Holden Acadia to be petrol V6 only

GM HOLDEN has confirmed that its new Acadia seven-seat large SUV, due to arrive in Australia in the fourth quarter this year, will be offered exclusively with a V6 petrol engine, pitting it against petrol-only rivals including the Toyota Kluger, Nissan Pathfinder and Mazda CX-9.

 

Speaking to GoAuto at a Colorado drive event this week, Holden vehicle development manager Jeremy Tassone revealed only limited details on the Acadia’s powertrain.

 

“It’s a (petrol) V6 and that’s as much as we’re saying,” he said.

 

Fellow GM brand GMC offers the Acadia in North America with two different powertrain options, including a 3.6-litre V6 outputting 231kW/367Nm, which is the most likely donor engine for the Australian Acadia.

 

The other US-market powertrain is a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol unit.

 

There are no plans for a turbo-diesel variant, as the Colorado-based Trailblazer seven-seater plays that role for the lion brand.

 

Due to its size and comfort levels, Mr Tassone also likened the Acadia to the Australian-built Caprice that was discontinued last year with the end of local Holden manufacturing.

 

“It’s a great car. We’re really excited – it’s like the new Caprice almost,” he said. 

 

“It’s a great, big luxurious seven-seater, and it almost fills that space that the Caprice left and as far as a car to just eat up the miles in.

 

“I did 2000km in it a couple of weekends ago – and it’s just a great car, it’s awesome and its going to be really good.”

 

The Acadia is still undergoing local engineering testing at Holden’s Lang Lang proving ground, which Mr Tassone says is in the final stages, but there is still work to be done.

 

“We’re doing elements of chassis tuning, suspension tuning, steering, that sort of work as well as a lot of electrical stuff – infotainment, active safety,” he said.

 

Given that GMC in North America is marketed as a slightly more upmarket brand than Chevrolet, it is expected the Acadia will offer more luxurious features than the body-on-frame Trailblazer without the focus on off-road ability and towing capability.

 

Overseas, six trim levels are available for the Acadia including the top-spec Denali, as well as front- or all-wheel-drive configuration, however Australian specification is still unclear.

 

The Acadia is still on track for an Australian arrival before the end of the year, where it will complete Holden’s SUV portfolio that already includes the Trax small SUV, Equinox mid-sizer and Trailblazer. The Captiva seven-seater will be discontinued around the time of the Acadia’s arrival.

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