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You seem to be saying that the Mazda6, MKZ, CX-7, CX-9, MKX, and Edge are all the same car with different body panels, because they started with some guts of the Mazda6. Whatever. Semantics. Your definition of platform is far more generic than what manufacturers use. Your way of defining platform would reduce the number of platforms of many car makers. You'd probably say the Jaguar S-Type and the Mustang use the same platform. Most people will still see them as very different cars.
Of course the manufactuers are going to tell you they are different, it's called marketing. Bottom line, it's a cost saving strategy, and there is nothing wrong with it.
The CX-9 appears to have better dynamics and quality than Edge. A lot of that was accomplished through tuning and better materials. But bottom line, the CX-9 is more distantly related (thank goodness) to the Edge than the Acadia is to the Enclave.
The Honda Pilot looks like a toy in front of this vehicle. In a frontal collision, the Acadia will crush the Pilot - just like you crush an empty can of Coke.
What are the crash statistics of the new Acadia? The Pilot got the highest crash rating from the Insurance Institute, both front and side. Actually, the Pilot is one of the 2007 Safety award winners... :confuse:
Considering that the two vehicles are not that different in weight, how did you arrive at this conclusion? At this point I would put the shadow of doubt on the Chevy, due to it's not being tested yet.
FWIW, the Gen 2 Prius in Europe was crash tested against a Toyota Land Cruiser - and the occupants would have survived. Good design is quite capable of protecting occupants. And those two are not anywhere near the same size or weight.
Got any basis on the statement "the Acadia will crush the Pilot?"
Too bad with more power than the Pilot, GM is starting out behind in acceleration. At least economy is relatively good. A solid contender for sure, especially to the GM faithful. Turning the Pilot into a toy, I'm not so sure.
If you have captains chairs, a small kid can slip into the third row (obviously even with two car seats installed).
It sure does. That's why manufacturers moved to aluminum-block engines, and why F1 racers and cost-is-no-object sports cars are built with composites and carbon fiber... :confuse:
But it does stack very well. Acadia also recieved the highest crash test ratings, and was selected midsize SUV/ crossover of the year by a number of different auto observers. This isn't completely related to that post, but I think the GMC does better thatn the Honda in space ergonomics to. I mean- would you rather sit in the third row of the Pilot or Acadia? (it's oppinion- I think the Acadia looks ten times better, too.)
I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks, though the Honda Pilot was a great competor, and at the head of it's classed, It's been well upstaged by Acadia and Lambda simblings.
THe Acadia does 0-60 faster than the Pilot. I don't know exact numbers (too lazy) but I do know this. Adn it makes sense- add 200 lbs and 35 hp. that actually improves lbs to hp ratio. And yeah, Fuel economy is a good amount better.
The Acadia was clocked at 8.1 sec I think in that magazine test.
Yeah, i heard 8.1 for acadia and 8.6 for pilot in C&R.
I'm not a fan of the Pilot - I didn't buy one - but I think it is smaller on the outside than the Acadia? My experience with the Honda CR-V leads me to believe that Honda is second to none in getting maximum inside space from a specified exterior dimension.
SUV = Body on frame vehicle.
I would say CUVs are unibodies, certainly, but also tend to begin life from car architecture, rather than a truck platform or heavier duty model specific platform.
However, the group that forms the name of this thread does have different architecture and dynamics, compared to "traditional" SUVs. So a different name, even if not precise, is not out of order.
Just saying, what Car and Driver was saying was that GM is already coming out behind, kind of like they did with the Silverado saddled with a 4-speed (and the Malibu, Impala, etc...). Old tech, coming to market as brand new. GM has had a history of coming to market with a handicap right from the start, I hope that isn't what they did this time; I haven't been in one yet so I can only go by reports I read. Will GM put rebates on the hood of this one too, or will it be able to sell it on its own?
THe Acadia is definitely a CuV as it's car like ride is much better than Freestyle and gas mileage is just as good for a car that outaccerates the FS with much better pickup. It also is actually much more roomy inside boasting almost 40 cuft of cargo space more, and a much more flexible comfortable seating range, and perfect crash test scores. It also looks like the people who purchased Acdias and reviewed on this forum are happier than those who did so with FS. So I guess we all agree the Freestyle is aged and played out. It's time for a totally new vehicle- not a face lift on a mediocre car.
Maybe what we need are European-level gas prices for a while so more people will rethink buying that body-on-frame SUV for carting kids around or a porky, poorly-engineered CUV for daily commuting. Then, perhaps "being able to out-crush another vehicle" will fall to the bottom of the buyer's priority list - where it should be.
We want to stay with three rows of seats and we need towing of 4500 lbs. or more.
Could someone please tell me what that leaves for my choices.
Since everyone is so knowledgable I am sure I can save lots of time by asking.
I am leaning towards an Acadia or an Outlook. Since they are so similar it may come down to which dealer is closer for service. Prices still seem very high here in Canada so maybe in a year they will come down a bit.
Thanks.
I am comfortable with our decision, but am prepared to eat my words when the 2008 Pilot comes out. That will also be a full re-design. I think then it would be fair to compare the two in terms of value, tech, abilities, etc. The Acadia is simply the newer vehicle in terms of engineering -I do hope it compares well with the new Honda, but Honda makes great vehicles.
For the sake of discussion, maybe we should throw the 2008 Toyota Highlander in the mix - its very comparable to the Acadia and Mazda in specs...
Of course in Canada the prices are rather high (the base Acadia starts near $36.5k *cough* rip-off *cough*), so it'll be interesting to see how well these vehicles do up North, taking into account that you do see smaller vehicles up in Canada due to higher prices, higher gas prices, etc. etc. I know I wouldn't pay that much for a base Acadia...!
I agree that it is a lot of money for a base Acadia. There doesn't seem to be much else out there with the higher towing (along with gas mileage,a nd three rows)in that class. The Outlook is about $2500 less than the Acadia in Canada.
4500 lbs is the maximum towing capacity for the Acadia/Outlook. If you need more than that, you may need to look at body-on-frame SUVs instead of crossovers.
The CX-7 and CX-9 ride on two seperate platforms, and are assemebled in two different assembly plants. Hiroshima's Ujina Plant No.1 for the CX-9, Hiroshima's Ujina Plant No.2 for the CX-7.
CX-9 is CD3 based.
It would be useful to get your facts straight.
The Freestyle gets 19 / 24 with AWD, and 20/ 27 with FWD. The Acadia varies between 17-18 MPG city, and 24 - 26 highway. So no, it does not get better MPG. The FS gets better MPG.
Also, the Acadia is heavier by 700 lbs (AWD FS - it is 900 lbs heavier than my FWD). No way you are going to throw that much weight around at 19 / 24, with those engine sizes - real world MPG will be way less.
Garnering EPA numbers on a test is quite different from real life; physics cannot be repealed and there is no free lunch. Heavier and larger engine = worse MPG in the real world.
Maybe you were thinking Taurus X, which uses new EPA testing and has a different engine. But you said (well, wrote, actually) Freestyle.
FWIW, I get 20 in town and 26 @80 MPH highway in my 2006 FS. At 65 it will get around 30 MPG.
Actually you're both right, but let's end this once and for all.
Here's the real story.
People should note the word Estimate in the tables.
The FS will get a new engine, and the Acadia isn't listed there. I don't think there will be certainty until the vehicles are tested. But the 2008 ratings will be for Taurus X, not the Freestyle.
Note that the Taurus X will have a similar HP engine, will be 700 to 900 lbs lighter, and use a variant of that same Ford/GM developed 6 speed transmission found in the Acadia. The concept of it getting worse MPG or performance doesn't seem likely.