2020 Holden Acadia Review: LT 2WD

If the Acadia had an accent, it would be a Southern accent, because this large seven-seat SUV is built in Tennessee, USA, and wears a GMC badge when at home.

In Australia, of course, he wears Holden's clothes and comes straight from the factory in right hand drive. So how does it fit into Australian conditions? Does he even know how important the sausage is on the piece of bread he bought on Saturday from the hardware store?

I learned all this and more when the entry-level front-wheel-drive LT came to live in my family.

Holden Acadia 2020: LT (2WD)
Safety Rating
engine's type	3.6L
fuel type	Regular unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	8.9l / 100km
Landing	7 Places
Price from	$30,300

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

To fully understand the look of the Acadia, check out the GMC website, but make sure you close your eyes the same way you would during a solar eclipse, welding, or atomic explosion.

You'll understand when you get there, but suffice it to say that the site has some pretty obnoxious trucks and SUVs. Once you recover, you will realize that Acadia is the supermodel of the GMC family.

The Acadia is one of the smallest members of the GMC family, but its size is positioned as a large SUV in Australia.

Yes, it has a big, blocky, truck-like look, but it's a refreshingly tough alternative to sleeker SUVs like the Mazda CX-9.

The Acadia is also one of the smallest members of the GMC family, but its size is positioned as a large SUV in Australia. Even so, it's not that big compared to other large SUVs, so you won't have a problem piloting it in Australian car parks or situating it in space.

The Acadia measures 4979mm long, 2139mm wide (with open mirrors) and 1762mm high.

The Acadia has a big, blocky, truck-like look.

Along with the Mazda CX-9, Acadia also counts the Kia Sorento and Nissan Pathfinder as its competitors.

Inside, the Acadia looks modern and stylish, if a bit rough. However, as one YouTube commenter reminded me, parents will love wiping surfaces down.

While the interior looks modern and stylish, some parts of it are unfinished.

Well, her comment wasn't written very politely, but as a parent, I agree that hard plastic has that advantage.

The interior is not all unrefined. The seats, even in the entry-level LT we tested, while the fabric (and only available in Jet Black) is adorned with sculpted bolsters and finished with a textured pattern that looks and feels great.

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 9/10

The front-wheel drive Acadia LT costs $43,490, which is $4500 less than the all-wheel drive version.

The list of standard features includes 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, LED daytime running lights, three-zone climate control, proximity key, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, a six-speaker stereo system, an 8.0-inch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, noise cancellation, dual chrome tailpipes, privacy glass and cloth seats.

The cost here is pretty darn good, and you're not missing out on much by not going up to the $10k more LTZ level, aside from wireless charging, as well as power and heated leather front seats.

The Acadia costs about the same as the Pathfinder ST, but better; about $500 more than the entry-level Kia Sorento Si; but cheaper than the Mazda CX-9 Sport by about 3 thousand dollars.

How practical is the interior space? 9/10

Acadia's play of practicality is strong. It boasts seven seats with third-row seats that are really fit for adults, five USB ports scattered around the cabin, and a cargo capacity of 1042 liters with the third row seats folded down and 292 liters with them in place. If you have three children, even teenagers, the Acadia could be the perfect family vehicle for you.

Trunk volume with the third row folded down is 292 liters.

All three rows are spacious and even at 191 cm I had enough room for my shoulders and elbows in the front and in the second and third rows I had enough legroom to sit in each seat behind my seat without feeling closely.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed because you might not be able to raise the budget to buy an LTZ-V? Well, cheer up - the LT has more headroom, and that's because it doesn't have a sunroof that eats into the ceiling height.

Interior storage is excellent. There's a wide and deep center console drawer, a stash in front of the switch, a second-row passenger tray, six cup holders (two in each row), and decent-sized door pockets.

Directional air vents for everyone on board, three-zone climate control, two 12V outlets, safety glass and touchless unlocking complete a great practical package.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10

All Acadias come with a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine that delivers more power and torque of 231kW (at 6600rpm) and 367Nm (at 5000rpm).

A nine-speed automatic shifts gears, and in the case of our all-wheel-drive LT test car, drive went to the front wheels only.

The 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine develops 231 kW/367 Nm of power.

The V6 gets kudos for the stop-and-go fuel-saving system and cylinder deactivation, as well as the good acceleration and smooth power delivery you associate with a naturally aspirated engine, but thumbs down for having to rev hard to make this nonsense.

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

We were surprised by the Acadia's fuel economy. After refueling, I drove 136.9 km on a hilly country road and evening city traffic during rush hours, and then refueled again - only 13.98 liters were used up. This is a mileage of 10.2 l / 100 km. The official combined consumption figure is 8.9 l/100 km.

So, while the engine is big and not particularly new (it's an evolution of the V6 built by Holden in Australia for the Commodore), it has fuel-saving tech like cylinder deactivation and a "stop-start" system that you can't toggle. off.

It's not the most fuel-efficient seven-seater, though - turbocharged cars with smaller engines like the Mazda CX-9 are really amazing at how they can grunt without getting thirsty.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10

The Acadia received the highest ANCAP five-star rating in testing in 2018, and even the entry-level LT we tested is equipped with an outstanding amount of advanced safety equipment.

The LT comes standard with AEB with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, Lane Keeping Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Side Impact Prevention, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, Reminder about the passenger in the back seat and airbags that expand all the way to cover the third row.

Now you should know that the driver's seat vibrates if your parking sensors detect that you are approaching an object. Yes, it's weird. If this is not your thing, you can go to the OSD menu and change it to beep. I prefer the “beep” of the driver.

The space-saving spare tire is under the boot floor, and I'd suggest you familiarize yourself with how to access it (it's a little tricky) in daylight before (or if ever) you need to use it for real.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 9/10

The Acadia is backed by Holden's five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.

Service is recommended every 12 months or 12,000 km. Be prepared to pay $259 for the first service, $299 for the second, $259 for the third, $359 for the fourth, and $359 again for the fifth.

What is it like to drive? 7/10

I drove the Holden Acadia back and forth with the Nissan Pathfinder - you can check out the comparison in the video above, but the outcome of that experience was important.

You see, while I wasn't a big fan of the Acadia's driving experience when I first met the SUV at its Australian launch in 2018, when I drove it right after the Pathfinder, the difference was like night and day.

The Acadia isn't the most dynamic off-roader, and the tires squeaked a little when cornering.

The Acadia is comfortable, from the large seats to the smooth ride. If you cover a stack of territory, the Acadia makes a great highway cruiser and covers long distances with ease.

This V6 does need a lot of revs, but it's powerful and accelerates quickly, while the nine-speed automatic shifts quite smoothly. Noise canceling technology also keeps the cabin quiet.

I rode the Acadia right after the Pathfinder, the difference was like night and day.

Look, it's not the most dynamic of SUVs, and the tires squeak a little when you hit the corners, but it's not a performance car, and it doesn't try to be.

Smaller windows mean a cooler, tougher look, but the downside is the dark cabin and sometimes visibility is limited to the A-pillars or rear windows.

The Acadia is comfortable, from the large seats to the smooth ride.

The 2000kg towing capacity will rule out the Acadia for many who are thinking of towing a large caravan or large boat. The Pathfinder's 2700kg towing braking capacity is this SUV's forte.

Do you need all-wheel drive? No, but it's handy for dirt and gravel roads. However, 198mm of ground clearance with front-wheel drive alone will let you ride bumpy roads that regular sedans can't handle.

Verdict

The Holden Acadia is a complete seven-seat SUV that adults can fit in the third row without turning friends into enemies. It's also practical and well-equipped with storage space and utilities like USB ports.

I was particularly impressed with the advanced safety equipment on board even at this entry level LT. Yes, it's a V6 petrol and it's not the most economical SUV, but time spent with it has shown that with cylinder deactivation and a stop-start system, it may not be as power hungry as you think.