CarseatBlog recently got back from the Chicago Auto Show, and one of the vehicles we took a look at was the redesigned 2017 GMC Acadia.
We’ve done reviews of the 2011/12 Buick Enclave and 2013 Chevy Traverse, sister vehicles of the Acadia. Those versions had great crash ratings and worked well with car seats, making them a good choice for families.
With the 2017 redesign, the Acadia will become even more family-friendly.
First, they’ve added some important safety features like lane departure warning and assist, front pedestrian braking, automatic forward braking (available on some models), and front- and rear-parking assist. There are also four cameras that combine to give a 360-degree view around the car.
Specifically for families and caregivers, GMC has added a feature to prevent children from being accidentally left in the car. How it works is that a system activates when the rear doors are opened and closed within 10 minutes of the ignition turning on. Once the driver arrives at his/her destination and turns off the car, a light and sound reminds the driver that something (or someone) might be in the back seat.
As far as we know, this is the first system put in place by an automaker to help prevent children from being left in cars, and we’re happy to see GMC being proactive in that regard.
The Acadia will also have GM’s Teen Driver features, which aim to help teens drive more safely and give parents insight into their children’s driving habits. Teen Driving automatically mutes the radio until the driver (and, if applicable, front passenger) have buckled their seatbelts. It also lets parents set a maximum volume for the radio, and parents can set maximum speeds that, if exceeded, will result in visual and audible warnings for the driver. Parents can also review their teen’s drive to see how far and how fast they went.
Non-safety features, but ones that are nice for families anyway, include five USB charging ports, including two in the third row. Fold-flat seats in the second and third row provide for lots of cargo room, and the second-row seats can slide forward with a car seat installed for easy third row access.
We also liked the custom-fit weather mat available for the third row of the Acadia. It folds with the seat so you don’t need to add/remove anything when you put the third row up or down. Even better, it has cut-outs for tether anchor access. (It’s the little things.)
The 2017 GMC Acadia will be available this spring. We hope to have a full review of it soon.