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2016 vs 2017 AWD differencs?

17K views 40 replies 7 participants last post by  Isoldmysaturn 
#1 ·
I have a 2017 acadia, not the all terrain, so I know I don't have the buick regal style AWD, but are there any differences besides the ability to disconnect the rear wheels? I just tried it today on a steep and wet poorly made dirt road, and it works really well.
 
#16 ·
Yeah, I have been trying to find some good online documentation/specs for how AWD system works in 2017 Acadia but couldn't find anything. For some reason the AWD system in all-terrain trim is documented a bit well.
I don't think even dealership would have these details, they don't seem very knowledgeable. They didn't even know that 2017 has AFM in their V6.

Is there any standard email of GM's/GMC's technical support department where one can ask such details or for brochures?

Like someone noted :
- I do find front-wheel spin with hard acceleration when not in AWD
- I don't find much diff in MPGs when in either AWD or FWD.
 
#3 ·
95% FWD under normal conditions, capable of shifting up to 50% of the power to the rear wheels by use of a multi-clutch plate center differential. Front and rear differentials are open (All Terrain has rear locking differential). Very crappy AWD system in GMC crossovers.
 
#4 ·
2017 has a slightly different system, and I was wondering if they changed anything besides having an electronic clutch to disconnect the rear wheels. and this system seems to be better than some others out there going from videos I've seen, but I haven't used mine in the winter, so I don't know first hand.
 
#5 ·
Isoldmysaturn said:
2017 has a slightly different system, and I was wondering if they changed anything besides having an electronic clutch to disconnect the rear wheels. and this system seems to be better than some others out there going from videos I've seen, but I haven't used mine in the winter, so I don't know first hand.
I believe that the 2007 to 2017 Acadia AWD systems are virtually identical. The only difference in the 2017 is the ability to disconnect the rear wheels entirely, but that should simply be the addition of the programming and the physical switch (a dial in this instance) for the driver to initiate that programming.

BTW, I had virtually zero difference in fuel consumption on a 1500 mile trip to Florida in 2WD vs the return trip in AWD. The only notable difference was the performance. In FWD I had a lot of wheel spin and torque steer when hard on the accelerator. I'm sure that the traction control would have reduced that wheel spin and torque steer had I left the system enabled. I can not see the benefit to turning off the AWD, seems like another potential electrical problem as the vehicle ages with no real benefit.
 
#6 ·
again, I've not driven in the snow with this car, but the equinox we test drove last year on snow and this car on dirt seem very quick to act, with no noticeable lag in engagement or wheel spin. As far as disconnecting it goes, it's supposed to save component wear, but I think that's mostly a thing of the past where older systems were meant to be very much part time and not left on.

Even with the merits of disconnecting the rear axle being questionable, I still appreciate the modes to change the shift profiles, and would at least use the trailer mode and AWD mode routinely. as far as wheel spin goes, I've never had that, but I've never been in the habit to floor it from a stop, and always get at least a little momentum going then feed in the throttle to full to avoid breaking stuff and toasting the tires. if you HAVE to floor it from a stop, find another intersection to use or wait for an opening.
 
#8 ·
Isoldmysaturn said:
again, I've not driven in the snow with this car, but the equinox we test drove last year on snow and this car on dirt seem very quick to act, with no noticeable lag in engagement or wheel spin. As far as disconnecting it goes, it's supposed to save component wear, but I think that's mostly a thing of the past where older systems were meant to be very much part time and not left on.

Even with the merits of disconnecting the rear axle being questionable, I still appreciate the modes to change the shift profiles, and would at least use the trailer mode and AWD mode routinely. as far as wheel spin goes, I've never had that, but I've never been in the habit to floor it from a stop, and always get at least a little momentum going then feed in the throttle to full to avoid breaking stuff and toasting the tires. if you HAVE to floor it from a stop, find another intersection to use or wait for an opening.
Until the 2017 Acadia, I've only owned full time AWD vehicles for nearly 20 years. I was not prepared for the difference in available traction between 2wd and AWD, and would need to adjust my driving if I were to keep it in 2wd.

I have found that the AWD performance in the snow of the 2017 Acadia is just as poor as all the previous models. It is very obviously FWD biased and understeers far too often. I would prefer an oversteer that I could at least steer out of.

I get nearly 15,000 miles from a set of tires!
 
#9 ·
The equinox we tested understeered, too, but that's because of the low rolling resistance all season tires used. We plan on buying winter tires as soon as we can source steel rims. that's not AWD, that's tire choice.
 
#10 ·
Isoldmysaturn said:
The equinox we tested understeered, too, but that's because of the low rolling resistance all season tires used. We plan on buying winter tires as soon as we can source steel rims. that's not AWD, that's tire choice.
I run winter tires. I live in the North :)

I'm now looking for steel rims for my 2017, the set I've had for my last three Acadia's no longer fit the new model :(
 
#12 ·
Isoldmysaturn said:
So, with the winter tires, how have your previous acadias been? Still as prone to understeer? How did they handle the snow?
understeer was always bad, but the newer lighter Acadia seems worse (higher HP engine and lower weight)

Snow was ok, slush was terrible with the traction control on, better with it off. The short wheelbase of the Acadia causes it to rotate easily and the newer model is worse.

BTW, my previous AWD vehicles have been Subaru and Audi models
 
#13 ·
Nvr2loud said:
I'm now looking for steel rims for my 2017, the set I've had for my last three Acadia's no longer fit the new model :(
Good luck with that. You might want to look at what's available for the Canyon, Colorado, and SRX. Some years of those have the same 6X120mm bolt pattern.
 
#14 ·
Speleos said:
Good luck with that. You might want to look at what's available for the Canyon, Colorado, and SRX. Some years of those have the same 6X120mm bolt pattern.
Thanks for that info! I didn't even consider that some other GM vehicles would have the same bolt pattern, since the Lambda didn't share a bolt pattern with any other models :facepalm:

I will see what the dealer has for a package deal in the fall... tires / rims / sensors Perhaps I'll purchase a take-off aluminum rim instead
 
#15 ·
Nvr2loud said:
understeer was always bad, but the newer lighter Acadia seems worse (higher HP engine and lower weight)

Snow was ok, slush was terrible with the traction control on, better with it off. The short wheelbase of the Acadia causes it to rotate easily and the newer model is worse.

BTW, my previous AWD vehicles have been Subaru and Audi models
Overprotective stability control? I miss our jetta for (and nothing else) it's incredible stability control, it always turned, even with all seasons on it. The new Malibu seems to have an equally effective system. The equinox and impala hopelessly understeered. We didn't test the lambda cars, as at the time we weren't considering them. Then we go to buy, and surprise! We get nothing we looked at.
 
#17 · (Edited)
@kan, if what you say about the dealership is true, you should probably find another one to work on your car. It's hard to believe you couldn't find anyone with that type of product knowledge. Who did you ask about AFM - the janitor??

GMC has a 'contact us' section on their website with instructions for sending emails to them. Try that first and see what kind of response you get from them
 
#18 ·
A few years ago I was trying to figure out how the AWD in the vue/equinox worked, and I was unable to find anyone at my local dealership who knew how it worked. I found online where someone figured it out. no such luck on the acadia. Please share if you get an email back from them. I agree, the buick system and all terrain acadia (similar to the buick system iirc) are very well documented, and GM is very proud of this system, but it's almost as if it's ashamed of how the equinox and acadia systems work.
 
#19 ·
Same problem with the drive mode selectors....

2WD and AWD are self explanatory, however SPORT, SNOW, and TOW MODE are not explained at all. I just want to know what happens differently in SNOW mode vs AWD mode?
 
#22 ·
The only enation I've found is "each mode adjusts the shift points and steering". and of coarse, the modes cancelling every time you turn the car off is just plain stupid. Actual technical data would be nice, but even a proper explanation of each mode and the overall system would be nice.
 
#29 ·
Right now I'm getting about two summers out of a set of tires, and three winters from snow tires.

I replace the front struts once a year.

Brake pads once a year

Rotors once every 1.5-2 years

Oil every 3-4 k miles

wipers... never unless broken, they seem to last forever on GM's

lug nuts every other year (terrible on GM's) due to severe cracking and rust

Headlights, windshield, and tail lights about every 3 years.
 
#35 ·
I've never heard of any of this being done on a calander schedule. I had a saturn ion for 10 years and over 80k miles, I drove it harder than a lot of people, and had around 200HP in a front wheel drive car weighing around 2800LBS. I even towed a 3500LB GVWR trailer at or around that weight most of the time behind it for around two years all summer long doing lawns, making dump runs, getting materials to build a roof (in one trip), drywall, ect... the only premature wear was I had one pair of tires go early because of both front wheel bearings going bad in the same year and the second set of brakes were trending to only last 40K miles instead of the first ones lasting 50K. My tires usually lasted around 30K miles (goodyear eagle GTs, so soft enough they were decent in the snow), except the first set because they were the OE hankooks and legit almost sent me off the road in the wet.

everything else lasted the 80K miles and 10 years I had it, and should last at least until the next owner hits 100K miles, even my oil was changes with mobil one, but at 8-9K miles when the OLM went off. Are you driving this poor car as a prerunner? I don't understand why things are wearing out so quickly...
 
#32 ·
I gotta agree with the others, I always got somewhere around 50K or more miles on OEM tires or replacements. Never rode on bald tires.
 
#34 ·
Well clearly I prefer softer tires :)

I also corner hard, brake hard, and every stop light turning green is like the start of a drag race (not an actual race, I don't street race) I had the 2017 Acadia in FWD for my trip to Florida and kept spinning the wheels when leaving a stop (I was not trying, just have not had any vehicle without AWD for nearly two decades and would need to adjust my lead foot during takeoffs)

I'm a bit of strange case... my wife calls me an old man driver because I barely break the speed limit. I leave my cruise control set within a couple miles per hour of the limit. I just like to get to speed quickly and I don't slow much for corners. I have some country roads that I travel daily and love to get the Acadia (or my Sierra) around those long rolling corners swiftly.

I suppose you could say that I love acceleration and the thrill of holding speed in a corner... I'm just not a fan of speeding.
 
#37 ·
rust is terrible in my area, too, but my saturn had no body rust... We looked at a jeep from the same year and it had penetrating rust all over just waiting to be shaken loose. All unibody Gm products are galvanized, and AFAIK e coated (saturn was), which really should make a car naturally rust free for around 10 years. not sure about the trucks... My back brakes ended up being replaced because rust got the springs (rear drums) while it was sitting waiting for the ignition switch recall, but the front brakes lasted just fine, even towing WAY more than it was supposed to, as did the rear shocks (I had an awesome trailer I could load with very little tongue weight and it be safe).
 
#38 ·
All GM unibody products are galvanized? Not from my experience. You should have seen the rust on my 2017 Acadia a few days after an accident. My 2012 Acadia (Krown rust controlled annually!) had paint bubbling with rust spots under it when I traded it in a few months ago.


I had a galvanized body Audi, I had paint damage that exposed the metal that never rusted.


I took a rock hit to the roof of my 2012 Acadia when it was only a few months old, dented the roof and broke the paint. It was rusty after the first rain.
 
#40 ·
None of my Acadias have been galvanized.

I wonder if the 2008 - 2010 Saturn Outlook was galvanized?

IIRC some of the saturn cars had plastic door panels.
 
#41 ·
the doors and fenders were plastic, but the roof, hood, underbody, trunk lid top, and all the underlying structure were steel. the steel was only e-coated, not even painted, and there was no rust on the body of the car after 10 years. I've owned other well taken care of roughly 10 year old cars in this area, and this is not usually true of painted cars (much less just e coated ones). After seeing this, I was really hoping this acadia would be reliable and rust free for at least 10 years. I was already wrong on one front, hopefully I won't be on the rust.
 
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