After the dismissal of the Saturn brand, GMC had to fill in the gap in its product lineup and made the Acadia a badge-engineered version of the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave.
Automakers are planning their production in advance, even from the early stages of car development. In order to get its first unibody seven-seat CUV, GMC had to sell a certain number of those, and it didn't think that with only two brands, it could do it, so it sold it also as the Acadia. Moreover, it offered the vehicle available in five trim levels, so people could get the one they wanted. But sales struggled to pass the 80,000 units mark ever since the model's launch in 2006, so GMC refreshed the vehicle in 2012 for the 2013 model-year, and results followed with sales closing, end even exceeding the 90,000 units mark.
The refreshed 2013 version came with a bold-looking front fascia where the grille was widened compared to the non-facelifted version. In addition, the headlights were taller and slightly swept back to the sides and adorned by C-shaped daytime running lights. In addition, the Denali trim level featured more chromed trims, which added a luxurious look.
Inside, drivers could get up to seven other passengers with them since the Acadia was a three-row vehicle. Still, depending on the options, the carmaker could make the car with six individual seats, which added more comfort for everyone onboard. The dashboard featured a simple yet effective layout, with an instrument cluster clearly arranged where a clock took center stage that was perfect for school runs. A head-up display was also available. On the center stack, GMC added a touchscreen infotainment system with a rear-view camera.
Just like its siblings, the Acadia was available with either a front or an all-wheel drive system. Under the hood, the automaker installed a 3.6-liter V6 paired with a six-speed automatic fitted as standard on the entire range. The all-wheel drive system was on the list, while those who didn't need that could get the car as a front-wheel drive affair.
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