We took the Acadia Denali for a summer time spin to one of the few local drive-in movie theatres remaining, packing up the kids in their pajamas and pillows, with plans to put down the Acadia’s third row and enjoy the movie from that large cargo area with the tailgate up. Turns out that its flat-looking rear floor is not exactly flat. Even with pillows and relatively plush carpeting, we lasted about 45 minutes trying to get two adults and two kids in any semblance of comfort back there, before turning the Acadia around and thoroughly annoying everyone parked nearby.
Perhaps the area where the Acadia shines brightest is when it comes to safety – an obviously key consideration in this market segment. Like all GM vehicles, it offers OnStar, which is still a uniquely valuable and easy to use service that allows one to call up a real person and ask for directions while on the move, a key consideration if you travel alone often, on top of the automatic crash notification it sends out when any airbag deploys. But it also offers a unique centre-mounted airbag that helps prevent occupants from hitting each other or other hard points inside the Acadia during a crash or rollover, as well as the usual front, side and side curtain bags that protect all three rows.
Another high-tech safety features include a stolen vehicle recovery system that allows police enforcement to remotely bring the vehicle to a stop, which sounds creepy until your car is actually stolen. More common safety systems include a blind spot warning system and a rear cross-traffic audible warning when in reverse. The advanced Jetson’s feel continues with the head-up display that ghosts an image of your speed, outside temperature, and/or engine rpm as well.
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Warranty: 3 years/60,000 km; 5 years/160,000 km powertrain; 6 years/160,000 km corrosion perforation; 5 years/160,000 km roadside assistance Competitors: |
All this advanced safety gear, luxurious passenger space and pampering convenience are ultimately what’s behind this GMC Acadia’s fairly steep $61,410 as-tested price. While it’s easy to suggest that one could buy a much more prestigious German brand for such an outlay, it wouldn’t be with nearly the same amounts of these three key attributes. This is not the type of vehicle that enthusiasts or children will paint as their muse, but both will appreciate its subtle charms over years and long distance road trips, as will parents. Especially if those parents note that many of these key safety technologies are available in Acadias that start at less than $50k.
Pricing: 2015 GMC Acadia Denali AWD
Base price (Acadia Denali): $56,460
Options: $3,200 (Rear Seat Entertainment System $2,110; 20-inch aluminum wheels $575; Midnight Amethyst $515)
Freight: $1,650
A/C tax: $100
Price as tested: $61,410
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