We had a chance to enjoy the 2024 GMC Acadia Elevation AWD a few days ago and do a couple local road trips which inspired me to share GMC’s Winter Drive Checklist & What to know before you head out!
I received the 2024 GMC Acadia for review purposes for a week, but as usual, all opinions are my own!
GMC’s Winter Drive Checklist
The GMC Acadia checked all the points on my list of an amazing vehicle to bring on a road trip and we enjoyed our drives, but having a reliable vehicle that checked all the boxes also inspired me to share some tips on what you should look for if you don’t have a great SUV, like the GMC Acadia Elevation AWD!
Here are my Winter Drive Checklist Tips:
Check Your Tires
It’s important to check your tires and make sure they are in good condition so you can say: “bring it on” to winter!
Worn tires are dangerous in winter weather
Examine tires for remaining tread life, uneven wearing, and cupping; check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks.
Check tire pressure once a month, letting the tires “cool down” before checking the pressure. Rotate as recommended.
Don’t forget to check your spare, and be sure the jack is in good working condition. Under-inflated tires or poorly aligned wheels make your engine work harder and thus use excess gasoline.
Here is how you check to see if you need new tires:
Take a penny (coin) and place it in the tread of the tire with the top of the head of Abraham Lincoln facing down. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace your tires!
Oil Change
It’s important to make sure that you respect the mileage written by the place where you last changed your oil and change it, when needed. That will ensure your vehicle’s life is extended.
Vehicle Check up
We normally have the vehicle serviced even if there’s no light on. For us, it’s about preventing things before they happen! So why wait, when you can do it now before the next snowstorm falls. It is also important to make sure that, if you need to, you have spare car parts handy so you are prepared for any eventuality. You can buy car parts online or check in with your mechanic on which would be best to have on hand.
Air/Oil Filter Replacement
They fall under the same rules as the oil change, they need to be replaced every season, we normally replace them when we change the oil.
Get engine performance and drive-ability problems fixed
Hard starts, rough idling, stalling and diminished power should be corrected at a reputable repair shop or your brand dealer. Cold weather makes existing problems worse! Also, if you happen to have any dents or damages on the car exteriors, then you might want to send the vehicle to a specialist at the earliest possible time.
Further, you should ensure that your car’s battery is in good shape; you don’t want to be stuck out in the snow with a car that won’t turn on! It may be a good idea to keep the contact of a trusted professional who can provide car battery analysis and assistance, if you ever face this situation, however, getting it checked and replaced (if needed) before your road trip, could also be a good option to avoid any hassles.
The cooling system should be flushed and refilled as recommended.
The level, condition, and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically. A 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water is usually recommended!
The tightness and condition of drive belts, clamps, and hoses also should be checked regularly by a professional technician.
Have your brakes checked periodically
For safety reasons and to prevent costly repairs that can be caused by neglecting to do it, have your brakes checked. You don’t want to see yourself on a snowy hill and suddenly find out that they fail, right?
The transmission is often neglected
Routine checks and fluid changes at manufacturer’s prescribed intervals can prevent very costly repairs later on.
Always carry an emergency kit
Things like extra gloves, boots, blankets and flares; a small shovel and sand or kitty litter; tire chains; a flashlight and extra batteries; and a cell phone and extra car charger. Put a few “high-energy” snacks and cereal bars in your glove box.
Now that you know what to look for, let’s take a look at all the GMC Acadia Elevation features & what we loved about it!
Exterior
Love the bold Front Grille and LED Accent headlights & Fog Lights. It’s also great seeing the camera under the GMC logo for the 360 camera system, which gives you, guess what, an overhead view! Wow, yes!!
22″ Gloss Black Aluminum Wheels and 18″ Spare
Tail lights
Interior
Let’s go inside!
One of my absolute favorite features is the fairly spacious third row at an unbeatable price. I will share later!
Spacious & comfortable front seats with uncluttered center console, a display screen and a large infotainment Screen. Also an impressive 15″ diagonal Premium GMC Infotainment Screen * with Apple CarPlay®, * Android AutoTM * and Google built-in * compatibility.
All controls, such as lights are on the tablet like screen!
Love the camera angles, tow/haul and drive mode options!
The off-road mode was of-course one of my firsts to check out!
Winter Drives With the GMC Acadia
Thansgiving Hike With Our Hiking Group
We drove to the shore to meet some of the members of our hiking group who braved the cold and enjoyed a beautiful 3 mile hike together at Cattus Island.
Gorgeous winter day to be out!
We drove to another beautiful town for some country food and a dinner date!
Sunday Drive & Volunteering
A great ride is the one that will give you a comfortable experience on a cold winter day, with your Christmas Playlist on Apple Car Play!
The GMC as seen costs $54,690.00
Fuel Efficiency: 19 MPG City & 24 MPG Hwy
You can check the 2024 GMC Acadia Elevation out HERE.
Save for Later:
You can look at other rides HERE.
I can’t wait to hear what you think of my GMC’s Winter Drive Checklist!
As usual, give us a Trendy Shout!
This winter drive checklist is super practical! It covers all the essentials for staying safe on the road during the colder months, which is always a good reminder before hitting the highway.
That GMC Acadia is a beautiful vehicle for sure and I love the features found throughout plus I appreciate the black rims and body style that give it that sporty vibe. I love it so much!
These are fantastic tips for people who aren’t quite skilled in driving throughout the winter. This 2024 GMC is such a pretty vehicle and the interior is even nicer.
This is such a useful check list to make sure your car is ready for the winter road! Thank you for sharing it – I know so little about cars sometimes.
This is very helpful. Thank you for reminding me to flush/ refill the cooling system. This totally slipped my mind.
The GMC Acadia is indeed feature rich and looks stunning. Got to drive it in order to experience its full range.
Some great tips! Many people seem to forget that winter driving is a lot different than driving at other times of year and there’s things that we need to look out for.
Beautiful car and there are other needs for a car in the winter time. I’m glad the car tells me when the tires are low in air.
Such helpful information! Thank you for sharing all of this
That’s going to be my next car for sure…I am driving a Toyota now, I love it but I am sure getting a GMC next year…I can’t wait.
Great checklist and so important to check everything. My husband is very hot on doing this each year
The 2024 GMC Acadia Elevation AWD looks like a great drive all year round, thanks for sharing the winter drive checklist.
These are great tips. This is the season for a lot of driving, and it’s important to ensure your car is road-ready for the cold weather.
Great tips for staying safe on winter drives! The 2024 GMC Acadia Elevation AWD looks perfect for handling snowy conditions.