brake fluid leaks and Chrysler minivans for concerns of possible sliding door electrical fires, some might be under the impression that the American auto industry is returning to their low quality aspirations. That notion is as much a mistake as the dogma that Japanese vehicles are indisputably reliable. Recent overall quality reports have been proving this fact. When buying an American car, at least the saying ‘they don’t built them like they used to’ can be a source of solace.

Information Source: GM, NHTSA, Automotive News

Photo Source: GM, Chris Nagy

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So, turns out people don’t particularly like minivans anymore. Can’t blame them – they’re big, slow, hideous, mind-numbingly boring, and make you look like the ultimate soccer mom. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard some poor sap wistfully say “Yeah, I had to sell my [insert sports car] and get a minivan for the kids.” Well fear no longer, yearning car enthusiasts, a new(ish) breed of car-based SUVs are available to haul that family around, and you don’t even have to settle for a big, gas-guzzling SUV. Sell that minivan now – large, crossover SUV give you enough room to seat eight people and haul their crap around without trying to hide your face from passersby. Some would even call them stylish.

Honda has one called the Pilot, Mazda calls theirs the CX-9, and Ford’s got the Flex. Don’t think GM isn’t in on the game; they have (count ‘em) four large crossovers – all based on the same platform. GM offers the Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook, and the two we’ll be taking a look at today, the GMC Acadia and Chevy Traverse. All four serve the same purpose, but are for four different buyers. GM spokesperson Brian Goebel told me “The Chevy Traverse and GMC Acadia appeal to distinct customer bases and are developed and packaged accordingly.” Styling differences are obvious inside and out, but we’ll go over that later. Assuming you’re brand-agnostic though, Goebel says “The Acadia offers more items standard in various packages (like rear camera), while Traverse customers are more value-oriented.” Mr. Goebel also said that the suspensions are tuned different based on customer feedback. Accordingly, I found the GMC’s suspension to be a bit too posh, as it tended to float and act unresponsive in the name of a softer ride. The Traverse felt more responsive and car-like in its handling.

Let’s talk about specs:

	Picture	Base Price	As-tested Price	Fuel Econ. (city/hwy)	Curb Weight (lbs.)	Max. Cargo (cu. ft)	Height (in.)	Length (in.)	Width (in.)
Chevy Traverse		$29,224	$42,675	17/24 mpg	4790	116	72.8	205	78.4
GMC Acadia		$31,740	$47,740	17/24 mpg	4722	117	72.8	200.7	78.2

You get the idea – they’re nearly identical. Same size, same transmission, same engine, etc. So which one to buy comes strictly down to matter of preference and budget. The Traverse, as Mr. Goebel puts it, is more “value-oriented,” meaning that it’s the entry-level version of the GM large crossover quartet. Personally, I like the Traverse better anyway. I think it looks better inside and out (although the Acadia felt higher quality inside.) The Chevy handles better, but the GMC takes bumpy roads with more elegance. Both seat up to eight, and have the same basic interior layout with a cargo capacity of 116/117 cubic ft.

Both come with a 6-speed automatic transmission and the same 3.6-liter V6 engine. In the Traverse, the engine produces 281 hp for the LS and LT trims, while the LTZ gets 288 hp due to the dual-exhaust system. The Acadia gets 288 hp across the line. It’s a good engine with plenty of pep. Both front- and all-wheel-drive layouts are available – AWD will cost you an extra $2000. We were given a FWD Acadia and AWD Traverse to test out, and I found the FWD layout of the Acadia to be slightly off-putting – it just doesn’t feel right having the front wheels alone power something this big – I’d opt for AWD.

In terms of styling, I found the Traverse to be the more alluring of the two, inside and out. The Acadia has a work truck appeal – boxy and rugged (and will look better with “dubs,” if that’s your thing,) whereas the Traverse is more modern with swooping lines, curves, and an attractive two-tone interior. Nothing wrong with either one – it’s all about preference.

2010 Chevy Traverse Interior

2010 GMC Acadia Interior

The primary differences between the Chevy Traverse and GMC Acadia (other than styling,) lie in the equipment. The Traverse is offered in LS, 1LT, 2LT, and LTZ trim levels. LS is the base model, giving you standard stuff like 17-inch steel wheels, A/C, 8-passenger seating, and all power accessories. Stepping into the LT models gets you 18-inch alloys, parking assist, side-view mirrors with blind spot mirror, and for the 2LT, a rearview camera, power liftgate, bluetooth, dual-zone climate, and remote start. The top-of-the-line LTZ adds touch screen nav, heated windshield washer, heated and cooled leather seats, dual exhaust (with that extra 7 horsepower,) and 20-inch wheels.

The Acadia is better equipped as standard, and is also offered in four trims – SL SLE, SLT-1, and SLT-2. SL starts you off with 18-inch alloys, front and rear air, power accessories, and a six-speaker audio system with satellite radio. The SLE adds fog lights, power liftgate, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, remote start, bluetooth, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power seats, and rear parking sensors with back-up camera. SLT-1 buyers get bigger wheels, tri-zone climate, leather upholstery, 10-speaker Bose audio, and the SLT-2 adds even more stuff – bigger wheels, perforated leather, driver memory, and more available packages. As you could imagine, the Acadia can get expensive fast.

Before You Buy

Both the Chevy Traverse and GMC Acadia are good at what they do, and strengthen the “new GM” image by exuding high quality, smart design, and personality. The engine and transmission are powerful with class-leading fuel economy. A few competitors to look at (if you weren’t paying attention before) include the Mazda CX-9, Ford Flex, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Veracruz, and Toyota Highlander.

Let dealers compete for your business and have the upper hand in negotiations before going into the dealership. Find the Lowest Price on Your New Car at CarWoo Today!

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Looks like General Motors is not completely dead yet, nor devoid of ideas. For example, fresh from Detroit and The North American International Auto Show comes the GMC Granite Concept. The exterior features an “urban-industrial design aesthetic” and on a lot of levels seems very un-General Motors-like.

Intriguingly the GMC press release teases almost right off the top: “If brought to market … ” What do you mean “if”? Sure, most concept cars are there to tease, but that’s pretty un-GM-like to be so up front with it. In a lot of ways, a car like the Granite could make a lot of sense. You’d think there would be a market for it, and it would get better MPG figures than most GMC trucks. And it is small to be sure. The Granite is a full 2 feet shorter than the new GMC Terrain compact crossover.

“Granite was conceived as a new type of vehicle from GMC – one that could stretch people’s ideas of what a GMC can be. We call it an ‘urban utility vehicle’ and our goal was redefining what the GMC name could mean to a new generation of customers looking for both bold design and functionality,” said Lisa Hutchinson, product marketing director for GMC.

Dave Lyon, executive director of North American Interior and Global Cross-Brand Design takes things a little bit further in the hyperbole department: “We think of the Granite as the automotive equivalent of an urban loft apartment. The exterior has an unmistakable industrial look, but the interior is warm and personalized.” Uh-oh, easy there.

But he might not be that far off, given what the design team was going for. Said team was a young group of designers, and they aimed the Granite at young, urban professionals like themselves, who are very social and active.

The Granite is short, which makes it more usable in an urban setting: A 103.6-inch wheelbase and 161.3-inch overall in length. “The Design team leveraged the best attributes from different segments: SUV, minivan and crossover, and mixed them with a commercial chic aesthetic. We feel this redefines the premium class of vehicles we call urban utility vehicles,” said Lyon.

The Granite has four doors, the rears being suicide style, and there’s no pillar between the front and rear doors, which should make it easier to enter, exit and load.

“We gave the Granite a bold yet appealing design that truly makes a styling statement,” said Juho Suh, exterior design manager. “For a new generation of urban professionals, it delivers the look and functionality they need.”

OK GM, you want to survive? You want to start moving forward: Build the Granite.

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The great “American Dream”: A four-bedroom two-story in a quiet subdivision, little Johnny and young Sally running around the fenced-in backyard, the 9-5 career downtown and two family-oriented vehicles tucked away in the garage, one of them most likely a sport-utility or crossover of some sort.

Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Well, if this sound like your version of suburban paradise, then GMC thinks its Acadia crossover is the perfect addition to help fill that garage slot. But is this car-based SUV good enough to grace your garage with its presence, or are the competition a better option?

General Motors first introduced the FWD-based Acadia in early 2007 on the newly developed Lambda platform. Since its release, the GMC (along with the Buick Enclave, just-released Chevrolet Traverse, and Saturn Outlook copies) are snatched off dealer lots in surprisingly quick fashion. The car received a mountain of positive praise for its smooth ride, improved quality and excellent interior space.

However, one constant complaint was the powertrain. Most people felt the 271 horsepower, 3.6 liter V6 was straining to carry almost 5,000 pounds of Lansing, Michigan steel and plastic.

For 2009, GM has addressed this problem with a brand-new engine. The new 3.6 liter is the same one you find in the Cadillac CTS, and it comes with all the techno-goodies as well: variable valve timing, direction injection, two camshafts.

What is direct injection, you may ask. Well, in a nutshell, the fuel is squirted directly into the cylinder compared to the intake runner. This means the engine will run more efficiently as well as produce more power when you open up the loud pedal. The results? Thirteen more horses and 5 ft. lb of torque, for a new total of 288 and 256, respectfully.

It may seem like an insignificant increase in power to call for a new engine, but drive last year’s model back-to-back with a 2009, and I guarantee you can tell a difference.
Pulling onto a busy highway or passing a slow-moving semi on a two-lane road is no longer a death-defying feat. The engine pulls strongly to redline and does not run out of breath towards the top-end of the power band like the older multi-port engine. And it will still pull 4500 lbs.
The new engine is still used in tandem with the six-speed automatic gearbox, which is a smooth operator in normal driving conditions

Other than the new engine, nothing much else has changed. Inside, there is a three-tone color scheme inside: titanium leather, black and matching titanium plastic, and brushed aluminum trim. The dashboard layout is standard GM, with a carryover radio bezel and HVAC controls molded into the center stack. The gauges reside in five separate holes which are stuck deep in the dash and glow a gorgeous red.
Storage space for all you and your family’s knickknacks is ample, with door pockets all around and a deep dual layer bin in the center console. There are 12 cup holders too, so no one will have to hold their drink in a packed car. Luggage space offered is more than adequate, with 19.7 cubic feet of groceries or sports bags when the third row in place, and the storage space can stretch to a vast 117 cubic feet when both back rows are in the fold-flat position.

Seating comfort in the first row comes with firm, but comfortable leather seating. Access to all controls is equally as good, with an easy reach to most controls. A rather large steering wheel sits in front of the driver, but has useful controls for the cruise control, radio and standard Bluetooth connectivity.
Buyers can choose either captain’s chair or a bench for the third row. This particular Acadia came with the SLT1 trim level, so this example came with two seats, which were comfortable as the front, but were too low to the floor. This means that most riders will have to look at their knees while going for a ride. The third row is best left to small kids or amputees.

One cool feature must be mentioned though. In order to access the third row, one must move the second row seat out of the way. Many companies have their own methods of accomplishing this goal, but the one residing in the GMC is one of the best offered. Called Smart Slide, to access the third row, simply grab the handle and pull. In one deft motion, the seat cushion folds up against the seat back, and then the entire seat slides all the way forward, leaving ample room to maneuver to the back. Very handy for when you arms are full of kids.

And don’t worry about protecting the little ones, because the Acadia comes chalk full of it. Standard features like front, side and curtain airbags as well as anti-lock brakes and GM’s Stabilitrak are all standard. In addition, the Acadia receives five-stars in both driver and passenger side crash protection and four-stars for rollover protection.
Since the SLT1 is a mid-grade package, the Acadia can be had with some very nice extras, such as the aforementioned leather, three row seating, tri-zone climate and audio controls, Bose stereo with XM radio, power front seating and 18-inch wheels. On this example, there were added bits, such as gorgeous 19-inch wheels, rearview camera with parking sensors, and a Dual Skyskape sunroof, with an electric sunroof in the front and a large piece of fixed glass in the rear.
And whether you’re taking the family on vacation or you are going to the grocery store, the Acadia can handle whatever you can throw at it. It has a smooth ride which is impressively quiet, which is shocking considering the 19-inch wheel and tire package. Steering is light, but accurate.

The Acadia’s chassis is well-balanced, with a grippy chassis that will stay flat when zooming around an on-ramp. Brakes are firm and perfect to modulate, but there is too much travel in the pedal itself. But once you get through that vast dead spot, they are very good.
Even though this crossover may seem like a sound handler, it’s not. Unfortunately, it suffers from a major obesity problem. As mentioned, this thing weights two-and-a-half tons. That is not light by any means. Added onto that, the Acadia 201 inch long body makes it feel about as small as coal barge. Combine the two, and you will feel every single ounce and every since millimeter when driving it.
Even though everything seems positive, outside of a less-than-stellar size problem, there’s one glaring problem with the GMC Acadia. Yes, you guessed it: quality.

Let me start off by saying that, yes, GM has improved their quality recently. The materials feel better than if you were to go back a few years into the product line. However, the inside of the Acadia is still behind everyone else.
The plastics look nice, the aluminum trim which makes up the center stack is very nice, and the leather is Cadillac-supple, but touch anything else, and everything feels cheap. The top of the dash feels paper-thin, the door panels flex and plastics around the foot well area scratched too easily. Then there were the rattles in the headliner, which on a car with less than 3000 miles on it is unacceptable.
I think the GMC Acadia and its platform duplicates are very good, especially coming from one of the manufacturers in Michigan. GM has a good first step in this incredibly tough group of vehicles. If they want to keep up and make suburbanites, it will need a major material overhaul to make sure they keep one of these in their garage.

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Base Price: $30,470
As Tested: $41,630
Architecture: Front-engine, all-wheel drive seven-passenger crossover sport-utility
Drivetrain: 3.6-liter DOHC V6 with six-speed automatic transaxle
Length: 200.7 inches
Wheelbase: 118.9 inches
Mileage: 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway
Weight: 4975 lbs.

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