Breaking the mould

Considering GMC bears an inevitable and immediate association with professional grade trucks engineered for the ultimate man's man, the Acadia is a fresh and welcome take on the brand.

Since its introduction in the Middle East market back in 2007, this crossover has lived up to the hype of initial impressions - those of an innovative, sporty, all-round vehicle with an outdoorsy twist - and gone even further to exceed expectations, breaking the mould of GMC's image to become a favourite for women and families across the Middle East.

The Acadia combines smooth, responsive driving traits and SUV versatility with a spacious, comfortable yet luxurious interior. Coupling these features with a bold sporty stance has contributed to bringing these previously unlikely customers to GMC showrooms, while testifying to the brand's innovative outlook and feel for modernity.

Testimonials from happy GMC Acadia customers have proven that the Acadia has even gone so far as to create an unbreakable bond between owner and vehicle.

"My car is my world! I bought it three months ago and I am exceedingly happy with its looks and spaciousness. Some cars in this segment brag solely about usability and practicality, but the Acadia goes beyond that and provides a more intimate driver-car relationship. I just love it!" exclaims housewife Maryam Rashed, Acadia owner.

Indeed, the Acadia's athletic styling, with its subtle but sleek touches, makes it eye-catching. Moving inside, the roomy interior stands out with refinement and attention to detail and, despite its sporty looks, inspires ease and comfort giving it that 'intimate' cosiness, while the intuitive instrument panel design enhances the feeling of openness in the front-row seats and contributes to a commanding outward view.

On the other hand, Iqbal Mustafa Yousuf Al Kandari, Acadia owner, and family man with a private business, hails the Acadia's family-friendliness: "With ample room for my children in the back, a comfortable ride, great performance and good fuel efficiency, in my opinion the GMC Acadia ranks as one of the best family-oriented cars available."

"I bought the Acadia as a car for the family. My wife needs to move easily back and forth from the front passenger seat all the way back to the third row to tend to the children. In addition to this, space, Bluetooth for cell phones, remote engine start and a rear view camera are also fantastic features," added father of two and bank manager, Fadi Slaylati.

With space and comfort a priority for families, it is no wonder that Iqbal and Fadi sing the Acadia's praises. The three rows of seating can be configured for seven or eight passengers and, while the Acadia is undeniably spacious, it makes the best of its roominess with clever solutions. The Smart Slide seat feature not only facilitates movement within the car, but adjusts to cargo/passenger needs easily, while the uncommonly wide rear doors add to the overall feel of spaciousness.

But 'family-oriented vehicle' does not translate nor limit the Acadia to a 'people-carrier'. Its crossover characteristics make it an extremely driveable car, with the lightness and manageability of a sedan, while a powerful V6 3.6 litre engine generates 313hp in the current model. It is also worth noting the intelligent all-wheel drive (AWD) system, which provides excellent traction on slippery roads and other driving situations - such as roundabouts - where increased traction can really be felt, and automatically delivers a controlled amount of torque to the rear wheels, without the driver intervening.

This contributes further to a comprehensive protection system designed to safeguard passengers before, during and after a crash that won the Acadia a 'Top Safety Pick' award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Ultimately, and as mentioned by Mr Slaylati, the Acadia's high-tech features give it that 'oomph' factor and modern luxury.