General Motor Company (GMC) is a popular American auto manufacturer known for its powerful SUVs and pickup trucks. In 2007, GMC added Acadia to its SUV lineup replacing the Safari van, Envoy, and the Pontiac Montana SV6. Moreover, GMC Acadia became the first-ever crossover SUV by this American automaker.
GMC Acadia’s debut in 2007 marked the brand’s start in the crossover body style. The vehicle’s efficient performance alongside a powerful exterior appearance made it popular among GMC fans. That said, GMC Acadia’s history spans only two generations. Besides, this crossover SUV remains a staple for GMC since its inception.
Let’s revisit the journey of the GMC Acadia and how it went on to become a popular crossover SUV.
EVOLUTION OF GMC ACADIA OVER THE YEARS
GMC introduced Acadia as its first-ever passenger car with front-wheel drive. The price and features equilibrium made this crossover SUV even more appealing. Besides, the use of technology and lightweight design led to lower fuel consumption.
Let’s rewind the complete GMC Acadia history and how it went on to become a popular car in the UAE according to the luxury pre-owned cars annual market report.
FIRST-GENERATION GMC ACADIA (2007-2016)
The first generation of GMC Acadia debuted in December 2006 as the 2007 model. Being the GMC’s first-ever crossover car body type, it was an important car to the General Motors brand. It shared the same platform as Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse.
The first GMC Acadia featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine producing 275 hp. Besides, the engine was paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Although the crossover featured front-wheel drive, it came with an optional all-wheel drive system. In 2008, the engine power was increased to 288 hp.
The exterior gave a pickup truck-like appearance with softened edges. Moreover, GMC Acadia featured a chrome-plated bar on top of the grille. Boomerang-shaped headlights with corner turn signal lights complemented the grille.
The seven-seater crossover had a decent head and legroom. Also, the folded seats in the second and third rows offered a storage space of 3,313 litres.
FIRST-GENERATION GMC ACADIA FACELIFT (2012-2016)
The first-generation GMC Acadia received a facelift in 2012. GMC Acadia and Acadia Denali were revealed at the Chicago Auto Show. The facelifted models presented a blend of modern safety features and exterior design changes for the first time in the GMC Acadia’s history.
It was the first time in the automotive industry that a car featured the front centre airbag. The interior included a SmartSlide seating system that allowed access to the third row easily for the 7 or 8-passenger seating.
On the exterior, the front fascia featured a chiselled 3-bar grille with diffused LED daytime running lamps. Besides, standard projector beams and optional HID headlight types were available for the buyers. Another exterior design change included the wrap-around rear glass and spoiler. Besides, the crossover offered 18,19, or 20-inch wheels enhancing the vehicle’s powerful appearance.
SECOND GENERATION GMC ACADIA (2016-Present)
The second generation of GMC Acadia made its way in 2016. It came with decreased dimensions than its predecessor model but it didn’t make it a small SUV. Built on the C1XX platform, also used for Chevrolet Blazer and Cadillac XT5, it maintained the three-row seating.
It was the first time in the GMC Acadia’s history that the SUV was powered by an inline engine and a V6 engine was also available. That said, the engine lineup included the following:
- 2.4-litre engine producing 193 horsepower
- 3.6-litre V6 engine producing 310 hp
Both the engines were mated with the 6-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, the crossover was available with the front-wheel and all-wheel drive options.
The front fascia came with a chromed-plastic grille accompanied by standard projector lamps and HID headlights were available for the top-of-the-line trims. On the interior, GMC Acadia presented a luxurious cabin featuring a modern infotainment system. An 8-inch touchscreen on the top of the console with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay enhanced the entertainment system.
SECOND GENERATION GMC ACADIA FACELIFT (2019-Present)
The facelift of the second generation GMC Acadia was redesigned from the ground up. This mid-cycle refresher was one of the top ones in the GMC Acadia facelift history.
Under the hood, GMC Acadia models offered the following engine lineup:
- 2.0-litre turbocharged VVT engine producing 230 hp
- 2.5-litre engine generating 193 hp
- The 3.6-litre V6 engine featuring VVT technology produced 310 hp.
All the engines were paired with a new 9-speed automatic transmission for the first time in the history of GMC Acadia. Alongside, LED headlights and GMC’s signature C-shaped lights on the front and rear fascias gave a boasting exterior to this crossover.
On the interior, a newly designed centre console added storage space. Moreover, the premium trim, Acadia Denali came with a unique interior colour scheme with open-pore wood trim.
This was the complete GMC Acadia history and its journey over the years. Both GMC Acadia generations are among the premium and luxurious car models by this auto brand. If you want to buy one for yourself, you can explore the used GMC Acadia in the UAE and find this popular car model.
Besides, you can browse through the plethora of used cars for sale in the UAE and find the one that meets your requirements.
Keep reading the UAE’s leading auto blog to find more on the popular car models and their evolution over the years.
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