Wife wants a smaller GM SUV, what's good and what should we stay away from?

[gooffeyguy]

My wife is wanting to get a small GM SUV to replace her mustang as a daily. She doesn't necessarily want new, but maybe like a 2017+ something like an Equinox, Terrain, Traverse, etc.

What should we avoid (certain model year, etc)

Anyone have any experiences with these? Good or bad?

 

[tom3]

The Terrain/Equinox through 2017 with the V6 engine is a pretty good all around machine if you can find a low mileage machine. The Acadia or Traverse is also a really good SUV in a bit larger size. Stay away from the 4 cylinder motors in any later model machine.

 

[BADRIDES]

My wife loves her Terrain with 20 inch chrome Camaro SS wheels.

 

[George B]

A terrain or Acadia would be out choice. I was looking at a 2013 for a bit but holding tight now.

 

[Tonyv__]

Only input I can say is any small suv with the ecotec engine is gonna be bad news. From personal experience and Google.

Now I don’t know if the engine has evolved since but I can say the engine is in Chevy sonics, sparks, trax, Buick Encore and a few more small SUVs. Major PCV issues and turbo failure.

However some of the issues are recalled and will be corrected via dealer but apparently the parts haven’t been redeveloped. They’re just replacing with the same parts that failed originally

 

[gooffeyguy]

It sucks to be buying a used vehicle right now. She wants to go look at this 2017 Terrain Denali with ~40k miles for $26k. It has the v6 and AWD. I just think that's a bit high, and more then what we paid for the 2012 XL Denali 4 years ago.

 

[Doubeleive]

If these gas prices keep going up the dealers will concentrate more on the smaller vehicles and "maybe" some slightly larger vehicles will drop a smidge, I would hold and just keep looking a couple times a day, don't be afraid to travel to find what you want, I flew in and drove my Denali home 7 hours from Vegas.
I like the look of the Terrain's and for as much guff as they get for not being more off-roadish the new blazer's also

 

[gooffeyguy]

Wife sent me a link to a vehicle she found and asked me what I thought.

It's a 2010 Yukon Denali, 98k miles, 1 owner, most of it's life in Texas, $20k (looks just like our 2011 we had)

I told her I thought she wanted something smaller/newer. She said she could adapt and that we'd be twinsies, but mine is bigger

 

[swathdiver]

It sucks to be buying a used vehicle right now. She wants to go look at this 2017 Terrain Denali with ~40k miles for $26k. It has the v6 and AWD. I just think that's a bit high, and more then what we paid for the 2012 XL Denali 4 years ago.

Wife sent me a link to a vehicle she found and asked me what I thought.

It's a 2010 Yukon Denali, 98k miles, 1 owner, most of it's life in Texas, $20k (looks just like our 2011 we had)

I told her I thought she wanted something smaller/newer. She said she could adapt and that we'd be twinsies, but mine is bigger

My wife keeps vacillating too, at leas the Terrain is out of the picture, it was too small for us, but now she's looking at the K2s and T1 Yukon Denalis! $$$$$ And I thought we were settled on a 2012-2014 Yukon Denali or Esky Platinum! LOL Now I'll have to buy a compatible diagnostic tool, new oil, filters, etc.!

 

[jd08]

We had a 12 Equinox 4 cylinder 2wd, 17 Acadia 3.6l awd all terrian, and now a 19 Yukon slt.

Equinox was good on gas but the 2.4l was under powered and had an engine rattle that dealer said was injector noise. We loved the Acadia, awesome in WI snow storms, decent mpg, 3.6l did everything we wanted. Was going to keep it for the long run but wife wanted to tow a horse trailer so we upgraded to the 19 Yukon slt.

I would recommend an Acadia.

 

[gooffeyguy]

The 2010 Yukon Denali is a no go. Just found out it's RWD. She wants either AWD or 4wd.

So thinking either a Terrain or Acadia with the 3.6l and AWD

 

[Geoffsfas10]

I have a 12 equinox with the 3.0 v6. Has almost 125k on it, we bought it brand new. Its been a great little car. Only thing that sucks about it, is theres no rear seat climate vents so the kids get hot in the summer

 

[Just Fishing]

We have only had our 11 buick enclave for a year now, but we have been happy with it.

3.6 v6 w/vvt has plenty of power.
Gas mileage is like the tahoe, but it does have AWD...

Watch out for the 19in wheels, tires cost more than the 20s.

Low mileage one owner is good.

watch out for those extended oil changes with the 3.6

Ours was one owner, he did his own oil changes at 3500 miles with mobil 1

Good for timing chain life

I installed a catch can and opened up the pcv by a tiny bit.

Very tight under the hood.

Put the catch can next to the master cylinder... lol

 

[gooffeyguy]

So we've narrowed it down to a couple, all with the 3.6l V6 and similar mileage on the odometer.

A 2015 Terrain Denali, but it's FWD and not AWD
A 2017 Acadia Limited AWD, not a Denali, but has all the options.

The Acadia is $3k more than the Terrain, but it's 2 years newer and AWD.

How well does the FWD do in the snow? It's been years since I've had a FWD vehicle (93 EscortGT) and it did OK, but I hated the Torque steer you'd feel while making a turn.

My wife hasn't decided, but I think the Acadia is the better choice.

Funny thing I noticed though, the Acadia has the exact same steering wheel/controls, door panel switches, and rear radio/hvac control panel as our 2012

 

[swathdiver]

On the outside the steering wheel looks the same, inside is much different. My Father-In-Law just picked up a used Acadia. He liked the one we rented for him way back in 2011 and finally had a chance to get one. Hopefully his wife doesn't run into any parked cars in NYC with this one! A few years back their Exploder got shot up by the cops chasing a bad guy.

I like the Acadia too. Terrains look nice, just small. Been in too many accidents in small cars.

 

[Just Fishing]

My wife hasn't had issues with AWD in her Buick.
I was a little worried she wouldn't know what to do with an awd power skid.

It didn't snow much this year or last, so I still wonder how she will be in a good 2-3ft of snow.

front wheel drive, wife's old car had the 3.5 with front wheel drive.
I never really noticed too much torque steer with it.

For wife duties where you expect snow, get the AWD IMO.

 

[Drwinlied]

I thought she was OK with a yukon? 100% do that instead.

3.6's have timing chain issues eventually...at best. I know the early models had too much gusto for many of the transmissions, too. My wife's SRX was a timebomb. Anecdotal info aside, the 3.6 is a well documented piece at this point. And we already know the eco's aren't good either.

Let gas get higher and buy the yukon when nobody wants to spend 100$ to fill up. Then use hers as a guinea pig for all sorts of fun stuff haha

 

[gooffeyguy]

Test drove the 2017 Acadia this evening. We really liked all the options and features it has, and was in really good shape.

Only thing we're not sure about was that it shuddered on us twice for a couple of seconds. Both times we were doing about 35mph coasting down a hill and as soon as I gave it gas and started accelerating we could feel a slight shudder. It would stop if I let off the gas or gave it more gas causing it to downshift.

Not sure if this is a trans problem, AFM deactivating, or something else.

 

[Tiki]

Rav4 hybrid.

 

[Drwinlied]

Test drove the 2017 Acadia this evening. We really liked all the options and features it has, and was in really good shape.

Only thing we're not sure about was that it shuddered on us twice for a couple of seconds. Both times we were doing about 35mph coasting down a hill and as soon as I gave it gas and started accelerating we could feel a slight shudder. It would stop if I let off the gas or gave it more gas causing it to downshift.

Not sure if this is a trans problem, AFM deactivating, or something else.

Don't do it. This would be a classic case of "that's normal on these" when, in your gut, you know better. Even if it never gets worse than what you experienced it will eventually drive you both mad. Then when you go to sell, good luck finding someone that is willing to ignore it as you did without steep discounts.

All IMO, of course.