2010 GMC Acadia

Review

With its nice ride and spacious interior, the 2010 GMC Acadia is a top contender in its class for midsize SUVs offering excellent safety and decent affordability as well. The Acadia does a nice job of standing out from three similar models released by GMC this year. Luxury and affordability are its hallmark and for a vehicle this size it gets pretty good gas mileage as well. In photos the Acadia looks like a nice blending of a minivan and a SUV, so it will do well for those drivers who don’t like to drive one or the other.

Because of its roomy, cavernous interior, those who are looking for large SUVs, will find the three-row seating arrangement of the Acadia worth consideration for saving a few dollars instead of shopping exclusively in the higher class. GMC is also giving shoppers an extra incentive to buy if they are considering: there’s a 60-day money-back guarantee which allows buyers of this SUV to simply bring the car back any time between day 31 and 60 of ownership so long as there are less than 4,000 miles on the odometer and the payments have been kept up.

Performance

Not at all shy about performing, the 2010 Acadia comes available in four trims: the SL is the base model followed by the SLE, the SLT-1 and the SLT2, all of which feature all-wheel drive as an option. Powered by a 3.6-liter V6 that can dole out 288hp using a six-speed automatic transmission which is enough to pull this vehicle along quite satisfyingly on the highway or around town. The car feels big, unfortunately boasting rather than hiding its approximately 5,000 lb. curb weight.

Exterior Features

The basic SL comes with 18-inch alloy wheels and from the outside, looks every bit the squarish vehicle you would expect from GMAC. A power liftgate and foglamps are additional exterior features found on the SLE. The SLT-1 has 19-inch wheels which will affect the ride (negatively) somewhat and heated mirrors in addition to the features found on the SLE. For the exterior, the SLT-2 adds another inch to the chrome wheels (which aren’t very impressive-looking) and allows for power-folding side mirrors.

Interior Features

The interior of the impressive Acadia for 2010 includes GM’s standard OnStar system, front and rear air-conditioning, and satellite radio with a CD/MP3 stereo system blaring out through six speakers for the base SL model. Upgrading to the SLE adds remote ignition, leather-wrapping for the steering wheel, partial power for the front seats, Bluetooth connectivity rear parking sensors, a rearview mirror that dims automatically and a back-up camera.

The SLT-1’s interior really begins to show significant class by adding leather upholstery, rear audio controls and headphone jacks, heated front seats and a 10-speakers Bose system strong enough to practically move the car using the bass line of a good song. Reaching for the top-of-the-line SLT-2 adds perforating to the leather interior, more power control for the front seats and driver memory functions.

When all is said and done, the interior of the 2010 Acadia is nice and luxurious, but the material quality is somewhat lacking. Low-grade plastics and unimpressive assembly methods are a drain on the otherwise impeccable quality. Third-row roominess is decent for its class.

Safety & Specifications

If safety is a prime consideration for you when shopping for an automobile then you simply can’t get much better than the 2010 GMC Acadia for performance in that arena. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the Acadia a perfect 5 stars down the line in every category except rollover, where it scored a still-impressive four stars. The IIHS also rated the 2010 Acadia highly, giving it a rating of “Good” in its crash tests.

Boasting all of the standard safety features you’d expect, the 2010 Acadia comes standard with antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags, and full-length side curtain airbags as well as stability and traction control systems.

Upgrade Options

Entertainment and luxury are the hallmark of available options for the 2010 Acadia, including a 115-volt power outlet, a rear-seat DVD player on a flip-down display, rear audio controls, and a three-zone climate control system. The SLT-1 and 2 both have optional navigation system, and offer a “SkyScape” sunroof, ventilated and heated front seats and xenon headlamps.

How the 2010 Acadia Compares to Other Midsize SUVs

The Acadia is not quite as large as the Buick Enclave on the inside, nor is it quite as luxurious, but on the upside, it is less expensive than the Enclave as well. Though the interior is nothing much to boast about, it is still better than what you will find on the Saturn Outlook or the Chevy Traverse. It’s superior handling puts it near the top of its class for performance and the dearth of car safety features see the 2010 Acadia handing many other midsize SUVs their hats and coats. All four trims of the Acadia for 2009 score the highest ranking of “Excellent” for the IntelliChoice 5-Year Cost of Ownership which leaves buyers little to worry about when it comes to the price of fuel, car insurance, warranty repairs and other considerations.

Conclusion: Is the 2010 GMC Acadia a Smart Buy?

”Go to the head of the class” is the bottom line when it comes to the Acadia for 2010. Not the absolute best in every area, the Acadia is still impressively good in most areas that are of concern to consumers such as pricing, fuel economy, luxury and performance. Car pricing for the Acadia starts in the $31,000 range for the base models and car reviews are all significantly impressed with their road test findings.