DETROIT -- The downsized 2017 GMC Acadia crossover will debut in showrooms this spring with a shrunken price tag, too.
The next-generation Acadia will start at $29,995, including destination fee, about $1,900 less than the base ’16 Acadia, GMC said in a statement today. The redesigned Acadia is about 7 inches shorter and 700 pounds lighter than its predecessor, powered by a base 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine, downsized from the 3.6-liter V-6 on the outgoing Acadia.
GMC is repositioning the Acadia to compete more directly with other popular large crossovers, and has priced it accordingly. The base ’17 Acadia’s sticker price is about $1,000 below that of the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot and about $2,000 less than the sticker on a base Ford Explorer.
GMC will offer five Acadia models: The base SL, SLE ($33,375), SLT ($39,275), All Terrain ($40,040), and Denali ($45,845). Aside from the base model, each is available with an Active Twin Clutch all-wheel-drive system, which adds about $2,000-$3,000 depending on the trim. A new 3.6-liter V-6 also will be available.
“Acadia takes GMC’s proven SUV experience to the heart of the midsize crossover segment,” GMC brand chief Duncan Aldred said in the statement. “Building on the momentum of 2015’s record sales, it will introduce Acadia to a new generation of customers.”
U.S. sales of the Acadia have stayed strong despite the vehicle’s age -- it was released in 2006 and refreshed for the 2013 model year). Deliveries hit 96,383 vehicles in 2015, a record for the nameplate. Aldred has said he believes the smaller size will lead to higher sales.
