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Rod Chapman1 Mar 2019
REVIEW

Holden Acadia LTZ-V 2019 Review

Comfy, spacious and packed with features, Holden's Acadia also offers a surprisingly dynamic ride for a large, seven-seat SUV…
Review Type
Quick Spin

What's it all about?

The rise and rise of the SUV continues in Australia and 2018 saw the broader segment's ranks swell with more new players – models like Holden's new US-made seven-seater, the Acadia.

The end of local auto production has left Holden with a large gap to fill but, falling under the General Motors umbrella as it does, there are plenty of new options from within the wider family to choose from.

Cue the entrance of the Equinox medium SUV in late 2017 and Acadia large SUV late last year, which complement the smaller Trax, the off-road-ready Trailblazer and the Commodore Tourer in the Holden family-shifting stakes.

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While the Equinox has failed to make a major impact in the medium SUV (under $60,000) niche – the 4999 examples registered last year falling well short of the five-figure tallies achieved by Mazda's CX-5, Toyota's RAV4, Nissan's X-Trail and Hyundai's Tucson et al – Holden is hoping the Acadia will receive a far warmer reception in the large SUV (under $70,000) bracket.

In the US, the GMC Acadia can trace its origins back to 2006 but its second generation – the model Holden has adopted – was first unveiled across the pond in early 2016. Made and converted to right-hand drive in GM's Spring Hill plant, Tennessee, the Acadia replaces the Holden Captiva and is available in Australia in three trim grades – LT, LTZ and LTZ-V – and two drivelines, either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Only the one engine is on offer – a 3.6-litre petrol V6 – mated to GM's nine-speed automatic transmission.

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How much does it cost?

The Acadia range kicks off from $43,490 (plus on-road costs) for the front-drive Acadia LT and extends to $67,490 for the all-wheel drive Acadia LTZ-V. Our test vehicle is the front-drive Acadia LTZ-V, which is priced from $63,490.

The LT still benefits from autonomous emergency braking, factory sat-nav, keyless entry and push-button igntion, along with traffic-sign recognition with speed limit assist.

The mid-grade LTZ (priced from $53,490 plus on-roads) adds leather-appointed trim, a hands-free power tailgate, park assist, inductive smartphone charging and lateral impact avoidance (which basically combines blind-spot monitoring with lane keep assist to avoid side impacts), while the flagship LTZ-V also scores a 360-degree camera, BOSE eight-speaker stereo, adaptive cruise control and a dual-panel sunroof.

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The Acadia's sole factory option is prestige paint, which adds $550.

The Acadia is backed by Holden's five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty with five years of complimentary roadside assistance. Service intervals are pegged at every 12 months or 12,000 kilometres, whichever comes first, while Holden's capped-price servicing scheme sees the Acadia's first seven services capped at a total of $2153, or an average of $307 per service.

The vehicle is suitable for 91RON (regular) unleaded, which will also help rein in costs.

Pricing and Features
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Why should/shouldn't I buy it?

Need to cover some serious distance with your (presumably sizeable) family in tow? The Acadia is a roomy, safe and well-equipped mile-eater that can safely devour over 900km between fill-ups, based on its 82-litre tank and our average fuel consumption of 8.5L/100km.

That's an impressive figure, we think, given the vehicle's dimensions and healthy performance, and was achieved over a mix of urban streets and motorway. It's also below Holden's own quoted combined-cycle figure of 8.9L/100km and significantly below the equivalent stat for the AWD model (9.3L/100km), and is helped by an Active Fuel Management system that deactivates two of the six cylinders when certain parameters are met.

Younger passengers in particular will appreciate the number of USB charge points scattered throughout the vehicle – two in the front, two in the second row, and one in the third row – to keep devices powered up on the long haul, and there are also 12-volt outlets up front and in the boot.

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Still on the kid theme, there are ISOFIX mounting points for two capsules/child seats in the 60:40 split second row and five top tether points – three in the second row and two in the third. And the 50:50 split third row really is a practical, useable option, unlike the medical experiments that seem to pass for third-row seating in some seven-seaters…

The author could even cram his 188cm lanky self into the back row; even though all of the available head- and leg-room was taken, a quick trip across town didn't fill me with dread. For kids and most teens the rear-most seats are a reasonable proposition, although the plastic levers that tilt the second row seating for access to the third do seem a bit on the flimsy side.

Drivers after an engaging ride shouldn't discount the Acadia, as even though it's a sizeable lump of an SUV, with a kerb weight of just over 2000kg, it surges forward with gusto to its 6700rpm redline and the adaptive suspension does an impressive job of soaking up road imperfections.

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Body roll is nicely controlled and while we experienced the odd clunk from the nine-speed auto under hard acceleration from lower speeds, for the most part this transmission is a smart, slick-shifting unit – either when left to its own devices or when swapping cogs manually via the button on the top of the shifter.

The Acadia is ultra-relaxed on the open road, with ninth gear equating with just 1500rpm.

This front-drive model displays healthy road-holding ability although we prefer the tenacious grip of the all-wheel drive variant in this respect. Not that it's an off-roader or sports machine by any stretch, but the AWD is the better choice if dirt roads or snaking runs through the hills figure regularly on your driving agenda.

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A drive mode further expands the assistance. Accessed via a dial on the centre console, there are snow, sports and tow/haul modes, with varying transmission/traction calibrations for each.

The Acadia can't hold a torch to the current crop of dual-cab utes [Ed: or the Trailblazer, for that matter]in terms of towing ability but, with a braked limit of 2000kg, it's still handy enough and will accommodate a decent range of camper trailers and lighter caravans. There's a hitch-guidance camera view too, to head off any domestic disputes when it's time to hitch up the family caravan or camper.

On the flipside, and though par for the course for this class of vehicle, at a shade under five metres long it's not the most compact thing to park on typical city streets. The high bonnet doesn't help, but the process is aided immeasurably by the LTZ-V's 360-degree camera set-up, which provides a variety of views on the car's 8.0-inch infotainment screen, and there's a parking assist system for those after an extra safety net to guard against dings and scuffed rims.

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Who does it appeal to?

In a word, families – big families, who need to carry plenty of gear to accommodate their chosen pursuits. There's a reasonable 292 litres of boot space behind the third-row seating, with that figure expanding to 1042 litres with the third row folded flat and then 2101 litres with the third and second row flat. Want more? All Acadia trim grades also come with sports roof rails, so fitting an aftermarket roof pod should be a simple affair.

Families in particular will also find the Acadia LTZ-V's extensive safety features appealing. Beyond the standard gear we expect these days, this SUV also gets adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning with dynamic steering, traffic sign recognition with speed limit assist, and autonomous emergency braking (incorporating pedestrian and cyclist detection). And let me tell you, whenever the AEB warning is triggered, the vibrating seat base (plus red LED head-up warning) really does grab your attention!

That's in addition to niceties like auto lights with high-beam assist and auto wipers, seven airbags, the aforementioned lateral impact avoidance – the list goes on…

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In a similar vein, tech fiends will appreciate the plethora of gadgets, comfort and convenience features that come with the Acadia LTZ-V. From ventilated front seats (with electric adjustment and memory function), inductive smartphone charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, factory satellite-navigation and hands-free power tailgate, the Acadia LTZ-V is the auto equivalent of a 'burger with the lot'.

Oh, and the eight-speaker BOSE sound system is ripper – although we found the reception of the DAB+ digital radio a little hit and miss, even while still within the limits of the Melbourne metro area.

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Where does it fit?

Falling into the 'large SUV (under $70,000)' category, the Acadia is up against dozens of potential rivals, including everything from dedicated four-wheel drives (Toyota Prado and Mitsubishi Pajero) to part-time four-wheel drives (Toyota Fortuner, Holden Trailblazer, Isuzu MU-X, Ford Everest) and more.

However, when considering closer equivalents – that is, seven-seat SUVs with all-wheel drive drivelines – the new Acadia is squaring off against the likes of Mazda's CX-9, Toyota's Kluger, Hyundai's Santa Fe and Kia's Sorento.

They're all well-established nameplates that command high sales volumes, so it will be interesting to see how the Acadia slots into the pecking order.

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So, what do we think?

We like it. It's spacious and very comfortable, with active noise cancelling that creates a very quiet cabin space only mildly interrupted by purr of the V6 under hard acceleration. The seating configuration is practical and flexible, and can be converted quickly to a variety of configurations to suit the load and the number of passengers.

It's certainly well-equipped but it's an enjoyable SUV to drive – there's pleasing performance on offer from the petrol V6, and while the front wheels do spin up readily under acceleration, especially from a fast standing start, the traction control arrests the antics in short order.

However, with this big American-made SUV comes big American styling, and the Acadia's high and truck-like snout – which obscures the view immediately ahead – will deter some buyers.

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The American truck theme continues inside, with the high and upright dash console. All the controls are within arm's reach, but you'll either like the overall feel or you won't. Nonetheless, it's a classy environ, with a good fit and finish and a mix of faux wood-grain and brushed-alloy trim to complement the leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter.

The instrumentation, with its large central TFT display, is attractive, highly legible and easy to navigate – ditto the 8.0-inch infotainment screen – and the large centre-console storage bin is complemented by a sizeable glove box, twin cup holders and (fairly compact) door pockets with bottle holders.

Summing up

Holden desperately needs some star talent on its fully imported team right now, and we think the Acadia has the potential to give the brand some much-needed momentum. It's a well-equipped, dynamically pleasing and realistically priced package that will transport families and their gear in comfort and with class, but it's now up to the domestic market to really decide if this American import can also call Australia home.

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How much does the 2019 Holden Acadia LTZ-V cost?
Price: from $63,490 (plus on-roads)
Engine: 3.6-litre six-cylinder petrol
Output: 231kW/367Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.9L/100km (ADR Combined); 8.5L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 209g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2015)

Related reading:
>> Holden Acadia gets five-star ANCAP rating
>> Holden eyes more American SUVs
>> Holden Acadia vs Hyundai Santa Fe Comparison

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Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Expert rating
78/100
Engine, Drivetrain & Chassis
16/20
Price, Packaging & Practicality
15/20
Safety & Technology
16/20
Behind The Wheel
16/20
X-Factor
15/20
Pros
  • Space and comfort
  • Surprising performance
  • Comprehensive features
Cons
  • Second-row seat levers could be sturdier
  • Tricky to locate space-saver spare wheel
  • Patchy DAB+ digital radio reception
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